Unmodified clio sport wanted

[0844abern]

Hi all

I am looking for a well looked after and unmodified clio sport for up to £5k but would prefer to spend less.

I've always followed the threads in this part of the forum with interest and you seem to uncover some real gems. I assume like me you all just love browsing for cars!

One of my favourites so far is this

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202052...

But it is a long way from me (I am in Oxford area). Happy to travel if necessary though.

No real rush but be good to "scratch the itch" as soon as possible.

Thanks for your help/advice!

[0844abern]

PS: also any tips on things to watch out for would be great, thank you.

[CRA1G]

There it is..? You've found it...?

[mike74]

CRA1G said:

There it is..? You've found it...?

Exactly.

And that looks a very reasonable price in light of the current ongoing madness.

Although I couldn't begin to tell you what to look out for. Despite mine being a low owner, low mileage example it was stupendously unreliable, parts were more expensive and trickier to obtain than I expected and various different garages all hated working on it.

[anonymous-user]

Rust. These are starting to really suffer with it now. Everywhere and anywhere but especially jacking points and hidden in the rear wheel arches,

When was the cambelt and dephaser last done? It’s not cheap to get it done and should really be done by a specialist as the timing is easy to get slightly wrong which knackers performance.

At that age, FSH is nice but unless it’s going to be a garage queen I’d want to see evidence of maintenance on suspension bits at the least. It has terrible tyres on it so may have been run on a shoestring.

Check out the marque specific forums like ClioSport.

[plenty]

If you can tolerate the quagmire that is Facebook there a lot of cars advertised in the Clio groups there, far more than anywhere else.

What to look for? All available readily via web search as there is a vast amount of information online.

Just for balance, my 13-owner 145k example has been a pleasure to own. As with any marque finding a good specialist is key if you don't do your own spannering. Beaniesport in MK is not a million miles from Oxford.

[mike74]

plenty said:

Just for balance, my 13-owner 145k example has been a pleasure to own. As with any marque finding a good specialist is key if you don't do your own spannering. Beaniesport in MK is not a million miles from Oxford.

I agree that finding a good specialist is essential. I can guarantee your local backstreet garage won't welcome you with open arms when he sees you pull up in an RS Clio.

I wonder why it is that RenaultSport models do require a specialist to work on them when most other hot versions of ordinary cars can usually be worked on by any competent general garage.

[Zarco]

mike74 said:

I agree that finding a good specialist is essential. I can guarantee your local backstreet garage won't welcome you with open arms when he sees you pull up in an RS Clio.

I wonder why it is that RenaultSport models do require a specialist to work on them when most other hot versions of ordinary cars can usually be worked on by any competent general garage.

It is a bit bizarre. I took mine to a place that builds their own time attack cars, and usually has some nice heavily modified cars around amongst more mundane stuff. They completely cocked up a service and cambelt change, plus did more damage whilst fixing other stuff. Shame as I've used them for years.

I can understand it a bit with the Megane as they are not as common as Golf/A3/Leon/Focus etc, but Clios' are much more plentiful.

[Xcore]

Budget/make sure it’s had a cambelt. Found the clutch weirdly heavy in my 172! If your after a 172 get a cup,
If your after a 182 buy one with both cup packs (slightly bigger rear spoiler, front splitter and different shocks) Don’t bother with a 182 cup as they are just poverty spec 182s

[Zarco]

The clutch are heavy on 172/182. Bit like the odd driving position; you get used to it quickly but really notice it as soon as you drive something else!