Fantom

Hi guys. Coming home from work today I was hit from behind by a 4x4 and I'm 99.9% sure that my clio 172 will be written off. Not only is the boot floor absolutely destroyed, but the bonnet too as I was pushed into a micra.
Anyway, thats besides the point. What I'm challenging you guys to is to find my replacement. The simple thing is to get another 172, but is there something better for me? There are a few conditions though:

1. Roughly £5k to spend
2. Don't want an old banger. Clio was 2002
3. 32mpg average in the clio, don't want worse than that
4. Would like something equally as fast, and want to do some track days
5. I am 6'5. I had to get buckets to sit low enough in the clio, need something I don't have to muck around with.
6. Clio was 44k miles. Looking for fairly low miles.
7. In the clio, I enjoy digital climate control, auto xenons, auto wipers, heated mirrors.

So the challenge is on. Is there a performance car that can match the clio for cheapness?
I like civic type r's and would hope to fit better than in the clio, but it seems for £5-6k I would have to have about 100k miles. I know the engines are good, but is it worth it?
I also like integras but they hold their money too well. For £5k I'd end with a ten year old car.

What can you suggest?
Thanks for any help
Steve
ps: my neck is sore

The Chief

I've been looking at a car at approx 5 k that ticks all those boxes, i've narrowed it down to a Clio 172 cup or an Astra Coupe Turbo, now i would imagine an Astra would struggle round a track but they are a bit more user friendly and not as slow as you may think and are pretty good on MPG (if taken easy) and really reliable.

apart from that i cant be more help.

A 172 is hard to beat tbh.

Sorry mate

Fantom

Only last week I spent £400 on a stainless exhaust because the standard one fell apart. Can't believe my luck!

Fantom

Ford : FORD FOCUS ST 170

hmmmm. Was looking at these when buying my clio. Still not sure about them.

Brun

ST170's are way slow

Fantom

And the interior is awful...................
And its a Ford!

RS Grant

What about an Ibiza Cupra... 1.8t, 156bhp standard, simple re-map gives around 210bhp and they are quite roomy inside.


Cheers,
Grant

dpb

Xsara vts - keeping it gaelic


well within budget

Fantom

Would I fit in a xsara?

zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

skoda octavia vrs can be had for around that mark and are reliable

dpb

Itll be cosy with three abrest in the back seats for you - but you wont have trouble in the front i suspect

Fantom

Had a look at xsaras.............not interested. Don't like the look of them at all.

Fantom

Octavia looks a bargain but a bit big perhaps. Not sure I want something of that size. More after a hot hatch.
Looking at civics online and they are great. Would definitely have one, just need to find one with not too bad mileage on.
Otherwise its another clio I think.

l33 griff

iTrader: (4)

ibiza cupra 1.8 20v turbo, really good reliable cars, with 210-220 bhps with a simple remap and good for up to 340bhp on standard internals. half leather standard, a/c and loads of other bits. can be good on fuel if you dont have a heavy foot. basicly a vw polo but better

RS Grant

....and a fair bit bigger up front too, although rear seat size is probably around the same as the Polo.


Cheers,
Grant

l33 griff

iTrader: (4)

yep although the same chassie

dpb

yeh , cack

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

The Astra Coupe turbo is actually pretty good, a mate has a tuned 888 and it is alarmingly quick, to be honest I drove the Clio and though it was way over rated, gutless low down and not that fast once wound up, driving position was awful and badly made, sorry about your bump, my point being he may have done you a favour, turbo power is the way to go, perhaps like has been mentioned an Ibiza, chipped, I never got what they rave about on the Clio but then again I like Saabs and Volvos, maybe if I had spent longer with it but I would miss that turbo power delivery. After I drove the 182 I got back in my old Saab 9-3 150 LPT and it felt quicker than the Clio, I suppose that is down to low down torque.

Fantom

Turbo = fuel though
Surely a 200bhp Ibiza is gonna use more fuel than the clio. Fuel is exactly the reason I sold my WRX.

The Chief

Agree with what you are saying i drove my buddys old Astra SRI Turbo that had been fettled and produced 'only 212bhp' but it felt really quick, handling compared to my Scoob whilst not being as sure footed felt pretty good tbh for a fwd chassis, lets say it was better than i expected.

I cant compare to a Clio as i have never driven one

Fantom

One of my friends has a 2002 astra turbo. He only gets an average of 24mpg though!!!!

What are civics like on fuel?

RS Grant

Depends how you drive the Type-R stuff... you would probably average 30mpg if you were just tooling around day to day, but knock it into VTEC a lot and you'll be down around 15-20mpg I reckon.

The handling on an EP3 (only Type-R I've driven 'properly') is really impressive, I have yet to find a car that I enjoy driving more than a VTEC Honda when I'm 'in the mood' for a blast. The characteristics of the engine suit that type of driving perfectly.


Cheers,
Grant

Fantom

Sounds great. I'd definitely get one. Just depends how much money I get paid out. I think there will be a shortfall somehow
I could afford on ewith about 80k miles on but not sure whether its worth it or not? Would it still be very reliable etc?

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

I hate to state the obvious here. But how about a scooby. 5K gets allot of scooby these days. You would get a very good UK classic for that money. Which is still IMO the best value scooby and real world driving scooby available out of all the range of import ones.

Its a little older say 2000 reg and mileage might be 50/60K touch. But is a seriouls amount of bang for your buck, bullet proof, cheap on parts, massive knowledge base, and nice bunch of guys in the forums

Fantom

Hi Rob,
I would love another scooby, but having owned 2 already, I know how much fuel they use. I know I could get a standard one etc, but I need something cheaper to run really. Also insurance is a joke. I'm 28 and never had my own insurance due to always owning fast cars. I'm now with Direct Line and will get my first NCD for being a named driver this year, so I'd like to be able to use it to get my own policy. Don't think I'd manage it on an impreza

Fantom

I'm thinking something along these lines:

Renault : Clio 172 Cup

The Chief

Scoobys are ridiculous on fuel but.... i managed 300 miles once out of a tank - driving like a vicar to achieve this, with regards to insurance A Plan cameup trumps for me. The first year of Scooby ownership and i only had 3 years ncb was just over 800 quid.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

If fuel is a big consideration and going slightly to the other extreme - Don't rule out the VW TDI's. I think you can get a TDI 130 Golf for the money your are looking for.

Even without a remap, and only 130bhp but with massive torque they make for a great road car, and will return 50mpg no matter how your drive them. Remap it if you like and your knocking 170bhp and 300+fl/lb.

They feel much quicker than the figures suggest. And you still get a turbo kick.

DJ Dunk

iTrader: (5)

Personally I'd stick with the Clio, hard to beat for the money. I've driven a few Seat's (2001, 2003, 2005 & 2007) and couldn't wait to get out of any of them, nasty.

mg driver

how about one of these ,very very underrated and great fun but will drink more fuel ,you can pick a mk1 up much cheaper than this though.
MG : mg zs 180

edit ,thats a lot of car for the money! 26 k miles only on an 05 plate.