Clio 172 dilemma

[Denno B]

I'm looking at buying a 172 hopefully in the next week or so and was wondering what people would generally do if they had the following options -

1. Buy a 2002 model with around 75k miles with service history including an actual receipt for the expensive cambelt change.

0r

2. For around the same price and year buy an example with 55k miles with fsh but no actual receipt for the cambelt. This may have had the work done but because there is no evidence would it be best to get it done just incase?

Thoughts please.

[exgtt]

Either way your spending £500 more for the lower mileage car once the belts have been done.

Also a 2002 car is 3 years over due a belt change if its not been done! 72k or 5 years. I'd be bricking it i case the belt went on the way to being replaced.

Ps i'm in the same situation, been looking for a couple of weeks now for a 2002/2003 172ff. I've seen 1 owner cars with 100k miles in far better condition that ones with less miles/more owners. Plus most of the work seems to have been done with cars aproaching 100k miles in the cars ive seen.

Edited by exgtt on Wednesday 3rd March 10:22

[s10mph]

I would have to agree with the above, S/H on a higher mileage car is preferable to a lower mileage with no S/H.
However if you are a confident diy'er with the spanners, you can pick up a bargain, when viewing a car, factor in the price of the parts that you know needs replacing. Then deduct 20% of the asking price to make it worth your while. This way you will get to know the cars mechanical history, but it's not really worth it if you are the kind of person that changes motors every year.
If you are not competent with the DIY route then stick with a known service history and the Main dealers for piece of mind. Costs more of course but motoring is expensive.
In my case I've just bought a 2002 Clio Cup for £1700, its a bit off a shed at the moment but does have Renualt S/H, I just have to fix the oil and water leaks, a couple of dents and paintwork.

Good luck.

[John D.]

Personally I'd opt for the lower milage car and then pay for the belts to be changed. All other things being equal you are paying £500 more for having 20k less miles on the clock, which is reasonable IMO.

[Denno B]

Cheers guys, the problem i'm getting is that most that do have service history say that the belts are done but no proof other than the book being stamped. Or i'm getting alot of owners saying there mate has done it recently etc etc. So it's likely i'll have to buy one and get the belts done myself and just hope i can barter a bit on price.

[John D.]

Denno B said:

Cheers guys, the problem i'm getting is that most that do have service history say that the belts are done but no proof other than the book being stamped. Or i'm getting alot of owners saying there mate has done it recently etc etc. So it's likely i'll have to buy one and get the belts done myself and just hope i can barter a bit on price.

Sounds like a load of st to me. Who pays £400-500 for the belts to be changed but doesn't get the book stamped or keep any evidence? Especially if you are selling the car in the near future!!

[p3t3]

for a renault stamp will cost you around 900 squid

[John D.]

p3t3 said:

for a renault stamp will cost you around 900 squid

Hardly worth it on a £2k car. More like £700 at Renault I thought.

[GingerRob]

I've never had a car long enough for the belt to be done but an enthusatic owner will have the reciepts to back it up, most Renault specialists will be cheaper and there are a number of good ones about, on performace cars I fell FSH is a must even if it's not Renault, if they can't afford to look after the car properly what else have they skimped on?

[CooperS]

I would echo Robs comments.

Be careful these cars are in the hands of kids now so i would make sure that the car had service stamps at the bare minimum.

When i sold mine, it had stamps, every MOT certificate, most (not if all receipts) for tryes and anything that i had done.

RenTech are very very good so if its been done at a specalist dont worry just make sure its on par with a Rentech or K-tech to ensure it hasn't been kept on the cheap.

[bmthnick1981]

I've had a few 172's - The one I have now is showing the cambelt having been changed in 2007 at 39k - there was no invoice for this work so I range the dealer, gave the reg and they confirmed the work had been done.

Might be worth a try if you are looking at cars with service history but no receipts?

[Denno B]

bmthnick1981 said:

I've had a few 172's - The one I have now is showing the cambelt having been changed in 2007 at 39k - there was no invoice for this work so I range the dealer, gave the reg and they confirmed the work had been done.

Might be worth a try if you are looking at cars with service history but no receipts?

Yeah i did look into that by calling dealers to check if the belts had been done and they hadn't so i steered away. Have now bought a phase 2 though with receipts of belt change, aux belt, waterpump and receipts for recent services. Am very happy with the car and quite suprised at it's performance and handling. Totally standard car which is quite hard to find, may replace the backbox for a stainless one later down the line and maybe a performance panel filter and that will be it.

[solarprotection]

I have a great standard car if anyone else wants a minter. http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1630835.htm

[nobodyknows]

may replace the backbox for a stainless one later down the line and maybe a performance panel filter and that will be it.
[/quote]

you probably won't have much choice - it'll probably fall off soon enough!