Renault Clio 2.0 VVT Dynamique S

pdw8 · 6 Jan 2017 at 21:22

Anyone have one of these?

My son has his eye on one at a local dealer. This would be his first car and he doesnt even turn 17 until February. I told him he is stupid and to go for a 1.2/1.4 for a first car but surprisingly the insurance quotes are very good, think he said £600 with me as a named driver (and thats with him on a provisional!!)

Are there any pitfalls or things to look out for on this or Clios in general?

TIA

geekman · 6 Jan 2017 at 21:36

I don't know anything about the car, but with the insurance check that they won't increase it when he gets his full licence. Most companies do, and by vast amounts - a young driver driving alone is far more of a risk than a young driver driving with their parents in the car.

viper_2003 · 6 Jan 2017 at 21:37

Check to see how much the insurance is with a full license.

With a provisional there will always be someone sat next to him, the day he passes he could be doing 120mph down the M2 with his hair on fire.....

pdw8 · 6 Jan 2017 at 22:47

Just did a quote for him as a newly passed driver and talking 3K now.....back to the 1.2 i think!!

Diddums · 6 Jan 2017 at 23:12

Yeah, they'll rinse him once he passes his full test. Stay away.

Also, a 17yo in a 2 liter hatchback. Isn't that a bit of a flag for you?

MORE SPEED · 6 Jan 2017 at 23:39

Diddums said:
Yeah, they'll rinse him once he passes his full test. Stay away.

Also, a 17yo in a 2 liter hatchback. Isn't that a bit of a flag for you?

I had one (a 2 litre)! Partly because it was cheaper to insure than pretty much everything else.

shauncr91 · 7 Jan 2017 at 10:32

Check out the Renault 1.2t Clio.

geekman · 7 Jan 2017 at 10:35

pdw8 said:
Just did a quote for him as a newly passed driver and talking 3K now.....back to the 1.2 i think!!

Rather than Focusing purely on engine size, try to look at cars that, whilst low performance, are not normally bought by young drivers. For instance, when I as 17 a 1.6 Octavia was much cheaper to insure than a 1.2 Corsa. Both equally slow, but the Corsa was considered more risky by the insurance companies as they were crashed a lot more.

DazQ87 · 7 Jan 2017 at 22:43

geekman said:
Rather than Focusing purely on engine size, try to look at cars that, whilst low performance, are not normally bought by young drivers. For instance, when I as 17 a 1.6 Octavia was much cheaper to insure than a 1.2 Corsa. Both equally slow, but the Corsa was considered more risky by the insurance companies as they were crashed a lot more.

Pretty much this, a 1.6 octavia or a 1.8 mondeo will be a safer place to be in the event of a crash as well.

pdw8 · 8 Jan 2017 at 19:31

He originally wanted a Mini Cooper but but even the base 1.6 is way too much to insure. He now seems set on a Clio or Punto 1.2/1.4 Sport editions but is being a bit rebellious and not taking much notice of me! That said, I was exactly the same and had a Pug 309GTI within 6 months of passing my test.

He has max £2.5k for the car and has £1k already towards insurance so its just a case of waiting until the right car comes along.

Uncle_Gravy · 11 Jan 2017 at 12:22

I had a 2002/52 Clio 1.2 16v when I passed my test 6 years ago, we still have the car now as my mother drives it.

For a French car it was surprisingly reliable, quite nippy but it weighed less than a ton so not surprising and it was cheap to run.

now with over 100k on the clock its still going strong.

That's what £2k got me, if he's set on a Clio, I'd be looking at the 1.2 TCe's.

Cleisthenes · 11 Jan 2017 at 16:08

Unfortunately you sometimes just have to have something a bit **** to start with.

I had a basic 1.0 Corsa for about 6 months but then moved to an '03 Cooper and then changed again a year after that.

The insurance will become more reasonable fairly quickly so I would suggest going slow and just change the car in a year if he wants something with more poke.

dacads · 11 Jan 2017 at 16:18

What you told him is correct, so I think you need to tell him again

fergie128 · 11 Jan 2017 at 16:29

1.2 2001 Fiat Punto for my first car. 3k and only 25k miles on it. Think my first year of insurance at 18 in 2005 was about £950. Great little car, certainly didn't need much more than that at the time and it helped me build up my NCD.

Seems a little crazy to go for a car with really high insurance right from the off.

pdw8 · 12 Feb 2017 at 10:38

We saw a 2006 Clio 1.4 16v Dynamique S yesterday and have paid deposit for it. Seems a very tidy example and has great history and new MOT.

Thanks for all the advice.

P.B · 12 Feb 2017 at 13:01

normally as well estates are cheaper to insure than salons