Do I get rid or hold on to it? Help me make a rational decision please.

Kristoph

Kristoph

Kristoph

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11 May 2007
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Car in question is a Renault Clio 182 and I'm considering changing it for a <£2000, cheap to insure, cheap to tax, diesel (?).

I get about 35MPG realistically (even though the computer trip says 40 on my work commutes).
My MOT is due at the end of the month and last years cost me £££. I have a gut feeling it will be the same this year.
It's due an auxiliary belt change in the next 4,000 miles which isn't cheap.
Tyres are about £75 for Falkens, but I'd rather drive something that is so slow and boring that I spend £40 a tyre..


I'm looking at trade ads because if I'm honest, I just want it gone now - it's starting to get me down! Autotrader search (post code isn't mine).

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/...el/sort/locasc/onesearchad/used,nearlynew,new
 
If you can't afford a hot hatch, get rid. If you can afford a hot hatch, keep it and maintain it.

All cars have to have money chucked at them eventually, what says the next car isn't going to stump up the usual big diesel bill?
 
If you dont want it and aren't intersted in spending money keeping it in good condition then just move it on - but some of your rationale is incredibly flawed i.e £40 a tyre, you won't get a good tyre for any car at that price, or an aux belt being expensive....why would it be??
 
How many miles do you do? Aux belt change isn't cheap (especially if you get the cambelt and dephaser done at the same time which is sensible) but then it's the most expensive job done and my experience with my clio 172 so far is that parts are cheap and they're easy to work on. 35mpg average is pretty decent given the performance and £75 a tyre is hardly expensive - I got Contisport 3's fitted all round for £82 each via blackcircles. Do your sums before you make a change as you may regret it!
 
The tyre thing is perhaps flawed, but I've not had a great experience with tyres on this car and I've gone through my fair share. On a 15" huge walled Focus I'd probably not worry much about what went on it and they'd also last longer as the nature of the car (and the nature of how its driven) is completely different.

The auxiliary belt service at Ktec is about £270 I think, and I'm currently trying to find prices locally.

Once I'm through this month or two, things will be fine. But if it throws up some huge MOT bill, the service is going to be pushed back and I don't like running the car like that.
 
If your going to change cars, don't get a worse version of what you already have, completely change make + model or you'll always compare what you have to what you had and in every way a diesel clio will be crap compared with a sport.
If you do have to go diesel, get a german one with the 1.9 PD engine as those are pretty much bulletproof and a german car will at least feel like an upgrade when it comes to the interior build quality etc. Forget golfs at that price, they will be rubbish, get a bora or a passat and you will be able to get slightly better for £2k
 
I find the Clio pretty cheap to run if I'm honest, one of the reasons I don't want to get rid of it. Any car can throw big bills up and by the looks of it you've not experienced any of them yet? Only consumables?

You'll get what £2k for the 182 so you'll be spending that on another car to save what £3-400 a year? £30~ a month to drive something horrible and nasty.

I could understand if you need something different or grown out of the Clio but really I'd keep it and run it till you want something different. Unless of course you really can't afford to run. But running any car isn't cheap.
 
I can't imagine any scenario where a 1.5 dci clio would be worthwhile over a renaultsport. As said above if you're going to change it make it something completely different not a car that will give you all the same grief as your current one but also be incredibly....crap

I really don't understand this aux belt thing - on what planet is it a £300 job? Ok so the bumper ideally comes off for it but it'll be some torx screws, clips and a bit of pulling then you're off. If you keep the car do it yourself for the cost of the parts only, it can't possibly be all that difficult.
 
rodenal said:
I can't imagine any scenario where a 1.5 dci clio would be worthwhile over a renaultsport. As said above if you're going to change it make it something completely different not a car that will give you all the same grief as your current one but also be incredibly....crap

I really don't understand this aux belt thing - on what planet is it a £300 job? Ok so the bumper ideally comes off for it but it'll be some torx screws, clips and a bit of pulling then you're off. If you keep the car do it yourself for the cost of the parts only, it can't possibly be all that difficult.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I was saying Aux belt service, but this includes a service. £150-160 for parts for the aux belt change, £100~ for a standard 12k service.


I've had a bit of a think, and I've also spoken to some people over at the Cliosport forums. I've found a local specialist and I'm possibly going to put it in with him for an MOT and the service.

Once I'm through the next month or two, things wont be so bad. It's just I've gone through a crap financial year and the car is just getting used as a commuter - so it feels like the money I'm going to be spending on it isn't for me to have fun in the car, its just to get me from home to work.
 
I'd keep the 182 tbh. Just maintain it and run it into the ground, by that time you'll have more ££ to get a better car.
 
This is what I did at your age. I was about 2 months older :o After a few years of hot hatches, it just got to the point that reliability and daily running costs had climbed up to the top of my priorities in a car. And the fact that most of my driving was traffic/traffic lights/roundabouts etc. The thing that really swung it for me was hiring a 1.2 Punto on holiday in Spain and realising that I was more than happy driving it care free. I was in the mindset of must have fast car and this 'easy' option had never really occurred to me before.

I never regretted it but some people would. I had that car for 6 years then bought a newer model of the same type of car. so over 9 years so far.

I suppose I'd have a hot hatch again, but I'd never put myself out for it. I'd have to be able to pay for things that it needed without it affecting other aspects of my life. It's always there to go back to if you want to :) It's just a case of priorities.
 
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Right, decision made.

MOT it and service it, get it through to next year and if I'm still concerned when I approach insurance renewal time, I'll sell it. Otherwise I'll keep it. Financially I should be in a much better situation to make a decision.
 
Not being funny, but if you're not able to run a Renault Clio without worrying, can you really affording to keep a car at all? None of the prices you have quoted for things on your 182 are outrageous or even "bad". The difference between those prices and a hateful small diesel will be maybe £20 a month?
 
I don't have a choice really, I need to get to work. I'm fairly sure a 182 Clio for a first car is more expensive to run than most.

This thread was brought about by some fleeting frustration, but when I look at the bigger picture and the months ahead, things will be affordable. I'm just overreacting to some upcoming bills..
 
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I worked out the difference (day to day costs, Petrol, Tax - assuming servicing is similar) between my MX5 (see sig) and a mk3 Prius over 10,000 miles.
Ignoring the cost of the car as I could basically swap it the Prius would save £80 a month over a year.
Maybe say £90 if my insurance went down which it probably wouldn't too much as its not high at the moment.

Overall my feeling is that for £90 I would prefer to keep the MX5 :D so don't always assume you will save 'loads' of money running a cheaper cost car.

Feel free to tear my logic apart ;)
 
The big bills are really only the belts. Have you got some time till the cambelt is due?

Otherwise its just a Renault Clio. So drive it into the ground - commute and enjoy it where you can.

I've spent a silly amount of money on mine but it's worth it :p
 
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