Clio 200 dilemma

[ranjan15]

Hello all

I’m in the market for a Clio 200 FF and have been offered a 2011 one with the cup chassis and Recaros that’s done around 60,000 miles for £5,300. Whilst it’s had a replacement gearbox and clutch, it only has part service history and I don’t believe the cam belt, water pump and dephaser pulley has ever been changed.

The drivers door seal has also perished and the steering wheel could do with a retrim.

Given the fact the above hasn’t been changed in the life of the car, should I walk away from it?

Also this Clio 200 has caught my eye but is it worth the £7,000 the dealer wants for it:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108245233?advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&postcode=rh193dx&model=CLIO&sort=price-asc&page=11&aggregatedTrim=Renaultsport&make=RENAULT&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&modal=photos

Would be grateful for your opinions and many thanks in advance 😊

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Hello all

I’m in the market for a Clio 200 and have been offered a 2011 one with around 60,000 miles for £5,300. Whilst it’s had a replacement gearbox and clutch, it only has part service history and I don’t believe the cam belt, water pump and dephaser pulley has ever been changed.

The drivers door seal has also perished and the steering wheel could do with a retrim.

Given the fact the above hasn’t been changed in the life of the car, should I walk away from it?

Also this Clio 200 has caught my eye but is it worth the £7,000 the dealer wants for it:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108245233?advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&postcode=rh193dx&model=CLIO&sort=price-asc&page=11&aggregatedTrim=Renaultsport&make=RENAULT&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&modal=photos

Would be grateful for your opinions and many thanks in advance 😊

That £7K one looks fairly good value.

It’s got 31k miles, Recaros and Speedline wheels. Decent spec that

 

[ranjan15]

That £7K one looks fairly good value.

It’s got 31k miles, Recaros and Speedline wheels. Decent spec that

That’s true about the spec. I’m not sure if the cam belt etc has ever been changed (Will have to call up and check) and given the low mileage there’s always the risk that the gearbox could play up after 40-50,000 miles which would mean repairs that are over £1k. That’s what’s putting me off slightly with that car...

 

[imprezaworks]

Have you asked about the gearbox on the 7k one.

You need to budget £600 iirc for belts.
£750 ISH for potential gearbox fault.

 

[Pistachio]

I personally never buy a car unless the seller can guarantee the gearbox will last at least 500,000 miles

 

[ranjan15]

Thanks for your replies. I will call up today to ask about the gearbox for the £7k one but I doubt it’s been done as I believe it would’ve been mentioned on the advert..

What do you guys make of the one I’ve been offered for £5,300 that hasn’t had the cam belt changed in 60,000 miles?

Many thanks 😊

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Thanks for your rookies. I will call up today to ask about the gearbox for the £7k one but I doubt it’s been done as I believe it would’ve been mentioned on the advert..

What do you guys make of the one I’ve been offered for £5,300 that hasn’t had the cam belt changed in 60,000 miles?

Many thanks 😊

I’d rather have the lower mileage one with the £1k worth of Recaros in it.

Just because the gearbox hasn’t been done it doesn’t necessarily mean it will need doing.

 

[ranjan15]

I’d rather have the lower mileage one with the £1k worth of Recaros in it.

Just because the gearbox hasn’t been done it doesn’t necessarily mean it will need doing.

Thanks Ron, the £5,300 one also has the Recaros. However like you’ve said the £7,000 also has these, the lower mileage , and also has other options such as the black roof, rarer colour, sat nav, folding mirrors etc

Decisions decisions!

 

[Martin_172]

I prefer to buy a car that's not had the belts done for the right price as then I can get them done, properly and I'm good for the next 5yrs.

It's all too common for places to do just a belt rather than a kit, or fake invoices, or incorrect timing etc

 

[ranjan15]

I just spoke to the dealer about the £7,000 car and with regards to service history, it only has one invoice for a service carried out in 18,000 miles. He doesn’t know whether the cam belt has ever been changed or whether the gearbox has ever had an overhaul. He said it drives fine though..

The best he can do the car for is £6,600. Given the stuff that will/may need doing and the overall spec of the car, what do you make of that price?

Many thanks for your input!

 

[Clio_fool]

The 7k one looks like the better car to me. Depends on your budget I suppose though. Belts are best done by a specialist rather than any old back alley mechanic so if there's no proof then use that to barter them down a bit, don't accept "we'll do the belts then".

Edit: I'd still be intrested with the history as I'm sure it wouldn't have gone all this time with only one service. All cars have common issues, doesn't mean every one will suffer them though so as long as it drives well on a test then the risk is worth it no? I guess it will have a warrenty too? Offer £6400 cash and meet in the middle.

 

[R-Sport.]

The silver in is nimbus silver. > low popularity colour.

Its 10 years old & had one service? Jeez hows that a good car.

It will need belts 100%.

Look at the engine bay - looks like a museum.
Speedlines are kerbed.

On present condition thats worth about £5500-5750.

The other one on higher mileage > sometimes having no belts done is good as you can get them done properly at a specialist.
By your description by the time you have finished whatever you pay add another £1000.

I dont know what colour it is but £5300 is to high unless its liquid yellow or Alien Green.

High 4s really.

I would deffo avoid the dealer one unless you get it cheap-
Currently £6600 + sundries to get mint will owe you 7500 & its miles away from that value.

 

[ranjan15]

Thanks for your comments both - much appreciated

The £5,300 is Deep Black in colour. I did point out to the seller of that car that the belts needed doing and he acknowledged this and said it’s factored into the price he wants (car was on for £6k)

The dealer one is tempting as it’s a very low mileage example with some optional extras that you don’t often see. If I could get that for £6,400 (my max budget) I may be tempted but I appreciate that it does need the belts changing too. I won’t be doing many miles in it myself, maybe 3,000 per annum (some on track) so if I decide to sell it when it’s on say 35,000 miles with the belts done, how much do you think it would be worth?

I’ve also been offered another 200 in Glacier white with the cup chassis, Recaros and FSH including belts being done twice (not sure if this was at a specialist though) for £5,500. It’s a Dec 2009 car on 64,000 miles. It’s also had a replacement fuel pump recently. What’s putting me off that one is it’s had 6 owners. Am I being overly cautious?

Thank you again for your time and advice, it’s much appreciated 😊

 

[Clio_fool]

The nimbus one is 10 years old? 🤣 I didn't notice! Yeah that's over priced then.

 

[Clio_fool]

Thanks for your comments both - much appreciated

The £5,300 is Deep Black in colour. I did point out to the seller of that car that the belts needed doing and he acknowledged this and said it’s factored into the price he wants (car was on for £6k)

The dealer one is tempting as it’s a very low mileage example with some optional extras that you don’t often see. If I could get that for £6,400 (my max budget) I may be tempted but I appreciate that it does need the belts changing too. I won’t be doing many miles in it myself, maybe 3,000 per annum (some on track) so if I decide to sell it when it’s on say 35,000 miles with the belts done, how much do you think it would be worth?

I’ve also been offered another 200 in Glacier white with the cup chassis, Recaros and FSH including belts being done twice (not sure if this was at a specialist though) for £5,500. It’s a Dec 2009 car on 64,000 miles. It’s also had a replacement fuel pump recently. What’s putting me off that one is it’s had 6 owners. Am I being overly cautious?

Thank you again for your time and advice, it’s much appreciated 😊

6 owners but at leat two who were wiling to spend on the necessary service costs and other required parts. Does that sound bad?

 

[ranjan15]

6 owners but at leat two who were wiling to spend on the necessary service costs and other required parts. Does that sound bad?

Nope that’s a very good point! Were there any differences with 2009 model year cars (apart from the older style Renault Sport badge at the back) and 2010 and 2011 ones?

 

[R-Sport.]

Ive just checked every 200 for sale. There all pish. The only one I would buy would be Christophers old red one on Ebay > mileage though is creeping up. Still looks great

 

[Clio_fool]

Yes that was one of my favourite ones on here.

 

[ranjan15]

Ive just checked every 200 for sale. There all pish. The only one I would buy would be Christophers old red one on Ebay > mileage though is creeping up. Still looks great

Yes that was one of my favourite ones on here.

I have seen that one on eBay and it looks lovely. The owner clearly takes a lot of care of his car. Unfortunately the mileage is a bit too high and it would be expensive to insure with the mods declared.

What do you chaps make of this one (it’s the one I referred to above about 2 belt changes etc)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002147322496?advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&keywords=200&postcode=rh193dx&model=CLIO&sort=price-asc&page=2&aggregatedTrim=Renaultsport&make=RENAULT&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New

 

[R-Sport.]

Looks ok. 59 plate so early model.
reasonable spec inc bluetooth is nice.

A bit pricey for a 59. A low 5s car.
The problem with these cars as with pretty much them all the belt change. out of 100% of them for sale 90% will have been done wrong or not had the aux belt tensioner replaced.

 

[ranjan15]

Thanks for your reply, that’s the service history for the car and it says “timing belt kit” so hopefully the aux belt tensioner was replaced too..

it looks like a comprehensive service history but you guys know way more than me on this so would appreciate your thoughts..

 

[R-Sport.]

^ That has the cambelt done by one of the best specialists in the UK.
Aux belt kit is done > says on the comments. that was 2014 though> the more recent one wont be.

 

[ranjan15]

^ That has the cambelt done by one of the best specialists in the UK.
Aux belt kit is done > says on the comments. that was 2014 though> the more recent one wont be.

Are Diamond Motors one of the best specialists or are you referring to Kam Servicing?

Bearing in mind that the aux belt kit hasn’t been done since 2014, if you were to buy this car would you wait until 2023 when the next cam belt change is due to also change the aux belt kit or would you do it sooner?

I’ve been offered this car for £5,500 and with the above history and the fact the fuel pump has also been replaced it seems like a better option than the £7k 2010 nimbus one and the £5,300 2011 deep black one..

Alternatively if anyone knows any others coming up for sale soon with Recaros, cup chassis, Bluetooth, Speedlines etc then I’ll be very interested!

 

[Clio_fool]

Diamond are the specialist. Don't know who Kam are. Googled them?

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Isn’t KAM one of our traders? ie @Kev@KAM

Very well respected iirc 😉

 

[ranjan15]

Diamond are the specialist. Don't know who Kam are. Googled them?

Yeah I’ve googled them. Seem to have good reviews but I don’t think they’re a Renault specialist...

 

[Iain C]

Id keep looking tbh.
I would also get one that needa belts doing and take it to a respected specialist to get em done.
Black and grey arent really good colours on the 200 tho thats subjective.

 

[LW93]

Must agree Chris’s old car looks a good shout ..
Really has been cherished, if I told you it had done 30k miles you probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid, was pretty hard to price really as prices are allover the place.
Haven’t checked the links you posted but also quite like the look of the storm grey 200 on eBay

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

RENAULT CLIO 200 - RARE STORM GREY - CUP SUSPENSION - RECAROS - FSH - MUST SEE | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RENAULT CLIO 200 - RARE STORM GREY - CUP SUSPENSION - RECAROS - FSH - MUST SEE at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[ranjan15]

RENAULT CLIO 200 - RARE STORM GREY - CUP SUSPENSION - RECAROS - FSH - MUST SEE | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RENAULT CLIO 200 - RARE STORM GREY - CUP SUSPENSION - RECAROS - FSH - MUST SEE at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

Chris’s car does look a good shout and I really would go for it but unfortunately declaring all those mods would be expensive on my insurance!

I have seen the Storm grey one on eBay and it looks lovely but correct me if i’m wrong, it doesn’t have the cup chassis as the brake callipers are not red? Also wouldn’t you say it’s a tad bit overpriced given the mileage?

I spoke to the chap about the £7k nimbus grey Clio and after some haggling the lowest he’s willing to go down to is £6,200. Part of me is tempted given the mileage and options but would appreciate what you guys think?

I’m conscious R-Sport has said the most it’s worth is £5,800 but it would be interesting to hear what everyone else thinks. If I get the car, I’d get the cambelt etc changed at a specialist, as well as another service, and with the low mileage I don’t envisage any issues selling the car after a year or so but i’m not sure how much it would be worth then...

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

Chris’s car does look a good shout and I really would go for it but unfortunately declaring all those mods would be expensive on my insurance!

I have seen the Storm grey one on eBay and it looks lovely but correct me if i’m wrong, it doesn’t have the cup chassis as the brake callipers are not red? Also wouldn’t you say it’s a tad bit overpriced given the mileage?

I spoke to the chap about the £7k nimbus grey Clio and after some haggling the lowest he’s willing to go down to is £6,200. Part of me is tempted given the mileage and options but would appreciate what you guys think?

I’m conscious R-Sport has said the most it’s worth is £5,800 but it would be interesting to hear what everyone else thinks. If I get the car, I’d get the cambelt etc changed at a specialist, as well as another service, and with the low mileage I don’t envisage any issues selling the car after a year or so but i’m not sure how much it would be worth then...

The ad for the storm grey says ‘cup suspension’

 

[R-Sport.]

Chris’s car does look a good shout and I really would go for it but unfortunately declaring all those mods would be expensive on my insurance!

I have seen the Storm grey one on eBay and it looks lovely but correct me if i’m wrong, it doesn’t have the cup chassis as the brake callipers are not red? Also wouldn’t you say it’s a tad bit overpriced given the mileage?

I spoke to the chap about the £7k nimbus grey Clio and after some haggling the lowest he’s willing to go down to is £6,200. Part of me is tempted given the mileage and options but would appreciate what you guys think?

I’m conscious R-Sport has said the most it’s worth is £5,800 but it would be interesting to hear what everyone else thinks. If I get the car, I’d get the cambelt etc changed at a specialist, as well as another service, and with the low mileage I don’t envisage any issues selling the car after a year or so but i’m not sure how much it would be worth then...

Noone wants the colour.... Its silver.

In terms of pecking order

Storm Grey / Liquid Yellow / Alien Green - top 3
Racing blue / Both Whites second tier
Albi blue / Nimbus / Black / Red lower tier.

Its of course fine to like the lower popularity colours > I like red to be fair however the price needs to reflect the colour.

Storm grey one doesnt have cup pack

 

[R3k1355]

Also this Clio 200 has caught my eye but is it worth the £7,000 the dealer wants for it:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202003108245233?advertising-location=at_cars&exclude-writeoff-categories=on&postcode=rh193dx&model=CLIO&sort=price-asc&page=11&aggregatedTrim=Renaultsport&make=RENAULT&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&modal=photos

"Dealer" is a generous term, look at the pictures.

Clearly taken in a public car park
Haven't bothered to clean the car properly before taking the pictures
Offered to drop the price by a grand when you first made contact.

Steer well clear, thats no dealer you wanna do business with, even the slightest problem and you're on your own.

 

[ranjan15]

"Dealer" is a generous term, look at the pictures.

Clearly taken in a public car park
Haven't bothered to clean the car properly before taking the pictures
Offered to drop the price by a grand when you first made contact.

Steer well clear, thats no dealer you wanna do business with, even the slightest problem and you're on your own.

Yeah I do see your point and I had the same thoughts initially as I have to check everything out from an OCD point of view before doing business with a dealership. However reading all the reviews on Auto Trader for this dealer put my mind at ease as they’re all positive apart from 3. He also explained to me that he operates the dealership from home and has a storage yard where he stores the cars. He was quite pleasant chatting to on the phone and didn’t come across as rude or abrupt. He said he could see where I was coming from with the points I raised about the cambelt and that’s why he dropped the price..

 

[197.]

Both the car you've been offered and the one linked to the autotrader site are overpriced. The only way you'll be getting a car with the cambelt done by a specialist is if it's owned by an enthusiast. Most of the time they will post cars for sale on the forums.

Flipside is that there is a high probability it will be modified.

Standard cars can be found on generic sites but only buy if priced right because they will need the cambelt done. There are so many MK3s that you should never settle for one. People are holding on to them due to the current situation as they know they'll get peanuts for them. Wait a while as there may be a flood of them coming on the market when people are laid off/need the money and see whats on the market.

 

[ranjan15]

Both the car you've been offered and the one linked to the autotrader site are overpriced. The only way you'll be getting a car with the cambelt done by a specialist is if it's owned by an enthusiast. Most of the time they will post cars for sale on the forums.

Flipside is that there is a high probability it will be modified.

Standard cars can be found on generic sites but only buy if priced right because they will need the cambelt done. There are so many MK3s that you should never settle for one. People are holding on to them due to the current situation as they know they'll get peanuts for them. Wait a while as there may be a flood of them coming on the market when people are laid off/need the money and see whats on the market.

Yes that’s a good point. Whilst there are loads of MK3s around, having looked on Auto Trader, PistonHeads, Facebook Market Place and eBay I haven’t seen many that have what I’m looking for, that being Recaros with no rips, the cup pack chassis and the factory Bluetooth stereo in my budget apart from the ones I’ve listed previously. I think there may be a flood of them that come on the market but they’re not that common compared to Minis, Fiesta STs etc, and I think the market will be full of them as well.

The upside of not getting a car that has not had its belts done is that you can make sure it gets done properly at a specialist..

 

[mossyv6]

Just sit tight mate - it’s a bad time to buy a car as there’s not that many being advertised.
For £7k you will get a decent colour, spec and everything else but will need a wait.

 

[ranjan15]

Just sit tight mate - it’s a bad time to buy a car as there’s not that many being advertised.
For £7k you will get a decent colour, spec and everything else but will need a wait.

I think that’s good advice although my budget is around £6k. Will be interesting to see whether prices for well specced examples with low mileages fall under £5k...

On a side note is there anyway you can tell the options that a Clio 200 has come with from the factory? I know with BMWs you can use a VIN decoder tool which tells you the options once you’ve inputted the VIN into this tool however I’m not sure if similar exists for Renaults?

 

[Ex-User (60778)]

I think that’s good advice although my budget is around £6k. Will be interesting to see whether prices for well specced examples with low mileages fall under £5k...

On a side note is there anyway you can tell the options that a Clio 200 has come with from the factory? I know with BMWs you can use a VIN decoder tool which tells you the options once you’ve inputted the VIN into this tool however I’m not sure if similar exists for Renaults?

Wouldn’t surprise me if people flog the Recaros and fit standard seats before trading/selling the car.

 

[mossyv6]

Wouldn’t surprise me if people flog the Recaros and fit standard seats before trading/selling the car.

This is exactly what I had to do with my latest Alien Green 200. Managed to get £1200 for the recaros and stick original and mint 200 seats that cost £50. Brought the price down nicely for the buyer.