Choices ALFA 2.0 147 or CLIO 172
 

Hiya All

trying to decide what second car to get something sensible, fun, and looks, i quite like the Alfa 147 2.0, but hear bad stories about Alfa`s like you do i suppose about all makes really, no model is perfect, but i also like the Clio 172.

Help and Advice gratefully accepted

is that a trick question? 172 all the way. the alfa is too slow to be fun. had a 172 before my impreza and it was the best car ive ever had. make sure its a mk2 though if you get one.

sorry, i would go for the Alfa.

Clio is more unreliable and when you buy the Alfa you are buying a car with a soul. Something the Clio can only dream of.

147 is a more rounded car and the 2.0 twinspark is a gem. Interior looks good and is a nice place to be.

The GTA is amazing......what an engine.

ps.......you don't want your bonnet flying up as you drive along do you???

Had an Alfa 147 2.0 TS Lusso and it really did nothing for me in the year of ownership.
Effective as a vehicle but not fun by any stretch. Nice to be in but perormance and handling absolutely nothing to write home about.

Take into account dealers and residuals and I couldn't in all honesty recommend a 147 (unless it was a GTA but even that would require some thought).

As for the 172, a mate of mine had one and his experience was even worse than mine with the alfa! He did have some fun on a few trackdays though which is something that the Alfa is just not capapble of.

I've been at a few renaultsport.com trackdays and they all have a hoot so I guess if I was in your shoes, I'd be looking at the clio...

Get a Clio 172 Cup. They are brilliant fun. Typically french build and reliability but fairly cheap to fix when they do go wrong. A 2.0 147 is boring. The GTA would be interesting but in some ways still wouldn't be as fun as a 172.

Quite clearly you either have the world's most unsensible car at the moment or you don't really want anything sensible at all. The Clio, although great fun, will probably have been hammered by previous owners and the Alfa is an Alfa and nothing more needs to be said. If you are going to buy a sensible second car then stop looking at unsensible cars that have an element of practicality.

They are both unreliable but I am still scratchin my head as to wondering why you seem to think that the alfa would be fun to drive.

Go for the clio if it must be one of the two. Otherwise get a 2nd hand LCR.

Could you direct me to the place that I can get a second hand LCR for the same price as a Clio 172? I'll have 100 of em if you can.

How much are those cheap french things?

5 grand would get you an average 172. I would like 100 LCRs @ £5,000 each, please. Can you tell me where I can get them?

How much are 2.0 147's, and how much for a looked after 172?

A very well looked after 172 would sell for £6.5k. 2.0 litre 147s can be found for the same price. This is logical given the gentleman is trying to decide between the two vehicles. I would still like to know where I can get a LCR for anything close to this sort of money. Please advise me.

2003 Black LCR for 7 grand.

Go do a search on autotrader if you dont believe me :D

Just searched Autotrader and cannot find such a vehicle. Please provide a link to the car you are recommending. I am sure the gentleman will be thrilled to know he can get a well cared for, average mileage LCR for £7k. Thank you

There's also a red one near Aberdeen.
:)

I see, so if it is a choice between a high mileage LCR or a pristine 172 you would go for the LCR. Interesting. I wonder if I have over-estimated the value of the Renault or Alfa. I rather suspect I have. Not to worry, I am sure GSM21 will tell us his actual budget in due course.

nob

Its true though. They are cheap fun. Why say its otherwise?

quick response

likewise :D

Yeah make sure it's the heavier, slower one with diff gear ratios and worse suspension geometry setup and the naff looking wheels :P Oh and more expensive :)

4k for a nice mk1, but just don't get a silver one (almost all seem to be silver!).

Of if you do go for a mk2 don't get a black one (way too common).

I had a '01 172 for about 2.5 years. Had absolutely no problems with it and ran like a dream. You can't have more fun on 4 wheels at the price. There are a few MKII 172 with under 40K miles that can be had from £4500.

budget to about 6k, so now will take recomendation for sporty and fun small run about for 6k

206 Gti, Clio 172, Fiesta Zetec S, Civic VTi, Saxo VTS, 106 GTi etc.

Just run down the list of manufacturers in autotrader and look at what small hatches they all do, then think of the sporty model :)

All of those above are small, sporty-ish and fun :)

Some handle better than others, some faster than others, but in the real world on normal roads they'll all be fun.

My money went on a mk1 172, at the time the price premium for a mk2 wasn't worth it (the gap is a lot lower now and prices are pretty lower verall as well). Since then I'm glad I went for it, I prefer the looks (i.e. it's not a silver one :P ) and have been advised by a couple o fthe reputable tuners that they prefer the standard mk1 to the standard mk2, the cup however still seems to be the fave especially if you're tracking it :)