Clio 197 for a 19 year old???

[Stu Milne]

Been on the forums for a while. Was looking for a 182 before I bought my Astra 1.8 SRI. Now ive saved up a bit more and have about 6 grand to splash on something. Looking at 197s and strangely enough insurance is only 80 quid over my Astra. What do I need to look out for? I seem to be able to get a good mileage car for that money. Im guessing its the same 60k mile cambelt change as on the 182s?
Cheers Stu

 

[Rob]

Cambelts are ALWAYS, age and miles, so even if it's done 5 miles, if it's been sitting for 7 years it'll still really need changing.

 

[182tev]

As what Rob said above ^^^ make sure its been done by someone who knows how to do it or is a specialist.

 

[Gorms]

Cambelt is 72k or 6 years

This is pretty good for seeing what needs doing.

List

 

[boffey]

Ktec only change the brake fluid on the sixth service?

 

[Knuckles]

Cup chassis (red brakes, Anth alloys)
xenons with cornering lights (headlight washers)
recaros (recaros)
climate control (digi dash on the centre consol)


r27s come standard with recaros and cup chassis so that'll make it quicker to find a good specced one

Get the dealer to check the brake pins aren't seized (common fault)

belts at 5 years/72k

Brakes need annual services or they can seize (can, not will)

 

[Inequality Street]

If you can stretch to a 200 I'd recommend it! I got my 200 at 19, still love it

 

[Tiababy]

Cambelt being done is majorly important. If you can find one that mentions having its water pump done at the same time, it will be a well cared for car.

common faults. Seized brake pins and drive shafts (as I recently found out on the latter)
alloys aren't the strongest.
Early gearboxes sit at higher RPM then the latter ones (around the time the R27 came out so did the revised box) difference is about 250/500 rpm from what I gather.
it will drink petrol but hardly uses oil.
gearboxes can be niggely, hard to get 1st when it's very cold. Some bunny hop when you pull away too. I experience this only in the cold when the car is cold. You find both these issues are common across all the 197/R27 but again only while the car is cold.

my car recently hit 70k, had it since 25k, and its really coming alive. I wouldn't let miles put me off a well cared for example.