GTTurbo

If you were to choose between a 306 gti6 and a clio 172 what would it be?

I have driven both in the past, remember enjoying both but obviously did not get to try them back to back.

Thanks.

Daz34

I drove my mate's 6, as he called it, a few times and compared to my 172 I thought it handled just as well, if not better but felt slower and wasn't as responsive on the throttle.
Decent 306's are getting harder to find as well as they are getting a bit old now.

Get a 172

Gutmann pug

Both the same sort of car, the 172 being newer should in theory be more reliable. Saying that they are both French.......

nisr227

Nah!...get a 306 GTi-6 (or Rallye). I use to drive the Wifes' 6 (gold 99T reg)everyday to work 100mile each day, and considering the mileage is took it all in its stride. They are far better all round cars, and better handling too. Just get the cambelt changed often! I also work for a fleet company and we have regular 172's back, the build quality isn't as good as the 6 for a start, and Clio's do suffer from electrical problems.

More importantly, from a driving point of view, I use to come across many 172's with the 6 and never had any problems, certainly trying to keep up with the 172's mk2's. The early 172's are slightly lighter, and obviously the cup slightly quicker too, but work the 6 speed well, and with the fantastic handling and the excellent brakes the GTi-6 was a joy to drive, but wasn't too bad crusing on the motorway either.

All reviews rate the 6 as one of the best hatches ever, the Williams, and the new trophey would argue with that, but the basic 172 certainly didn't drive as well.

R1916v

The cars are so similar I'd really go and drive them again yourself to choose, personally I chose the mk1 172 but part of that was I could get a newer one with lower miles and better condition for the money at the time.

I'd guess if you are comparing these two your looking at the mk1 172 anyway, it's only a few kgs heavier than a mk2 cup yet you get to keep all the "luxuries" (although no xenons), and you get decent seats. A lot of them also came with a lighter ally bonnet, and nice OZ wheels (Although not as nice as the cup's turinis).

Also fuel consumption on the 306 isn't great, been told it's 30mpg driving like a granny, lower when having fun. The 172 will hit 40 when cruising/driving miss daisy and don't thin kI've ever had a tank where the average (300 miles worth) has been less than 32.

Haven't had a problem with mine so far, touch wood...

Senior_AP

I had a Mk1 172 and hated it - shocking car. My Pug is a million miles better.

However, the 172 Cup is a million miles apart form the crappy mk1 - so it's horses for courses.

Drive them, both.

scoobydooooo

i had a mk 1 172 and loved it !! so there !! but they are both french as has been said !

Senior_AP

Pug is better quality than the Mk1 172.

homerjay

ive had a 99 306 gti6 and a 04 182...

gotta say it a fookin tuff choice over which is the all round better car...

in fact, i cant decide...

GTTurbo

So would it be fair to say that in summery of the above; the 306 is more thirsty, older design, marginally better build quality, bigger.

The Clio 172 is slightly faster having a better power to weight ratio and MPG but the driving position is not quite as good.

What are the gear ratios like in the 172 - well spaced?

R1916v

Never had a problem with my mk1, seems pretty solid (as solid as a french car can be anyway).

Colinj

Another vote for the 172!!

ScoobyJawa

My 306 NEVER dropped below 30mpg and that was ragging the crap out of it everywhere. Averaged about 35.

I'd have another in a heartbeat - still miss my old one loads

lordlucan

172 Cup....

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

I've owned a 306 Rallye, a 306 GTi-6 and a Clio 172 Cup, so probably in a good position to comment...


Performance wise my Clio was quicker, but I did have the Cup version .The normal 172 "Sport" is very similar in performance to the 306 Rallye actually, the Clio being marginally quicker off the line, but once rolling the 306 is at least as quick and at higher speeds stronger due to the 6 speed box.

The GTi-6 is marginally slower, but there's not a lot in it between all of them on the road, although I do have the lighter weight (& rare) Phase 1 GTi-6 which weighs similar to the Rallye and is just as quick.


The 306 has a better chassis though, the Clio is good, very good, but the 306 IMO is the better handling car. The steering feel is superb, soaks up the terrain very well, really controlable on the limit, gives you confidence to push on. The Clio is a small, lightweight car with a firm ride, can be a little skittish especially in the wet, I'd say over a fast B Road the 306 would be quicker.


Value for money, the 306 is a cheaper car, you can pick them up for peanuts now, it's a LOT of car for the money!

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

They're not as good as the Clio granted, but I can get 37mpg out of my GTi-6 on a run... they're not that bad...

Rich D

iTrader: (12)

mk1 or mk2?

The mk2 (& Cup) have a better set of ratio's, the mk1 is not as evenly spaced and longer geared, not really hot hatch ratio's IMO.

currymonster

Loved my 306 gti6 sooooo much, always got 30mpg or above out of mine. Quick, awesome noise, handling and surprisingly torquey. Awesome brakes too. And those cyclone alloys are absoutely gorgeous!

I can't compare to the clio but the 306 gti6 bunch at www.306gti6.com/ are very good lots of good advice and a good faq as well.

Miss my '6 and it was my best car ever, loved it more than my UK classic and my modded STI5!

Anyway, whichever you choose, you'll love it and the running costs will be half that of a scoob so quids in!

Cal

Senior_AP

Yep, I think the '6 (along with the 205 GTi) is a car that provokes something special. Can't really put my finger on it. Both cars were considered best hot hatch of all time in their respective era - with the '6 still a contender even now - 9 years after first production.

You can get an X plate '6 for good money now.

ScoobyJawa

Just a shame Peugeot have completely lost this abilty they had to build cracking cars

Senior_AP

Yeah, all gone a bit Pete Tong of late.

Long live the '6 !!

YOUNG GED

Soon to find out how good the 6 is as i p/x my scooby for one today!!
Hope its a s good as you all make out,if so I'll be well chuffed.

Senior_AP

The complete package.

Name me another car that's happy cruising at 40 in 6th or screaming at 130 in 5th???

Diablo

LOL, yes, in the way that something is not quite as ****e as something else...


(Edit to add, I'm talking about the quality issue, not the cars themselves)

currymonster

Cool, go and join www.306gti6.com/ lots of advice and where to get cheap parts etc!

Grr I so want '6 again it hurts but my STI 5 has scared me off performance motors for a while, my 306 HDI is quite a nice place to be with the 1/2 leather seats and Kenwood stereo..........hmm maybe if I say it enough I'll really believe it, lol, doh!

Not jealous at all, git!

Cal

p1rob

Driven both Clio and gti-6, nothing in the performance, personally i'd go for the '6' , bigger, better driving position and looks better IMO

oh and not as common

YOUNG GED

cheers curry already had a look on there and it seems like a good site.

What happened with the sti to scare you??

currymonster

Bottomless money pit! Don't ask or I might cry! At least the guy that bought it got a bargain so he was happy!

sideways scooby

I had a 306 rallye and loved it to bits best car i ever had apart from the scoob. i have 2 mates with gti-6's and they are both slower than the rallye same top end but definatly slower take off, i also have a mate with a 172 and he cant keep up to the gti-6's at top end, i absolutely loved the 6 speed box they had always hated driving 5 speeds after that. it had 140mph on clock and would easily go past it

R1916v

I was gutted when I needed a car there was a nice looking 6, albeit in blaze yellow (wtf is wrong with calling it bronze anyway :P), that was really good condition on the outside but the inside was horrific, everythign was torn and scuffed to ****

So I didn't buy it, shoulda done as even though it was older it was quite a bit cheaper than the 172, but with over double the miles