Clio 182 (or similar) as a daily/winter fun car?

kinger8938 · 15 Sep 2024 at 17:42

Hey all.

Not for definite, but I'm exploring options for a fun small car to use over the winter and maybe Garage my S2000 until the spring/warmer months.

I'd then either keep this small car, or part ways as space isn't ideal.

Always admired the 182 clios but I'm wondering if a decent example could be had for around £5k or less, or are they all abused/tracked by then?

Other suggestions welcome. Just fancy something nippy/fun, with a low budget

Originally our smaller work van was available for this period of time, but my sister had car issues and has now pinched it for herself

MrRockliffe · 15 Sep 2024 at 18:38

An older Fiesta with a NA engine might be a good shout as it’ll be reasonably reliable and should be nippy enough.

Or a MK7 ST? I don’t know if they’d be in budget yet

xs2man · 15 Sep 2024 at 23:42

The Fiesta ST (mk7) are just about coming into budget there. And would probably be a better option over the 182 just because it'll be a newer car, and maybe a bit more reliable etc. And presumably more tunable too.

A few years ago I was looking at cheap 182's, not for just a winter blast, but for a 3rd car to go to the airport / pub whatever and leave all over the place to pick up later. I then upped the budget a bit and looked at 197's. And went for one of them. Although probably a bit thirstier than the 182, it was fantastic fun, especially being the F1 Team, so had the cup suspension and Recaro CS's.

A nice 182 would be a fine motor. And there is one near me that I always fancy making an offer on. But to be honest, if the mk7 ST is in the same ballpark price, I think that would be the more sensible buy really. I also had a quick scan of them recently. But decided to hell with the budget and just put down a deposit on a Golf R, ha ha. Completely different budget though.

sigma · 16 Sep 2024 at 12:18

Be sure to get breakdown cover and a wooly hat!

kinger8938 · 19 Sep 2024 at 18:12

Must admit I hadn't considered a Fiesta. Will take a look! Would a Cooper S be part of this conversation? They seem pretty affordable around mid to late 2000s

monkey_boy · 22 Sep 2024 at 12:51

The 182 is a good shout. I had a 172 as a cheap runaround a few years back and it did me fine. It wasn’t cherished but at £2k with four matching tyres and an invoice for non-cheese brake pads it was looked after ‘well enough’.