New Skoda Fabia VRS or Renault Clio 200? - Which is the better hot hatch?

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Thu 10 Feb 2011 11:19
New Skoda Fabia VRS or Renault Clio 200? - Which is the better hot hatch? - hothatch
Just a quick straw poll to see what you would choose.
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Thu 10 Feb 2011 18:42
New Skoda Fabia VRS or Renault Clio 200? - Which is the better hot hatch? - oldtoffee

Fabia will be more economical, probably more reliable and the dealers more competent. The Clio will murder it dynamically - much much quicker and it handles whereas the Fabia doesn't thereby making the Clio the "better" of the two because a hot hatch is all about dynamics. IMO.

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Thu 10 Feb 2011 21:25
New Skoda Fabia VRS or Renault Clio 200? - Which is the better hot hatch? - nortones2

I think, without being dogmatic, that the Renaultsport creations, and the Clio are pretty reliable. Not having driven the hot Fabia, nor wishing to knock Skoda in any way, my excursion in BiL's 172 Clio Cup was eye-opening. Nothing I have driven before or since meets its grip and composure in corners at 9/10ths. OK, maybe 8/10ths! I can only imagine the 200 to be even more extraordinary. And its ride was reasonable considering. If only I could accomodate 2 Boxer dogs....

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Thu 10 Feb 2011 23:54
New Skoda Fabia VRS or Renault Clio 200? - Which is the better hot hatch? - SteveLee
Renaults are, when they are new, quite good as they are still working - who in their right mind would have one if they can't give it back? This is coming from a Citroën owner! - Yes Renaults are that bad - and to think Rover went bust making far better cars - tragic...
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Fri 11 Feb 2011 03:22
New Skoda Fabia VRS or Renault Clio 200? - Which is the better hot hatch? - Carole4X4
I would choose the Renault all the time. I don't see what the problem a lot of the regulars on here have with Renault, I have a Grand Scenic 105 Dynamique TomTom and it is a great car. Comfortable, reliable ( even after standing for 3 weeks during the recent December snow it started 1st time), very economical (50+ mpg on the urban cycle, 60+ combined) very well equiped and also very very well put together and sturdy.
I do like skodas but from the 2 options you have listed the clio wins hands down in my opinion.
By the way I am an ex pro racing driver and ex freelance motoring journalist, just before people say the usual 'what does a woman know about cars'

Carole
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Fri 11 Feb 2011 05:53
New Skoda Fabia VRS or Renault Clio 200? - Which is the better hot hatch? - oldtoffee

>>>I think, without being dogmatic, that the Renaultsport creations, and the Clio are pretty reliable.

I agree with you, that's why I said the Fabia would "probably" be more reliable. Renaults don't enjoy a great reputation but the more recent ones seem to be moving in the right direction and even the older ones weren't all bad. I had a Laguna V6 in 1999 for 2 years and 50,000 miles and it didn't miss a beat (spent half its life at petrol stations!) and my son learned to drive 5 years ago in a 1998 1.2 Clio which he kept for 3 years, one CV joint and regular servicing so cheap motoring. I used to find excuses to take it out for a run (was going to say blast but 1.2....) the handling and steering were spot on, much better than the Fabia diesel vRS I had. A Clio 200 for 90% of my driving and some sort of old but trusty estate for the other 10% - wonder if the maths stack up?


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