Toying with the idea of another saxo!

[finegunit]

Hi All

Thinking of buying another saxo vtr as the only reason I sold my last one was for a change of scenery (which was a mk1 seat Leon Cupra)
I now own a brand new Toyota aygo which saves me a fortune but is a little boring. So I'm after a weekend plaything to have a tinker with. I toyed with the idea of a Clio 182, but everyone I've spoke to says they are fun if you can keep them running! Is the saxo scene still strong? Or is it on its arse nowadays?

[TomT]

Go for the Clio imo

[finegunit]

I probably would have, but just heard so many horror stories on ridiculous prices for cambelts and dephaser pulleys etc being £400-£500 to sort. Does anything on a saxo cost that much? Ha ha

[saxova]

Yeah.

A full car. :y:

[finegunit]

Yeah.

A full car. :y:

Ha ha, exactly.

[smiith]

If its just a weekend car, i would go for a VTS, over an R, since you aren't going to be fueling it for work and stuff.. Most parts bar an engine/gearbox replacement are the same, easy to mod, and quick enough!

Plus they are dirt cheap! Specially post 2000 models, because of the tax..

[finegunit]

Yeah I looked at vts, but they just seem harder to get hold of a half decent one.
I did an insurance quote on both and there wasn't much difference.

[smiith]

Depends what you mean by decent.. Chances of finding a low mileage one will be slim, the last ones were made 10 years ago now! Body work, again, 10 years old.. Ever thought about a 306 GTI-6? They sell pretty cheap now! One of the best handling cars in their day, decent power, and comfy!

[Davyy]

90% of clios I see for sale have had the 'big' job done of cambelt etc. Definitely have the clio over the Saxo and ive had both. Can pick up a 172/182 for cheap now and seems a lot of car for thw money.. especially 172.

[ThrushMotorsport]

I'm seeing 182's locally drop below 2k, there not exactly slow, but not that quick either for a toy..

I liked having a drive of the 182, didn't like the steering on it though - my own opinion

VTS, cheap.. Cheerful, and for less money as a toy, quicker. (I've driven a 201 bhp clio-182, my 106 got 149 bhp exact same day and same rollers, in a drag.. It's neck and neck - tested)

However.. Looks of the 182 is impair able to the saxo, on that.. I'd maby have the 182.. Sound great with a piper on them too!

[finegunit]

90% of clios I see for sale have had the 'big' job done of cambelt etc. Definitely have the clio over the Saxo and ive had both. Can pick up a 172/182 for cheap now and seems a lot of car for thw money.. especially 172.

I'm going to test drive a 182 on Saturday. Is there any other issues to look out for? I know the saxo is cheaper on bits as I've had one. Just read loads of harsh stuff about clios.

[TomT]

I probably would have, but just heard so many horror stories on ridiculous prices for cambelts and dephaser pulleys etc being £400-£500 to sort. Does anything on a saxo cost that much? Ha ha

Yeah but I wouldn't even consider it if it hadn't already had that done.

Do it, stick a nice Yozza on and enjoy

[Gandi699]

What kind of 182 is it?

[Gandi699]

I'm seeing 182's locally drop below 2k, there not exactly slow, but not that quick either for a toy..

I liked having a drive of the 182, didn't like the steering on it though - my own opinion

VTS, cheap.. Cheerful, and for less money as a toy, quicker. (I've driven a 201 bhp clio-182, my 106 got 149 bhp exact same day and same rollers, in a drag.. It's neck and neck - tested)

However.. Looks of the 182 is impair able to the saxo, on that.. I'd maby have the 182.. Sound great with a piper on them too!

Was that on bodies? The 182 I mean

[finegunit]

What kind of 182 is it?

It's not a cup or anything. It's the one with air con and all the gadgets still in. It's done 95,000 with one owner from new, fsh new cambelt, clutch, full stainless scorpion system and a folder full of paperwork. So on the face of it looks good. I think the only thing putting me off is the people on clios sport.net lol.

[Davyy]

I don't get what there is to put you off really. As said they are nice looking, modernish, nothing really close to it performance wise for the price and parts aren't overly expensive.

[Gandi699]

so not got the cup packs then? Personally i'd plump for a full fat - all the toys and the cup suspension.
Whats putting you off about CS? plenty of knoweledgable and nice people on there, its just not like this site at all which I why I dont use it much

[Davyy]

I don't get why you'd want a cup.. with no a/c, shit seats etc... for more money.

[Gandi699]

172 cup yes, 182 cup no

[willsy]

Alot of people who have been to a Clio have come back to Saxo/106 fairly quickly or have moved on again to something else quite quickly.

If you already have a daily which is keeping the wallet under control I'd stick with the temptation to return to Saxo/106 territory as they're cheaper overall. I don't think you'd gain anything but spending the extra on a Clio (if it was a daily choice then yes Clio all day long)

[Davyy]

172 cup yes, 182 cup no

''The 182 Cup is the worst Renault Sport Clio ever released. It loses things.. Xenon lights, leather seats, auto lights/washers etc etc. But doesn't gain anything.'' ??

[Gandi699]

and thats a quote from where?
182 cup is a pauper spec model, unlike the 172 cup or trophy

[Davyy]

Just some person on cliosport haha.. that's weird that what cup means isn't carried through. so a 172 cup is better than a 182 cup? Weird

[Gandi699]

I say so yes. The 172 cup got thinner glass, different belt setup with no A/C (in 99% of cases), turini wheels, I think theres some other slight differences but I cant remember but it was the first introduction of the "cup" suspension obviously
182 cup just got pauper spec seats no xenons, no climate control but AC and a marginal weight saving over a normal or Full fat 182 so a bit of a pointless model.
Then obviously the trophy which was more akin to a 172 cup but higher specc'd suspension, seats and spoiler being the main differences

However I will say that in real life the difference between all of them is minimal, unless you are driving at ten tenths all the time which is where the trophy suspension will be of benefit but then you could just pop a good suspension package onto a cheaper 172 cup/182 and be as quick

[Dano]

The 182 Cup was named cup to try and sell them as the 172 cup was so popular, its a marketing ploy from Renault to sell bog standard car without making it sound like you're buying a bog standard car if that makes sense lol

I had a vtr as a daily, and a 106gti as a toy, but sold the vtr and bought a 182FF.. (still have the 106)

id take the clio any day of the week! owned the clio 8-9 months now and covered 11k miles, it Still puts a smile on my face every drive.. even my 20 min drive to work..

it all boils down to what you can afford / personal preference!

[Gandi699]

a 172 cup can be had cheaply but then so can a VTS, and a VTS is definitely the easier car to work on mechanically factoring in the cost of parts and simplicity of everything.

[finegunit]

172 cup yes, 182 cup no

Why not a 182? But a 172? Sorry just seen the reasons! Ha

[finegunit]

Cheers for the responses guys. I suppose it's the unknown of a Clio whereas the saxo I've tinkered with before. I'm torn! Ha ha

[finegunit]

http://www.my-autos.co.uk/used-cars/renault-clio-2-0-16v-renaultsport-172-3dr-keighley-201315509372256

Any opinions on this?

[smiith]

Looks decent enough. Do you own HPI checks, and ask to see a receipt for cambelt and dephaser.. People can say it, but without paper work, it their word means nothing!

Other than that, usual checks when you go to buy a car!

[finegunit]

Looks decent enough. Do you own HPI checks, and ask to see a receipt for cambelt and dephaser.. People can say it, but without paper work, it their word means nothing!

Other than that, usual checks when you go to buy a car!

Oh yeah, I would never buy something just because someone says its been done especially a car salesman! Ha ha.

[finegunit]

And if I got serious about it I'd get it hip checked.

[Dano]

Why not a 182? But a 172? Sorry just seen the reasons! Ha

He said, 172 cup yes, 182 cup no

Cup being the keyword, as I explained above, the 182 cup is a poverty spec using the cup name to sell it!

172 cup is cutback lighter focused version :y:
182 cup is a 182 with no toys but no real weight saving benefits :n:

Not being biased I would get a 172 cup
Being biased I would get a 182 with both cup packs (full fat version)

[m4tt274]

If its just a weekend car, i would go for a VTS, over an R, since you aren't going to be fueling it for work and stuff.. Most parts bar an engine/gearbox replacement are the same, easy to mod, and quick enough!

Plus they are dirt cheap! Specially post 2000 models, because of the tax..

i would +1 this.
The VTSs make for seriously good value these days.

[0rang3peel]

for a daily or regular car, get the clio.

if it's for weekends and tinkering about with get a saxo or something like a 106 rallye, cheap as fuck to play with lots of potential etc

[Gabbastard]

Saxos have everything going for them apart from the vehicle excise duty just now. Cheap to buy, cheap for parts, huge 2nd hand parts availability, fun to drive. Im trying to find a nice mk1 just now, ive had both mk1 and mk2 in the past and preferred the mk1

[Gandi699]

Stick with what you know tbh

[finegunit]

I think I'm going to end up with another saxo preferably a vts. Just need to find a good one. Every Clio I book to test drive it sells before I get there! It's a sign!

[L33h]

is it not a sign that the clios are selling cos theyre better than a saxo?

[finegunit]

is it not a sign that the clios are selling cos theyre better than a saxo?

Could be. Or The Lord is doing everything in his power to stop me being upset by a Clio....... Or there selling better than saxos. Ha ha.
Anybody spotted any nice vts's for sale?

[MikeCracknell]

Interesting.

I had a 197, that i got rid of for a 182 (BG, Full Fat with both cup packs so all the toys - which, incidentally, was more than on the 197 - HID lights etc), and then two months ago I bought a VTR to use to get to and from work during the week.

The VTR saves me about £40 a month on fuel costs etc compared to the 182, costs next to nothing to insure, so I am £480 ish better off a year having a second car. Love the 182 so much, but I also love the VTR now too.

So ya, I have both of your potentials, 182 is just amazing, bit thirsty (30-35MPG - the 197 was 25-30MPG) and great for long journeys anywhere - I go to Europe quite a bit in it, and the air con is useful when it's hot lol.

The Saxo was £350 with 6 months MOT and Tax, couple of little bits that cost next to nothing to sort out and does near on 45MPG, plus can take it shopping etc without the fear of some blonde bimbo in her Range Rover sport smashing her door into it!

[finegunit]

Interesting.

I had a 197, that i got rid of for a 182 (BG, Full Fat with both cup packs so all the toys - which, incidentally, was more than on the 197 - HID lights etc), and then two months ago I bought a VTR to use to get to and from work during the week.

The VTR saves me about £40 a month on fuel costs etc compared to the 182, costs next to nothing to insure, so I am £480 ish better off a year having a second car. Love the 182 so much, but I also love the VTR now too.

So ya, I have both of your potentials, 182 is just amazing, bit thirsty (30-35MPG - the 197 was 25-30MPG) and great for long journeys anywhere - I go to Europe quite a bit in it, and the air con is useful when it's hot lol.

The Saxo was £350 with 6 months MOT and Tax, couple of little bits that cost next to nothing to sort out and does near on 45MPG, plus can take it shopping etc without the fear of some blonde bimbo in her Range Rover sport smashing her door into it!

Thanks for that. I'm back looking for saxos again, hopefully a vts. But I would have a clean vtr again.