Clio 172, phase1, unseen ebay purchase...

[zedx19]

Many many years ago (17 years ago ish!) I had this:-



Despite being low mileage (27k when I bought it) and full Renault service history, it was an utter heap. Went through 2 gearboxes, shot a spark plug out the head, sheared inlet manifold bolts, the list goes on. So I sold it, quickly and left the Renault scene. Had a GTi-6 for many many years, then a load of dull company cars. Today I have a 2010 5 pot Focus ST (also in silver) with some bits and bobs on, making 270-280bhp ish, which is an absolute hoot and in 3+ years has been ultra reliable and acts as my company car. So obviously, what I need to go with it, is another phase 1 172...

So I've bought this:-



W916 SRH which I see has done some rounds on Cliosport.net, you may have seen it on ebay. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Clio-172-PH1-/2...

I'd been watching a few recently but this one just creeped over what I wanted to pay. So I dropped the seller a message after the auction ended in the hope that the winning bidder was a time waster. Turned out I got lucky, seller had landed a timewaster so I made my offer, transferred a deposit and here we are.

I haven't actually got it yet, arrives Sunday. Hopefully it's as solid as it looks in the photo, as I've not seen or drove it

Want - Phase 1 wheel refurbishing (purchased separately)
Want - Original CAT

[Ph1listine]

These are enormous fun! Here was my build thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

They're great on fuel if a little boomy on motorways.

[p4cks]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, these Ph1s are going to be future classics

[Jonny-Jimbo]

Probably are great cars... this is my one. Was cheap. Got it for £330... then the dephaser went on the way back from the MOT which it failed on a few other things too. I'm now 2k in the hole and just want shot of it. Driven it 20 miles if that... what a pisser haha.



Good luck with yours, hope you have better luck than me!

[Trophy Husband]

Prettier car than the facelift. IIRC the ad for them said 6.76s to 60 or I could be dreaming!
Talking about mpg. I remember recording 45.7 in my 172 cup on a steady journey.

[RedblockAlex]

Phase 1 definitely has aged well! I had a phase 2 172, brilliant car apart from the 3 gearboxes that decided to detonate

[Cads]

I was messaging the seller all week and was the next highest bidder after the time waster (he claimed he bid by accident!!) and was offered the car for my max bid. But I didn't reply quick enough as was at work that evening, and by the time I did the chap had taken, what turns out, was your deposit.

It looked decent and I wish you all the best with it. Bookmarked!!

[mooseracer]

p4cks said:

I've said it before and I'll say it again, these Ph1s are going to be future classics

Early phase 1 like this, I'd say so too

[zedx19]

Cads said:

I was messaging the seller all week and was the next highest bidder after the time waster (he claimed he bid by accident!!) and was offered the car for my max bid. But I didn't reply quick enough as was at work that evening, and by the time I did the chap had taken, what turns out, was your deposit.

It looked decent and I wish you all the best with it. Bookmarked!!

Ha, sorry! What was your highest bid?? Glad I stuck a deposit down as soon as he accepted my offer.

Will keep this thread up to date with progress though, hopefully all good progress and nothing bad! Mate of mine sent me a video last night of his phase 1 172 weeing down the road due to a split radiator

[Cads]

I stopped at £1800 mate. Given it needs all the belts this year, that was all I was prepared to pay.

The seller sounded like a top bloke. When I didn’t reply to his message straight away I really didn’t expect it to be gone by the time I got home. Sounded like he wanted shot.

Without being vulgar, what did he accept in the end?

[bungz]

In relation to Jimbos post

When the dephaser fails on these whats the result?

Most VVt cams just get noisy?

[uncleluck]

bungz said:

In relation to Jimbos post

When the dephaser fails on these whats the result?

Most VVt cams just get noisy?

They also get noisy

The more likely fail & only time I’ve seen a jumped timing belt on one was when the aux belt tensioner went, aux belt goes wraps round the inside of the crank pulley, rips the lower timing cover apart then destroys the timing belt.

The tensioner get noisy and need replacing before they let go.

My own car the aux belt tensioner is noisy now and I must do it, I even have a new one here but really need to do the timing belt and dephaser too (was done 9 years ago) as it makes sense to do the lot due to being half way there.

I’ve just started back working for someone at a garage (been self emp for years) so have a nice workshop to use when I can be bothered (one of the negs about fixing other people’s cars is not wanting to do your own in down time)

[Jonny-Jimbo]

Yes, as the others have said, it's not a catastrophic failure, but it makes it sound like a diesel tractor at idle, although it drives okay. However, as my intention with this car was to get it road legal, do the odd track day or two and then sell it on I would have struggled to move it on with it rattling away. I saw it as a way to have a fun track day car for an event or two and hopefully be cost neutral at the end, give or take a few quid.

I know it's perverse to do the work and then sell it, but I'm just fed up of the damn thing now.

It's going to a good home with one of my mates, so I expect I'll end up buying it back off him in a year when he's fed up of it too.

The OP's car looks tidy though, and I wish him the best of luck with it.

[bungz]

Not so terrible then.

Thanks for info

[Cambs_Stuart]

I really like the phase 1 version. I bought a silver phase 2 last summer. Unseen, on ebay, a 2 hr train ride away. And all it needed was new steering wheel thumb grips, exhaust mounts, upper and lower engine mounts, gearbox mount bracket, track rod ends, suspension struts, springs and top mounts.
And a new gearbox and clutch. But its a great car to drive. Possibly the most fun car I've owned...

Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Thursday 27th February 17:14

[zedx19]

Cads said:

I stopped at £1800 mate. Given it needs all the belts this year, that was all I was prepared to pay.

The seller sounded like a top bloke. When I didn’t reply to his message straight away I really didn’t expect it to be gone by the time I got home. Sounded like he wanted shot.

Without being vulgar, what did he accept in the end?

1600 quid is what I’ve paid, which to me seems about what it’s worth, like you say.

[Cads]

You can’t go wrong at £1600 mate.
I was over 250 miles away and hadn’t viewed it and was prepared to take the same risk you have.

[Krikkit]

That looks in really fantastic condition for that kind of money, bargain! These will definitely be a collector's item in a few years.

[Mike1990]

I used to regularly get 45mpg from mine on the commute to work! Freakishly good.

Great cars.

[Cads]

So, what’s it like????