Hi there from New Zealand

[Heath172]

Hi all,

I have a couple of questions regarding my 2001 Clio 172 Phase 2. As you may be able to appreciate these cars are very rare in New Zealand and I would lucky to see one a month (actually any Clio is quite rare TBH).

I've owned my Clio for just over two years having purchased it at 73,000 Kilometers, now on 107,000 kilometers and have been really impressed with the running costs and reliability, especially given how rare these cars are in New Zealand.

I have had regular maintenance done at a Renault specialist including oil changes 5W30) etc...and had the cambelt, waterpump done as soon as I purchased it. Only two things have gone wrong that were outside of my control (split a driveshaft rubber and gearbox oil started coming out and one of the front brakes seized up a bit though new rotors and pads fixed that + a couple of items I will detail below.

Things that I have broken that were my fault were hitting the front radiator on a parking curb which caused a slow radiator leak (and unable to source a new radiator so had to get it welded) and having a major under steer moment after hitting a patch of oil/coolant/diesel with wornout front tyres, slamming into and over a curb at half lock, pushing the front left A arm back an inch and splitting two wheels (and blowing two tyres).

Some questions:

• What is the standard wheel size for a 172 phase 2? 15" or 16"
• Why do some 172's have a 6800 RPM redline whilst others have a 7200 RPM redline?
• What tyres do you recommend? Im currently running 195/50r15 Michelin PS3. No track driving because NZ roads are great for driving on and you really need to be trying to get done for speeding.
• Trip computor keeps resetting (though I've read a new battery will fix this)
• After it rains the spare wheel well is full of water, I have sealed the plastic grommets above the tail light housings and it is still as bad as ever
• Speedo intermittently jumps back to 0 when I'm driving, it happens so randomly really dont know what could be causing it!
• Ever since I had the radiator repaired the temp gauge never sits bang on temperature and drops down one to 1 and a half notches when I'm driving randomly (could be a c**ked thermostat as that is what it was on every other car Ive owned)

Car is a Singapore import, imported to NZ in around 2005. Its an absolute hoot to drive on New Zealands crazy roads and really not sure if you could find many cars quicker on the really bendy stuff.

Appreciate anyones help with these questions as the Clio sport is not well known in NZ and I often get astounded looks from people followed by whats that and what does it have under the bonnet!

Many thanks,

H

 

[The Boosh!]

Hello and welcome from the ClioSport Admin Team

 

[Advikaz]

Hi mate,

welcome!

I have family not far from you in Red Beach.

 

[Matt W]

Welcome!

I used to live on the North Shore

A clio is ideal for the roads there.

 

[nzclioman]

hey bro ;D fellow kiwi here. i can answer a few questions.


What is the standard wheel size for a 172 phase 2? 15" or 16" - they made them in both - the cups come in 16 i believe - mine has 15s, our old phase 1 had 15s - I'm looking for a set of 16s now for mine.
Why do some 172's have a 6800 RPM redline whilst others have a 7200 RPM redline? possibly due to an eeprom remap? or if on the odometer no idea
What tyres do you recommend? Im currently running 195/50r15 Michelin PS3. No track driving because NZ roads are great for driving on and you really need to be trying to get done for speeding. I'm using bridgestone re002 195 50 15s at the moment - got a good price from firestone/bridegstone direct.
Trip computor keeps resetting (though I've read a new battery will fix this) - no idea sorry
Ever since I had the radiator repaired the temp gauge never sits bang on temperature and drops down one to 1 and a half notches when I'm driving randomly (could be a c**ked thermostat as that is what it was on every other car Ive owned) - get this checked by someone who knows what they're doing - these cars are reliable but only if they're worked on by a mechanic who knows what they're looking at.


All in all I've got all my bits from the uk - talk to g 172 for brakes and go with his advice. he knows his s**t. i just replaced my brakes and the car stops like an elevator. its literally made me laugh out loud at astonishment they are that good.

exhaust from ktec recently as well, mean, expensive, but mean as.

check out speed.co.nz for their liqui moly oil - I've got the 5-40 top tech its the business. also did the gear box oil with LM gl5 synthetic gearbox oil and what a difference.

speed has all your parts at a fraction of the cost of the dealers man - i cannot stress this enough. in some cases they're like 75% cheaper than the renault dealer for the genuine parts so make sure you hit them up.

apart from that - pm me man id be interested to hear about your car !

 

[Techkiwi]

Nice to see another Kiwi here Phase 1 owner myself, picked it up on trademe a few years ago for $5k (there's a mint Phase 1 on trademe at the moment with only 30,000Ks for around $14K.

Personally running Yoko AD08 on mine currently 195/50/15 and love them, got them from hyperdrive.co.nz around $200 a corner from memory.

Temp gauge should normally sit about 1 notch below the middle so yours sounds bang on to me.

Have gotten most of my "bits' from the likes of K-tec or kamracing in the UK, shipping cost is a b!@ch but that's what you get for living at the arse end of the world I guess.

Sounds like you need a new speedo sensor, mine was doing the same when I first brought it (125,000kms on the clock 4 years ago now up to around 160,000Ks) from memory new sensor was around $100-$125 easy to fit yourself.

My spare wheel well fills up like a swimming pool as well, haven't tried siliconing anything yet but have it on my to-do list.

I've added the KTec induction kit (sounds great and engine breathes a lot better) and ported lower manifold, upgraded to brembo disc's and pads, Bilstein B14 Shocks, uprated engine mounts and a few other bits and pieces here and there, next and probably final mod will be the KTec sport's catalyst (although must admit I'm tempted to get some 421 or 428 cam's as well and fit them when I get the cam belt and dephaser changed later this year).