Have I been unlucky or is it the age/mileage of the car?

[craigaward]

In my year of ownership I have had to replace the following parts on my 02 reg 172 (85K):-

1) Water Pump x 2 (first time under warranty)
2) Alternator
3) Dogbone mount
4) Driveshaft and cv gaitors
5) Bonnet catch
6) Power steering pump and aux belt
7) 2 x diagnostic to clear lambda fault
8) Boot struts
9) TDC Sensor
10) Speedo Sensor
11) Top suspension strut mount
12) Rear bearings
13) Lengthy and expensive investigation into a knock which turned out to be a gearbox fixing

And this does not include consumables such as brakes and tyres, servicing and general improvement to bodywork.

Is this typical of 1*2 ownership or have I been unlucky? On the one hand I have spent a fortune on vastly improving the car (probably for the next owners benefit) however on the other hand i have had enough. I just want something that doesn't cost a fortune to run. It appears there is a stage in a 1*2's life when everything needs replacing at the same time. I previously owned a valver (which is still parked up at my Dad's house five years later) and I must say the 1*2 appears to be similarly unreliable.

 

[R-Sport.]

A lot of people on comment on how reliable 1*2's are on high mileage- & yes if there serviced well the engine does hold together-
However mileage also takes its toll on components- Suspension etc etc-
Whilst its cheaper to buy a high miler the risk will always be that those miles will have substantially worn these wear & tear items out-
Of course the can get similar issues on lower mileage cars- however in terms of risk of things going wrong I wouldnt touch a 172 / 182 over 60k/70k-- just for that factor

S

 

[craigaward]

Thanks for the reply Steve. The car had £76K on it when I bought it (probably too much in the first place). I feel that 1*2s are ideal for lower mileage/commutes and weekend blasts but as a daily drive for 10K+ miles you must be prepared to incur the maintenance costs as I have outlined above especially when you approach higher mileage. To its credit the engine is about the only thing I haven't replaced!

 

[jack_davey]

Sounds like you've just been unlucky with a couple things.

I hear most people say that "they just want something reliable and cheap to run" and in reality all cars need regular maintenance these days.
You'll also find most 02 plate cars are now reaching major service intervals where they need new bushes, suspension arms, dampers and water pumps etc!

 

[craigaward]

There is a huge difference between "something reliable and cheap to run" and costing a fortune mind you! The money I am currently spending on maintaining my car would easily cover the finance payments for a new 200!

 

[MADNESS88]

i had a 50k cup an then a 120k cup the 2nd one was much better an more reliable

 

[Soot1e]

If you can repair your car yourself then cost of running a Clio 172/182 is not so bad, likewise owning another brand of car that is 7,8 or 9 years and 70-80k.miles, similar components will wear on them. Best and most reliable part of the Clio F4r's is the engine. It's always been the same with older cars, they need care and attention, if you can't do the work and can't afford it, you should not have a car.

 

[craigaward]

Its not that I cant afford to run and maintain (the above shows I maintain my car to the highest of standards irregardless of cost) its more a question of when do you call it a day?

 

[Jimbo-Clio]

I can see what your saying its not the fact that you cant afford to repair it or run it. Its the fact that you cant see the point in spending loads of money of an old french heap. Thats why i restored my ph1 and will now either sell it or use it untill it dies then break it

 

[craigaward]

That is exactly the point Jimbo. We all know 1*2 values are falling fast and there comes a point when its just not economically viable to run.

 

[Jimbo-Clio]

If i couldent do the work or have close freinds do it on the cheap i wouldent be running a 172 for that fact. If your at the mercy of garage prices i would be looking towards somthing more solid such as the marmite skoda fabia tdi vrs

 

[Joe R26]

is 85k high mileage though? I can't see that it is? I'm lucky i can do my own maintanence i guess. I've kept my punto on the road and thats done 163k and fiats are the most unreliable cars on the planet lol! I'm lookin forward to gettin a clio, i don't mind gettin my hands dirty!

 

[Soot1e]

It's good to know you run a decent car care regime, it seems most of the Clios problems are now fixed so you might as well keep it and hopefully all will be well for sometime yet. I have bought a couple of cars in the past where previous owners have spent hundreds on their cars and got fed up with them and my ownership had been trouble free for 3 or 4 years, my present Cup is a good example, lucky me, touch wood, x fingers etc.

 

[MrTurner]

There is a huge difference between "something reliable and cheap to run" and costing a fortune mind you! The money I am currently spending on maintaining my car would easily cover the finance payments for a new 200!

Major differnce with that though mate is that your 172 has probably deperciated by about £1k in a year, whereas the 200 would lose a heck of a lot more. The parts you've replaced are age/mileage related and will be the same for most cars regardless of brand.

 

[Fletcher]

IIRC My 172 needed a lot of work doing to it around the 80k mark.

 

[jack_kemp]

Mine's done 71k and in the last two weeks ive done:

Cambelt
Auxbelt
Dephaser
Rear shocks
And I need a speedo sensor and lambda sensor too.

 

[Fletcher]

Mine's done 71k and in the last two weeks ive done:

Cambelt
Auxbelt
Dephaser
Rear shocks
And I need a speedo sensor and lambda sensor too.

72k service next?

 

[jack_kemp]

72k service next?

Have to wait til after Christmas I think. £600 spent this month already!

 

[DrR]

My 182 has just hit 44k and has a washer and rear calipa, I bought my 172 on 48k and in terms of replacing things it makes your list look small/cheap.