Next car: MK2 GOLF GTI or CLIO 182?

[AlexJC]

Had my trusty modified 2002 1.2 16v clio for a good few years now and am coming to the age where insurance is no longer haunting me with extortionate premiums, im looking to upgrade to a hot hatch.

I have been browsing this site for a long time now and have seen quite a few of you out there with Mk2 golfs (very nice ones i might add) so im looking for all your opinions here. I have around 4 grand to spend at the moment and i know you can get a Mint Mk2 GTI for that or a very tidy 182. This is a big decision because i plan on keeping my next car for a long time and will continuously modify and spend a fair bit of money on it in the near future (which i never really could do before)

I've always loved Mk2 golfs ever since i was a kid, my dad had one for over a decade and always said it was the best car he ever had. You can go to any corner of the internet and find thousands of people who endlessly modify and absolutely love their golfs, its almost like a cult following with these cars.

However, i absolute love the shape and design of the clio, and my 1.2 is so nice to drive, it has alot of character and from what i hear the 182 is very very fast. I believe the clio sport will definitely be a future classic hot hatch.

The way i see it is....

Golf

Pros
- Reasonably inexpensive
- Reliable
- Endless scope for modification
- Attractive styling/shape
- Great Handling
- Fast (especially w/ VR6 engine conv.)
- Generally speculated as 'Best hot hatch ever made'
- 'There's No other driving experience like a Mk2 Golf'
- Its a VW!

Cons
- Dated design
- 20 odd years old, with most generally over 100k mileage
- Dreadful interior (sorry its true)
- Hard to find genuinely well kept w/ genuine miles
- Clio 182s are reasonably faster than standard GTIs



Clio


Pros
- More modern than the Golf
- Also pretty inexpensive
- Great shape/design
- Very fast for a small car
- Great Handling
- Nice interior on the whole
- Also alot of scope for modification
- Tidy examples are not hard to find
- The modern day hottest of the hot hatches?

Cons
- Does not quite have the Heritage and pedigree of the 'Golf GTI'
- Does not have much room for modifying like the Golf does
- Not bad, but definitely inconsistent reliability (if its anything like my current clio)
- I've already had a clio, maybe time for a change?
- Not quite the same driving experience?
- Not as instantly recognisable as the Golf
- Not as cool as the Golf?


I don't know, at the end of the day guys this is just my opinion, you won't all agree with it, i just want your opinions especially people that have owned both!

 

[ILikeShinyThings]

Not that I have any experience with either but it seems like you have your heart set on a GTI? If I had the choice i'd go for the 182 purely because its alot more modern and its alot faster haha

 

[Gorms]

You have the Golf all wrong! I had a mk2 gti 16v before I got my 200. They are pretty expensive and you will be fixing them most of the time! Mine was only on 92k miles when I got it but was suffering from rust and a valve stem seal issues. They will cost you a small fortune to keep running and looking perfect and you will find yourself tinkering with it every weekend which is good I guess in a way!

As for the interior! I preferred the golf to my 200! As long as it's got recaros or the rainbow interior it looks prety spot on.

 

[Clio Neil]

For the money you're spending you would easily get a mint golf with a 1.8t engine in it. I looked at the very same thing. The one thing that stopped me was that it would have been too low for where I live and I would be driving and taking out planks everywhere I go.

 

[_Tom]

^
A decent 1.8T Mk2 will be 4k+ easy.

My mates have Mk2's and although i have massive love for them but you'll hate it eventually. They are NOT reliable. Well they are reliable enough, but not like a car which is 10/15 years newer. You say a VR converted Mk2 is quick, well they are but no faster than a 182 and drink fuel. Also, once you put that heavy engine over the front wheels it ruines them a bit.

My mates hated my french cars but ALL of them after driving it love it. One mate said its almost like a updated MK2 golf would you beleive.

 

[Clgale88]

Id go for a Clio i sold my clio 172 cup for a mk3 golf ok its not a mk2 but i thought it would be cheaper and more reliable so i could save but i was wrong i was spending twice as much on fuel insurance wasnt no difference and it wasnt very reliable at all. my clio 172 cup was getting 41.8mpg most of the time and the golf 8v was only getting around 22.4mpg. So id defo say a clio more modern fast good on fuel.

 

[z8jay]

Have owned both. I'll try to remember to post more later but essentially both great cars, competlry different experience owning the golf to the clio tho

 

[105e]

Having had modified mk1 golfs for the past 20 years i would say if you plan on doing lots of mods then the mk2 golf,

 

[liam-vtr]

The 182 certainly would be the sensible choice for reliability and performance. Although if you have your heart set on a mk2 golf (I know you want to keep the next car for a long time), maybe buy a cheaper one to drive around in for a few months then sell at what will more then likely be the same price you bought it for (i've had my heart set on a 205 gti for a while and that is what im looking to do! Then from there decide whether to want to spend ££££ on improving an old design or go for right decision. IMO of course!

 

[Silent_Scone]

mk2 GTIs are getting on now. Needlessly complex engines and if it's the one I'm thinking of which is the KR engine then it's also mechanical injection and a fairly specialist type of car IMO. Not cheap to maintain at all and have endless cold start problems. If you've got the money and the enthusiasm then go for it but personally I think one would be more hassle than it's worth these days.

 

[plymcl172]

do you want a car that you can drive everyday and be pretty fast with cheap fun?= Clio

Or do you want a car to tinker with, take too shows, go wrong most of the time and fix it every weekend?= Golf

 

[Gavin J]

Had both, loved both but to be honest i've stuck with the 172's however saying that i will probably have another gti at somepoint.....can't go wrong with either...

 

[Gavin J]

Just to add i did over 20k in my mk2 golf gti 8v in approx 18 months and it was very reliable.......

 

[VR46-G@Z]

I'd have to say get a 182! More modern, safer, better looking, comfortable and very well equipped for a little car, fast, reasonable running costs and most of all bloody good fun...!!!

 

[Gavin J]

Another point, i have taken both my golf and phase 1 172 to to the nurburgring, guess which one broke down and i had to get recovered? the 172 when the crank sensor failed so it wouldnt start. Also the Golf is far easier to work on imo and cheaper, cambelt is a diy job, bearings are taper bearings and not pressed in etc and dealer parts are cheaper than renault.Like you say both have pros and cons and both are great cars, as much as i praise the mk2 Golf its a 172 i currently own...reason being performance and handling....

 

[_Tom]

Another point, i have taken both my golf and phase 1 172 to to the nurburgring, guess which one broke down and i had to get recovered? the 172 when the crank sensor failed so it wouldnt start. Also the Golf is far easier to work on imo and cheaper, cambelt is a diy job, bearings are taper bearings and not pressed in etc and dealer parts are cheaper than renault.Like you say both have pros and cons and both are great cars, as much as i praise the mk2 Golf its a 172 i currently own...reason being performance and handling....

Yes but you're talking about a 8v. that is not a real GTi..haha! Even with a charger is debatable.

 

[Silent_Scone]

It's the 16v engines which are a nightmare.

N-i-g-h-t-m-a-r-e

 

[Jamie16v]

G60 Rallye of GTFO.

Clio 182 - quicker, better handling, looks better, more reliable and VW badge only means Scene Tax

 

[JoedotwasT5phy]

LOL!!

20 year old golf reliable?? have you ever owned an older car??

 

[magic36]

I currently own a mk2 golf and am in the process of swapping to a ff 182. The golf was a car i really fell in love with driving but the little problems with it began to build up and eventually i have lost interest. They are awesome cars with good reliability if you treat them well and its nice to drive a car which is not that common on the roads anymore. Im swapping to the 182 for a little more speed, more comfort, less road noise and the main reason being not having the constant worry of rust taking over my car!

 

[Jimbo_M]

I'd defo rather have the 182 personally. I would hardly say there isnt much room for modifications....the sky is your limit depending on how much your going to spend.

 

[teamkiki]

I've owned both - mk2 16v golf, oak green with rainbow interior was my first car and i had it for 4-5 years, covered around 60,000 miles in it. Loved it; it went to south of france and back, indecently practical, fun to drive, reasonably economical (28-32mpg on a run; pushed to 40 once on a proper economy drive), nowhere near as quick as the 182 - a 172 will outrun the golf in a straight line. I had problems with reliablity to start with, but that was because I didn't look after it properly. Old cars are fine (and the golf was awesomely reliable) if you check them regularly - keep an eye out for oil leaks, change oil/filter etc every 6k, keep an eye on fluid levels, clean electrical connections etc. If you're handy they are also mostly ok to work on - i did all the regular servicing, changed belts, replaced rear coilovers etc all myself. I sold it at 198k as I wasn't using it so it was just sitting, the guy who has it now is on 220-230k with no issues.

Clio - magic car, faster definitely, more economical (34-38mpg normal, 44.3 my best economy drive), handling is similar but more frisky. Golf felt more comfy/stable at higher motorway speeds. reliability of the clio is well documented on here - i've been lucky so far..., less practical but not bad - it's no mini!

Which would i choose? cant decide - id have the golf back in a flash, and the clio im keeping for a while yet! both great cars mate.

 

[AlexJC]

great points thanks guys for all your comments guys looks like everyone loves the 182! i know that i have a soft spot for the Mk2 but you're all right, seems like the clio would be by far the more smarter long term car to have!

 

[AlexJC]

im not gonna lie guys im still so torn :'(

 

[_Tom]

Go and drive both. That's all i can say..haha

 

[105e]

but drive a golf thats had the 20 vt conversion.

 

[.Kev.]

I'd go for the Golf but the Vr6, another option would be the Corrado Vr6. Epic engine.

 

[AlexJC]

Okay i've given it thought, and i've decided im going to go for the Full fat Clio 182 in black, i have a nice set of 16x8 schmidt wheels sitting in the garage so those will go nicely with it. All i got to do now is hunt for a nice one! anyways thanks guys for all your comments

 

[plymcl172]

When I hunted for my clio I wanted flame red but ended up getting black. Condition is a bit more important than a colour and you can fall in love with a colour you may not have liked before !

 

[Jamie16v]

Okay i've given it thought, and i've decided im going to go for the Full fat Clio 182 in black, i have a nice set of 16x8 schmidt wheels sitting in the garage so those will go nicely with it. All i got to do now is hunt for a nice one! anyways thanks guys for all your comments

If your going to put silly wide wheels on and f**k the handling by creating "stance" i'd buy a mk2.