clio v6 mk2-what to look out for
Discussion
I know a few people on here have one, and I've just stumbled accross an opportunity to get one at a good price (taken in p/x at work)so I'm just after some advice on what to look for and what makes a good one.
It's not a case of if I want it or not (I do!!) I just dont want a bad one. I'm going to have to move fast to secure it, so no chance of looking or test driving any others for comparison first. When I bought my last car it took months of research so I knew the car inside out before i bought but i dont have that luxury this time!
it looks clean enough, i'd say average for a v6, a few small marks, front bumper scuffed at bottom(speed bump perhaps) and callipers and wheels need refurbing asthetically. I'l go through the service history and make sure its been regularly serviced. I know cambelts a biggy so i've heard a figure of £800 to do. If its not been done recently i'd be a bit put off but may still be worth it.
I've heard 2 different stories from different colleugues about the car, some saying it has stacks of history, others saying theres an engine management light on.
So, what else is there to check, how should it feel to drive coming from my 306 rallye. I've sat in it and the gears feel extreemly notchy and sound clunky, its apparantly on 35.000 miles and the gears feel a lot worse than my 306 and even the saxo I had before that, not a problem if its normal, does this ease up once driving and the gearbox warms up?
Cheers guys, any help really apreciated on this one, could be the purchase of a lifetime or an immense amount of hassle depending if its a clean one or not! I wasnt planning on getting one for another 12 months or so but i cant refuse at this price, however it is going to skint me so very risky if it needs some work doing in the next few months.
Thanks,
Adam
It's not a case of if I want it or not (I do!!) I just dont want a bad one. I'm going to have to move fast to secure it, so no chance of looking or test driving any others for comparison first. When I bought my last car it took months of research so I knew the car inside out before i bought but i dont have that luxury this time!
it looks clean enough, i'd say average for a v6, a few small marks, front bumper scuffed at bottom(speed bump perhaps) and callipers and wheels need refurbing asthetically. I'l go through the service history and make sure its been regularly serviced. I know cambelts a biggy so i've heard a figure of £800 to do. If its not been done recently i'd be a bit put off but may still be worth it.
I've heard 2 different stories from different colleugues about the car, some saying it has stacks of history, others saying theres an engine management light on.
So, what else is there to check, how should it feel to drive coming from my 306 rallye. I've sat in it and the gears feel extreemly notchy and sound clunky, its apparantly on 35.000 miles and the gears feel a lot worse than my 306 and even the saxo I had before that, not a problem if its normal, does this ease up once driving and the gearbox warms up?
Cheers guys, any help really apreciated on this one, could be the purchase of a lifetime or an immense amount of hassle depending if its a clean one or not! I wasnt planning on getting one for another 12 months or so but i cant refuse at this price, however it is going to skint me so very risky if it needs some work doing in the next few months.
Thanks,
Adam
If you can't refuse the price, then go for it. I work in the motor trade and couldn't refuse the £50 asking price for a '69 Triumph Vitesse that came in - got more than 500% back on that purchase!
The notchy gear selection is a characteristic of these cars. Unless it's whining, especially on lift-off then I'd just pay top money to get everything sorted on a service.
Coming from a 306 Rallye, you'd find a lot of things quite similar. But power and concentration required, throughout ANY journey would need to be multiplied...and if it is wet, at least 5x the amount of concentration on the driving part of the car!
The engines are not performance engines, so generally arn't under stress. You should really just be checking for the usual car points...they are more prone for throwing wheel bearings though, in my experience.
Good luck.
It's definately one of the cheaper cars out there, that just feel "special". And not in an Evo, or Subaru kind of special...more along the lines of a budget Noble. (IMO)
The whole reaching for the door handle under the stick on bodykit, then looking underneith and seeing so much in common with a normal 1.2 Clio...like the front hubs with drive-shaft cups but no shafts in the front wheels is classic!
The notchy gear selection is a characteristic of these cars. Unless it's whining, especially on lift-off then I'd just pay top money to get everything sorted on a service.
Coming from a 306 Rallye, you'd find a lot of things quite similar. But power and concentration required, throughout ANY journey would need to be multiplied...and if it is wet, at least 5x the amount of concentration on the driving part of the car!
The engines are not performance engines, so generally arn't under stress. You should really just be checking for the usual car points...they are more prone for throwing wheel bearings though, in my experience.
Good luck.
It's definately one of the cheaper cars out there, that just feel "special". And not in an Evo, or Subaru kind of special...more along the lines of a budget Noble. (IMO)
The whole reaching for the door handle under the stick on bodykit, then looking underneith and seeing so much in common with a normal 1.2 Clio...like the front hubs with drive-shaft cups but no shafts in the front wheels is classic!
Thanks, some useful info there, reassuring about the unstressed engine too, makes sense as 255bhp isnt mega for a v6 really. Guessing its going to cost more to run interms of parts and servicing, but then iv just spent £1k on my 306 that didnt really need it, just to keep on top of it so i'm used to big bills, aslong as its not crazy money. (biggest problem will be insurance, I'd have to sell the rallye just to cover one weeks fully comp' on the v6.)
I should be able to get the mechanics at work to check over it and get it up on the ramps etc so I'm sure thats a major help, anything else I should look for? They arnt specialists but are going to have a good idea if it's a good or bad car.
I'm also thinking of just buying it and sticking it in storage for a bit until i can save up and afford to run it properly.
I should be able to get the mechanics at work to check over it and get it up on the ramps etc so I'm sure thats a major help, anything else I should look for? They arnt specialists but are going to have a good idea if it's a good or bad car.
I'm also thinking of just buying it and sticking it in storage for a bit until i can save up and afford to run it properly.
9/10 cars will have a history either on v6clio.net or the other v6site. Thats your best bet for getting a detailed look at the history.
If it's all clean, it's the usual things, condition inside and out, Cambelt change, full SH, Xenon's are both bright, fogs work. Exhaust you can see through the grils and underneith...
If it's all clean, it's the usual things, condition inside and out, Cambelt change, full SH, Xenon's are both bright, fogs work. Exhaust you can see through the grils and underneith...
Cheers Ali, yours looks mint. I dont think the one I'm after is in quite that order yet, but it certainly would be if I got it, I'd sort the kerbed alloys and repaint the callipers etc. Doing as much digging as I can around various forums, car hasnt been registered on the v6 owners club I dont think which would have been a help, just have to wait until tommorow now to look at the service history and see how much the boss will let me have it for. Fingers crossed.
if I get it, it will be sorned for a while, pampered, polished and serviced ready for when my insurance is due for renewal (hopefully the extra no claims will make it more affordable in a few months)
if I get it, it will be sorned for a while, pampered, polished and serviced ready for when my insurance is due for renewal (hopefully the extra no claims will make it more affordable in a few months)
AliV6 said:
9/10 cars will have a history either on v6clio.net or the other v6site. Thats your best bet for getting a detailed look at the history.
If it's all clean, it's the usual things, condition inside and out, Cambelt change, full SH, Xenon's are both bright, fogs work. Exhaust you can see through the grils and underneith...
+1 on v6clio.net. They have extensive data on nearly all of the UK mk1 and mk 2 V6sIf it's all clean, it's the usual things, condition inside and out, Cambelt change, full SH, Xenon's are both bright, fogs work. Exhaust you can see through the grils and underneith...
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