Jumping on the Clio Bandwagon
Discussion
There's a lot of love for the Clio around at the minute and I don't mind admitting I've got a little caught up in it all.
I've been hankering after a second car every since I sold my Impreza 5 years ago. I've been shedding in a Mazda 6 since and while its faultless, dependable and comfortable, exciting it is not.
Since the Impreza went we've had a couple of kids and financially we are ok.
I sold a flat some years ago and ever since have had a few grand sitting in an account for a rainy day.
I've read so much about hot Clio's and eventually decided that a Clio would meet my needs and would come in at a price I was ok with.
The wife has just upgraded to a family SUV which kind of gave me the green light to begin the hunt in earnest.
After a few months of trawling the classifieds and having been outbid on a 172 and viewed a bit more of a project 182 than I wanted, I found a French Racing Blue 182. The price seemed about right, the mileage average and it had some nice bits on it.
So on Thursday I took a one way train journey north. I'll admit to being a little under whelmed when I saw the car in person, and nearly walked away, but after a little more haggling we shook on a price and I drove home.
As documented on my other thread, the car drove brilliantly. It's crashy, bouncy and loud, but what a laugh!! I took it easy home, the roads were wet and the track spec Yoko's have a certain reputation. The last thing I wanted was to have a breakdown or worse, spin it.
I've compiled a list of faults and things that need doing, some more urgent than others, and some luxuries which may or may not get done.
But Friday morning I did something I've not done in years, I just went for a drive. I wanted some better photos, and used this an excuse to just go for a blast on familiar roads, in the dry. And that's the point of this car. Is it not?
So what's wrong and what does it need:
- MOT expires in 5 weeks. That's the priority, get a fresh ticket and enjoy some fun miles.
- The gear lever moves about like a wooden spoon in a bucket of cement. Both in gear and neutral.
- The headlight washers don't work. No bother, I've already bought some blanking plates.
- The rear wash doesn't work, the switch makes water come out the front washers. Odd, hopefully a faulty stalk.
- The glove box is broken. I've not really investigated, but one of the hinges appears to have snapped.
- It only has 1 key, and a different key for the fuel filler cap.
- The front tyres are low, but to be honest the AD08R's are probably not the best option for general road driving.
- One of the rear exhaust mounts is collapsed and held on by cable ties. A new Powerflex one is supplied.
- After a thrash there is a faint smell of hot oil.
- The rear arches are just starting to show signs of bubbling.
- The front bumper is a mess and probably easier to replace than repair. In an ideal world I will find the correct colour bumper!
- There is no history before 2013, but plenty since.
- Aux belt last done in Nov 2017. So a job for the end of the year.
- The sills, this was a sticking point. I should have had the door cards off on his drive, but this was a hassle. Need to investigate.
- The wipers are not in great shape, but I usually start new car ownership with fresh wipers.
- The paintwork will benefit from a decent clay bar, polish and wax.
- The wheels are not concourse, but straight and perfectly presentable. They'll get a refurb in due course.
The good bits:
- The best colour IMO.
- With the best wheels, again IMO.
- The engine feels willing, strong and lively with no hesitation and no flat spots.
- Cambelt done in Nov 2017 and again in Apr 2019.
- Last serviced in Dec 2019 with plugs and leads too.
- It is supposed to have been mapped, but there is no evidence in the paperwork and no proof.
- Paperwork indicates its got a lightened fly wheel and 172 Cup gearbox. Or they were certainly fitted, whether they remain??
- The engine mounts are poly bushed.
- Its got the popular V6 air box.
- Its running on Spax springs, this could have gone in the bad bits section. As they break I may go back to OEM here.
- Its got a full Miltek exhaust with decat pipe. Again could have gone in the bad bits, but the inner chav in me, says keep it!
- It brakes very well. Apparently its on PBS brake pads, research tells me these are track orientated pads and the rear discs are drilled.
So in summary, I appear to have bought an average example in need of a little work and money, but I intend to keep this so these bits don't really bother me as they'll get crossed off in time as funds allow.
I'd like to get a spare set of wheels in due course, I'd love to swap the seats out for Trendlines or similar and I'd like to get the steering wheel re-trimmed. But its not the worst I've seen.
I've been hankering after a second car every since I sold my Impreza 5 years ago. I've been shedding in a Mazda 6 since and while its faultless, dependable and comfortable, exciting it is not.
Since the Impreza went we've had a couple of kids and financially we are ok.
I sold a flat some years ago and ever since have had a few grand sitting in an account for a rainy day.
I've read so much about hot Clio's and eventually decided that a Clio would meet my needs and would come in at a price I was ok with.
The wife has just upgraded to a family SUV which kind of gave me the green light to begin the hunt in earnest.
After a few months of trawling the classifieds and having been outbid on a 172 and viewed a bit more of a project 182 than I wanted, I found a French Racing Blue 182. The price seemed about right, the mileage average and it had some nice bits on it.
So on Thursday I took a one way train journey north. I'll admit to being a little under whelmed when I saw the car in person, and nearly walked away, but after a little more haggling we shook on a price and I drove home.
As documented on my other thread, the car drove brilliantly. It's crashy, bouncy and loud, but what a laugh!! I took it easy home, the roads were wet and the track spec Yoko's have a certain reputation. The last thing I wanted was to have a breakdown or worse, spin it.
I've compiled a list of faults and things that need doing, some more urgent than others, and some luxuries which may or may not get done.
But Friday morning I did something I've not done in years, I just went for a drive. I wanted some better photos, and used this an excuse to just go for a blast on familiar roads, in the dry. And that's the point of this car. Is it not?
So what's wrong and what does it need:
- MOT expires in 5 weeks. That's the priority, get a fresh ticket and enjoy some fun miles.
- The gear lever moves about like a wooden spoon in a bucket of cement. Both in gear and neutral.
- The headlight washers don't work. No bother, I've already bought some blanking plates.
- The rear wash doesn't work, the switch makes water come out the front washers. Odd, hopefully a faulty stalk.
- The glove box is broken. I've not really investigated, but one of the hinges appears to have snapped.
- It only has 1 key, and a different key for the fuel filler cap.
- The front tyres are low, but to be honest the AD08R's are probably not the best option for general road driving.
- One of the rear exhaust mounts is collapsed and held on by cable ties. A new Powerflex one is supplied.
- After a thrash there is a faint smell of hot oil.
- The rear arches are just starting to show signs of bubbling.
- The front bumper is a mess and probably easier to replace than repair. In an ideal world I will find the correct colour bumper!
- There is no history before 2013, but plenty since.
- Aux belt last done in Nov 2017. So a job for the end of the year.
- The sills, this was a sticking point. I should have had the door cards off on his drive, but this was a hassle. Need to investigate.
- The wipers are not in great shape, but I usually start new car ownership with fresh wipers.
- The paintwork will benefit from a decent clay bar, polish and wax.
- The wheels are not concourse, but straight and perfectly presentable. They'll get a refurb in due course.
The good bits:
- The best colour IMO.
- With the best wheels, again IMO.
- The engine feels willing, strong and lively with no hesitation and no flat spots.
- Cambelt done in Nov 2017 and again in Apr 2019.
- Last serviced in Dec 2019 with plugs and leads too.
- It is supposed to have been mapped, but there is no evidence in the paperwork and no proof.
- Paperwork indicates its got a lightened fly wheel and 172 Cup gearbox. Or they were certainly fitted, whether they remain??
- The engine mounts are poly bushed.
- Its got the popular V6 air box.
- Its running on Spax springs, this could have gone in the bad bits section. As they break I may go back to OEM here.
- Its got a full Miltek exhaust with decat pipe. Again could have gone in the bad bits, but the inner chav in me, says keep it!
- It brakes very well. Apparently its on PBS brake pads, research tells me these are track orientated pads and the rear discs are drilled.
So in summary, I appear to have bought an average example in need of a little work and money, but I intend to keep this so these bits don't really bother me as they'll get crossed off in time as funds allow.
I'd like to get a spare set of wheels in due course, I'd love to swap the seats out for Trendlines or similar and I'd like to get the steering wheel re-trimmed. But its not the worst I've seen.
Edited by Cads on Saturday 14th March 09:55
addz86 said:
Amazing cars, I love my 182 and would argue that you can’t go faster for less.
A smaller steering wheel and more supportive bucket seats make the world of difference
Mini Cooper s would be the only thing for a similar price.A smaller steering wheel and more supportive bucket seats make the world of difference
Both cars do it very differently though , clio has better feel and a rev happy engine the mini has more torque and less feel but more stable.
egor110 said:
addz86 said:
Amazing cars, I love my 182 and would argue that you can’t go faster for less.
A smaller steering wheel and more supportive bucket seats make the world of difference
Mini Cooper s would be the only thing for a similar price.A smaller steering wheel and more supportive bucket seats make the world of difference
Both cars do it very differently though , clio has better feel and a rev happy engine the mini has more torque and less feel but more stable.
The Clios definitely the better car out the box, my Mini’s probably a bit faster but the Clio definitely would out handle it on a track.
addz86 said:
egor110 said:
addz86 said:
Amazing cars, I love my 182 and would argue that you can’t go faster for less.
A smaller steering wheel and more supportive bucket seats make the world of difference
Mini Cooper s would be the only thing for a similar price.A smaller steering wheel and more supportive bucket seats make the world of difference
Both cars do it very differently though , clio has better feel and a rev happy engine the mini has more torque and less feel but more stable.
The Clios definitely the better car out the box, my Mini’s probably a bit faster but the Clio definitely would out handle it on a track.
LukeSi said:
The rear washer issue is the pump. The rubber bung thing in them that controls the direction swells up and blocks the rear washer from working.
You can fix it by opening it up and trimming the rubber. Or just get a new pump.
I found this fix on Cliosport.net and took the pump apart yesterday. Unfortunately I only trimmed one end of the piston and once it was all back together it still didn't work. I hope to have enough time this afternoon to strip it all out again, should be easier this time. I'll trim the other end and see how I get on.You can fix it by opening it up and trimming the rubber. Or just get a new pump.
Cads said:
I found this fix on Cliosport.net and took the pump apart yesterday. Unfortunately I only trimmed one end of the piston and once it was all back together it still didn't work. I hope to have enough time this afternoon to strip it all out again, should be easier this time. I'll trim the other end and see how I get on.
Hopefully that sorts it. Be aware it will dribble a bit from whichever washer you aren't using hahaSo I was out in the rain earlier and stripped the wiper mechanism out again to get at the washer bottle.
I’d read the left motor did the screens and so opened that up and cut the other end off the rubber piston.
While I was at it I thought I’d have a look at what I’d assumed was the headlight washer motor. It was a pig to prise open and sure enough that piston was wedged in one end. I duly chopped the swollen ends off and reassembled everything.
Then I noticed one of the pipes from the right hand motor went up into the bonnet.
All the other pipes vanished into the inner wing.
So it appears the left motor is for the headlight washers.
Long story short both screens have water and now work as Renault intended!!
The headlight washers will be removed as soon as the blanks arrive anyway.
I changed all the wiper blades while I was at it.
So that’s two jobs off the list.
I’d read the left motor did the screens and so opened that up and cut the other end off the rubber piston.
While I was at it I thought I’d have a look at what I’d assumed was the headlight washer motor. It was a pig to prise open and sure enough that piston was wedged in one end. I duly chopped the swollen ends off and reassembled everything.
Then I noticed one of the pipes from the right hand motor went up into the bonnet.
All the other pipes vanished into the inner wing.
So it appears the left motor is for the headlight washers.
Long story short both screens have water and now work as Renault intended!!
The headlight washers will be removed as soon as the blanks arrive anyway.
I changed all the wiper blades while I was at it.
So that’s two jobs off the list.
Great choice Cads, mines due to come out from winter hibernation/regular starts/tyre rotations soon, can't want, I have a 2019 JCW hatch as a 'daily' but despite the crappy driving position, the weaping gearbox (minor at this stage will get it rebuilt this year) it's a keeper for sure. Easy to work on and mines in pretty good nick for a 90k '04
So while my daughter has a nap I set about the Barry blue pipe covers.
Much better.
And while I had some time I took the rear speakers out and stuck my phone in and shot some video.
I’m chuffed to report everything looks dry and rust free in there.
The outer sills are just showing surface rust under the plastic sill skirts. But thankfully that looks like all it is.
MOT is booked for the 28th and if that goes well I’ll see about getting the arches and outer sills tidied up.
Much better.
And while I had some time I took the rear speakers out and stuck my phone in and shot some video.
I’m chuffed to report everything looks dry and rust free in there.
The outer sills are just showing surface rust under the plastic sill skirts. But thankfully that looks like all it is.
MOT is booked for the 28th and if that goes well I’ll see about getting the arches and outer sills tidied up.
ham355 said:
Great choice Cads, mines due to come out from winter hibernation/regular starts/tyre rotations soon, can't want, I have a 2019 JCW hatch as a 'daily' but despite the crappy driving position, the weaping gearbox (minor at this stage will get it rebuilt this year) it's a keeper for sure. Easy to work on and mines in pretty good nick for a 90k '04
If it's selector seals weeping don't bother. They leak again fairly quickly anyway. Renault sell a drip tray because they know its such a common issue. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff