Should I be sensible or not?

[marshallt53]

Hi there,

I've been following this forum for a while, during which I owned a Renault Clio Mk2 Ph1 1.2 as my first car.
Tbh I loved it, I put to good use both at work and out of work averaging about 25k per year, and I drove
it like a 17yo. However the use began to show, the breaks failed during a thunderstorm (definitely a brown
moment), the clutch went, followed shortly after by the gearbox, along with a large list of other things.
Still, I loved it when it worked and my uncle introduced me to his '55 182 Trophy, and I knew I wanted
one.
That was sold and I've gone a while driving a range of other vehicles including vans and 4x4s.
I'm now looking to buy another car, to which I narrowed it down to 3. The Fiesta Zetec S 1.6tdci or the
Fiesta ST which my head tells me buy, or Clio 182 which my heart tells me to buy. The question is, will I
regret buying it?

I won't be doing high milage (about 5k/year) as I'll be going back to Uni for another year so I'll probably
be spending more time cleaning and looking after it than anything. I'm just hoping that I it will okay for
everytime I want to how the Clio some backroads :approve:. Also, I was thinking of a few small mods; silver
visions, LED lights or similar and a front splitter, I like to keep my cars quite close to standard really.

 

[Dave Hester]

Get insurance quotes for each car first and then come back

Please dont be one of the idiots on here that pays £3-4k a year just too insure a 182

 

[marshallt53]

I've checked insurance and I got £749 fully comp with Admiral so I'm happy with that, I wouldn't pay more than a grand for insurance on anything.

 

[plymcl172]

your choice of cars couldnt be more apart! the 2 fords are no where near the fun of a clio? and 1 car is a diesel?

narrow it down to cars which you wanna get really, how about a 172 ? cheaper and just as much fun !

 

[Steven103]

The "will I regret it" question isn't really one that anyone but yourself can answer. Personally I endeavour to have another 182 one day for the sentimental value, even if i can afford a 458, so it's a car that means a lot to me.

In terms of the other choices though, it's a bit dated compared the ST and doesn't look as "rude." However the performance is better, handling is better, MPG isn't worse, price isn't worse, equipment is better AND it's the one your heart wants. How can you not get one?

Which ZS are you thinking about? Mk 6 or 7? The MK 6 petrol feels unsophisticated and wooden in the handling department compared to the 182, and when you put your foot down... well... the 182 is in a different universe. It is however cheap as chips to run and is more modern inside. Nice seats too. And the steering wheel doesn't have the same diameter as the moon. The 182's drawbacks are for me, in the scheme of things, rather trivial things that will never be outweighed for the passion I have for the Clio's cheeky looks & brilliant fun.

 

[Howell]

The ST's are s**t, don't feel quick while driving at all! Try test driving the 3 you've chosen but Personally I'd follow your heart

 

[sam55]

182 for sure, in another league to the ST IMO. My friend's ST feels so much more tame than my 182. The 182 to me is pure fun! And despite being a poor student myself, the best decision I've made whilst at Uni is buying the 182. I find myself going out for drives, with no destination, just out in search of a fun country road! My housemates don't get it but they drive boring cars ha

 

[marshallt53]

your choice of cars couldnt be more apart! the 2 fords are no where near the fun of a clio? and 1 car is a diesel?

narrow it down to cars which you wanna get really, how about a 172 ? cheaper and just as much fun !

I know one is a diesel, that's why I deemed it a sensible choice in the scheme of things. I would be happy with any of the cars, however I'm trying to weigh up how much I love the 182 against some of the horror stories I've read about their reliability. And in response to getting a 172, as good as they are I'd prefer a 182 since they fall in my budget just as easily. How much of a cash float do you reckon I'll need aside to keep it going?

 

[marshallt53]

Not much love for STs then, I've driven one and I did enjoy it tbh. I did worry if it's economy was much of a pay off over a zetec s like. That's why I've considered a zetec too.
Do you find it okay to have at uni? As I'll be going back from my good full time wage back to part time barwork again although as I said I won't be running it everyday.

 

[sam55]

Yeah it's fine at Uni for me, it's a luxury rather than a neccessity in Leeds tbh, I can walk everywhere but I occasionally fancy a drive! I drove back home (London) from Leeds on thursday, which is a 200mile trip, and I got 40mpg average and it cost me about £28 in fuel (V Power not the cheap stuff!) And I could have easily saved money if I was even more light footed.

Reliability wise, mines done 77000 miles and is (touch wood) perfect. No issue at all, barring a rusty exhaust but that's to be expected with the age. The engines are bullet proof if allowed to warm up before being revved, and they will take a thrashing if you respect it! That's what I've found anyway.

 

[plymcl172]

You can buy a 182 for the same price as a 172 just depends on milage really!

And they are the same cars really, 10bhp would never be noticed

you dont need cashflow really, just make sure you buy a good one, the guides on here are useful!

 

[marshallt53]

Ah that's okay then, the same for me really as I can walk to uni and save the car.
I'll be looking to get one with about 50k or less, with good service history of course. Fuel economy isnt a massive issue in my mind, but it's nice to hear that is can be decent on motorways.

And its not the extra 10 bhp that attracts me to the 182, it's that it's slightly newer, the twin exhausts (not gunna lie), and generally it's the model that got me interested in the first place.

 

[PP200t]

Clio 182 all the way.