Potential new owner!

[Neanderthal]

Hi all
Contemplating buying a 2nd hand 182.
Got 10k to spend and I'm struggling to decide on what to buy.
I've had a good drive of a mates 172 and I'm impressed with the power and handling.
He's had a few things go wrong with his car (replacing the cltuch cable @ 20k miles, steering making a knocking noise etc) and it does worry me about reliability of the car.

I've driven a CTR and I do love it's Jeckle & Hyde personality but as many owners have said you can easily get bored with having to rag the boobies off it. For 10k I couldn't get one anyhow, not unless it's high mileage which really puts me off given the nature of how you get the power.

I really want something that'll be fun, big enough for the wife and I and be able to fit a baby seat in it (haven't got one yet but forward planning )
I'm not one to keep a car for years and years as I either get bored or it turns out that there's something about the car I can't live with.

My recent car history;

Classic Impreza Turbo (chipped to 280bhp) - Loved this car but had to sell it to put a deposit on a house
Leon Cupra R (Revo'd to 270 bhp) - Fast in a straight line but the handling was absolute rubbish.
Smart Brabus Roadster - Without a doubt, this car was the most fun car to drive I've ever owned. Reliabilty was shocking though. It got to the point where I'd get in it in the morning and wonder if I'd make it to work.
Current car - Corsa SXi - Brought it off my mum as a cheap run around as I couldn't make up my mind as to what to buy. However, I've had it a month and can't wait to get rid of it

So my question is, would I be making a mistake buying a 182. I need a reliable car for work. It has to be economic (not too much but I couldn't afford to run an impreza again), fun to drive and have space to fit baby stuff in when the time comes.

cheers
Matt

 

[Lee]

Welcome to ClioSport.

I'll start with reliability. Overall the Clios are very very reliable cars and can take a real licking without any major problems. However they do have plenty of niggles which most of us learn to live with. Buying second hand though most of this will have been sorted. The engines are strong, but hard to extract extra power out of, although I don't think that's going to bother you by the sounds of your requirements. The exhaust is pour and doesn't usually last more than a year (on all 3 of mine!), you often get knocking from the engine mounts, the gearbox mounts aren't great, and most models have a problem with the front strut tops knocking. All of those can be done under warranty, except for the exhaust depending on the age of the car. There was also a run of temperature sensor issues, but again that's easily sorted by any main dealer.

They are economical, I see around 30 - 32mpg on my 42 mile round trip into work each day. That's into the centre of Birmingham so it's clear roads for half then stop start the rest. I've had it down to 16mpg on track though.

I think it's only stumbling point is space, they aren't big cars and the boot isn't massive.

What it does do is put a big grin on your face when you find a good B road, or take it in track.

Think that covers most things,

Lee

 

[trailerparktrev]

i'd disagree with the boot space. It's a pretty good size. But then again my last Car was a Mini Cooper.

 

[Tom_E]

30 - 32MPG...i wish!! i only see 25-26 in my 182 at the mo!

Welcome by the way i love my 182, has never been back to the dealer since it was made!

 

[Rich]

Welcome to CS. Not really done many miles in mine so cant help you on the reliability side of things.

 

[Lee]

Welcome to CS. Not really done many miles in mine so cant help you on the reliability side of things.

On the subject of which, I covered 22500 in my 172 in 15 months, with a fair few days at Santa Pod. My 182 did 18500 in 12 months with a good 5 or 6 track days including Spa and the Ring, and the Trophy is only on 7k ish but has already done Oulton Park and has been over to the South of France to drive the Col de Turini.

None of them had any major issues. Lots of members have done a lot more miles than I cover, and driven them harder, and not had any problems.

 

[Rich]

Lee you mileage wh*are!

 

[Neanderthal]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replies. Sorry I've not been back on since posting the thread!
I'm still leaning more towards the 182 than any other car.
I've seen quite a few on Autotrader, especially interested in one that has the Trophy seats (but is a normal 182) but it seems 1k more than similar age/mileage cars (priced at 10.5k for an 05 with 10k miles on)
Also seen a 182 cup for 9k that looks stunning in black (10k miles)

 

[Lee]

I wish I didn't do so many miles, my insurance would be less, and I'd save a fortune on petrol.

The seats really are worth it. The standard seats are lovely, but the Recaros are that little bit lower, and certainly support your shoulders better. Seats

 

[Neanderthal]

Aye, I do like the racing blue that the car with those Trophy seats are in.

 

[sneeks]

Those seats look excellent, how much do they cost?

 

[Lee]

Those seats look excellent, how much do they cost?

They were standard in the Trophy, and extra cost options in the 182 and 182 Cup.

You can buy them from Recaro. There's a thread on them here: Link

 

[sneeks]

Thanks Lee. I'd only just spotted that thread. Going by the cost of those per seat I'll be forgetting about buying those for now

 

[Martin_172]

£800 extra for them for the full fat 182 i think, and cost more for them in a cup (or was it £600 in ff and £800 in cup?!) cant quite remember

 

[lucky]

I'd buy a 172 cup, £7k should get a nice one. Then the other £3k to fettle :evil:

Failing that, you'd get a very nice 182 for £10k if you want all the creature comforts.

 

[ukaskew]

Also seen a 182 cup for 9k that looks stunning in black (10k miles)

182 Cup was only in Racing Blue or Inferno (Orange), so that was probably a 182 with optional Cup Suspension and/or Spoiler Pack.

 

[Neanderthal]

182 Cup was only in Racing Blue or Inferno (Orange), so that was probably a 182 with optional Cup Suspension and/or Spoiler Pack.

Yeah sorry, still learning the different flavours that the Clio comes in

My last question, as I'm pushing 30... am I too old to be drving around in what lots of people consider a young persons car!?!

 

[Ali]

172 Full Fat, flame red, cup spoiler and splitter, turini's and lowered....Oh yeh that would be my car! hehe

Welcome to the club.

 

[littleone]

29-30 mpg in towm not bad for 182 nearly two years good car same as my audi