Can't make a decision

[pb8g09]

So I posted previously between a R53 Mini Cooper S and an R56. I've now muddled myself some more. The car is a runaround - but if I like enough would keep longer term. Can I have your opinion on which of the following you'd go for:

Renaultsport Megane Cup 225 circa 80k miles - seen a couple for sub £3k - seems too good to be true?
Renaultsport Clio 197 circa 90k miles - around the £3k mark - cheaper version of the above or less problematic at this budget range?
Mini CS R53 - circa 110k miles - just above shed money, some with good recent history (all with oil leaks...) seem to be selling very fast.

Do I take a punt on these or is there something else? All I can see otherwise around this price mark that's interesting is moon mile TTs and 3 Series of various Halfords flavours.

Would I be better to let the budget creep to £5k?

Thanks in advance!

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say look at a Focus ST if you don't mind upping the budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010215...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202003168...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

At 3K ish I'd say the Civic Type R GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008262...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010225...

[motorbloke]

pb8g09 said:

So I posted previously between a R53 Mini Cooper S and an R56. I've now muddled myself some more. The car is a runaround - but if I like enough would keep longer term. Can I have your opinion on which of the following you'd go for:

Renaultsport Megane Cup 225 circa 80k miles - seen a couple for sub £3k - seems too good to be true?
Renaultsport Clio 197 circa 90k miles - around the £3k mark - cheaper version of the above or less problematic at this budget range?
Mini CS R53 - circa 110k miles - just above shed money, some with good recent history (all with oil leaks...) seem to be selling very fast.

Do I take a punt on these or is there something else? All I can see otherwise around this price mark that's interesting is moon mile TTs and 3 Series of various Halfords flavours.

Would I be better to let the budget creep to £5k?

Thanks in advance!

Meganes are lovely looking (imo) and have a lot of appeal, but can be costly to run and have lots of typical Renault issues. Have a search, there've been some 'Readers Rides' threads on them.

Clios are an odd one, where the 197s seem to cost less than 182s for the most part. I'm not sure why - it could indicate a trough before appreciation, or they could just be rubbish.

I had an R50 one and really liked it, reliability aside, and the R53 of course does have the death rattle hanging over it, but I reckon they must be as cheap as they'll ever be.

So depends on your budget. I think they are all good potential, but if I had £3k I'd sooner buy the R53 and keep some aside for maintaining it.

[mike9009]

motorbloke said:

Meganes are lovely looking (imo) and have a lot of appeal, but can be costly to run and have lots of typical Renault issues. Have a search, there've been some 'Readers Rides' threads on them.

Clios are an odd one, where the 197s seem to cost less than 182s for the most part. I'm not sure why - it could indicate a trough before appreciation, or they could just be rubbish.

I had an R50 one and really liked it, reliability aside, and the R53 of course does have the death rattle hanging over it, but I reckon they must be as cheap as they'll ever be.

So depends on your budget. I think they are all good potential, but if I had £3k I'd sooner buy the R53 and keep some aside for maintaining it.

Just to correct you. R56 has the death rattle, not the R53.

[pb8g09]

Thanks all for the replies. This Civics look tempting, in the end i was hamstrung on how far I could travel to pick up so had to stay local. Seems not many interesting cars are for sale around here.

For some thread completion I picked up the R53 for £1.5k this morning. Only faults so far are a broken key fob and a glovebox that opens up on every bump- everything else seems great after my spirited drive this afternoon!