So finally bit the bullet and decided I didn't want to carry on with my flamer:
Due to the mileage, lack of history and it's accident log in 2011, my mind got the better of me and I didn't want to spend £700 to get all the belts and dephaser done. So the hunt was on for a new car. I thought about something VAG....nope. Another honda? Vtec *yawn*. I had a nagging in my mind it would be another RS. Looked at a few and rang up a guy with a PB 172 in south wales. 88k, cambelt done at 76k but apart from that he said there wasn't any other history and wanted £800. Couldn't really argue at the lack of history, I was shopping at the bottom of the RS chain with my budget. So whilst on the phone I got chatting about the flamer and it's issues, ended the call saying I would call back after looking at a few others. Ten minutes later, got a call asking if I'd be interested in swapping as he's been desperate for a flamer for ages. What? I thought. You want to swap your clio with lower mileage, cambelt done etc for mine which is accident logged, higher mileage and needs £700 of work? Long story short, I got in the flamer and headed for Gwent. Never been to wales so this was basically like going crossing the euro tunnel for me:
On this bridge I also say a vehicle lorry with 2 brand new flame red clios! (I think it's still called flame red). I was excited to see the new RS but at the same time a bit sad at the thought of waving goodbye to the flamer, especially as it drove 110% faultless all the way up there.
After a few hours I got to where the PB was. The owner was straight up and told me all the little bits that needed doing including windscreen, tyres, some bodywork and a couple sensors. I asked about the service history and he said he was only given the V5 and the cambelt fitting receipt from the garage (rung the garage and they confirmed the belt was done). Well, I couldn't moan. As I say I wasn't in much of a position to argue. Hopped in the PB and drove home, no issues what so ever.
When I got back I was going through the car and came across an original renault folder, eh? I guess this is what he meant by no paperwork/history:
Chuffed to bits!
Anyways so on to the car. The best way I can describe it is imagine yourself the morning after a heavy night out (the thread title now makes sense
) You're looking a bit sorry for yourself, bit tired and a bit groggy. But give your face a wash, good scrub up in the shower and a shave, eat some good food, possibly throw on some makeup (if you're that way inclined) and you're tip top again. Same thing with this 172. A bit rough round the edges but at its base, will make a brilliant car. The essentials are there i.e cambelt, history and lower mileage and no accident log. So for me the bodywork and bits were par for the course.
These will have to go!
Quite like yellow bullets maybe with black writing, or black bullets with yellow writing? But in any case these need some attention:
Neeeedz clears!
Bit of touching up to do:
Cloudy lights and *insert carbon washer blanks here*
Slicks anyone?
Also I'll have to look at the wiper mechanism, wipers being sat this high are so annoying!
So many stone chips you would've thought it was a honda!
But all in all no biggie.
Now, as we know. Clios like to play nice and then shaft you when you really could do without it. This one did it in true fashion in the way of the barrel sh*****g itself on me and the key not turning or even going all the way in plus the steering lock decided not to engage at this point. Luckily it's outside my house. Called the locksmith today and he's fairly confident the pins etc inside are gummed up but worst case scenario he's got a few renault barrels on board and if it comes to it he'll whip the old barrel out, fit the new one and get a key cut, maximum £80 which I think is fair considering he's coming to me and doing all that. I've used him before for this so I'm confident in his work.
So that's where we are at the mo! Not the most pristine of starts, but I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. Especially with the bodywork as it looks like underneath the neglect and (I guess) numerous brush/automatic car washes, there's a little gem there. I feel much more confident knowing the cars history is clean and the belts be done.
Due to the mileage, lack of history and it's accident log in 2011, my mind got the better of me and I didn't want to spend £700 to get all the belts and dephaser done. So the hunt was on for a new car. I thought about something VAG....nope. Another honda? Vtec *yawn*. I had a nagging in my mind it would be another RS. Looked at a few and rang up a guy with a PB 172 in south wales. 88k, cambelt done at 76k but apart from that he said there wasn't any other history and wanted £800. Couldn't really argue at the lack of history, I was shopping at the bottom of the RS chain with my budget. So whilst on the phone I got chatting about the flamer and it's issues, ended the call saying I would call back after looking at a few others. Ten minutes later, got a call asking if I'd be interested in swapping as he's been desperate for a flamer for ages. What? I thought. You want to swap your clio with lower mileage, cambelt done etc for mine which is accident logged, higher mileage and needs £700 of work? Long story short, I got in the flamer and headed for Gwent. Never been to wales so this was basically like going crossing the euro tunnel for me:
On this bridge I also say a vehicle lorry with 2 brand new flame red clios! (I think it's still called flame red). I was excited to see the new RS but at the same time a bit sad at the thought of waving goodbye to the flamer, especially as it drove 110% faultless all the way up there.
After a few hours I got to where the PB was. The owner was straight up and told me all the little bits that needed doing including windscreen, tyres, some bodywork and a couple sensors. I asked about the service history and he said he was only given the V5 and the cambelt fitting receipt from the garage (rung the garage and they confirmed the belt was done). Well, I couldn't moan. As I say I wasn't in much of a position to argue. Hopped in the PB and drove home, no issues what so ever.
When I got back I was going through the car and came across an original renault folder, eh? I guess this is what he meant by no paperwork/history:
Chuffed to bits!
Anyways so on to the car. The best way I can describe it is imagine yourself the morning after a heavy night out (the thread title now makes sense
) You're looking a bit sorry for yourself, bit tired and a bit groggy. But give your face a wash, good scrub up in the shower and a shave, eat some good food, possibly throw on some makeup (if you're that way inclined) and you're tip top again. Same thing with this 172. A bit rough round the edges but at its base, will make a brilliant car. The essentials are there i.e cambelt, history and lower mileage and no accident log. So for me the bodywork and bits were par for the course.These will have to go!
Quite like yellow bullets maybe with black writing, or black bullets with yellow writing? But in any case these need some attention:
Neeeedz clears!
Bit of touching up to do:
Cloudy lights and *insert carbon washer blanks here*
Slicks anyone?
Also I'll have to look at the wiper mechanism, wipers being sat this high are so annoying!
So many stone chips you would've thought it was a honda!
But all in all no biggie.
Now, as we know. Clios like to play nice and then shaft you when you really could do without it. This one did it in true fashion in the way of the barrel sh*****g itself on me and the key not turning or even going all the way in plus the steering lock decided not to engage at this point. Luckily it's outside my house. Called the locksmith today and he's fairly confident the pins etc inside are gummed up but worst case scenario he's got a few renault barrels on board and if it comes to it he'll whip the old barrel out, fit the new one and get a key cut, maximum £80 which I think is fair considering he's coming to me and doing all that. I've used him before for this so I'm confident in his work.
So that's where we are at the mo! Not the most pristine of starts, but I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. Especially with the bodywork as it looks like underneath the neglect and (I guess) numerous brush/automatic car washes, there's a little gem there. I feel much more confident knowing the cars history is clean and the belts be done.
