Clio 182 (Trophy?) or Megane 225?
Discussion
Hi there,
I'm currently thinking about a replacement for my generally excellent BMW E46 320D Sport. It's a great car, but I'm after something a little more...err, fun!
I was looking for something RWD and preferably convertible, but anything that gave me the required performance either drank loads of fuel or had an MX-5 badge on it - neither of which I want! I do around 200 miles a week commute plus a fair bit of other mileage, so MPG is important - 30mpg should be a minimum average, really.
So, which of these two fits my needs best? I did test drive a 182 and a 225 a couple of years ago, and seem to remember enjoying both - the noise and flickability of the 182 was brilliant, but I did enjoy the extra power of the 225! Does the Megane drink a lot more fuel, being turbocharged and heavier? I used to own a very mint, trackday-spec VTS (which now resides in Ireland) and have fond, rose-tinted memories of it - however, I also hate the rattles and squeaks that plague French cars, and the missus 206 HDi GTi is a constant reminder of this! Do the Clio's and Megane's suffer from poor build quality?
Finally, one think I do remember about the Clio was the crummy driving position - at 6' tall the seat was way too higher for my liking, so do those 182's with the Recaro's fitted, and of course the Trophy with them as standard, solve this, or are they just as bad?
On that point, how much better is a Trophy than a standard 182 and is it worth the premium?
Cheers
I'm currently thinking about a replacement for my generally excellent BMW E46 320D Sport. It's a great car, but I'm after something a little more...err, fun!
I was looking for something RWD and preferably convertible, but anything that gave me the required performance either drank loads of fuel or had an MX-5 badge on it - neither of which I want! I do around 200 miles a week commute plus a fair bit of other mileage, so MPG is important - 30mpg should be a minimum average, really.
So, which of these two fits my needs best? I did test drive a 182 and a 225 a couple of years ago, and seem to remember enjoying both - the noise and flickability of the 182 was brilliant, but I did enjoy the extra power of the 225! Does the Megane drink a lot more fuel, being turbocharged and heavier? I used to own a very mint, trackday-spec VTS (which now resides in Ireland) and have fond, rose-tinted memories of it - however, I also hate the rattles and squeaks that plague French cars, and the missus 206 HDi GTi is a constant reminder of this! Do the Clio's and Megane's suffer from poor build quality?
Finally, one think I do remember about the Clio was the crummy driving position - at 6' tall the seat was way too higher for my liking, so do those 182's with the Recaro's fitted, and of course the Trophy with them as standard, solve this, or are they just as bad?
On that point, how much better is a Trophy than a standard 182 and is it worth the premium?
Cheers
And just to let you know what the RENAULTsport cars are up against for my undoubtedly worthy attention, the other cars on my shortlist are:
> VX220 (N/A); + great performance, good MPG; - never driven one, not terribly practical, may regret it come winter time
> 330D Sport; + great build quality, good balance of MPG/performance; - extra running costs over the 320D (tax, insurance, etc) plus premium to buy the car - probably the most expensive option here
> Z3 M Roadster; + very quick, I like the looks, surprisingly cheap insurance, it is a convertible but comfier than a VX; - pretty poor economy I imagine, other running costs (tax, VANOS, servicing, etc)
So there ya go!
> VX220 (N/A); + great performance, good MPG; - never driven one, not terribly practical, may regret it come winter time
> 330D Sport; + great build quality, good balance of MPG/performance; - extra running costs over the 320D (tax, insurance, etc) plus premium to buy the car - probably the most expensive option here
> Z3 M Roadster; + very quick, I like the looks, surprisingly cheap insurance, it is a convertible but comfier than a VX; - pretty poor economy I imagine, other running costs (tax, VANOS, servicing, etc)
So there ya go!
The Meg will drink as much as the M, again head over to cliosport.net and you'll find guys who've gone from 182's (32mpg) to 225's (25mpg) and are a bit shocked as to the mpg as if you push further you'll get into the teens where as the 182 when pushed will still return mid 20's and that driving HARD (not track)!
Then your looking at TVR/Z3M fuel consumption but it'll be newer be far more comfortable for your commute and cost less to run i.e. warranty etc.
Personally I'm going Z3M next or a Elise S2 111R but i dont have a huge commute and desperatly want a RWD car back after having the Z4.
Then your looking at TVR/Z3M fuel consumption but it'll be newer be far more comfortable for your commute and cost less to run i.e. warranty etc.
Personally I'm going Z3M next or a Elise S2 111R but i dont have a huge commute and desperatly want a RWD car back after having the Z4.
CooperS said:
The Meg will drink as much as the M, again head over to cliosport.net and you'll find guys who've gone from 182's (32mpg) to 225's (25mpg) and are a bit shocked as to the mpg as if you push further you'll get into the teens where as the 182 when pushed will still return mid 20's and that driving HARD (not track)!
Then your looking at TVR/Z3M fuel consumption but it'll be newer be far more comfortable for your commute and cost less to run i.e. warranty etc.
Personally I'm going Z3M next or a Elise S2 111R but i dont have a huge commute and desperatly want a RWD car back after having the Z4.
What you say is very true! I really am hankering after a VX220 (and only reason for this over an S2 Elise is the fact insurance is half the price for some reason!) but just not sure I can have one as a daily drive. Really need to go drive one (only driven an S1 Elise so far) but there's very few around, particularly at dealers!!Then your looking at TVR/Z3M fuel consumption but it'll be newer be far more comfortable for your commute and cost less to run i.e. warranty etc.
Personally I'm going Z3M next or a Elise S2 111R but i dont have a huge commute and desperatly want a RWD car back after having the Z4.
As for the 182 vs 225 debate, I'll stick with the Clio as the contender given your comments - 25mpg completely defeats the object of going for a hot hatch, my mate gets that from his M3!!!
SeanyD said:
I had a standard 182, and they're good little cars. Sure they rattle a bit, but performance made up for it, great cars.
ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
& ive gone from owning an Elise to now owning a 182 cup.ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
boobles said:
SeanyD said:
I had a standard 182, and they're good little cars. Sure they rattle a bit, but performance made up for it, great cars.
ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
& ive gone from owning an Elise to now owning a 182 cup.ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
boobles said:
SeanyD said:
I had a standard 182, and they're good little cars. Sure they rattle a bit, but performance made up for it, great cars.
ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
& ive gone from owning an Elise to now owning a 182 cup.ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
Mike_C said:
boobles said:
SeanyD said:
I had a standard 182, and they're good little cars. Sure they rattle a bit, but performance made up for it, great cars.
ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
& ive gone from owning an Elise to now owning a 182 cup.ps I moved from the 182 to an Elise, just for fun. Sure its inpractical, sure its not luxurious, but you only live once.
1) Clio182. If I wanted something for a comfortable every day ride, and something fairly practical, reasonably spacious to do a weekly shop, with the ability to carry more than one passenger. Fair amount of toys and gadgets and luxury, but still the ability to leave the majority of cars standing at the lights, yet still returning acceptable mpg and insurance price.
2) VX220. If you are willing to sacrifice the comfort, spacious, luxury for better performance, raw handling, driving experience, and head turning abilities, but still on a reasonable insurance budget.
3) Elise. As above, but insurance could be higher.
I'll not get into the vx/Elise debate as its been done to death on here already (best drive as many of the variants as you can and make up your own mind), but an underlying theme seems to be people finding vx insurance cheaper than Elise. (I'm sure there'll be exceptions, but thats just my observations based on other threads)
HTH.
Edited by SeanyD on Wednesday 26th March 12:32
OK, thanks for the reply. I'll be honest, my head says 182 (or even stick with the 320D as it is a brilliant car!) but my hear yearns for a VX220!
Problem is, with the weather being like it is I cant work out if I'd soon get fed up of the VX, driving it in the rain and stuff, or if I'd soon get used to it! Did you use your Elise year round and find it ok?
As for the VX vs. Elise - I think the S2 Elise is better looking, particularly from the back, but the VX is £500 less to insure than even a basic 120bhp Elise, so it's a no brainer! In fact, the VX220 turbo is still £400 cheaper than a base Elise - crazy!!!
Problem is, with the weather being like it is I cant work out if I'd soon get fed up of the VX, driving it in the rain and stuff, or if I'd soon get used to it! Did you use your Elise year round and find it ok?
As for the VX vs. Elise - I think the S2 Elise is better looking, particularly from the back, but the VX is £500 less to insure than even a basic 120bhp Elise, so it's a no brainer! In fact, the VX220 turbo is still £400 cheaper than a base Elise - crazy!!!
Mike_C said:
boobles said:
Id go for the vx220.
Why's that? Hopefully not just because you haven't owned the VX and have the Elise & 182!!Edited by boobles on Wednesday 26th March 14:46
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