I have done some extensive research into the clio 182 and owners give it a good review for reliability etc. (Mostly at least!). I love the ST but for £200 extra on insurance per year I can have the clio 182. With my budget I can comfortably afford a 55 reg clio from a Renault dealer with the "Cup" pack thats done about 10,000 miles. (It's £9299). I can also afford to pay the insurance up front. Obviously the clio is faster but I would greatly appreciate what you guys thought to this issue. Cheers.

i hate renaults so i reckon you can guess my opinion lol

get a mazda rx-8 hehe

Apart from that it is faster and also fun to drive i really do feel that the ST is the better car...feel,quality,reliability, i know a few people with 182's and apart from the fun factor thier cars are falling apart, with a crap after sales. So it's gonna be ST all the way. Just my 2p's worth anyway!!!

You will always get a bias opinon on here. The same as if you asked the same on a clio forum. Personally i'm a ford man. Have driven the older 172 when a mate that works at renault bought one over and i broke the seat runners on it.

huge issues with reliablity and quality, after sales service is terrible, my mate has bought a 02 Megane and has starting problem that they can't fix, some days just will not start. The 182 I beleive is made elsewhere than the standard clios. probably Renaultsport factory, so should be better built, the Cup is the best car, reckon you should be paying a lot less though.

I can fully understand the attraction to the 182 comparedto the ST with regards speed. As a package though the ST is better. I considered a 182 but I just don't trust renault's anymore, always something going wrong.

The 182 is a faster car hands down. I bought an ST - its the better package

Oh - anda new ST should set you back about £10.5 (last time i checked) so save your £200 extra insurance and find another £300 and you've got a new car with 3 years trouble free motoring

I'd pick the ST over the clio because i really dislike french cars and their clutches! lol plus the ST handles so well its untrue!!

and gearboxes!

yeah french gear boxes are like a bag of spanners.
i also considered a 182 b4 i got my st, and yeah the 182 is quicker on paper, but the st is better lookin in my opinon.

I tell you what mate, i have a clio only a 1.2 and i do admit i will not be getting another 1 in my lifetime i agree with Strick and Bradders,
the clutches suck i had to get a new one before i even had it a year also
in the same year i bought the car the gearbox broke and i had to get a completely different one which cost a bomb. If i was you mate i would get the Fiesta

my laguna went through 2 gear boxes in 18 months, i sold it to an inmate at sudbury for £100 to get rid of it. i wasnt prepared to put a third box in it.