Clio 172 Ph1 - Any comments on this?

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Aside from the replacement for my main car I'm looking at buying a commuter car. The intention is to turn it into a track day toy.

Any comments on this? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1455786.htm
Seems to fit what I want but is it going to be trouble?

Cheers

[davebem]

They are good cars in general, especially for turning into track day cars, but id be wary of that one. Cambelt was done at 72k, ok. But the cambelt should be done every 72k or 5 years so its probably due its next one (£600-750) job. Also they must have frequent services/oil changes. The "sometimes tappety engine" could be a faulty dephaser pulley which again is an expensive job. I think theres some better ones out there. Id rather have a tatty parking dented one that was mechanically sound than a minter with partial service history and high miles. If it was me Id have a good look at it and go through the history in detail.

[Mag1calTrev0r]

Thanks for replying. It sound like it could be too good to be true. I think I'll give it a swerve!

[Russ182]

passenger door and rear quater look different colours to me as well?

[John D.]

RE Tappety engine - My old 172 Cup always sounded tappety on idle once it was warm from since when I bought it on 31k miles. Its not unusual. Engine was pretty much faultless in the time I owned the car, but I did look after it with oil changes every 6k and shortening the service intervals to take account of any track use abuse.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Oh and belts should really be done more like every 30-40k once the first set have been done.

[John D.]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Oh and belts should really be done more like every 30-40k once the first set have been done.

Do you mean aux belt or aux and cambelt at those intervals? I always thought the aux belt was due every 36k, but cambelt every 72k or 5yrs.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Both really. I wouldn't trust a french belt beyond 50k tbh. And when I say belts I also mean to include the pulley kits as well.

[John D.]

Fair enough. I didn't keep mine long enough to test the longevity of the belts! Still put many hard miles on it with no probs really.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I bought a mk1 with a history of a belt snap at 72k (dumbass previous owners had gone well beyond the 5yrs!)

Ever since I always made sure they were done. The mk2s even have a record of aux belts breaking before the recommended intervals and taking out the cambelts.

But kept well the engines will take some punishment.

[John D.]

Swervin_Mervin said:

Ever since I always made sure they were done. The mk2s even have a record of aux belts breaking before the recommended intervals and taking out the cambelts.

I think that may be partly due to Renault dealers themselves often not following the correct intervals on the aux belt! Its not uncommon for the 36k change to be missed and the aux belt to be left until 72k/5yr with the cambelt (which is correct for a non-RS Clio I believe and perhaps where it stems). My car had full Renault service history when I bought it on around 33k - last service was 36k but it hadn't been done! When I realised I opted to change the cambelt just under a year early as didn't want that at the back of my mind every time I gave it the beans.

[Swervin_Mervin]

There have been a few cases of people with mk2s having the aux belts go before the first change is due, and Renault then trying to dodge any resultant claim from it taking out the cambelt.

I don;t know what happened to those guys.

[brownin]

i have one, great little car, but be weary as said about the belts, i took my car to chester to have mine done by a specialist, 430 quid and 50 petrol instead of the 700 quid they wanted down here, watch out for gearbox and driveshaft wear also, bought mine with low miles 59k for a fair old wack of money and then they both broke on me, cost a fortune to fix but in the end well worth it

[Heliosphan]

I never thought I'd ever sell a car due to poor reliability but the 172cup I had absolutely raped my wallet in the 18months I had it so it had to go. Best thing I ever did was trade it for a Golf Gti.

That said, fantastic fun - hope you have better luck than me.

Quick point on the cam belt. The cam tensioners failed on mine at 32000 miles (car was 5 years old). I was lucky the belt didn't fail, replacing the lot cost me £500 - 6 hour job apparently.

[clionut172]

my ph1 belt went at 98k it was replaced at 80k sods law. in result i put a new engine in mine and it took just over a week. my ph1 isup for sale soon. 48k on the new engine new belt and kit got done when i put the new engine in. only thing is up with mine is the exhaust. got a small hole in it so dont sound that good when 1st starting her up. but as soon as she has been running for 5minutes sounds lovely like they should

[GTP rpm]

I've never seen a belt fail on a Renault engine.

But I've seen plenty of tentioners, idlers and waterpumps throw their bearings, or generally explode.

Never get a cambelt done on a ClioSport at a micky-mouse garage. Bite the bullet and pay for a genuine cambelt kit, with aux. belt kit and either get it done at a decent Renault dealership - or a Renault Specialist.