1.4 R19??

Level 6 User Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 162

THINKING of getting one of these as a run around, for work/ferrying mates around, as a slammed 2 seater clio isn't practical for acrrying mates and getting down little country lanes and onto site etc.

This isn't somethign thats gonna be soon, start a year in industry in september (yes i know a long way away) and its gonna involve alot of miles, and getting on/off construction sites, and what wil be a tuned up 2.0 byt then isn't gonna be very efficient on the old petrol.

Was thinking of either a little 1.2 clio or a 1.4 R19, not sure how the 1.4 in the 19 will compare speed wise to the lighter clio, insurance wise the 19 is gonna cost me about 3100 a year more to insure, but has the advantage that its a bit bigger. On the other hand i ahve shit loads of clio spares lying around and i know clios inside and out.

Anyone got any thoughts/inputs, particularly on the reliability of the R19's, do they use the same bullet proof energy engines that are in the clios? What sort of price an i looking at for a mechanically sound one, not fussed about bodywork, its transport...end of

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

Mechanically, the 19 is very similar to the clio so if you know how to fix the clio, the 19 will all be familiar territory.

Yes the 19 has the same energy engines as the clios

If you're going to be doing loads of miles, the 19 is the better bet as it is more comfortable.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

How about a 1.9 RT DT if your doing loads of miles? Gonna be just as quick..

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 731

I've had two 1.4 energys so far and they have both been better cars than the 16v in terms of simplicity to fix and reliability. But that could just be bad luck......apart from fixing em much easier to work on.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

erm I have yet to see a clio go quicker than a ph1 carbed 19 1.4!

Price wise for a taxed and mot'd one a coupel of hundred. If its been looked after then it will storm past 200k miles easily.

Simple to work on and doesn't have the same problems with headgaskets etc that the clio does.

think of a clio then add faster speed, better fuel economy and an interior that hasn't come from a dodgy mk2 fiesta. How anyone can think the clio interior is nice is beyond me frankly.

Retroholic Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 5685

On form the General Lee is quite pokey!

That has takin dogs abuse and never let me down. All its needed in the last 6-7months is an alt and a wheel cylinder (and a petrol tank but that was my own fault) and still starts first time

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

using the push button lol

Level 1 User Joined: 12 Aug 2005 Posts: 20

mines alright, pretty reliable, just needs a few general wear n tear items changing! but its ideal, plenty of room, comfy n quiet, cheap to run, getting about 38/40mpg if i drive it steady, not exactly fast but thats why i have the clio lol

personally if u are after a car for work/general use then the 19 is better choice then the clio 1.4, imo, just down to size and ease of being able to carry lots of stuff aswell as ppl with room! Smile

Level 10 User Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 570

I have a 19 1.4 SPI

I can't say that it's better than anything else as I have never owned anything else, but as mine goes...

It always starts, runs very well, good on fuel, fairly quick when compared to some 1.6's Very Happy

Really I would say the 19 as the seats are so fooking nice and I have no problem driving back and forth to Plymouth from Exeter (100 miles) a couple of times a week in it, stick some nice speakers in it and the sound system sounds ace in them. Wink

I'd never go for a clio over a 19 as the 19 is such a more spacious car and just feels more comfy too.

Parts are fairly cheap (from what I have come across). If you want something to cart people about in then the 19 is the car for you. A fairly large boot too also helps.

19 anyday! Very Happy

Level 6 User Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 162

Why is the insurance on the 1.4 19 so much more expensive than the 1.4 clio....witht eh same engine, what wiht the 19 basically being a 5 dr family car.

Cost is beginning to outweigh comfort

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

the 19 will go faster at the top end than a clio thats the only reason i can think of

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

I've got a 1.2 Clio and it's very slow Crying or Very sad

The energy engine was good though, always started first time etc the timing belt snapping wasn't his fault -it was his dizzy owners fault Laughing

But like Chris says - very prone to HG faults. I don't know anything about R19's but I don't think I would buy another Clio !

Level 10 User Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 620

ive always wanted a clio valver but my eyes for the 19s stuck to em so clios r out of the ? 4 me lol

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

I know of a nice Clio you can make into a valver ... just needs a new head Laughing

Level 6 User Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 162

Clio valvers are shit slow, they ahve no torque...but get to 4.5k rebvs and they fly, i ahve a 1.8 8v RSi, and when i first drove a valver i almost stalled the thing pulling off cus of the amount of gas you need to give it.

First car was a 1.2 clio, very nippy, but abit lacking over 40 mph, 2nd car is current car....RSi....i'm a clio boy, hence the apeal of a clio.

Think i need to find an R19 and go for a test drive, or find someone to let me have a go, if they are as good as you all say they are i think i'll be sold

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

Another thing with a Clio is the seats - in the 1.2 8V's the seats are uncomfortable for driving any length of time like on the motorway. Unless you have a posh clio with fancy seats anyhow Laughing

or put fancy seats in. On the motorway there is loads of noise too - blerrghhh not a car if you do loads of miles IMO