Clio 16v's - Opinions?

[Gompo]

Thinking about getting one for 6 months or so - how good are they? They're about the only car in this price range that appeals to me.. I could be tempted by a Williams too, although I'm disappointed with the interior shots I've seen.

A lot of the cars I'm seeing for sale have done 100k+ miles. Should I be worried? If the engine did let go, how easy is it to source a replacement?

NB. I have recently joined ClioSport - looking for less biased opinions here.

Cheers, Greg.

[TimmerTVR]

My housemate has a 16v clio, definately feels better built than my 205gti. Quite pokey too, pulls better through the rev range than my 8v does. You can find them with mileage under 100,000 his has around 80,000.

[Alpineandy]

The problem is finding one that hasn't been mucked about with and/or driven into the ground. If you can find a good one you'll be sooo pleased.

[Alistair H.]

Williams is light years ahead of std 16V.

[Gompo]

Alistair H. said:

Williams is light years ahead of std 16V.

Not disagreeing with you - but can you tell me why?

Cheers..

[Alistair H.]

Gompo said:

Alistair H. said:

Williams is light years ahead of std 16V.

Not disagreeing with you - but can you tell me why?

Cheers..

Ok. well to start with I used to have two R5 turbos. I test drove a 16v clio and it was "soooo" dull. no fee3dback - just boring and not at all exciting. When i drove a williams it was what I needed to move on. Very fast and very good "go kart" handling. You need to drive them back to back and the answer will present itself.

[Mattymouse33]

Bump:

I've had a 16v Dimma for 11 years now and since it was 6 months old. Was fitted out with all the goodies brand new at Renault Wolverhampton and I'll never sell it. Its been through many transformations such as interiors and colours. Right now it is being restored as I had an accident 4 years ago in it so therefore turned it into a trackcar but now its being fully restored to the mint car it was. Its imperial blue and has 47000 original miles, very low for its age. IMO they are great wee cars but the problem as said above is finding a good one. Aint no way mine will be for sale and FWIW, its part of a small collection of mine joining a Subaru trackcar and plymouth prowler.

Regards,

Matthew

[exgtt]

Unfortunatly they have a potential for many expensive jobs after 100k miles. The main problem is there no room under the bonnet to get at the bits. Cambelts need doing at 72k and are a £3-400 job. Head gaskets can let go with the amount of heat generated by that motor in the small bay, so check coolant appropriatly. Theres a power steering pipe that can give trouble and it's £70 from Renno! Check the gearbox is nice and smooth and the clutch bites midway (will be slightly stiff if your used to modern stuff) The clutch is another £400 job that can effect cars coming to 100k miles, think the engine needs to come off the mounts to do this. Ok there one or two thingsa that can cost, but overall they are fun cars, but you need to take someone who know there stuff with you as most are knackard and its easy to spend £1k fixing various jobs if you pay for someone else to do the work. Ps they like wheel bearings too!! And check for play in the steering, the racks wear after 100k and are not cheap to fix...

Edited by exgtt on Wednesday 18th April 18:04

[mattiselvis]

Alpineandy said:

The problem is finding one that hasn't been mucked about with and/or driven into the ground. If you can find a good one you'll be sooo pleased.

And if you do find a good Williams they still fetch strong money. £4500-5000 for a non-rusty sub 50k miler I reckon.