Looking to buy a Clio 182

[dancook]

I've decided to buy a car with a budget of about £6000, and for me Clio is the ONLY option I can find that fits my criteria.

After a bit more reading I see that a 182 with cup packs is the place to be.

Something like this
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201003350494284
Sounds pretty good.. except that it is 354 miles from me!

Is there anything I should be looking for when I choose a car, my first car was a brand new clio 1.2 extreme and my second car I bought cheaply off my parents (audi a6) so i'm not really used to buying second hand cars.

I also think i'd rather find a garage to part ex with.

I've heard the AA offer a service where they check a car for you, should i consider doing this?

Is there any advice anyone can offer when buying/choosing a 182?

One thing, I think i know... if it's 50k+ I should be prefer one with a cambelt already changed right?

Thanks

 

[ro55o]

Welcome to the site mate.

Yeah, if it's a 182 you're after then a 182 with both cup packs is what I'd go for. I'm sure the person selling that car is on here, I can remember seeing it on here, the sat nav is quite a rare option to have.

I used the AA service when buying my 182, I think it was around £170. The car was around 350 miles away from me, so in the same situation as you with the above car, so it made sense to get the AA to check the car out for me. It saved me a trip down to find out if the car was worthwhile or not. It turned out to be in great condition. So I agreed a price with the guy before I went, got the train down and picked it up.

The cambelt needs to be changed every 5 years or I think it's around 70,000 miles. So you'll find most 182's need it done. Check with the person selling as this is quite a costly thing to get done.

 

[dancook]

Thanks for the advice, the seller has made themselves known and you've made me a have a small rethink about it... but a 7 hour train journey + 350 mile drive back, and then I've got to sell my audi seperately seems like a lot of trouble to me

 

[dancook]

How can you tell if it's got the Cup packs?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200943344259784

Is it that the alloys are the greyish colour, hence anthracite and it has the spoiler?

 

[DrR]

Blue one has cup packs, just remember to check cambelt and auxbelt around that age.

 

[Scoot]

Dark grey alloys cup spoiler and a splitter, dont be too worried if it doesnt have a splitter though as they are fairly easy to break!

 

[dancook]

I just phoned up to enquire about the car above, they are a renault dealer

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200943344259784

They say they will do cam/aux if not done already
it'll have a new mot, but there will be no tax

They'll also give me a price for part ex my audi.

Does it seem like a good enough deal?

 

[Scoot]

It seems a little dear I suppose but on the other hand its from a dealer so you can expect as much, depends on what they give you forn the audi.

 

[dancook]

Any idea on what I can expect to part ex my audi for?

Grey Audi A6 2.5TDI 1999/T
scrape marks over left rear wheel arch
needs new thermostat
170k and FSH

Thanks

 

[dancook]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201004350959238

I've also expressed my interest in this, a bit more than I was looking to pay.. but it's 05 with 22k miles and all the bling.

 

[ro55o]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201004350959238

I've also expressed my interest in this, a bit more than I was looking to pay.. but it's 05 with 22k miles and all the bling.

That 'bling' is available on pretty much all 182's with the cup packs. For £7000 you're venturing into trophy territory. The trophy is a limited edition 182, it came with recaro's and uprated suspension as standard. I wouldn't be too hung up on low miles when looking for a car. Especially when they are charging around £1500 more than any other 182 for the privilege. I paid £5500 for my 05 cup packed 182, it had around 52000 on the clock as well.

Just looking at autotrader, there are quite a few trophy 182's going for £6500. A much better buy than the £7000 one you posted.

 

[dancook]

Thanks, ok so maybe I'll cross that one off the list.

I had a quick look at trophy's, but regardless of spec.. I'm not keen on red.

 

[ro55o]

I wouldn't personally go over £6000 for one then. The first one you posted is a good example, though like you said is quite a distance away. Just checked it's only about 12 miles from me lol If only it was the other way around. It was the same for me, at the time I was looking there were none near me, so I had to travel.

 

[dancook]

Well maybe I could fly up to Edinburgh from Gatwick I will look into it a bit further.

 

[Philpott]

only one way forward trophy

 

[pvsmark]

When I brought mine not long ago I paid £6.5k for a low mileage (30k) with both cup packs in BG with 6 months warranty. I know it sounds quite steep but you pay extra for the piece of mind and didn't want a bad example seeing as I brought a lemon 1 months previous.

 

[Darren S]

Welcome Dan.

Personally, I'd pick the colour you want first and stick with it. Black gold is a great colour but an absolute nightmare to keep clean. I've had mine since new in December '04 and even the results from a weekend's worth of PC'ing and buffing up, literally last a few weeks - tops!

As mentioned, the cambelt is a definite consideration - pretty much regardless of age and mileage of a 182 in 2010. The auxiliary belt really should be done around the 36k mark, or you could get it done as part of the cambelt installation at the same time. The main reason for the cambelt being a relatively expensive job is that the front bumper usually has to come off to gain access and from what I understand, you need a specific cam-locking tool to do the job correctly.

Knocking from the front suspension is very common on full lock - mine did it within a few months and got sorted out by Renault. Other common issues include the bolts on the centre section of the exhaust rattling (cheap replacement - even straight from Renault) and the CV boot clips pop-off a lot - potentially spitting cv grease all over the inside of your front alloys and front discs. Been there. Done that.

I've also made several comments on here about changing the gearbox oil quite regularly. I've never done it myself (always as part of a service) - but the first 'box oil change really did improve the gear shift - making it feel more precise and direct. As with changing the engine oil itself, its something that can't be done too often, imo.

Clutches are pretty robust for regular driving, but the OEM brakes are really quite poor. It's very common for 182s to get upgraded brakes, especially and what I'd call mainstream replacement kits rather than high-end/pro kits - are literally a few £notes more than official Renault parts.

There's probably more when looking to buy a 182, but I can't think at this minute!

D.

 

[dancook]

Thanks Darren

I used to have a pearl black Clio 1.2 16v Extreme... I remember I was cleaning it most weekends! Lets hope I can maintain the same enthusiasm 8 years on.

 

[dmn1989]

thats 54 plate is expensive

where you from?

 

[dancook]

I'm in surrey, guildford

 

[mcmacslim]

If you've got 6K to spend i'd look for one with a fairly low mileage. Bought mine a few months back for 6k and only had 26K on the clock. Just keep looking around until you find a decent one. Also like other people have mentioned make sure the belts have been done, if not get them to drop the price a bit.

 

[dmn1989]

want me to look for one for you within the group?

 

[Dazza1]

There is a silver 182 cup on a 06 plate think its got both cup packs where i bought my car from look on www.mastergroup.co.uk only got 20k on the clock its £6.995 and there givin 10% off of it so your lookin at £700 off

 

[liquid_force]

mine is for sale pm me if your interested