Newbie - Looking at 172's

[Simsy]

Hello everyone, i'm a newbie to Cliosport, but certainly not to French tin cans

I currently drive a 1999 306 GTi6 and after 2 1/2 years and 45,000 miles of fun fun fun i'm now looking to move on to a 172. Possibly a cup if i can get a "full fat" one - i think thats what they're called!?

Anyway, my current steed is for sale -

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/524699.htm

I'm looking at a 2001 'Y' Mk1 172 tomorrow at a dealer that has 34,000 miles, seems a really good bet if the mileage is genuine.

Anyway, rather than wind everyone up asking "what shall i look out for" i'm going to browse the forum and find out.

EDIT: I guess you have to pay to access the FAQ section, buyers guide etc?

 

[Simsy]

Wow, busy forum this then?

 

[DrR]

Mines for sale, well will be very shortly, could PM you details?

 

[Snubbs]

EDIT: I guess you have to pay to access the FAQ section, buyers guide etc?

Yea i'm afraid so. Seems they change something every other week to 'paid only members'

Still, its only a fiver, and since you've got the market place at hand you can easily make it back if you've got some stuff to sell.

As for things to look out for, if you bump this thread a few times someone will eventually respond. I've only got a 1.2 so i can't really give any advice.

All i know is that:
Make sure its not an import - UK clios have thier number plate etched into the windows. Theres some other minor differences (e.g. factory fit alarm).

Other than that. Good luck!

Happy clio'ing

 

[Bazzon]

Possibly a cup if i can get a "full fat" one - i think thats what they're called!?

Confused about this, you can get a cup or you can get a full fat.
You can not get a full fat cup.

Welcome to CS, pay a fiver do a search all the answers you need will be there

 

[Mark One]

watch out for cam belts. They need to be done and they are expensive on 1*2s. It's 72k or 5 years iirc.
Engine mounts are a classic fault. Will go soft, but then coming from a french car I bet you know all about that anyways.
Check for knocks under hard accelleration

With 172s there are 3 models - 172 Phase1, 172 Phase2 FF (full fat - cliosport term) and 172 Cup (always Ph2)
The cup and the Phase 1 are lighter so a bit faster, the FF has the spec (AC, xenons, auto wipers/lights) Phase 1 is a good compromise becuase you still get AC

 

[ForceIndia]

EDIT: I guess you have to pay to access the FAQ section, buyers guide etc?

Yea i'm afraid so. Seems they change something every other week to 'paid only members'

Still, its only a fiver, and since you've got the market place at hand you can easily make it back if you've got some stuff to sell.

As for things to look out for, if you bump this thread a few times someone will eventually respond. I've only got a 1.2 so i can't really give any advice.

All i know is that:
Make sure its not an import - UK clios have thier number plate etched into the windows. Theres some other minor differences (e.g. factory fit alarm).

Other than that. Good luck!

Happy clio'ing

No need to worry about 172 imports. Same spec, just check it's had alarm and locking wheel nuts fitted. Good bargaining point.

 

[DrR]

Just buy mine, cambelts done, new gearbox+ clutch, 4 new dampers.

Also no such thing as a 172 full fat

 

[Simsy]

Cheers guys, i'm well aware of the engine mount faults, i had to weld a plate into the 306 after it cracked the mount cradle (that was a new mount too that i chocked to prevent excessive movement).

Anyway, i drove a 52 plate 47,000 miler 172 Cup today. AWESOME.

I really like it, the lack of ABS could be a worry in the wet though as i do aot of miles. This particular one had service history at the main dealer. Would i be able to visit my local dealer and find out about the car and what its had? How much will a cambelt change cost me in genuine parts (i do all my own work on my cars). I assume the belt, tensioners and water pump will all need doing at once, thats the case with the GTi-6 anyway as its a bit of a weak point.

DrRollo, thanks for the offer but i don't like red cars. Black, Blue or Silver for me i think

Anyway, i'll pay my fiver and join up.

 

[DrR]

How can you not like flame red, thats an insult lol.

 

[ForceIndia]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=327406
Cough. Being clayed and polished this weekend. Only round the corner from you as well (Harborne).

 

[annarox]

Cheers guys, i'm well aware of the engine mount faults, i had to weld a plate into the 306 after it cracked the mount cradle (that was a new mount too that i chocked to prevent excessive movement).

Anyway, i drove a 52 plate 47,000 miler 172 Cup today. AWESOME.

I really like it, the lack of ABS could be a worry in the wet though as i do aot of miles. This particular one had service history at the main dealer. Would i be able to visit my local dealer and find out about the car and what its had? How much will a cambelt change cost me in genuine parts (i do all my own work on my cars). I assume the belt, tensioners and water pump will all need doing at once, thats the case with the GTi-6 anyway as its a bit of a weak point.

DrRollo, thanks for the offer but i don't like red cars. Black, Blue or Silver for me i think

Anyway, i'll pay my fiver and join up.

I worried about it too, but so far no problems!! just need to make sure you have a good set of tyres on it and obviously dont drive like an idiot in the wet!!! It should of had its cambelt changed last year, not a good sign if some one hasnt had it done..........what else havent they had done?!:S

 

[DrR]

^^ Exactly, mine has everything done to it!

 

[Simsy]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=327406
Cough. Being clayed and polished this weekend. Only round the corner from you as well (Harborne).

Cheers matey, but thats a little over my budget which is around £4500.

 

[annarox]

^^ Exactly, mine has everything done to it!

+1 I looked at loads of them until i found my one. I wanted one with climate too so it really did take ages!! Looked at so many with rubbish service history........such a shame, these cars need looking after properly by people willing to spend the money on them!

 

[Simsy]

Cheers guys, i'm well aware of the engine mount faults, i had to weld a plate into the 306 after it cracked the mount cradle (that was a new mount too that i chocked to prevent excessive movement).

Anyway, i drove a 52 plate 47,000 miler 172 Cup today. AWESOME.

I really like it, the lack of ABS could be a worry in the wet though as i do aot of miles. This particular one had service history at the main dealer. Would i be able to visit my local dealer and find out about the car and what its had? How much will a cambelt change cost me in genuine parts (i do all my own work on my cars). I assume the belt, tensioners and water pump will all need doing at once, thats the case with the GTi-6 anyway as its a bit of a weak point.

DrRollo, thanks for the offer but i don't like red cars. Black, Blue or Silver for me i think

Anyway, i'll pay my fiver and join up.

I worried about it too, but so far no problems!! just need to make sure you have a good set of tyres on it and obviously dont drive like an idiot in the wet!!! It should of had its cambelt changed last year, not a good sign if some one hasnt had it done..........what else havent they had done?!:S

Very true, it did seem to exhibit a slight whirring noise, the same noise my 306 makes from cold and the same noise the Mk1 172 made from cold. Is this just a noisy idler (either cambelt or aux belt)?

 

[annarox]

I worried about it too, but so far no problems!! just need to make sure you have a good set of tyres on it and obviously dont drive like an idiot in the wet!!! It should of had its cambelt changed last year, not a good sign if some one hasnt had it done..........what else havent they had done?!:S

Very true, it did seem to exhibit a slight whirring noise, the same noise my 306 makes from cold and the same noise the Mk1 172 made from cold. Is this just a noisy idler (either cambelt or aux belt)?

Mine doesnt whirr......it kind of......purrs with a bit of growl!!! My belts are due in september and everything runs like clockwork still. I would be wary of it, those belts could go at anytime......then you have a serious problem!

 

[Simsy]

Very true, it did seem to exhibit a slight whirring noise, the same noise my 306 makes from cold and the same noise the Mk1 172 made from cold. Is this just a noisy idler (either cambelt or aux belt)?

Mine doesnt whirr......it kind of......purrs with a bit of growl!!! My belts are due in september and everything runs like clockwork still. I would be wary of it, those belts could go at anytime......then you have a serious problem!

Yes, i'll be seeing the dealer about the car first (i've got the VIN) i assume they might be able to show me whats been done for free?

Anyway, i like the idea of a cup, but if a nice 172 "FF" comes up then i'll take one of those on. The cup i drove was a nice example though so i can use it as a benchmark i guess

 

[Simsy]

As far as spending money is concerned, haven't you read my 306 Ad on PistonHeads?

 

[annarox]

As far as spending money is concerned, haven't you read my 306 Ad on PistonHeads?

Yeah i did, I had a 306 too before i chopped her in for the cup!!!! (wierd!)

I meant about the previous owner!!

 

[Simsy]

Oh, i see what you mean yeah. It really pisses me off when people run cars on a shoestring. Fair enough if its a crappy 405 diesel or whatever but not a hot hatch, especially a french one!

 

[ForceIndia]

172 drives fairly different to a cup. Your more than welcome to come and have a drive (if you've got 3rd party cover) to see the difference.

 

[Simsy]

I see. I'm just reading up as we speak.

In the case of the 306, the Rallye is just a lighter version of a GTi-6. The engine and box is the same, as is the suspension.

From what i can gather, thats not the case in the Cup and normal 172. Spring rates, hubs (offset of wheels) camber, and toe in by the looks of things.

Thanks for the offer, i'll keep it in mind, i'll be looking at a few this week though i think

One last thing, the clutch, it bit fairly high on the cup i drove, i assume thats a sign of abuse too (47K isn't very much, mines on 106K and still on the original). Do they tend to bite high on the way out or is it a hydraulic clutch that self adjusts?

 

[DrR]

Cable clutch, they have a very high biting point, although i don't think mines high.

 

[karlos100]

just do what i did. go out looking to spend 5k on a 172 then find a low milage 182 for 8k and walk away with it for 7! great!.....then wait for it to fall apart and constantly fix it....superb! thing is just like most peeps on ere i still love it to bits!

 

[Ads_172]

Simsy... is this Mr Ry?

EDIT: You know what... I don't think it is. I happen to know someone that's seling their '6' for a possible 172. But their PH advert is different I think!

 

[Simsy]

Simsy... is this Mr Ry?

EDIT: You know what... I don't think it is. I happen to know someone that's seling their '6' for a possible 172. But their PH advert is different I think!

Whos Mr Ry? Not me!