Visually modifying my 1.2 mk2 ph2... pointless?

[Kyle92]

Just wondering if you guys think it's a little bit pointless and a waste of money for me to modify my mk2 ph2 1.2 dynamique?
I'm looking for a car I can make look nice and stand out.. I know this can be quite hard to do with a clio without making them look chavtastic.

Right now i'm in a predicament of whether I should get the usual stuff; coilovers, wheels, grille, 172 rear bumper etc, maybe a matt black vinyl wrap too..

Or whether I should sell my clio and buy something a little more mod friendly like a VW polo/mk4 golf or something along those lines?

What do you think? I know in the end it's down to me, but inspiration and other peoples views on the matter would be nice But please remember I do want to mod, not leave the car standard. I want to drive something I can put my stamp on

:approve: Thanks!

 

[DannyR]

In my opinion and probably a fair few others.

Some 16" Renault 172/182/other wheels and lowered 40mm would look spot on for looks. Not really much else you can do, save the money until you can afford something slightly better to play with.

 

[JezzaMac]

Depends if your going to keep the car for a while or if you actually want something bigger/faster/more comfortable etc that you need to save up for. If you want to modify it then thats fair enough and I say go for it!

 

[Kyle92]

In my opinion and probably a fair few others.

Some 16" Renault 172/182/other wheels and lowered 40mm would look spot on for looks. Not really much else you can do, save the money until you can afford something slightly better to play with.

Suggest something slightly better? I'm only 19 which is the reason I can't really go over a 1.6 engine. I've had the 1.2 since I was 17 though. I could always upgrade, but I wouldn't sell my clio for another clio, i'd get a different car

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Cars that stand out are almost always for the wrong reasons.

Just leave it alone.

Keep it clean, spend money on some decent tyres and petrol and more than likely an awful lot more on your insurance which will probably increase if you mod the car.

:approve:

 

[Kyle92]

Depends if your going to keep the car for a while or if you actually want something bigger/faster/more comfortable etc that you need to save up for. If you want to modify it then thats fair enough and I say go for it!

Cars that stand out are almost always for the wrong reasons.

Just leave it alone.

Keep it clean, spend money on some decent tyres and petrol and more than likely an awful lot more on your insurance which will probably increase if you mod the car.

:approve:

that looks disasterous... my insurance is only £695 a year as main driver on my own policy

 

[Deckiedoo]

Maybe look at an RS grille and silvatec bulbs for the front.

 

[sbridgey]

And 172 ph2 alloys to keep it subtle.

 

[Struggler]

well you need to deciede if you want to keep the car for a while!!

if you intend to, then by all means start making some changes, nice wheels, coilovers, some OEM+ body parts.

remember as long as you dont butcher anything, you can sell the mods on later when you need to drum up finance for something, standard cars sell for a lot more than modded ones.

 

[Crispy.]

And 172 ph2 alloys to keep it subtle.

This. Very pleased with them on mine

 

[Rhauri]

The way I think of it is that if you want to modify a car to make it better... then the car itself isn't what you want - and its easier to achieve what you want by selling that car, and buying a car that has better standard specification to meet your needs in the first instance.

It will (mostly) always be more cost effective to buy a standard better-model/car than to uprate a bottom/middle of the range car, too.

Largely because modifications will either add no value, or decrease value of the car come sale time. It is only in very rare cases and in niche markets that a modified car will sell for more.

A standard well looked after 1.2 Clio will sell all day long for good money, where as if you modify it, many people will see it and be put off (me included) which would drive the price down in order or you to get a sale. So all the money you'd spend on mods, you'd never get back if you sold that car and you may even stand to loose even more. And that stands for any run of the mill hatchback, including the Golf and Polo's you mentioned, simply because there are more average drivers wanting to buy an average unmolested car than young lads wanting to buy a pre-modified car. Even then, young lads will more than often want to buy an unmolested car as it gives the perception that it hasn't had the balls ragged off it - so your target market is tiny.

Best thing I think you can do is save up the money you would spend on modifications, sell the car and put all that money together and look to buy a better specification standard car. Like a Golf GTi, or a Clio 172 that come with the sportier suspension, the colour coded bit of trim, the nicely sized alloys etc. And when you sell it, you'll be able to get your money back for it (not accounting for depreciation of course).

My advice is to leave the car as is, save the dosh you'd otherwise use to modify you clio and/or the new car and change car for a better spec. With insurance too, a modified (visual or not) 1.2 Clio could cost up to or even more then a standard 1.6 Clio due to ill-founded negative associations that go with drivers wanting to modify their cars. There are of course specialist insurers that are more realistic with their rating for mods, but it'll always increase.

Hope that helps and makes sense

Rhauri

 

[Inequality Street]

Suggest something slightly better? I'm only 19 which is the reason I can't really go over a 1.6 engine. I've had the 1.2 since I was 17 though. I could always upgrade, but I wouldn't sell my clio for another clio, i'd get a different car

I'm 19. I had a 1.2 Clio with an exhaust, tints, different alloys, induction kit, sport grill and colour coded it. All in all my insurance on a family policy, was £2500 with 2 years NCB.

I thought to myself, screw that. Sold and am now in a 2.0ltr Fiesta ST (standard) and pay £1380.

Such a better car, quicker, more comfy, leather seats etc..

I'd recommend saving to upgrade, I pumped thousands into my Clio. Then sold it for £1500...

 

[Toby.]

Or you could always sell your 1.2 and get a diesel clio. More power and insurance shouldnt break your balls as much as an RS would