New member - Looking for info about MK1 Clio's

[ChrisBoom]

Hi,
Im not to cliosport, you will usually find me on corsasport, as I currently own a 1.2 8v corsa.

Im looking for some info on the MK1 clios, especially on the 1.4 RT. Im only 16 atm, and bought the corsa for a project till I could drive it. Found that its slow, rotten, and im not too keen on the colour now, and fancy something different.

Ive always had a fondness for the MK1's, always thought they looked good, so now I'm considering one, minimum a 1.4, not going back to the 1.2 world :rasp:

So, my questions are (Sorry, theres alot! )

• Are they bad for rust in any way?
• Places to look for problems when buying one? Heard the sunroof can be a problem?
• Reliabilty? Do they suffer from the french curse of gearboxes and clutches?
• What like for tax, MPG? (Talking about a 1.4 RT for this)
• The 1.4 RT, is it SPI? I understand it 80bhp, whats the torque?
• Whats the going rate for a clean one now?
• I know you can use bits from the williams & 16v's for improvements to the lower spec models, such as interior etc, anything else?
• Insurance group? IIRC they are group 3? I was quoted £400 through my dad for the corsa, wont be much more for this?

I think thats it, if theres anything else I should know, tell me about it. Also, anyone got some pictures of a nice example MK1? Someone posted this on CS, love it:

 

[edde]

[*]Are they bad for rust in any way?
[*]Places to look for problems when buying one? Heard the sunroof can be a problem?
[*]Reliabilty? Do they suffer from the french curse of gearboxes and clutches?
[*]What like for tax, MPG? (Talking about a 1.4 RT for this)
[*]The 1.4 RT, is it SPI? I understand it 80bhp, whats the torque?
[*]Whats the going rate for a clean one now?
[*]I know you can use bits from the williams & 16v's for improvements to the lower spec models, such as interior etc, anything else?

Rust on the bottom of the doors and boot also on the sills and most importantly on the rear aches they always rust there.

Reliablility there very good.

Tax best check on the dvla site MPG depends how you drive no real different than a 1.2 realy.

1.4 Rt is single point injection the bigger engines are MPI

80hp at 5750rpm and 79lb torque at 3500 That was when new they often loose HP over time your unlikly to get that.

Going rate is cheap under £1k easily.

Engine etc can be fitted etc but its a lot of work might as well buy the bigger cars.

The brakes from the 1.8 16V and 2.0 Williams and most of the Mk2 phase2 (RS models and some 1.2's excepted) and the 1,6 16V mk2 phase1 use the bigger brake setup of 259mm disk and pads.


Welcome though.

 

[tommyboy]

^ Edde is uber technical king

 

[edde]

^ Edde is uber technical king

I prefere sad boring geek but that sounds better.

 

[tommyboy]

lol

 

[ChrisBoom]

Cheers for that. Heard they can be really bad for the rear arches, much chance of me finding a decent one?

Spotted a P reg MK1, not mcuh info on it yet, williams lookalike, 76k miles. Shall give the guy a phone tomorrow about it, only £450, so i bet something is wrong

 

[edde]

Cheers for that. Heard they can be really bad for the rear arches, much chance of me finding a decent one?

Spotted a P reg MK1, not mcuh info on it yet, williams lookalike, 76k miles. Shall give the guy a phone tomorrow about it, only £450, so i bet something is wrong

Might not be there not worth much.

You might find a mint one it happens they can be fixed rust wish oin the arches it never seems to last forever but depends what care is taken.

 

[ChrisBoom]

Och well, ill find out about it then. How about performance wise, what sort of cars are they equal with on the road?

 

[edde]

Och well, ill find out about it then. How about performance wise, what sort of cars are they equal with on the road?

Well 80hp and the car quite light (850~900kg depends on spec) you might keep near a modern 1.4 16V due to there extra weight until speeds build and power to weight has little effect. A 1.2 16V a new one you should easily keep with even with the age of the engine.

There not that quick depends what you usedto and compairing it to I'd argue a 172/182 isn't that quick.

 

[ChrisBoom]

Och well, ill find out about it then. How about performance wise, what sort of cars are they equal with on the road?

Well 80hp and the car quite light (850~900kg depends on spec) you might keep near a modern 1.4 16V due to there extra weight until speeds build and power to weight has little effect. A 1.2 16V a new one you should easily keep with even with the age of the engine.

That sounds good then, might just be better than a 1200-odd kg 45bhp 1.2 corsa then :rasp:

1.4 Sports are only 88bhp, but with the extra weight, i rekon the clio could stick with it.

Is there many engine mods that can be done with the 1.4? Cam etc? Can imagine there being much with fueling etc due to SPI.

 

[edde]

Is there many engine mods that can be done with the 1.4? Cam etc? Can imagine there being much with fueling etc due to SPI.

Not much cheap a biger engines the best idea Chris_H on retro renault got one to 110hp I think or so with a bit of DIY head work etc. You cna always use the 1.6 bottom end used on some other Renaults for a bit more power but realy a biiger engine ie a 1.8 16V or 2.0 williams etc is a much better idea for real good value power.

 

[steviet]

Wouldnt have thought thered be much point messing with the engine, bar a cat back exhaust for a bit of noise. Suspension, brakes and tyres are where its at with the smaller engined stuff.

 

[ChrisBoom]

Och well, im sure an enclosed filter and that ill do me, and as said above, a backbox and suspension.

Ill try and source valver brakes if i do get one, might not be for a few weeks/months yet, out of work atm

 

[ChrisBoom]

TTT, anymore info?

 

[ChrisBoom]

 

[edde]

What else do you want to know?

 

[Matt@Stealthsport]

Try www.williamsclio.co.uk and www.clio16valver.co.uk/forum/

They tend to have more knowledge of the MK1's.

 

[ChrisBoom]

What else do you want to know?

Just general information about them, what their strong points are, weaknesses etc. Sorry for all the questions lol, know everything about vauxhall, bugger all about renault haha.

 

[edde]

Just general information about them, what their strong points are, weaknesses etc. Sorry for all the questions lol, know everything about vauxhall, bugger all about renault haha.

The cars are nice and stiff cars and fun handling.

Bad points not to safe in a crash still better than many others.

The gearbox leak oil they all do just the way. Engine can do as well so just ever sevice got to check them realy.

Electric well its french oftne there not as bad as there rep suggests though.

 

[ChrisBoom]

Just general information about them, what their strong points are, weaknesses etc. Sorry for all the questions lol, know everything about vauxhall, bugger all about renault haha.

The cars are nice and stiff cars and fun handling.

Bad points not to safe in a crash still better than many others.

The gearbox leak oil they all do just the way. Engine can do as well so just ever sevice got to check them realy.

Electric well its french oftne there not as bad as there rep suggests though.

Seems to have all the characteristics of a french car then. What parts can be taken from a phase 2 to a phase 1? I understand the rear lights are one thing, any others?

Also, if the worst came to the worst, whats the engine spec of the 1.2?

 

[Hayley]

You can pick up a decent shell, personally I'd go for a mk1ph2 (best ones to have IMO) I've got a fairly clean N plate and picked it up for cheap.

Rear arches are prone to rusting, so keep an eye on that, and leaky sunroofs