Common clio problems

[donsrno1]

Im going to be speaking to someone later on today about a clio they have for sale and was just wondering if there are any common problems that I should be asking about. Its a Mk1 Ph1 1.4 RT thats done about 105,000 miles. Ill be asking him about when the cambelt was changed and if the head gasket has blown in the past etc but I was just wondering what else you think I should be asking about. Also how often should the cambelt be changed (how long is it before they normally have to be replaced?)

Anything you can think of just post here.

Would you say that Clios are still OK at this sort of milage or are they likely to be pretty unreliable with this sort of milage?

Thanks.

 

[Jase16v]

Check all the electrics work! French and electrics dont mix!

 

[donsrno1]

LOL, Ive already got that on my list of questions

 

[blink172]

how much you got to spend?

 

[donsrno1]

ive only got about £650 to spend though I could maybe push it to £700. Its not loads but the guy is after £800 but Ive been told hell take £700 so ill try and bring him down to £650 anyway.

 

[clio_rsi]

cambelt is supposed to be changed every 70,000 miles, idealy before just to be safe.

 

[midge]

the heater control lights are always broke

 

[clio_rsi]

^^^^lol, just give them a hit (not to hard), makes mine work.

 

[Deeg]

Ha ha ^^^ Yep.

|Have to do that with the internal clock and the bottom light on the speedo, couple of quick taps, and its back.

All the silly little things (that are easy to break) but that will annoy the hell out of you if they dont work properley.

Window Winders, heater dials etc etc.

 

[m4rk]

wheel bearings, rust on the rear arch comes as standard from the factory, if it aint there u got a fake clio, yup me heater lights are gone as well check the sunroof, and make sure theres decent tread on the tyres

 

[big hp]

Rusty arches, sills and behind drivers door under bump strip. Rust around tailgate, leaky sunroof.

With that sort of mileage, Engine mounts, shocks, alternator, Loose steering. Excessively heavy clutch. Heater controls. All electrics.

 

[donsrno1]

I phoned the guy earlier and it doesnt look like ill be buying it. From what he said it sounded like it was in good condition only rust was on the inside of the tailgate (there was a leak which has now been fixed), all electrics were working etc but then after speaking to him on the phone for a while he decided to tell me the price had gone up from £800 to £1000 because he had had a new exhaust system fitted. The guy is a mate of a mate and despite my mate speaking to him yesterday and tellin him that I was interested he did not at that time point out that the price had gone up, only when I phoned him so I dont know if he just thought he could get more out of me for it or what. Once he told me the price had gone up I just told him to forget it because Im tight for money anyway and I dont think its worth the £800 he wanted never mind £1000. It really is quite annoying as I have seen this car driving about a lot and really like the look of it - but what can you do.

Thanks for all the replies, Ill keep them in mind for any other I go to look at.

 

[m4rk]

200 quid bump up for a new exhaust?? erm oh well my cars for sdale now 1600 pounds more cos thATS HOW MUCH IV SPENT ON MODS! sounds like the guys just trying his luck, plenty of good rt,s out there, youl find another

 

[donsrno1]

Just what I though mate! It already had a performance exhaust on it but what he said was he had spent £300 on a full system - it was the standard renault one with a performance back box so I cant see it having been that much because he probably used the same back box as he had on before.

The problem with RTs is that they seem to come up few and far between near me and even when they do they seem a bit overpriced - what I liked about this one is that it had everything I wanted done already on it.

 

[Ben j]

give it a couple of weeks and when its still for sale offer him the 700 cash

 

[donsrno1]

lol, I was just saying to my old man that it wouldnt surprise me if he comes back to me in a few weeks saying the price is back down because I think he was just trying to push the price up to bump more money out of me and now its not worked he doesnt want to come back and say 800 is OK beacuse itll be obvious thats what he was doing.

 

[m4rk]

wen im buying a car i use auto trader and it doesnt matter how far away rhe car is, whats the cost of a train ticket or get a m8 to giv u a lift and have a wee road trip, rt,s are pretty common im sure there will be other better ones,

 

[donsrno1]

I know what you mean mate but looking on autotrader just now the closest RT to me that I would consider is about 190 miles away - and even at that I dont think its as good as this one I was looking at - which was only about 800 metres from my house, lol. Like you say though as long as Im patient something will turn up. The patience bit is the problem as Im really wantin my own car as I passed my test a month ago and have just been using the old mans motor.

 

[JEZZA182]

Common problem number 1) Its a Renault

2) Finding reasons to drive it at every opportunity

3) Avoiding dodgy folk when buying the rare good ones (like the RTs)

Joking aside, you will not regret waiting for a good one but if the joker who has been messing you about over the other one calls you, offer him£500 not £800. If hes had to come back to you hes desperate so its your advantage but..... Why would he have trouble selling it if its OK?

Buyer beware and all that.

 

[enayeseekay]

Tip a bucket of water onto the roof. Take it for a test drive. If you dont get soaked when going round corners, youve probably found the only mk1 clio not to have a sunroof leak!

 

[007]

If your doing 150miles per week are you not better off with a diesel?

A high milage RT in not A1 condition has a good chance of costing you a fortune in running costs.

Its worth checking the car out and offering only what you can afford if it is a good one. If it isnt then walk away.

The nearest car I have bought is 100 miles away and the furtherst 700 miles away!

Going by your username are you a Aberdeen fan?

Ive only missed 4 games this season but dont think I can be arsed with the 100 mile trek through tomorrow - should be a good game.

 

[m4rk]

ha ha lol im from aberdeen aswell, where in aberdeen uz from?

 

[wingman1]

i got a mark 1 1.4rt with PAS, 50k on the clock, genuine. for 900. worth waiting mate serously

 

[u33db]

If ur from Aberdeen it might be worth checking he cruise sites (http://www.steev.co.ukwww.steev.co.uk or http://www.aberdeencruiser.co.ukwww.aberdeencruiser.co.uk) as some decent cars can come up. Also, if youve got access to a motor get yourself out to the sticks as theres usually a good few clios kicking about local garages that dont go on autotrader. First ports of call would be Peterhead (Campbells garage and theres a small place down on Charlotte St), Fraserburgh and Ellon. Theres also another 2 small garages on the old main road to Porthlethan (turn off before the Cove flyover) that may have something of interest...

 

[donsrno1]

I am an aberdeen fan - but I dont live in aberdeen. I live in edinburgh so I dont really get to too many games Hopefully a win against celtic today though.

As for the car I know its worth waiting its just that im getting really frustrated not having my own car. The 150 miles a week was an over estimation but I can see myself doing about 100 anyway - a lot of which would just be going out for random drives.

JEZZA182 - its not that I think he would come back to me because the car was sh*t and no one was interested, its that he has overpriced it and I cant see anyone being willing to pay £1000 for that car.