The £1,000 Clio 172 Cup Project
Discussion
Hi,
So, you may have already read my TVR Chimaera readers car tread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... . The TVR has been truly superb and has been the backbone of some fantastic memories my girlfriend and I now cherish. It's been great fun too, but our situation has changed slightly, so an additional vehicle is required.
My girlfriend and I have always worked together, so we drive to work in her car. When we go kayaking, we use her car and when we go mountain biking, we use her car. However, she's just got a new job, which means I will need to find my own way to work and I really don't want to take the TVR in every day. She's also in the process of buying a new car and I don't fancy covering it in sand, sea water and stinking fishing rods!! In addition to all of this, I wanted something I could use in grass track slaloms, hill climbs and other timed events at the district car club, the TVR is too nice for this.
So my brother and I decided to find something for us to share which will double us as a cheap competition car, work commuter and a load lugger! It didn't take long for us to both agree on a Clio 172 Cup. We've been thinking about it for ages but have never got round to actually buying one. That was until a car came up for sale locally and cheap. Tatty wheels and bodywork, but generally seemed to be up together. So we put a bid in during the last few seconds of the auction, and won!
So, here it is: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271468492408
Further details will follow when I pick it up tomorrow. I am quite excited!
On another note, I'm hoping to pick up my girlfriends new car today, more details on that shortly.....
Dan
So, you may have already read my TVR Chimaera readers car tread: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... . The TVR has been truly superb and has been the backbone of some fantastic memories my girlfriend and I now cherish. It's been great fun too, but our situation has changed slightly, so an additional vehicle is required.
My girlfriend and I have always worked together, so we drive to work in her car. When we go kayaking, we use her car and when we go mountain biking, we use her car. However, she's just got a new job, which means I will need to find my own way to work and I really don't want to take the TVR in every day. She's also in the process of buying a new car and I don't fancy covering it in sand, sea water and stinking fishing rods!! In addition to all of this, I wanted something I could use in grass track slaloms, hill climbs and other timed events at the district car club, the TVR is too nice for this.
So my brother and I decided to find something for us to share which will double us as a cheap competition car, work commuter and a load lugger! It didn't take long for us to both agree on a Clio 172 Cup. We've been thinking about it for ages but have never got round to actually buying one. That was until a car came up for sale locally and cheap. Tatty wheels and bodywork, but generally seemed to be up together. So we put a bid in during the last few seconds of the auction, and won!
So, here it is: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271468492408
Further details will follow when I pick it up tomorrow. I am quite excited!
On another note, I'm hoping to pick up my girlfriends new car today, more details on that shortly.....
Dan
Edited by zed4 on Tuesday 6th May 09:09
Well, I am shattered! 12 hours on the road to pick up my girlfriend's new Golf GTI DSG and then the Clio! Really happy with the Golf, what a car. The Clio needs a few things doing, but it's ok for the money.
1. Aftermarket stereo doesn't work and is hanging out of the dash. Might just pull it out to save weight! Wiring looks suspect.
2. It stinks of stale smoke, needs a thorough interior shampoo.
3. Lots of play in the front offside wheel! Not sure where it's coming from yet, but must be a ball joint gone.
Other than that it seems really good. It's great fun to drive. Looking forward to starting work on it tomorrow.
1. Aftermarket stereo doesn't work and is hanging out of the dash. Might just pull it out to save weight! Wiring looks suspect.
2. It stinks of stale smoke, needs a thorough interior shampoo.
3. Lots of play in the front offside wheel! Not sure where it's coming from yet, but must be a ball joint gone.
Other than that it seems really good. It's great fun to drive. Looking forward to starting work on it tomorrow.
joe_90 said:
Ball joints are quite easy to do, hows the back suspension, does it feel floaty?
Also get it to Fred at BTM (if nearish to B'ham) to get the belt etc done..
Check engine mounts for play? you prob needs some.
Any knocking at all?
How does it sound with the bonnet up when the engine is on? does it sound a bit like a diesel?
I'm on the south coast, only a few miles from K-Tech actually. Also get it to Fred at BTM (if nearish to B'ham) to get the belt etc done..
Check engine mounts for play? you prob needs some.
Any knocking at all?
How does it sound with the bonnet up when the engine is on? does it sound a bit like a diesel?
I'll check the engine mounts in a bit. It does make a nasty noise on hard acceleration in first and second, so I reckon a mount may have gone.
No knocking, seems to drive really well actually.
No idea how the engine is supposed to sound TBH. It doesn't sound great, but I wasn't expecting it to!
Spent all day today cleaning the stinking, stained interior. It stank of cigarette smoke and the seats were all stained. Cleaned it thoroughly with Autoglym interior shampoo and then treated it all to Autoglym odour eliminator. Smells nice now! Also ordered two new track rod ends to sort out the wobbly front wheels and have found out at least one engine mount is gone.
So much for the car being "mechanically sound"!! Luckily it's all cheap repairs so far.
So much for the car being "mechanically sound"!! Luckily it's all cheap repairs so far.
This bit of the advert...
"The car is mechanically sound and nice to drive with no noises or knocks."
Is particularly annoying. The track rod ends are completely knackered and it makes a hell of a noise under acceleration due to the knackered engine mounts.
Could pursue it as being mis described, but probably not worth the hassle.
"The car is mechanically sound and nice to drive with no noises or knocks."
Is particularly annoying. The track rod ends are completely knackered and it makes a hell of a noise under acceleration due to the knackered engine mounts.
Could pursue it as being mis described, but probably not worth the hassle.
Track rod ends replaced. They were mega cheap from the local motor factors, so happy with that. Changed quickly and easily and we set the tracking up via the string and measuring stick method! Seems pretty good.
Also replaced the stereo which didn't work (also not mentioned in the advert) with a Sony I had removed from the TVR. Just the engine mounts to sort out now and it's ready for its first event with the district car club!
Took it for a drive this evening across the forest, it really is good! Even had a blast down a gravel track, it rides the rough ground really well.
Also replaced the stereo which didn't work (also not mentioned in the advert) with a Sony I had removed from the TVR. Just the engine mounts to sort out now and it's ready for its first event with the district car club!
Took it for a drive this evening across the forest, it really is good! Even had a blast down a gravel track, it rides the rough ground really well.
So, it turns out the Thule roof rack fitting kit for the Clio is near useless. The front bar is fitted perfectly, it's solid and has no movement whatsoever. The rear however, can be quite easily pulled off with some back and forth force. It's a real disappointment and I'm not quite sure what to do now.
To me, it just doesn't feel safe. No matter how I fit it, or where I fit it, I can always pull the feet out off the car by pulling the bar back and forth a few times. I'll speak to Halfords and Thule to see if I can get anywhere. Otherwise I might have to modify the Thule fitting kit, or the Clio even.
To me, it just doesn't feel safe. No matter how I fit it, or where I fit it, I can always pull the feet out off the car by pulling the bar back and forth a few times. I'll speak to Halfords and Thule to see if I can get anywhere. Otherwise I might have to modify the Thule fitting kit, or the Clio even.
Let the modding begin!
Wheels refurbished at The Wheel Specialist Bournemouth in white, with 4x new 205 tyres. Wheel alignment carried out and fitting new engine and gearbox mounts over the weekend.
It also had a new headlight and tail light after I managed to pull a tyre off the rim round a corner, span and clipped the armco
More pics to follow over the weekend...
Wheels refurbished at The Wheel Specialist Bournemouth in white, with 4x new 205 tyres. Wheel alignment carried out and fitting new engine and gearbox mounts over the weekend.
It also had a new headlight and tail light after I managed to pull a tyre off the rim round a corner, span and clipped the armco
More pics to follow over the weekend...
Edited by zed4 on Friday 30th May 16:50
Skylinecrazy said:
What tyres have you gone for?
I've got one myself, which funnily enough is being hillclimbed for the first time in two weeks!
We went for Nankang NS2 Ultra Sport (think that's what they're called!) in 205 width, not the original 195. The original tyres looked so stretched, 205 tyres fit so much better. I've got one myself, which funnily enough is being hillclimbed for the first time in two weeks!
Good luck in your hill climb!
No tyre rubbing so far, so I’m happy with that.
I dechavved the lights last night. The previous owner had changed the sidelight, number plate and interior light bulbs with horrible LED ones which flickered! Back to the standard bulbs and it looks lots better now.
Someone smashed the wing mirror off the other day, pretty annoyed about that, so I really must get a replacement from eBay. The engine mounts still aren’t right either so I assume there’s another one broken in there somewhere.
I dechavved the lights last night. The previous owner had changed the sidelight, number plate and interior light bulbs with horrible LED ones which flickered! Back to the standard bulbs and it looks lots better now.
Someone smashed the wing mirror off the other day, pretty annoyed about that, so I really must get a replacement from eBay. The engine mounts still aren’t right either so I assume there’s another one broken in there somewhere.
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