Discussion
Other half wants to chop the TT for an ST or a 197. Do Renault dealers have the 197 in stock for test drives yet? Anyone here got experience of the Slough or Aylesbury Renault dealers? Whats the lead time on a new one?
Advice on which audio option would be appreciated (i.e. is the extra worth it?)
Do Renault offer a service pack?
How much discount can we blag (cash purchase - and I mean cash, not pretending and doing finance separately).
Guess we'll find some answers at the dealers this weekend too ...
Ta.
Advice on which audio option would be appreciated (i.e. is the extra worth it?)
Do Renault offer a service pack?
How much discount can we blag (cash purchase - and I mean cash, not pretending and doing finance separately).
Guess we'll find some answers at the dealers this weekend too ...
Ta.
Thanks.
Yes, I mean the Focus ST, not the Fester. Need to check with a Ford dealer but she hates the coloured seat trim. Maybe there's a half leather option or something. The ST comes across as a lot more Max Power than the 197.
I suspect she'll prefer the power delivery of the ST though, being used to turbos (A3 1.8T then TT 225).
Yes, I mean the Focus ST, not the Fester. Need to check with a Ford dealer but she hates the coloured seat trim. Maybe there's a half leather option or something. The ST comes across as a lot more Max Power than the 197.
I suspect she'll prefer the power delivery of the ST though, being used to turbos (A3 1.8T then TT 225).
targarama said:
Need to check with a Ford dealer but she hates the coloured seat trim. Maybe there's a half leather option or something.
In ST3 spec is has leather which IIRC is dark grey or black - but with that spec the car is a four seater, which may or may not be a problem. Personally I'd go for the ST2, the Clio 197 price is just too close to that of the Focus which is a class above size (and power wise), with the £3k discount some brokers can get, you can get a hell of a car for less than £16k.
Yes, the 4 seater issue will be a problem, so an ST2 is the car she'd want, with some options. Thing is, she's used to BOSE, heated seats, Xenons, leather in the TT. She knows shes going down a few classes in car but we need something cheap and practical to replace the TT. New A3 was considered but we decided we didn't need to spend so much money on a new (or newish) car (A3 2.0T or Golf GTI would be her 20-25k preference).
An early new style Golf GTi might tempt her though...
These car supermarkets - are they UK sourced cars or imports? What are dealers like about servicing them?
An early new style Golf GTi might tempt her though...
These car supermarkets - are they UK sourced cars or imports? What are dealers like about servicing them?
We are currently looking to do something similar.
One other worth considering is the Megane 225 with Cup chassis. It can be had for £14,000 from Broadspeed. Seems an amazing bargain considering the spec, performance etc., even if I'm not amazingly keen on the looks.
Really like the looks of the clio though, saw it in the showroom yesterday. It has bags of rooom inside it, comparable with Focus's etc. Just a bit slower than I'd have liked though.
One other worth considering is the Megane 225 with Cup chassis. It can be had for £14,000 from Broadspeed. Seems an amazing bargain considering the spec, performance etc., even if I'm not amazingly keen on the looks.
Really like the looks of the clio though, saw it in the showroom yesterday. It has bags of rooom inside it, comparable with Focus's etc. Just a bit slower than I'd have liked though.
We sat in a Clio yesterday too. For 16 grand its not enough car. Vast improvement over the old model, but for this level of money the other half is keen to spend another 4k and get a Golf GTi. Not enough space in the rear and the Micra-looking dials and console don't do it any favours IMO. Even if it goes like stink and handles like a racing car.
I agree - when you can pick up a 2005 Clio 182 for £10k or a brand new Clio 1.2 runabout for £8k then why is the Sport twice the price? Too much money for a diddy car.
She now also thinks the Focus ST is too boy racery for her.
I agree - when you can pick up a 2005 Clio 182 for £10k or a brand new Clio 1.2 runabout for £8k then why is the Sport twice the price? Too much money for a diddy car.
She now also thinks the Focus ST is too boy racery for her.
I'm reasoning the same way, at £16k there is little justify it over the Focus ST or Leon Cupra for that matter, if it was sub £15 it'd be a different matter as it's not a bad looking car and is well specced, but placed where it is now its too close in price to the bigger more powerful, post 200bhp hatches.
I spoke to those manning the stand on Saturday about the possibility of a Cup or Trophy version, and it does appear a Cup is on the cards, but how much lighter it will be they'd give nothing away on, ETA looks to be the middle of next year.
I spoke to those manning the stand on Saturday about the possibility of a Cup or Trophy version, and it does appear a Cup is on the cards, but how much lighter it will be they'd give nothing away on, ETA looks to be the middle of next year.
According to the wife, Broadspeed are now advertising the clio at 14,700.
It's frustrating as I'm sure within 12 months the price is going to be back down towards previous 182 levels. They know they can charge full whack at first as there'll always be some people desperate to get their hands on them no matter what the price is - within reason!
It's frustrating as I'm sure within 12 months the price is going to be back down towards previous 182 levels. They know they can charge full whack at first as there'll always be some people desperate to get their hands on them no matter what the price is - within reason!
Edited by rob172 on Monday 31st July 12:27
The problems is that you can get a Focus ST from £15,495 (www.saveoncars.co.uk) and I have seen them for as little as £14,600 in the past - and in Performance Blue they do look good, we're still seriously looking at one for our family car.
Interior wise there isn't much between them, but the Focus does win on power and space.
If it was like the days of the 172/182 when the Clio had a significant weight advantage perhaps the price could be coped with, justified by the sharper handling, but that can no longer cut it as a reason - I think really they should have started them at around £15k.
I'm not saying the 197 is a bad car, I can't wait to test drive one, but they've moved away from the Williams/172/182 mantra of light weight to appease the majority of drivers in the process possibly losing those customers who thrived on the thrill of the older cars. Hopefully a Cup/Trophy version can atone for this though.
Interior wise there isn't much between them, but the Focus does win on power and space.
If it was like the days of the 172/182 when the Clio had a significant weight advantage perhaps the price could be coped with, justified by the sharper handling, but that can no longer cut it as a reason - I think really they should have started them at around £15k.
I'm not saying the 197 is a bad car, I can't wait to test drive one, but they've moved away from the Williams/172/182 mantra of light weight to appease the majority of drivers in the process possibly losing those customers who thrived on the thrill of the older cars. Hopefully a Cup/Trophy version can atone for this though.
For what it's worth I used to have a V6 TT and swapped for a Megane Cup (1345kg). I'd say that teh cup's drive was spirited 
The TT was probabily faster from A to B but the Megane is up there in the fun to drive stakes. Before going for the Megane I test drove an new R32 and the A3 and a Tuscan (practicality won the day), and I'm realy happy with my decission. Though if there wasn't the Cup it would have been different.
However, the Megane may be cheeper than the golf to purchase, but factor in depreciation and they may be on a par?
Oh yeah, the Megane is FUN on track too
The TT was probabily faster from A to B but the Megane is up there in the fun to drive stakes. Before going for the Megane I test drove an new R32 and the A3 and a Tuscan (practicality won the day), and I'm realy happy with my decission. Though if there wasn't the Cup it would have been different.
However, the Megane may be cheeper than the golf to purchase, but factor in depreciation and they may be on a par?
Oh yeah, the Megane is FUN on track too
danm said:
For what it's worth I used to have a V6 TT and swapped for a Megane Cup (1345kg). I'd say that teh cup's drive was spirited
The TT was probabily faster from A to B but the Megane is up there in the fun to drive stakes. Before going for the Megane I test drove an new R32 and the A3 and a Tuscan (practicality won the day), and I'm realy happy with my decission. Though if there wasn't the Cup it would have been different.
I guess the fun and grin factor you get does depend on what you've come from and what you're used to, if you've experienced a Mk1/Mk2 Golf GTi, a Pug 205 GTi, 106 Rallye or Clio Williams you will be used to a certain agility and lack of momentum that can be taken around corners, while not as fast as todays uber hatches, the clarity of feedback and sheer excitement of those cars is almost 2nd to none. I grew to hate my Leon Cupra R (another Mk4 Golf chassis car) very quickly as although extremely competant in terms of A to B speed it wasn't involving and with it's hard suspension grew tiring very quickly, so in reality for me it didn't offer much more than than the Mondeo we had at the time. The TT was probabily faster from A to B but the Megane is up there in the fun to drive stakes. Before going for the Megane I test drove an new R32 and the A3 and a Tuscan (practicality won the day), and I'm realy happy with my decission. Though if there wasn't the Cup it would have been different.
The Megane 225 (in Cup and Trophy form) is a very competant car though, so I'm not surprised you find it more fun than your old TT, the chassis and 4WD in those while amazingly efficient don't give anything back to the driver, which for many is just what they want, but after all we are petrolheads and demand something more.
Curious you having the Tuscan among all those choices, although I'd be the first to say you made the right choice given you need a practical car, but boy would that have put a smile on your face
I took one for a good test drive yesterday, was quite surprised that i got a good hour in the car. Didn't feel any quicker than my car.
Loved the sound.
The salesman said that the limiter comes in at 8k, I said that I thought it was 7.5. He said he was certain that it was 8k. So I shoved the rev counter around and what does it stop at? 7.5k I changed early one time and he said 'it was 8k that time'
I went round a roundabout and commented on how well it went round. 'Thats the rear diffuser that is' Yeah sure, and the wheels are made out of actual spinich.
Loved the sound.
The salesman said that the limiter comes in at 8k, I said that I thought it was 7.5. He said he was certain that it was 8k. So I shoved the rev counter around and what does it stop at? 7.5k I changed early one time and he said 'it was 8k that time'
I went round a roundabout and commented on how well it went round. 'Thats the rear diffuser that is' Yeah sure, and the wheels are made out of actual spinich.
Tripps said:
The Megane 225 (in Cup and Trophy form) is a very competant car though, so I'm not surprised you find it more fun than your old TT, the chassis and 4WD in those while amazingly efficient don't give anything back to the driver, which for many is just what they want, but after all we are petrolheads and demand something more.
... and the Tuscan was something that I'd been hankering after for ages so the change seemed a good time to check it out properly rather than drowling over the classifed's.
Tripps said:
Curious you having the Tuscan among all those choices, although I'd be the first to say you made the right choice given you need a practical car, but boy would that have put a smile on your face
I'm waiting for the day when I don't have one alocated parking space and it'll be my first choice. Right now the Megane fits the need.
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