Clio 182... anything to look out for?
Discussion
Lots of things!
Cambelt and auxbelt change is one of the main ones. Expensive on these, looking anywhere between £400-600, so look for one thats been done recently. If it has been done recently, check where. Cliosport.net will say walk away from one that hasn't been done at a specialist, personally I'm not so sure.
I went for one with both cup packs fitted, meaning a better suspension set up and all the fancy extras, such as xenon lights, auto wipers, cruise control, speed limiter and esp.
Check all the electrics work, cruise control if fitted should work with ease.
Rear disc brakes include the bearings so if you buy one with rear discs that need replacing, its not as cheap as you may have first thought.
Engine mounts wear so check for excessive lurching/engine movement coming on and off the throttle
Suspension top mounts the same, check for wear, when were they last replaced? Budget to replace them.
Exhausts....original system will have probably rotted away by now, if it hasnt, check the condition and if poor budget for a new one. Most are replaced with an after market system as the original part is either no longer available or prohibitively expensive cant remember which...so don't let an after market system put you off.
Get under and look at the exhaust mounts, some after market systems are better than others, mine had a K-tec fitted and it was a nightmare for popping out of its mounts, leaving the twin pipes lop sided...very annoying.
Clutch will be rock hard, try before you buy...a lot of stop start driving and it will grate on you over time.
Gearchange isn't very crisp, id call it industrial but it never bothered me.
Build quality is quite stereotypical french inside but again thats part of the fun.
I had mine around a year and never had a problem with it, others will say its the most unreliable car they've ever owned, it seems a bit pot luck.
Buy the best looked after one you can, look for enthusiast owned ones, personally i'd buy private and make an assessment on how you think its been looked after...dont buy a ropey one from a dealer.
Only sold mine because the cambelt change was lurking 6 months away and I sold it on for about £500 profit after a year so made sense to get rid...id happily have another one.
Fuel consumption is great considering the performance.
Cambelt and auxbelt change is one of the main ones. Expensive on these, looking anywhere between £400-600, so look for one thats been done recently. If it has been done recently, check where. Cliosport.net will say walk away from one that hasn't been done at a specialist, personally I'm not so sure.
I went for one with both cup packs fitted, meaning a better suspension set up and all the fancy extras, such as xenon lights, auto wipers, cruise control, speed limiter and esp.
Check all the electrics work, cruise control if fitted should work with ease.
Rear disc brakes include the bearings so if you buy one with rear discs that need replacing, its not as cheap as you may have first thought.
Engine mounts wear so check for excessive lurching/engine movement coming on and off the throttle
Suspension top mounts the same, check for wear, when were they last replaced? Budget to replace them.
Exhausts....original system will have probably rotted away by now, if it hasnt, check the condition and if poor budget for a new one. Most are replaced with an after market system as the original part is either no longer available or prohibitively expensive cant remember which...so don't let an after market system put you off.
Get under and look at the exhaust mounts, some after market systems are better than others, mine had a K-tec fitted and it was a nightmare for popping out of its mounts, leaving the twin pipes lop sided...very annoying.
Clutch will be rock hard, try before you buy...a lot of stop start driving and it will grate on you over time.
Gearchange isn't very crisp, id call it industrial but it never bothered me.
Build quality is quite stereotypical french inside but again thats part of the fun.
I had mine around a year and never had a problem with it, others will say its the most unreliable car they've ever owned, it seems a bit pot luck.
Buy the best looked after one you can, look for enthusiast owned ones, personally i'd buy private and make an assessment on how you think its been looked after...dont buy a ropey one from a dealer.
Only sold mine because the cambelt change was lurking 6 months away and I sold it on for about £500 profit after a year so made sense to get rid...id happily have another one.
Fuel consumption is great considering the performance.
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