honestly.....

[ollie_gozzett]

how boringly slow are 1.2 16v clio's or are they actually not that bad? i'm looking at getting one for a first car and although speed isn't what i'm worrying about, it would be nice to have a bit of kick sometimes

comments appreciated

 

[Dan Page]

there alright, punto sporting 1.2's (first shape) are way faster though....

 

[dannyboy172]

Not bad little motors, i had one for 2.5 years and had no problems with it, loved it!

 

[ollie_gozzett]

yeh...but its a punto.....not a fan of punto's

cool, thats what i wanted to hear lol

 

[tameracingdriver]

I've driven a Punto Sporting Mk1, and they're a lot more fun than a Clio 1.2 thats for sure.

 

[Dan Page]

my mate had one, standard it was quicker than a standard vtr!

But i think they are 98bhp (alot for a 1.2)!

 

[brisa4984]

my first car was a 1.2 16v dynam.. and it did feel quick.. quicker than some 1.4 8v 106s, etc... Uill love it in my opinion but dont ever drive a 172 then get back into ure 1.2 because uill just realise how boringly slow it is.. (in comparison obviously)

 

[Middo]

92. the 1.6 was a 96bhp.

i had one, and sold it for the 1.2 16v clio due to reliability. definetely much faster, but nowhere near as good at handling. i also wasnt a fan of the standard seats, pedals, or seating position.

 

[Chris1.4RT]

When I had my VTS (which I find very similar in performance to my 172), I borrowed my sister's 1.2 16v Dynamique.

I wasn't impressed at all. I thought it was really poor on acceleration. But I was coming out of a mid 7s to 60 hot hatch. Probably about as quick as my old 1.4 RT Clio which I thought was ok.

She however, described it as 'dead nippy'

I think dead nippy is a common phrase generally used by girls who don't know much about cars, have driven very few cars and think their car is the best thing on the road.

 

[Chris1.4RT]

92bhp on a 1.2 ?? I thought they were more like 70ish. I want to see proof!

EDIT: all I've managed to find searching the net is 75bhp.

 

[Alan]

I had a dynamique for 2 years before i got my 182...great little car..its no my brothers..

Dan....IIRC the punto sportings are nearer 1.3

 

[tameracingdriver]

Punto Sporting Mk1 came in two versions... the first was a 1.6 8v engine with around 90 bhp the later was a 1.2 (1242 cc) 16v engine with 86 bhp. The latter was what I drove. I thought its handling wasnt too bad, and it was a very revvy little thing, sounded good too. Pretty reasonable torque for the size of engine.

The Mk2 is where it all went down hill - much better looking and interior, but much heavier, and they reduced it down to 80 bhp and was slow as fcuk.

 

[Middo]

Dan....IIRC the punto sportings are nearer 1.3

1242cc iirc.

was tuned nicely by fiat, so you couldnt get barely anything out of them from remapping etc.

 

[Alan]

Thats the one mate ^^

Check out this punto, he says its nearly 100bhp: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/86202.htm

 

[tameracingdriver]

What an absolute pile of crap.

 

[Alan]

Indeed..was only looking for examples for power figures mate ^^

 

[Middo]

they're deffo 92, as thats what my handbook said, and everyone with a 1.6 used to boast they had an extra 4bhp to play with lol

 

[disco]

My mates who have had puntos experienced them self destructing as soon the warrenty ended.

 

[DaveJwxm]

i think id rather get the bus than have a Punto Sporting:S

 

[tameracingdriver]

And of course, a 1.2 clio is just so much more desirable isnt it?

As for the 1.6 versus the 1.2 sporting, they may have had an extra 4 bhp, but i'm pretty sure a 1.6 lump is a fair bit heavier than a 1.2

 

[Chris1.4RT]

Never in a million years are they 92bhp.

 

[DaveJwxm]

And of course, a 1.2 clio is just so much more desirable isnt it?

erm no......... the clio is crap and gay and the punto just looks 10x more crap and gay.

 

[Dan Page]

i had a 1.2 clio over the punto as it was the better car and the punto is gettin on now. In a straight line though the punto would kill it all day lol.

Saying that though, in 6 months of my mate owning his he had to have a new exhaust, clutch, gearbox and other bits and bobs too lol, not the most reliable car on the road.

 

[tameracingdriver]

Fix it again tomorrow.

 

[Batman]

i'd say for your first car its great it'll beat most 1.2's out there corsa's punto's and handles great when lowered, but as stated before dont drive a 172 once you have it unless you'll hate it i had the 1.2 drove the 172 and ended up dropping a 2.0 into mine a month later so really stick with it!

 

[ollie_gozzett]

clio's are far more attractive than punto's in my opinion....and the name...punto....don't think i'd want to say i drove a 'punto'

as long as 1.2's arent grandad slow then its cool as i'm not all for ridiculous insurance at 17! just fun really

lol i'll take the 172 advice in hand......but could i turn down an opportunity?? hmmm...

 

[ollie_gozzett]

oh and i learned to drive in a mini cooper....will this make it seem slow??

 

[Kneel]

oh and i learned to drive in a mini cooper....will this make it seem slow??

doubt it I dont think you will have planted the mini (I hope). The 1.2 will do the job, 'nippy' is the word. just dont take it down the motorway too much...

 

[Peperami]

i had a 1.2 16v and loved it, awesome first cars mate. Have a decent amount of poke when you need it 2, and great fun to drive.

The only time they ever feel slow is accelerating on the motorway, but will happily cruise at 90 forever.

Id get one mate.

 

[Munson]

I had a 1.2 for a few days while my 182Cup was in having it's temperature sensor fixed.

I thought the 1.2 was broken for the first day, and thought the 182 was an F1 car when I got it back Total night and day difference in feel, handling and performance. However, thats not really the point - a 1.2 would be an ideal first car :approve:

 

[Jonaldinho]

They are quick compared to a 1.2 8v aka mine lol

 

[sh33n]

I used to have a Sporting, loved the little thing, would happily keep up with VTRs until 80ish.

If I recall they are 90Bhp.

 

[Middo]

Never in a million years are they 92bhp.

86bhp just looked it up, so above 90 is easily achievable

http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/specs/data.aspx?model_id=219&id=13667

 

[edwardmifflin]

Id highly recommend one, the 1.2 16v is quick enough for my needs and more importantly is great fun to drive. Of course theyre not a patch on a 172 or 182 in terms of speed but then your insurance will be sooooo much less and your mpg will be better. For example my insurance fully comp on a 1.2 16v is £390 as oppose to close on £2000 for a 172 plus ill use about a quarter less fuel a year.

For me the extra £1700+ to have a quicker car each year wasnt really worth it but then you might be loaded and be able to afford it, in which case id go for the 172 every time!

 

[Chris1.4RT]

86bhp just looked it up, so above 90 is easily achievable

http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/specs/data.aspx?model_id=219&id=13667

I was talking about the 1.2 16v Clio not the Punto Sporting.

I was arguing the fact that the Clio is never 92bhp.

Using your Parkers guide...

even a so called Clio Campus 'Sport' 1.2 16v is a mere 75bhp.

 

[Chris1.4RT]

Hmm, I've just re-read the whole thread and I think you were saying the Punto was 92bhp and I thought you were talking about the Clio.

That's why I was saying the Clios aren't 92bhp.

My mistake.

 

[Revels]

I had a mk1 1.2, loved it!! Used to rag it everywhere, felt really fast to me at the time! Drove my GTi for a week or so and had to drive the 1.2 again. Came off my drive, into 2nd and I thought it had cut out! lol no power there at all!

Its not by any means fast when you compare them to other things, but as a first car, its plenty fast enough! If id had my GTi when I first passed my test, I would have killed myself!!

And the mk2 1.2 is quicker than a mk1!

 

[Chris1.4RT]

The first car I drove was my mam's H reg 1.2 RL

That was where my passion for Clios started back in 1994.

It was plenty good for a first car. At the time I thought it was pretty quick. I got a 1.4 RT in 1999 and thought that was pretty quick for what it was. I remember trying it on with a valver though and got caned!

Had I had a valver back in 1994, I too think I'd have stacked it.

 

[Revels]

1.2 RL Prima Power!!

Those were the days! lol

 

[E-ray_172]

mk1 punto sporting/85sx 86bhp. gf has one and i often drive both my 172 and the punto and i must say even tho it cant match the 172 it sure is one very nippy happy revving engine. he does pull very well to 80. i enjoy driving it. its a little engine with a big heart! if i had to choose out of 1.2/1.4 clio i would go for the punto imo. so much performance and fun. get a yellow one black Gt Alloys slammed down yes plz all day long.down side saying its only a 1.2 but bare in mind its group 7 insurance with is same as normal 1.6's. same as a vtr which it doesnt really match in performance.