Advice on project Clio

[Stixx]

Hey, i'm looking to buy a hatchback that will be able to take some serious tuning and serve me well, give other hatch's/some low-end sport models a run for their money and be easy enough to work on. I've just passed my test and looking for a decent first motor. A mate of mine had a 1.6 but it was kinda f****d, although it served us well. Had in mind a 1.8 16v as i've seen a few of them about and they look alright, especially modded properly.

Generaly, could somebody maybe point me in the right direction on a good motor to buy and work on as a 1st car, not too expensive to insure, and what mods/tuning I could do. I know of common problems like the steering going, arches rusting, track-rod end (i think that may have just been my mates f****d motor)

The common game round about my area for racing is usually Focus/MG ZR's/Corsa 2.0ltr/Pug 305 306XSi so if I can keep up/beat them i'll be happy

Ooh.. and Scoobies, I just don't like them - I was talking to a guy who said he had tuned his 1.8ltr to keep up witha Scooby - any truth in that?

 

[clowo16v]

A stripped out Mk1 with 150-160bhp will keep up and beat a UK spec WRX. Depending on how much money you've got it'd be best to get/build a clio hybrid. Thats basically a Valver with a 2 litre Williams/Megane fitted.

Matt

 

[Stixx]

Isn't trying to build a hybrid a pain in the arse?

 

[Martin]

Not really the engines are a straight swap..or you could always buy one ready converted they come up quite a lot tbh....

A good hybrid will have no trouble at all with the base model imprezas

 

[Stixx]

how much would I be spending on that? I've seen 1.8ltr's from between £800 - £1400 some at about £3000

I wanna do alot of mods myself, but not get in over my head - P.S been quoted £4497 for insurance - f****n hell...

 

[Martin_172]

if you just passed ur test am i right in assuming your 17-18? if so then get yourself a 1.2 16v (could get a 1.4 16v or 1.6 16v but save the money on insurance for mods to a 1.2 16v) obviously that will put your insurance up but its going to do that on any car.

1.2 16v with good suspension, brakes and basic engine mods is a fairly capable car against all the usual 17-18yr old cars if driven properly.

dont go getting a 1.8 16v or faster untill you have the experiance and lower insurance

 

[Alan]

Wise words indeed mate ^^

 

[Andy_J]

as well getting the 1.4 16v though...

 

[Martin_172]

but if your as well getting the 1.4 16v then your a swell getting the 1.6 16v and if your as well getting that then why not get the 2.0 16v lol

1.2 16v is cheap insurance for someone whos just past, and likely 1.2 16v with mods will be about simmilar price insurance wise as a 1.4 16v standard (ive never done quotes for both so thats not a fact)

 

[Stixx]

cool, so say a 1.4 16v? £4500 seems a bit to steep for insurance right now, although Pass Plus is in progress that oughta bring it down by about 20%/25% im told

So a 1.4 16v yeah? What kinda mods am I looking at that? I can get an induction kit for it no doubt, what about other engine mods?

 

[ajketley]

What martin said dude, youve now passed your test so learn to drive in a less powerful car! If you put some money into a 1.2 mk1 or 1.4 mk1 or even a 1.2 16v mk2 youll be surprised

 

[Stixx]

yeah, i'll get a hold of a mk1 1.4 then and plow some money into that - how much am i looking to spend though to get it running sweet/what kind of mods? just looking for advice now really, i'll get a mk1 1.4 if you guys reckon its best to learn from less powerful and work up

 

[Andy_J]

i bought a 1.6 16v it's group 10... u can get a 1.8 zetec focus for group 7..!

 

[Peperami]

Id get a vtr to start with in all honesty mate, think theyre group 7, although dont quote me on that.

Strip it out, buckets, coilovers, small wheels, exhaust and should make a rapid track car!

 

[Martin_172]

mine is a 1.2 16v, group 3 insurance

apex suspension (springs and dampers)
Standard 259mm vented disks (surprizingly big!) with EBC Green Stuff Pads
Pannel filter with the airbox modified for much better airflow with a cold air feed
123,000 miles of running in
good 195/45/16 tyres on lightweight wheels

loads more mods but thats the main performance ones, and it keeps up with my mates standard ph2 VTR in the bends no problem, keeps up ok on the straight but he pulls on me, also keeps up no problem with my mates starlet gtt (standard) in the bends but he eats me on the straights

 

[Iain C]

Like martin says ...keep with a slower car to start with and build up driving experience.
I think the best way of making a 1.2 faster is a good suspension set up, good tyres and strip it out. Better brakes would help too.
I wouldnt waste £££ on giving the car another 5bhp.
Good luck and dont bin it as youll neaver be able to afford to insure a decent car.
It took me years to get a good car after i smashed up my first 3 or 4 sheds...lol

 

[Stixx]

haha,

£4,700 to insure a 1.8 16v clio;
£3,900 to insure a 1990 Toyota Celica GT-S with 154 bhp as standard and it looks amazin'

what would you do... and I can hold of a cracking Celica GT for £1995

Time to go Jap-Side?

 

[Martin_172]

none of them id spend the £3,900 that its going to cost you for one years insurance on a 1.2 16v and get the mods i said above.

 

[Saner]

how you guys can afford all this amazes me.

 

[Subway]

Saner - It's called "working hard" lol (joke my little cherry)

Do what I did m8,

Passed my test at 17, drove a 1.2 16v for a year then I got a 2.0 at 18 and been driving that ever since. Insurance was 3500 on my own, then my mum wad kind enough to put me on her insurance, so it went down to 2500. Lucky for me now I'm on my Dads fleet insurance so I pay much less.

All worth it m8, money is there to be spent...

Adam

 

[Saner]

subway, working? whats that my little hunnybun

I get my mods off the street where i find them..