Mike Rotch's RenaultSport Clio 200T

  • Thread starter Mike Rotch
  • 222 comments
  • 15,744 views
Mike, 90s 3-series are tiny, avoid (or at least test drive with the acknowledgement that they are tiny...), a friend has one, it's smaller than his Ford Ka inside. If I struggle, so will you.

Your height is something you'll have to consider, I've never been in a Yaris/Echo, but they aren't exactly big. I find Italian stuff is generally good on space, though pedal box may be an issue if you've big fit.
 
Last edited:
Sureboss
Mike, 90s 3-series are tiny, avoid (or at least test drive with the acknowledgement that they are tiny...), a friend has one, it's smaller than his Ford Ka inside. If I struggle, so will you.
Click to expand...

Perhaps in the back seats, but anyone who finds a 3-Series tiny in the front must be 8 feet tall. I actually found my brother's E36 a bit big for someone my height, if I'm honest. Built for larger-than-average German frames, not my spindly 5'9".
 
Why are our cars so expensive?

That Mercedes for only 950 pounds... makes me want to jump off the nearest building.
 
Famine
Can you get E39s in your budget? :D
Click to expand...

In the whole of Australia (carsales is the autotrader of Aus), there are precisely 3 examples under $5,000. Best mileage is 260,000km :crazy:

$7,000 drops that to 180,000km...
 
Mike Rotch
In the whole of Australia (carsales is the autotrader of Aus), there are precisely 3 examples under $5,000. Best mileage is 260,000km :crazy:

$7,000 drops that to 180,000km...
Click to expand...

Mine's got 167,000 miles on it - 269,000km - and I'd take it over a brand new Hyundai Getz.
 
Aw, come on... A new Getz will last you at least 50,000 miles before you end up shooting yourself.
 
Saab 900.

Though from your original list, my missus drives a 90s Rav4 which has been pretty much bullet proof for the last 3 years shes owned it. Coming up to 200k soon. Good little car, decently quick too.
 
Mum has a 2000 Rav4 with 350k on the clock, I personally drove it for a few years too.

Solid car indeed 👍
 
Mike Rotch
Seems like a consensus that that is a safe bet....Will definitely investigate that one further. Are they relatively spacious in the driver seat? I have to stuff 6'5" behind the wheel. :grumpy:
Click to expand...

I'm 5'10" and I have to pull the seat forwards a fair bit to be comfortable, so I imagine you'd be fine. Funnily enough I've been out in mine today with 4 people in it, including my dad in the seat behind me (and he's a fairly hefty chap) and there was enough room for everyone plus a fair bit of stuff in the boot. It didn't seem to struggle for power either, even with the A/C on. It's only the 2nd time I've used it full of people and I was pretty shocked at how it didn't slow down much. My 500 would have been like a wheezing asthmatic when fully loaded but not the Yaris!
 
MadMike'86 - Forever trying to get his fellow GTPers to buy an Alfa :lol:

You would fit in the Echo no problem I think Brad, I'm 6'1 and fit comfortably in the drivers seat and if you need rear leg room for passengers the rear bench slides backwards (at the cost of boot space though)
 
Anything Kia diesel built in the last 3-4 years.

Anything Honda.

That's my input.

:irked:👍
 
homeforsummer
Perhaps in the back seats, but anyone who finds a 3-Series tiny in the front must be 8 feet tall. I actually found my brother's E36 a bit big for someone my height, if I'm honest. Built for larger-than-average German frames, not my spindly 5'9".
Click to expand...

Was that a 3-door? His is a 5.

My head is pressed against the roof, knees about an inch from the dash and I have to hold my right arm in or it gets in the way when he changes gear. It's a small car.
 
I find BMWs in general are quite small on the inside. My MD has a 330i coupe and I can barely get my legs into the front footwell plus my head brushes the roof lining - I'm not exactly huge at 5'10" either. There's more room in a Fiat 500, seriously.

Subaru's are ultra-reliable if you're doing huge mileages. Just a thought.
 
Sureboss
Was that a 3-door? His is a 5.

My head is pressed against the roof, knees about an inch from the dash and I have to hold my right arm in or it gets in the way when he changes gear. It's a small car.
Click to expand...

Coupe, rather than saloon.

The knees/dash thing is the same for everyone. Wide transmission tunnel. I don't actually like the E36 driving position that much (it was royally screwed in RHD models) but I'd still not say it's a small car. I can see how the saloon might be slightly smaller, and as I mentioned before the rear seats aren't great, but I'd still be surprised if you found it that small.
 
Ok, so went and kicked some tyres this morning at a dealer, chiefly to go look at a 1.3 Toyota Echo Automatic which looked like a good deal.

The interior of the Echo is huge...really impressively so. They had a manual and an auto and the clutch legroom is just a bit squashier then I'd prefer, whereas the auto is as good as I will get from most cars. The test drive was good, nippy enough for city driving and epically better rear visibility then any Corolla or Yaris made since. The only thing that stopped me buying it on the spot was:

a) No log books received yet from the wholesaler, nor a second key (both supposed to arrive this week)
b) Airbag warning light was on, dealer didnt know why.
c) Alignment was bunged and it was pulling the left.
d) Mitsubish Magna - so much ugly.

If he can fix them this week and its still there next weekend, I'll probably get it as it has such low mileage (81,000 km for a 2001).

Whilst I was there I also wandered around their lot, sitting in various cars to see their potential from a "do I fit" perspective:

1) Early 2000's Astra - abominably small interior and suffers the same issue I have will all Opel/ Holden/ Vauxhall European models; the steering wheel feels like it is at the same level as my junk, and it impossibly uncomfortable to deal with.
2) Early 2000's RAV. Nice roomy interior, certainly an option now.
3) Early 2000's Corsa - see Astra.

So, looks like the Echo is going to be my best bet in the price range I am looking at. Looks like $7,500 will have to be magic number as anything under that is just big miles and/or very old.
 
So, I've still be chipping away at this one. The big mental stumbling block was that Echos are pretty damn expensive for what they are. Finding a 00-03 one for under $7k is nigh impossible...there was one for $9k :rolleyes:.

So I got thinking: what does one do if you want an Echo, that's cheaper and has more kit. :confused:.

The answer is actually quite clear....hondapants Camry!

For some reason, Camry's seem to defy the normal used car price patterns are are much softer on used price. Who am I to argue!

So I have been checking out what is available online and stumbled across a very good looking one, being sold at a Honda dealer not too far from me. 147k kilo's on the clock, 2000, V6 (:D), looked clean....

So I took a trip to test drive it today - friendly salesman, not pushy, seemed like a decent guy. Car was clean, panels seemed straight, no leaks, no smoke, started first time from cold, clean engine block and pipes. Some chips and scratches you'd expect from a 12 year old car, but nothing a decent detailer couldnt remedy.

Test drive was good - not a rattle to be heard, smooth autobox, CV's seem good, good get up and go for overtaking. Full log book and spare key too, which is a positive.

Price was right in the sweet spot too (almost at my original optimistic price range) - quite a bit less then other ropier examples are asking online, so I put a deposit down, and subject to an independent mechies inspection during the week, will pay the rest next weekend when I collect it.

Best part is, it's stacked with goodies as its the old top of the range "Touring" spec - ABS, powersteering, a/c, cruise control, airbags, towbar and electric windows 👍.

I guess the mechie could turn up something big, but my gut says its a good one. :)

scaled.php


scaled.php
 
Last edited:
That does look good for a 12 year old ride. Nicely done, Brad! :cheers:

Think you can handle that much machine, though? :P
 

Similar threads

T
I need a wheel/pedals that can fit in a suitcase. Suggestions?
Replies
3
Views
668
Veinz
Veinz
S
Championships & SR
Replies
2
Views
497
Stuntman Mike
S
Tricky Vega
Top Cars and Categories Wishlist
2
Replies
41
Views
6K
05XR8
05XR8
2_FAST_4_U
GT4-1080i Replays, Photo Mode, Photo Travel-Still Holds Up Today
Replies
1
Views
2K
2_FAST_4_U
2_FAST_4_U
MagpieRacer
WRC suggestions and wishlist
Replies
11
Views
3K
m355y
m355y

Latest Posts

Back