I’m currently looking at new cars, as my beloved Honda has done almost 180,000 miles and although the engine is still fine, annoying little things like the aerial and the driver window motor are slowly dying.
In the running for a new car is a VW Golf, a Seat Leon, a Ford Focus or a Renault Clio (left).
The Clio looks set to win - i’m currently looking at a 1.5 dCi 100bhp. My Honda is 144bhp so a fair bit more powerful, but the Clio is a lot lighter so can almost match the Honda in speed and will be much better handling.
I have been quoted about �11,500 new, but Parkers Car Guides reckon I could pretty easily get them down to �9,500 and Renault have offered me 2% APR (it’s usually about 12-13%), so i’d be saving a small fortune.
Renault list the cars’ miles-per-gallon at 67. I think my Honda does about 30, so I will save a fortune on petrol (which is currently 86pence per litre / $6.16 per gallon). Parkers also hold the unofficial mpg record in this model Clio, which they drove at a constant 56mph to attain 100 miles per gallon.
Think carefully. I went from a Ford Focus to a DcI 100 Clio and I have some regrets. After a few months I really stated to miss the interior space of the larger car. The interior is very French. The plastics are not very good and don’t fit that well to gether. They also fall off frequently. The car is made from the thinnest metal and paint known to man, it dents and scratches increadibly easily so DON’T buy a black one like I did.
It depreciates like a brick. I bought mine for £8850 (preReg 6 miles on the clock) and was offered £5200 one year later.
The mpg figure is pie in the sky, it’s not bad but nowhere near 67mpg. 56mpg is more realistic on a motorway/urban mix, 62mpg A/B mix.
Good points the major componants have been reliable. It’s a refined on the motorway the seats are comfortable and the climate control is worth having. The auto lights are useful the autowipers can be a pain. It’s fast and doesn’t eat tyres like some diesels, I’ve done 29000 on the first set so far with plenty of tred left. Servicing is cheap if you steer clear of Renault. The first service is no more than an oil change but Renault charge £140. Go independent and use Renault parts and you save cash and keep the warranty.
Sevice intervals of 18000 help too.
I’ve heard the don’t last past 3 years too well. I’ll find out in 18 months.
Focus is a better car but dearer, the 115bhp diesel is nice. The VW diesel in the leon is sublime, I’ve only driven it in Audis though. Too expensive though.
Enjoy your car whatever you get, but don’t get a black one unless you have shares in T-Cut.
Thanks Paul, great overview. Only thing is, I picked up my new, black, 100 brake dci 1.5 on Saturday. Loving it so far, got about 50mpg (but that’s been pure motorway) and very happy with it.
Heh, never mind it looks good when it’s polished up. Remember to buy that T-Cut.