[scottp7]

Quote: Originally Posted by r1_kde (original)

I have both, well my partner has the Clio, what a pile of s==t everything keeps failing through bad design, most of it rattles and while it is quick I do not rate it. cost much more to tune, looks like a Clio and its french... this will be the last french car she has.

the most annoying problem so far is the washers always failing because the rubber switch is porous so it grows and sticks. must have spent close to £80 in 2 years of ownership on new pumps let alone the money on everything else. bloody crap.

as for the mini, well it does rattle the engine mounts went after 40k, the bushes went about the same time. that's all, and I drive it hard. can be tuned without too much money and to a good spec. costs more than the Clio but tbh you can feel the quality between them.

This can happen to any car. I will list the problems I have had with my Mini in the last 24months.

Drivetrain fault
Motor went in electric window (whilst window was down)
Back of passenger seat got stuck down when letting a passenger into the back
Severe loss of engine coolant (a tank in 3 days)
Motor went in window (again)
Engine rattle
Handbrake failed
Washer jets failed - New pump needed
And now my passenger harmon kardon speaker is rattling

I think there might be one or two more but its hard to remember everything after 24months. It has averaged out that there has been 1 problem every 3 months.

I've received a £100 from the Mini dealer to spend on products + services, but at the rate at the moment, I should have demanded a new car.

Thank god to whoever invented warranty! But im dreading it when it runs out!

[Ant FR]

ok if you wanna list problems, where shall i start.

one Blown Engine - £3000 to sort
One blown power steering pump - Warranty luckily
A-pillar falling off due to crap design - £35 to sort
Supercharger Bearing gone - £300 to sort
Fan seizing - luckily warranty
Passenger seat seizing - £97 for new base and half a day of my time
CV boot gone - £100 to sort
Cat ruined - Milltek warranty luckily

and thats 18 months driving, mini is officially the most unreliable car i have ever owned. And i have owned 3 Fiat Punto's in my time including a Punto GT. So a clio would need to be damn unreliable to beat that little lot.

[r1_kde]

yeah lol, you have been unlucky with that one. especially since for the cost of your repairs alone you could have brought a second hand one or got quite close

[t70wlr]

My friend has had a clio 197 fi team r27 now for 6months and the i have driven on several occasions.
If you are going to be using the car for trips to work on motorway then i would definitely not go for the clio as i is sooooooo noisy on the motorway at 70 mph when it is reving a 4500 rpm in 6th and it has a very annoying noise that irritates you ears!!
If you are wanting the car for flying round back roads and on the track then the clio is the car as the handling is truly awesome for such a car.
The clio's lose money very badly and have problems as all Reanults do!! my frien has had an entire brembo brake change including calipers once and then has had 3 sets of warped pads. Warped pads happen the second you touch the brake pedal in the clio.
Oh yeh he has had to have the upholstery redone as the recaro buckets fabric wears through very quickly and he has had a new radiator.
All gone wrong on a brand new car within 6 months.
I have had my mini for 3 years and not a problem. My friend is now changing to a mini due to the car been too problematic and my mini puts more of a smile on his face than his car and i only have a mini one with a bluefin chip 130bhp.
So if i were you i would go for the mini any day as your money i safer and you will permanently have a smile on you face in the car.

I fogot to mention the service of the clio is going to cost £250 to £300 a time !!! which is extortionate.