Clio 172 or Astra SRI

[m4rshmul3]

All,

I currently have a 53 plate astra sri 1.8 3dr, with 48k on clock. I am potentially going to be doing a straight swap with a garage for an X reg Clio 172 with 66k FSH, new cambelt and full service mint condition. Trade in for my car is £3k and the clio is selling for 3k. Does this sound like a good deal?

 

[Defcon5]

If you sold your car privatley you may be able to scrape a phase 2 172

 

[iaind]

Dont know what the cars are worth but a straight swap at a dealer is never going to be a good deal, they're only in it to make money remember

 

[m4rshmul3]

If you sold your car privatley you may be able to scrape a phase 2 172

Call me wierd but i think i prefer the older ones, I think they look less subtle than the newer ones.

 

[Django x2]

Mate, clio is going to suck at simple things like absorbing bumps and general cockpit rattles compared to the Astra. I think you'll find you diskike it.

 

[Defcon5]

^ On the other hand, it is going to be much faster and so much better to drive

 

[Scrutinize]

All,

I currently have a 53 plate astra sri 1.8 3dr, with 48k on clock. I am potentially going to be doing a straight swap with a garage for an X reg Clio 172 with 66k FSH, new cambelt and full service mint condition. Trade in for my car is £3k and the clio is selling for 3k. Does this sound like a good deal?

I had a 53 plate Clio 172, I now have a MK4 1.8 Astra SRI (2004).

The Clio is quicker, it goes round corners better, but I would never swap the Astra for one. The ride on the Clio can be bone shaking and tiring and the build quality is pretty flimsy. Equally, you can pick up much later Clio 172s for 3-4k so the one you are looking at doesn't seem to be a good deal. Performance wise the Clio is stand alone in its category and for the money.

The Astra SRI has better seats, more spacious driving position, a smoother ride and generally is a nicer place to sit. However, the Astra does not exactly set your world on fire.

Personally, I would say don’t do it.

I had a 1.8 Corsa SRI (05) after I sold the Clio and that was not as far off the Clio in real world driving and performance as many people may try to suggest. Although not a Clio, it was a far cry from a bog standard Corsa and again a much nicer driving position than the Clio. Unless you were on a track where the Clio would leave it for dust they are a highly enjoyable car and have the same running costs of the Astra along with a group 9 insurance.

You could consider one of these as the last phases of these with 40-50k on go for peanuts these days 04/05 plate.

No doubt the Clio 172 is a better performance car than the Astra or Corsa 1.8 SRI but it depends what your priorities are.

 

[m4rshmul3]

Thanks for the info, although I really like the astra and its quite quick, it doesnt really excite me. It looks a bit standard and plain. I like the idea of the clio as its fast, and sporty looking.
Think ill have to have a think about this.

 

[Scrutinize]

Thanks for the info, although I really like the astra and its quite quick, it doesnt really excite me. It looks a bit standard and plain. I like the idea of the clio as its fast, and sporty looking.
Think ill have to have a think about this.

Aye, they are worlds apart and the Clio will indeed excite. It would be worth you checking out the 1.8 Corsa as well. You could also consider the 5 door Civic 1.8 VTi. Whilst not as quick as the Clio, I preferred mine over the 172.

Out of my 172, Corsa and Astra 1.8 Sri’s and Civic VTi, the 172 was the best performer but the least comfortable and had the most niggly faults. The Corsa was a happy medium. The VTi and Astra have been the best overall package. I preferred the VTi to the Astra but it did feel more dated inside.

If you just need a car to excite you a 172 is your best option. The one you have in mind does not sound like a great deal though.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1106519.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1126396.htm

 

[Adam]

Two complete different cars. The Clio is in another league in terms of performance. I owned an Astra SRi and it was average at best, bored me after a while and I found hard to get excited about it. I have owned 2 Clio 172's and they are great fun!

 

[Django x2]

Thanks for the info, although I really like the astra and its quite quick, it doesnt really excite me. It looks a bit standard and plain. I like the idea of the clio as its fast, and sporty looking.
Think ill have to have a think about this.

Mate, you life a stones throw away from work, commute in rush hour to get there and any other time you sit on the motorway to get to and from your parents house / girlfriend.

When will you possibly get the change to exploit the Clios abilities over the astra?

 

[m4rshmul3]

Mate, you life a stones throw away from work, commute in rush hour to get there and any other time you sit on the motorway to get to and from your parents house / girlfriend.

When will you possibly get the change to exploit the Clios abilities over the astra?

I 100% agree with you mate - but you know what I am like i am impulsive but i really like them argh! Dilema!

 

[Jotun]

I used to own a 1.6 16V astra, I was considering a 172/182, but there's a lot of other cars out there for the money. Ended up getting an MR2 FWIW, but you'd probably be best off selling & buying privately. I CBA looking up the prices right now, but if the garage is willing to do a straight swap then that points to your car being worth more. If you want a 172 then you are probably best going through the owners club and buying a decent one.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Mate, you life a stones throw away from work, commute in rush hour to get there and any other time you sit on the motorway to get to and from your parents house / girlfriend.

When will you possibly get the change to exploit the Clios abilities over the astra?

Yes he will, the Clio will do overtaking and sitting at high speeds a lot better than the Astra.

I did a 200 mile trip in my Clio today it was comfortable thanks to the comfy seats in the FF 172 and in my opinion driving position, the full fat 172's aren't bad places to be for a long time at all. Having owned an E46 320i before the 172 doesn't really dissapoint me that much on long journeys if at all.

The only thing I wish I'd had today is cruise control.

I also managed 40MPG which is probably what the Astra will do.

EDIT : Just read it's an X Reg, I think that will be a phase 1 which I do not like at all, the interior is significantly worse than the PH2 so yea the Astra will be nicer to be in.

 

[Alex*TLR]

Clio everytime, they are sooo cute

 

[Ev0]

Astra if you want something a bit comfier and softer, Clio if you want to have fun

 

[Kappa]

sitting at high speeds a lot better than the Astra.

Are you serious? I dont particularly like Astra's but I've never found a B car to sit at high speeds at anything you could call 'ok', let alone better than a C car.

 

[Django x2]

I agree. Although he was assuming the Phase 2. The clio i've been in recently has so much wind noise at anything above 60 it's a joke. The MK4 Astra by comparison is a pure joy.

 

[russ9898]

I love my 182 but theyre by no way a motorway mile muncher.

For the driving i do its ideal. However doing 80 on a motorway feels quite fast tbh in comparason to my gf's current shape 1.6 astra. Shame the gf's astra doesnt have cruise control which my 182 does but thats the only plus point really.

If you mainly do motorway journeys then there are a lot better cars out there. If your journey to work consists of a/b roads then youll struggle to get a better car for the cash.

 

[Biohazard]

I agree. Although he was assuming the Phase 2. The clio i've been in recently has so much wind noise at anything above 60 it's a joke. The MK4 Astra by comparison is a pure joy.

Shut the doors on it then...