Clio 16v - Problem Car

[phil6180]

Hey,

I am looking to buy a Clio 16v at the end of the month. I have test driven a few and they are lovely....then speaking to a guy who used to work for renault, he said they are problem cars and things like changing the clutch or timing belt involve taking the engine out and high labour costs....is this true? shall i still buy one? i am also looking at Pug 106 Gtis.



Phil

 

[Mikey16vClio]

Just add a few hundred quid on top of ur yearly running costs of any performance Honda or VW. Things do go wrong as they r a Reno but check if it has had a cam belt change; if not it is an engine out job at 70k! Clutch is similar & both will cost over 400 i think.

Worth it for a car with its performance and rarity IMO just make sure u can afford to pay for the running repairs as even mine which is a beaut, has cost me £250 in the last month 4 work done on inner driveshaft boot, gator & rear brakes when 1 of the pads feel out!

 

[adiclio16v]

valvers have high labour costs cos there a b**ch to work on, but there not that bad an engine swap is only a days work people tend to blag u on how hard jobs are

most things are engine out jobs jus cos its easier to do em wiv the engine out other than struggle like fuk in a small space

my mates got a 98 106gti the build quality is worse on that than my j reg clio

adi

 

[phil6180]

Went to see a clio in Swindon, FSH, 60K miles, and mint condition...test drove it and loved it...they are so quick and insurance is not much more for me. but people are telling me to stay away!!

If had money there and then i would have bought it but looking for another one now.

It had a whistling noise at high revs aswell, any noise what that is?

Also which is quicker Pug 106 gti or the clio....perhaps 106 is cheaper to maintain?

 

[pete bann]

whistling noise is the induction kit mate. GO FOR A VALVER!!

 

[Mike Wright]

You dont need to take the engine out for the Cam Belt. Remove the offside headlamp and replace the cambelt. Its a pig of a job and tok me around 4 hours to do.

There are a few jobs requiring engine out but most can be done in situ! All parts prices are higher and its a horrible engine to work on due to room restrictions. But apart from that its not that muchh different that any other NAE.

 

[aaronc]

Get a looked after one. the benefits of owning a good one outlay the disadvantages of maintaining one by a mile.

 

[Mikey16vClio]

I 2nd that.

Slightly quicker than a 106 GTi IMO.

 

[Mike Wright]

Quote: Originally posted by aaronc on 19 April 2003

Get a looked after one. the benefits of owning a good one outlay the disadvantages of maintaining one by a mile.

Very True! Or it could be "maintaining one EVERY mile"!

 

[Mikey16vClio]

Lets be fair; they are better built than any Peugeot by a mile! They need a few things now and again to keep it A1 but the Valver aint that bad!

Especially compared to cars of its era & performance such as the Fiesta RS Turbo, R5 GTT and any quick Peugeot at all!

 

[2 live]

wot the fuk????????????

cam belt change engine out job ???????

wot a load of bollox .its a 2 hour job tops

 

[wkdlad]

new clutch fitted £200 timing belt supplied and fitted £80 just have to find a good garage who dont blag you too much oh yeah full recon gear box removed and fitted £380 engine never had to come out at all with n e of these

 

[gaj16v]

All old cars will eventually need some money spent on them, due to "wear and tear", but i wouldnt let that put you off. Quite simply i love my car, and wouldnt hesitate to recommend them to anyone

 

[Ben H]

Most 16vs are ten years old by now: thats a lot of time to thrash a hot hatch!

If you want a buyers guide, I can russell one up - but the basics are that its not an inherrently unreliable car, although youre best buying one from an enthusiast. Fortunately, most are owned by enthusiasts. But beware why people are selling them; many will be for sale at 60-70k miles becuse thats when the big bills start to come in. My main advice would be to take your time over buying a 16v and do your research. There is plenty of expertise on this forum.

All credit to the 106 GTi, its a cracking little got hatch, although the 16v is better (to what extent is a moot point) and the Pug will never have the street cred that Group A rally pedigree, fat arches and a bonnet bulge will give you.