1.4 RT

[Virtual_Unknown]

due to cve

Hi guys,



i currently drive a 1.6 106 Rallye but im having to down grade a little and im thinking of getting a 1.4 RT as they seem prenk abouttty decent cars -

Im just wondering what people think about them, if there are any re-occuring problems i should look for and also if the are diferent phases of this car, is so what are the differences.



cheers guys

J

 

[JAY172]

the old clios seem pretty reliable.have you thought of a maxim.looks like an rsi but with a 1.4engine.

 

[Virtual_Unknown]

what are the differences between the maxim and the rt? ie. styling and engine?

 

[JAY172]

engines the same but you get a shorter ratio gearbox,rsi wheels and rsi interior on the maxim.they come in that deep blue colour as well(seen black and red ones as well)

 

[Virtual_Unknown]

cheers mate-

anything else i should know or look for?

 

[Ben H]

Quote: Originally posted by JAY172 on 03 January 2004

engines the same but you get a shorter ratio gearbox,rsi wheels and rsi interior on the maxim.they come in that deep blue colour as well(seen black and red ones as well)

Are you sure about the shorter ratio gearbox? They didnt even do that in the Williams or Cup.

The RT is a fairly solid car. Most of the problems you hear of relate mainly to the 16V (or similar) because they have more complicated mechanicals and they get a beating at the hands of their owners from day one.

Probably the main things to look for on the 1.4 RT are cosmetic rust on the rear arches (inevitable), leaking rear brake drums and dodgy electrics. There are some additional little niggles like the guaranteed leaky sunroof, but most of the other problems you hear will probably be specific to the hotter models (engine mounts, cooling system etc) and wont affetc the 1.4 RT so much.

Also, have you considered the 1.9 diesel? Fair bit slower than the 1.4, but durable and quite good for re-sale. Renault also made a 95bhp 1.8 RT from about 1991 to 1993 (quite rare).

 

[marvt74]

Yeah but the 1.8rt was 5 door only and not really any raster than the 1.4 just had more torque

 

[STICKER TWONK]

The Maxim S did have a closer ratio box meaning it was slightly quicker to 60 then a standard RT, you also get sports seats and decent brakes but its another insurance group higher as well.

Dont bother with the 1.8RT, there naff, higher insurance for something which is no faster then a 1.4, which is why Renault ditched it after a couple of years.

1.4RT is best all round mk1, not amazingly quick but nippy yet still reasonable insurance and running costs. There pretty well specced, power steering, leccy windows, leccy heated mirrors, rcl, radio cassette with 4 speakers, rev counter and that all as standard. Can be made quickish (VTR pace), mines currently pushing 90bhp with filter, zorst and decat. Had it over 3 years, only problems have been rear wiper motor packing up when first bought but covered under warrenty, pads replaced twice and new discs. Pic below!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.morris5/newsig.jpg

 

[Ben H]

Are you really sure about this lower ratio gearbox on the Maxim? Im sure weve all got better things to do than discuss this, but Id like to see some evidence! Ive never come across this before and have to ask why Renault would go to the trouble of fabricating a different gearbox for what was basically a special edition of the 1.4 RT. It costs a lot of money to do that and Ive never seen any other gearbox apart from the automatic quoted for use with the 1.4 Energy unit. The only other time Renault produced a separate gearbox was for the Willy (toughened casing, bearings and a taller 5th - but no shorter ratios), which is a car they eventually made well over 5,000 of - the Maxim was a special edition for the UK only IIRC and it would never have been economical.

 

[andysmith]

Quote: Originally posted by zedx19 on 03 January 2004
1.4RT is best all round mk1, not amazingly quick but nippy yet still reasonable insurance and running costs. There pretty well specced, power steering, leccy windows, leccy heated mirrors, rcl, radio cassette with 4 speakers, rev counter and that all as standard. Can be made quickish (VTR pace), mines currently pushing 90bhp with filter, zorst and decat. Had it over 3 years, only problems have been rear wiper motor packing up when first bought but covered under warrenty, pads replaced twice and new discs. Pic below!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.morris5/newsig.jpg



Hi there,

Newbie member here so please dont bite .
I was wondering, could you confirm if the 1.4 RT Clio has power steering as standard? Just that I have a RT and it doesnt seem to have it.

Also, does anyone know where I can get a speedo cable from? Ive tried 5 scrappys round my area and suprisingly none of them have a clio in .

Thanking you in advance.

Regards,
Andy

 

[JAY172]

i thought the williams had slightly shorter ratios as well.the maxim definatly did,renault probably did it to make it a bit quicker as it was a sportier clio version.there are loads of versions of the clio j type gearbox.the last three digits refer to the version and usually different ratios(eg,jb1 678,the jb1 is the gearbox type the following numbers are the version.most of the time the different versions have different ratios).a new version is made if they make an development/improvement or if they change the ratios for different clio models.

 

[JAY172]

oh and the 1.8rt was a waste of time.if you went for a 1.8(other than a valver)you would go for the rsi they are a lot nicer and are quicker than the 1.8rt.

 

[Lunner]

Dont think 1.4rts have power stearing as standard, my m8 brought one and had it put in (cus is poor lickle arms couldnt cope wiht regular stearing)

 

[Rick]

PAS was an optional extra. Mine doesnt have it, but the steering at slow speeds was lighter after I put on 15s with 195/45 tyres. Still a bit of an effort in car parks tho.

 

[unofficialPete]

Nearly all 1.4 RTs after 1993 (Phase2) have PAS dont they? Ive got an even more LTD ED. The Mk1 Phase 2 Sport

Rsi wheels, Rsi semi buckets, colour coded mirrors etc.

Ive also heard about this different gear ratio but cant seem to find anything about it!?

 

[Lunner]

The only probs i have with the stearing on mine is when im trying to parallel park in tight spots. My m8s clio is a 1.4RT L-Reg and doesnt have PAS.

 

[Bubbles]

I had a ph1 1.4 RT, 1992, and it had power steering.

 

[Essex_Lad]

never heard bout the different gear ratio, but surely it cant make much difference on a 1.4?!

i got PAS with mine PH1 so i thought i was quite lucky to be honest

i havent had no problems with mine since ive had it

only things ive changed are the belts and wheel bearin

how fast was ur rallye 0 - 60? Some modded RTs can do it in close to 10 flat which my best being 10.2

 

[unofficialPete]

If you go for a Phase 2 (1995-ish) a few breathing mods will get it doing 60 in the mids 9s..



Yeah PAS was optional before 1993 then found in the vast majority after..

 

[STICKER TWONK]

Mine ran 18.3 qtr mile as standard on 15s on a hot day last year, now running full powerflow system with decat, straight thro jobby, decent filter and loads of cold air feeds, reckon itll run mid 17s now, around 10 to 60 on a cold day.

Anyone going up Pod on 25th, first one of the year, should be nice and cold. I shall be there with a few mates off here and RSC

 

[Lunner]

Mine is a 1.2 and runs 0-60 in 14 secs with no engine mods as such, only a backbox which if anythign has slowed it down, sounds good tho

 

[JAY172]

pas was standard on the later rts

 

[StevieP]

I thought that the phase 3 1.4 RT had a shorter ratio gearbox, or a similar one to the RSi, as the phase 3 rt had 75bhp and a 0-60 of about 11.9, the phase 1 & 2s, which had 80bhp did 0-60 in about 12.5. Marginal I know, but thats what I think anyway.

If ur steering is heavy try getting ur tracking done at a garage that helped my parking efforts no end when I had my Clio.

Been a long time since Ive been on here, nice little pics on the left hand side under the username.. very cute..

 

[Virtual_Unknown]

Quote: Originally posted by Essex_Lad on 03 January 2004


how fast was ur rallye 0 - 60? Some modded RTs can do it in close to 10 flat which my best being 10.2

my rallye does it in the low 8s, but im not too fussed about the speed as ive just collected 6 shiny new points on my license so im looking for a car that looks half decent and is a little nippy but isnt to quick so i dont end up collecting any more points - plus if i go for the RT its gonna be a hell of alot cheaper to run and maintain, plus i dont plan to spend anywhere near as much modding her!

 

[DTWD]

Sweeney! Nice to see you back mate. Just booked my exhaust fitting in for sat, cant wait.



Paul

 

[DTWD]

Oh and as for the RTs mine doesnt have PAS and its fine, its not a heavy car and its nice to know what its doing before it does it, something you dont get with PAS that much.

The only thing I would suggest is get some alloys on it ASAP. 15/195/45s will go straight on with no problems even the 195/50s with no probs. But you need the extra width as the standard weels are sh*te and dont grip at all.

I have absoloutly no rust problems and mines a 91.

Paul

 

[JAY172]

Quote: Originally posted by Breakout on 03 January 2004


Nearly all 1.4 RTs after 1993 (Phase2) have PAS dont they? Ive got an even more LTD ED. The Mk1 Phase 2 Sport

Rsi wheels, Rsi semi buckets, colour coded mirrors etc.

Ive also heard about this different gear ratio but cant seem to find anything about it!?





it was called the maxim

 

[StevieP]

Lo Paul hows tricks. Yeah ur car hasnt got a problem with rust but looking at it I think the previous owner(s) must of really really looked after her well.

Glad ur getting a nice exhaust put on, what you getting?

 

[unofficialPete]

Quote: Originally posted by JAY172 on 05 January 2004

Quote: Originally posted by Breakout on 03 January 2004


Nearly all 1.4 RTs after 1993 (Phase2) have PAS dont they? Ive got an even more LTD ED. The Mk1 Phase 2 Sport

Rsi wheels, Rsi semi buckets, colour coded mirrors etc.

Ive also heard about this different gear ratio but cant seem to find anything about it!?






it was called the maxim

Im pretty damn sure my cars a Sport, hence it saying in the handbook, saying Sport inbetween the windows and doesnt have anything MAXIM on it.

 

[DTWD]

Sweeney its a Cobra Sport custom job. Mates got one, amazing quality, and they use a different grade steel that lasts longer without discolouring. Should be cool, its off to Hill Power for that IK I was telling you about on MSN in Fed aswell.



Paul