Which out of these three???

David09

A friend is looking to buy herself a first car and we've narrowed the search down to three possibilities.

01 Peugeot 206 1.1 Nct until mid 2013.
01 Renault Clio 1.2 Nct until end of 2013.
00 Ford fiesta 1.25 Nct until mid 2013.

All are in similar good condition. All have circa 100k on the clock and all are priced around the 1100 euro mark, with the fiesta being slightly less. All are silver in colour.

It's a toss-up as to which to go for. I'd be interested to hear views on the reliability of each, especially as it's a first car which will be driven by a driver who is gaining competence.

coolbeans

I would go for the Clio. Despite the perception they are a pretty trouble free little motor. It will also be the safest in a smash. The Fiesta of that era is very small and a very old design. I could never warm to 206s.

Leonard Hofstadter

I'd go for the Fiesta, but the Clio is definitely the safest of that lot. I'd avoid the Peugeot for sure, I could never warm to the 206.

bazz26

1. 206 - I find the pedals too close to each other which makes them uncomfortable to drive and I don't have big feet.

2. Fiesta - Would be migh choice but as said its a facelifted version of a car launched in 1989 meaning room is tight in them. The sills are also prone to rust. 1.25 litre engine is much better than the 1.3 litre.

3. Clio - Probably the most modern design of the 3 with the highest safety rating, good little car.

If you can find a Fiesta with no rust then that would be my choice but I would not pay anywhere over €1k for a 13 year old example, other than that it would be the Clio.

ninty9er

Call me crazy but I'd have a 206, but look for a 1.4. Fantastic little PSA engine.

veetwin

Just to buck the trend i'd go for the 206. A family member was in the same boat a while ago and got a 206. It was written off in a flood and she got another cos she liked the first one so much. Never liked the Clio but the fiesta would be my second choice.

BTW both 206's were totally reliable. Also the car is a design that still looks fresh over 10 years later. The Clio was never innovative in any way other than Nicole's ad campaign.

miller50841

FIESTA please stay away from the rest..
They will break your heart

Guy:Incognito

I had the same choice when buying new in 2000. Guy I knew at the time had a Clio and a Fiesta and preferred the Clio. I went the same way and never looked back.



Just as I was about to post that a "stay away from French cars" type post was on its way........

miller50841 wrote: »

FIESTA please stay away from the rest..
They will break your heart

Fuh Q

They are all crap, buy a Jap car.

clarenman

keep away from the frenchies!!

---

nothing but trouble and parts are very expensie,fiestas are good cheap reliable and parts are cheap and easy got imo!!

flazio

I think we have a recommendation for all three of them so far, that's a great help to the OP.
Any reason you wouldn't go for one of the VW stable mates? Polo, Fabia or Ibiza?

Guy:Incognito

clarenman wrote: »

keep away from the frenchies!!

---

nothing but trouble and parts are very expensie,fiestas are good cheap reliable and parts are cheap and easy got imo!!

Ah you even remember that one for extra bonus points.


Never got that myself, despite owning 7 French cars and vans (all 3 marques) and buying parts for another 5 or 6 Renaults at various times.

Now, I've been looking at a few bits for the Landcruiser I picked up recently. Holy fook. I knew about the low 20's mpg going in but parts prices are an eye opener. A handbrake cable seems to be 3 times the price it was for my xantia (though in fairness it only has to go to as far as the front wheels in that )

bazz26

The amount of pub talk in this thread is unreal.

Lawless2k12

I'd rule out the 206 straight away tbh just from the reliability... My pick would be the Clio. Nice little machine. The Ford is a little bit small and... well... to be frank...... ugly.

osheen

I put up nearly 150k miles on the previous gen clio trouble free. wife has an 03 model with 98k miles and no big bills despite what everyone says . Btw they were both the old 1.2 8v engine

djimi

I'd probably go for the Fiesta of the three of those (although for a car of that age I'd be looking for something Japanese rather than any of those three).

With cars of that age and value the actual car itself is more important than the make/model. Make sure that the car is fully checked over by a good mechanic before any money is handed over.

M44B19

bazz26 wrote: »

2. Fiesta - Would be migh choice but as said its a facelifted version of a car launched in 1989 meaning room is tight in them. The sills are also prone to rust. 1.25 litre engine is much better than the 1.3

The Mk5 (Gen4 Facelift) is NOT a facelift of a Mk3. It uses a Mk3.5 as a base (1994)


Anyway, If your looking at a Fiesta check the sills/arches (More-so if a 5door)
3 Doors don't seem to be effected as badly with rust.

Make sure the T.B was done (10year/100k mile)

Parts are cheap and there easy to work on.

Doesn't matter if 1.25/1.3. A 1.25 is a quieter smoother engine but a 1.3 will go on forever once serviced properly. (Although it is a louder engine)

liammur

I think I'd start looking at a few more cars. 3 desperate makes.

dgt

M44B19 wrote: »

The Mk5 (Gen4 Facelift) is NOT a facelift of a Mk3. It uses a Mk3.5 as a base (1994)


Anyway, If your looking at a Fiesta check the sills/arches (More-so if a 5door)
3 Doors don't seem to be effected as badly with rust.

Make sure the T.B was done (10year/100k mile)

Sills at the B pillar. Arches can go crusty. Wings are spot welded.

Check if the clutch slave cylinder has been changed, or you'll have no brakes or clutch. Some took a slightly bigger clutch too

Poor starting could be a dirty tb, air mass meter or failing lambda

Also look for worn locks (it opens but doesn't lock and vice versa)

MK4's had a 5 digit speedo so what might read 50k miles could be 150k miles. Wavy speedo is a worn cable

Worn front arms are common and very easily replaced

Doesn't take that stupid bar pole type battery either

Rear wiper not working is also common, contacts in the boot itself are the usual cause

Festys are a crackin car, try opt for one with a heated windscreen

M44B19

liammur wrote: »

I think I'd start looking at a few more cars. 3 desperate makes.

Why not give a reason their bad?
What car would you suggest?

Pointless post TBH.

Mr Benevolent

The Clio, there's really no other choice. The Fiesta has rust issues and the 206 is generally not a great car.

liammur

M44B19 wrote: »

Why not give a reason their bad?
What car would you suggest?

Pointless post TBH.

Why not give a reason they are bad, you meant I'm sure.

The reason being, they are notoriously troublesome. Spend a little more and get a reliable car like an Audi A3, or a Honda civic.

M44B19

liammur wrote: »

Why not give a reason they are bad, you meant I'm sure.

The reason being, they are notoriously troublesome. Spend a little more and get a reliable car like an Audi A3, or a Honda civic.

Sorry never realised I was in the grammer forum.
I'v had 6 Fiestas. Never had any trouble.

I'd assume Insurance would be more on an Audi (1.6 is the smallest engine isn't it?) and a Civic (Because of the boy racer image)

liammur

M44B19 wrote: »

Sorry never realised I was in the grammer forum.
I'v had 6 Fiestas. Never had any trouble.

I'd assume Insurance would be more on an Audi (1.6 is the smallest engine isn't it?) and a Civic (Because of the boy racer image)

I had a 2006 mondeo before, a poor car, will never again buy a ford.

But that's true about insurance etc, maybe a corolla or something like that.

ninty9er

When I bought my first car I approached 2 uncles, with a combined 60 years in car sales.

Funny enough, none of the 3 the OP is looking at were on the avoid list. The Fiesta just wasn't right, the Clio wasn't even on my list a d I ended up buying a Corsa over a 206, because, and ONLY because when I got an insurance quote for a 1.1 over a 1l at the time it was like daylight robbery.

Still loved the Corsa while I had it,but I wouldn't go back there in a hurry.

As I said, a 1.4 206 if the insurance isn't too much of an issue.

The residuals and availability alone should be evidence enough that the cars last. Peugeot hits gold every once in a while; the 206 is one such example.

YellowVanMan

Fuh Q wrote: »

They are all crap, buy a Jap car.

+1 on that. but in the absence of perfection i'd go for the fiesta.

Supergurrier

Clio or an older corrolla hatch, i would imagine corrolla being abit higher on insurance though

M44B19

liammur wrote: »

I had a 2006 mondeo before, a poor car, will never again buy a ford.

But that's true about insurance etc, maybe a corolla or something like that.

But your comparing a 2006 Mondeo to a 2000 Fiesta?

The Mondeo was bad, So the Fiesta is automatically just as bad because it has a blue oval badge?

Not meaning to be a knob BTW. Just curious.

solas111

I would avoid all three and go for a Toyota Starlet. A couple of family members have Starlets and they are a very reliable car and not too expensive to run as well as being a good learner car.

Peugeot and Renault are ok providing you are on good terms with a decent mechanic. The Fiesta would be the best of a bad lot.

Wicklowandy

Fiesta as people have said if not rusty and then clio. Both are far nicer small cars to drive than a 1.1 206, even an endura engined fester is a better car.

At this age and price point though, id concentrate less on the marque and more on the condition of the car.

Wicklowandy

Starlets are a great little runabout, but 1.3 engine and many with no ps (wouldnt overly bother me, but most people see it as a must even in a small car)

liammur

M44B19 wrote: »

But your comparing a 2006 Mondeo to a 2000 Fiesta?

The Mondeo was bad, So the Fiesta is automatically just as bad because it has a blue oval badge?

Not meaning to be a knob BTW. Just curious.

Cars should be improving, if a 06 Mondeo is disappointing, I can't see how a 00 fiesta will be good, but you've had them so can tell the OP. My advice is spend a bit more, there should be bargains out there.

Autosport

I had a Clio and never had any problems with it and it was a 1.2 engine

johndaman66

solas111 wrote: »

I would avoid all three and go for a Toyota Starlet. A couple of family members have Starlets and they are a very reliable car and not too expensive to run as well as being a good learner car.

Starlets grand car but they might be a bit on the old side for the OP's liking plus the 1.3 litre engine in em might be pusing the boat a bit if its a first car...that'll depend very much on OP's circumstances. The Yaris might be worth a thought though with the 1.0 litre engine. You might pay a bit of a premium for them against the Fiesta/ 206/ Clio but in my opinion generally worth it.

I always considered the Pug 206 to be quite an ungainly car. A friend of my sisters had one and she had more than her fair share of trouble with it. Maybe she was just unlucky with hers though. I personally don't think the look of them has aged too well.

I just have a thing against Renaults. My first car was a Renault Megavan and it was nothing but heartache. Also, the mother of a friend of mine has a Nissan Micra K12 which uses a Renault 1.2 engine that I believe it shares with Clio. Again, it has being terribly unreliable for her.

Fiesta might be worth a shot. As a previous poster says though do look out for rust as it can be a problem with them

Wicklowandy

You may be anti ford, im no great fan, but everyone has a brand they believe represents quality. Sometimes even a car can be great with a certain trim or engine, but a ball of trouble with another spec or engine.

Judge each model on its own merits, and at this money treat every car as an individual.

Wicklowandy

To be fair, an old megavan with that bag of bolts of a 1.9d is a terrible thing altogether and a different thing to a petrol clio.

As someone said, maybe push the boat for a yaris?