New Clio Buyer - £5K

[jw191]

Hello knowledgable folk,

Im in the market for a clio. Had a llok at a dealer site and plan on going to visit them at the weekend. I need to part/x my Rover 75 as it drinks petrol like its pouring it on the floor. Anyway, I reckon for my budget I can get a 2002-2004 with 10K-30K on the clock. I'm mainly looking at 1.2s and 1.4s.

Anyway, my question, what should I look out for when buying this clio. What are common faults. Also what are the main reliability issues experienced with these cars.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bradharding]

How old are you? I'd be looking at a Ph1 172 with 5k

 

[jw191]

How old are you? I'd be looking at a Ph1 172 with 5k

I'm 23. If I honest the car I really want it a CTR but I cant afford one. I'm looking at small engine cars as I will be able to make money on the fuel rates my company pay me.

Ph1?

 

[TomTom]

*Flame suit*

Have you considered the DCI, quicker than the 1.2 and 1.4s - easily. For 5k you could get a very good example. My Dynamique+ was 3.8K with xenons, climate control, electric sunroof and 69k miles. It will see around 70+mpg on the motorway and I can't get mine below 39mpg when driven hard round town etc. No major engine problems, but they can go bang.

You'll get a minter for 5k to be honest, would try and get a 1.4 atleast for that.
You'll even get a 172 for 5k

Speak to Edde he'll tell you everything you need to know

 

[jw191]

*Flame suit*

Have you considered the DCI, quicker than the 1.2 and 1.4s - easily. For 5k you could get a very good example. My Dynamique+ was 3.8K with xenons, climate control, electric sunroof and 69k miles. It will see around 70+mpg on the motorway and I can't get mine below 39mpg when driven hard round town etc. No major engine problems, but they can go bang.

You'll get a minter for 5k to be honest, would try and get a 1.4 atleast for that.
You'll even get a 172 for 5k

Speak to Edde he'll tell you everything you need to know

Riiight, whos Edde then? I would consider a diesel but the dealer has none in stock, however they do have about 8 petrols (1.2's and 1.4's) - thats the only reason I was looking at petrol.

You mentioned some engines go bang, what is the typical cause and how often does this happen?

I'd really love a 172 but I would have to get higher milage vehicle and it would defeat my money making plan.

 

[TomTom]

1.2's Generally speaking aren't bad, I personally think the D4F's a cracking little engine. 1.4's & 1.6s suffer from coils going down (2 minute fix) not too costly. The DCI's aren't bad, regualar oil changes and booting them now and again to keep the injectors clean etc. Theres a lad whos DCI's just gone bang, and I've only ever known 1 K9K to die personally (Ran with no oil)

Could go on for a while about electrical problems though (most models)

Eddes the top man for all things Clio

 

[edde]

Have you considered the DCI, quicker than the 1.2 and 1.4s - easily. For 5k you could get a very good example. My Dynamique+ was 3.8K with xenons, climate control, electric sunroof and 69k miles. It will see around 70+mpg on the motorway and I can't get mine below 39mpg when driven hard round town etc. No major engine problems, but they can go bang.

You'll get a minter for 5k to be honest, would try and get a 1.4 atleast for that.
You'll even get a 172 for 5k

You need to get on track 29.9 was my record.
But that was absolutly as far as it could go even at 110mph on the German autobahn (honest it was) it gave 37mpg foot to the floor for a good ten minutes.

On the roads worst I ever got was 37mpg but that was going a bit mad.

Running round 55mpg on the way to work 50 with some fast back roads (well as fast as 65hp gets you).

The engine are reiliable much better than the petrols no coils or spark plugs or throttle bodies to have to fix so that at least 905 of the petrol problems gone. The problem is if you have a problem there more difficult to fix the injectors and fuel system are much more advanced than the petrols so it can get expensive. Best thing to do is regualr oil chnages ever 9k. I'be hammeed my car and it fine at 78k no trouble at all its much quicker than the figures suggest book 0-60 is 15 second but magazines tested it at 13.5 top end is about 110mph. I'e raced 1.2 and 1.4's before and its as quick as 1.2 and ver close to 1.4 16V ask Sanner on herew how out drag race went it was very close we retried it a few times.

Engine goesbang for a few reasons tunning isn't a good idea for high milage use pumps can die injectors can die and thats when it adds up but new engine scan be bought from Matt balck off here crated up from Renault unused for £31.2k or so second had are £500 or so. fitment is easier than the 172 best not get A/C as it just is more labour to fix IMO plus my car without air con is on its third radiator which is much cheaper than a condensor (although noone else seems to suffer from it but me).

I'm 23. If I honest the car I really want it a CTR but I cant afford one. I'm looking at small engine cars as I will be able to make money on the fuel rates my company pay me.

You ned to look at how much you make the 1.5 dci engine isn't the best to try and make money a 1.9 Golf etc is better often.


Common Clio problems
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=108607

 

[edde]

1.2's Generally speaking aren't bad, I personally think the D4F's a cracking little engine. 1.4's & 1.6s suffer from coils going down (2 minute fix) not too costly. The DCI's aren't bad, regualar oil changes and booting them now and again to keep the injectors clean etc. Theres a lad whos DCI's just gone bang, and I've only ever known 1 K9K to die personally (Ran with no oil)

Could go on for a while about electrical problems though (most models)

df4 isn't bad its built to a price though and it shows there a problem engine though as you said coild firstly then spark plugs it likes to eat then it likes blocking its throttle body a lot also all the bits are cheap plastic manifold for example its a great idea and works but its just the general quality IMO.

Boot a dci all the time is much better the EGR valves don't block up.

 

[TomTom]

Edde your not alone put a half inch stone throught my radiator a couple of weeks back.

 

[jw191]

Common Clio problems
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=108607

Thanks Edde. I don't seem to be able to access that link. I get the error:

"
jw191, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
2. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

"
Any ideas?

 

[edde]

Edde your not alone put a half inch stone throught my radiator a couple of weeks back.

£90 from Renault for a replacmetn oen I'm getting fed up of going throguh them next one I get is a 172 one and meshing it off. (I'd need a bigger one to ensure it keeps the engine cool with the reduced area)

Common Clio problems
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=108607

Thanks Edde. I don't seem to be able to access that link. I get the error:
"
jw191, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
2. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

"
Any ideas?

I've answered your other post and pasted all the text in there from the link.