Andy M3

Which would you have and why?

Chap at work can't make his mind up. The Renault is the cheapest to buy and the dealer is offering 0% finance. He has a £13k deposit so the rest will be from the bank. Does anyone know the residuals on each of these models or have any ownership experiences?

Thanks in advance.

Boost II

iTrader: (1)

Renaults have crap build quality and break down a lot. That is why they are cheap and the dealers always need to offer 0% finance or free insurance to sell any.

Of the other 2 just get whichever makes you feel the best when you drive it.

Jimpreza

I can not stress enough please don't let anyone buy a renault they are so unreliable it's unbelieveable. I can't stand the looks of the type r. The st is defo worth a look. If it was me though I'd go for a VXR as they are quicker than my standard wrx and my wife has a astra 1.6. Couldn't believe how good the dealer was at it's first service. Vauxhall's were **** in my day.

Steve vRS

I'd like an R26 but cannot bring myself to return to a Renault dealers after the service I had with my Clio.

Steve

stilover

Out of the 3 I'd go for the Focus ST.

Has he considered a Golf GTI?

projectsubaru

Find a nice older civic type r on a 55 reg ?

Rokerlad

Out of that bunch I would have the Civic closely followed by the Focus. The Renault will fall apart and lose **** loads in residuals . The Megane has always been a butt-ugly car and no matter of dual exhaust pipes and F1 stickers is ever going to change that.

Dream Weaver

I've spent the last 6 months going through similar dillemas, test drives, tyre kicking etc. I have £15k ish to spend and have decided that its the Focus ST for me.

Focus ST
- Look superb
- Very affordable
- Cheap to insure and service
- Fuel bad, but I only do low miles

Impreza STI
- Too much to insure, tax and service

VW Golf
- Too expensive
- Not that nice looking to me
- A bit slow

Civic
- I already have a new shape Civic (albeit Diesel) as the family car
- Type R although very nice is too much of a high revver for me, I'm trying to get away from having to ring the neck of what I own so I want a turbo.

Astra
- I just dont like the looks
- Dont like Vauxhalls
- Better std equipment than the Focus though

Have also looked at S3's, BMW's, Leons etc but I always come back to the Focus ST.

Only problem now is VED - at £310 a year its a fair chunk, stupid labour gov't.

Mind you I was looking at 2001 P1's at first and the VED will be £455 on those I don't envy anyone trying to sell a P1 that was registered in mid March 2001!!!

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

Get a Mint DC5 Integra Type R

subaruturbo_18

id have a focus st. they are very nice and so comfy

Tobisausage

This is what I would do

Andy M3

Thanks for some of your suggestions. He wants a new car which rules out the older civic. The DC5 is also used, but not exactly a useable hatchback in the same way the others are, and despite the marketing jargon I don't think the ST, R26 & Type R GT are as track orientated as the JDM Type R's.

The car will spend no time on the track and be used in and around the city with the odd rural blast. Other hot hatches have been considered and ruled out.

sti-04!!

Megane R30 ?? I seen one of these in white the other day & thought it was a cracking looking car.

Tony MY03WRX

He could buy mine its almost new....

Ford : Focus ST2 57 Reg Only £13999

Andy M3

Nice car, and cheap

Dream Weaver

Ah so thats yours, looked at that a few times today and just showed the Mrs and she thought it was very nice.

Shame your the other end of the country (literally) as I wouldn't mind a look at that, right colour and spec for me, price is good etc. Dont suppose you will be anywhere near Lancashire any time soon? Fancy a PX with a 200bhp 205 GTI plus cash your way?

Some jokers on Pistonheads are trying to sell 06 and 07 plate ST2's for over £15k, when you can get delivery miles pre reg 57 plates for £15,495 from Archers!!

Tony MY03WRX

Sorry, but no were near Lancashire in the near future....and I have a new car lined up...

I have priced it to sell and as you say some people are living in cloud cuckoo land with their prices...

Been offered £13500 px, so hopefully someone will get a bargain before the Stealer gets it and puts at least £1500 on the price....

P1Fanatic

As said youd be mad to buy a Renault. Renowned for electrical and interior gremlins. Engines are good but if the rest of the car is always causing problems its a downer on the whole thing.

The focus is nice and I especially like the exhaust note.

I personally would pick the CTR and is what Im lining up for my next car - just saving the cash at the mo as not ever taking out a car loan again. Its a marmite car - either love the looks or hate them.

You cant go wrong with either tbh. Also as said Focus Road Tax will be considerably higher so worth bearing that in mind.

Simon

P1Fanatic

Mint or not - its fairly obvious the chap is after a new car.

Simon

jonc

Of those originally listed, I'd go with the Renault. Its the fastest and most driver focused of the lot, plus numerous if not most reviews rate them over the other 2. The new Civic is not as fast or as focused as the previous version and I've even edged away from one in my BMW 325i (e46) in a straight line rolling start. The Ford's 5 pot will drink fuel at a rate that'll keep the local petrol station very happy indeed.

Ignore all the exagerated claims of the Megane falling to bits. It just won't happen. Modern Renaults are just as well built as any other European competitor, perhaps partly due to its partnership with Nissan. I've gone from BMW 325 to Renault Clio Trophy, while it certainly rattles a bit more and uses poorer quality materials, nothing has fallen off yet and I've found it just as reliable. Yes some dealers are a-holes some aren't but there are also plenty of independent specialists around too.

Andy M3

I think given those facts, it might knock the Renault down the list. The CTR for example appeals to him now more than the previous model as it is a little softer around the edges, as is the ST.

As I said, he liked a lot about the Renault - watch this space for updates!

MooseRacer

If it's his own money then look for residuals as well as ability. Say bye to the Renault and the Ford then