Fiesta ST or Clio 182?

nichorob

nichorob

nichorob

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Morning chaps,

In the market for a little hot hatch, done my research and narrowed it down to the Fiesta ST or Clio 182. Budget is about £7k which seems to buy you a lot of either car. Any opinions?
 
The 182 is accepted as being the better hot hatch (if not the best). The Fiesta ST is much more of a warm hatch with good handling.

Have you considered a Civic Type R? More space than the Clio and is almost as much fun. Should be able to get a good one for 7k.
 
I've got an ST.

The Clio is the better car in terms of performance etc

The ST is cheaper to insure, looks better and has a much nicer interior.
 
I'd probably choose the ST.

Although, I'd probably choose a slightly cheaper one, and used the saved cash on a few choice performance modifications.
 
Given that ive spent almost £1500 on mods to get just shy of 170bhp, a 182 powerwise would have made more sense for me. However the insides of those clio's are dam right awful plus they ain't exactly lookers on the outside...

ST every time.
 
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You will regret not having the extra performance of the Clio, and will forgive it for rattling like a mofo everytime you take it for a proper drive. Assuming the exhaust/gearbox doesnt fall off that is
 
I've been driving an ST a lot recently, great fun little car. Bit noisy on the motorway, 35ish mpg if you drive it carefully.

Only driven the Clio very breifly so can't really comment on that but the interior looks very tacky. Not that the STs is anything special but its definitely better than the Renault.

Very unforgiving if you drive it hard though, had a drash in one on a track last year, took a corner at 60 one lap, no problems. Went in at 61 maybe 62 the next lap and completley lost it - no warning you're on the edge until you're already over it... but maybe that was all down to my bad driving.
 
ginandmilk said:
no warning you're on the edge until you're already over it... but maybe that was all down to my bad driving.
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or maybe you just didnt recognise the warnings. theyre really informative cars to drive, seriously fun.

i think the fiesta is closer to the comfort end of the scale, the clio at the performance end

the OP is going to have to arrange a test drive and see for himself
 
My best pal has just bought a 182 yesterday I took him down to collect the car and had a little drive myself; One word WOW!!! He bought his from a previous member from an owners club so has a lot of mods such as apex springs and shocks some sort of race exhaust and an air filter from a v6 model I think???

The car is a serious weapon around corners I it handles like its on rails and has some serious poke!

I'm very jealous although I feel he will wrap it around a tree as he drives a 1996 80BHP diesel.

An ST does not come close to this for the fun factor! The interior in the ST is miles ahead but when you look at such cars does the interior come into your mind? NO its all about the fun. Buy a BMW if you want a nice place to sit.
 
the fiesta has a "pretty" interior but everyone knows the noise levels are off the scale

my gf's 1.4 fiesta is louder than my 95 golf which is modded left right and centre. once you get over 70mph in the fiesta the wind noise goes nuts
 
Test Drive both (also include the civic Type R if the insurance is ok) and choose which you prefer.

They are both good cars in their own right. The Clio is ultimately quicker although both cars I would consider 'fun'. The Fiesta (assuming facelift) does have the edge on interior quality although the clio will probably have more kit as standard (assuming of course it still works....).

My personal preference would be a ST.
 
Strech your budget by a few grand and you can bag yourself a Focus RS, much better car than the fiesta or clio and same insurance group as the clio. That would be my choice
 
Defcon5 said:
Are the regular 225s actually any good though? I agree 7k is too much to be spending on a clio/fez
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Yes aslong as its the facelifted version, which that isn't. I much prefer the interior of the Fiesta, easily a better place to sit. However being a nice place to sit wouldn't be a concern when buying a hot hatch (personally) a decent driving position would. For that I would pick the Clio, but not a 182 though. Would be a 172 Cup. Insurance would be a pain compared to the Fiesta though along with the fact that its not THAT often you get to wring the neck of the Clio and notice the difference between it and the Fiesta.
 
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