Picked up my 172 today - first impressions

[Mostro]

Oh yes, today was finally the day I got to pick up my 'new' 172 - 53-plate Iceberg Silver. Had a 100-mile journey home, which took 3hrs+ thanks to a load of truck drivers playing banger racing and shutting the M1 earlier in the day, so I took a detour through Sherwood Forest

OK - Good points, I'm impressed with:

- the engine - didn't get too much chance to open her up on the dark greasy roads but when I did, it felt superb. Especially the extra-hardened note and kick at 5k rpm.

- handling - nice and flat, good traction, ride firm but not too harsh and jiggly. Then again, anythings better than driving round in a Zafira for the last few months...... :rasp:

- the look - looks just right for me; small, squat and purposeful, but at the same time fairly understated....

- automatic wipers and lights - nice touch, especially on a dark, drizzly first drive.

- climate control - nice and simple and intuitive to use

- interior looks smart and clean; nothing broken or missing, everything works

Less sure about:

- clutch - heavy and a shorter action than I'm used too, which made gearchanges a bit abrupt at first. Revs seem to die quickly as soon as the clutch starts to disengage. Is this normal on these?

- clutch pedal - creaked and vibrated noticeably when depressed with the engine running but car at rest. Again is this normal? Not really noticeable while driving though :S and doesn't do it with the engine off.....

- 'Boom' under hard(ish) acceleration - is this engine or exhaust? I know there is such a thing as a '4k rattle' - is this it? About that number of revs.

- mismatched tyres - one Michelin on the n/s/f, three Nang-summat on the other corners

- Original exhaust - or is this a good thing? Like the look of those ProSpeed replacements...... Might be asking Santa....

- Aux belt due (coming up to 35k) and hasn't been done....


Looking forward to discovering more about the car asap, and learning much more from this place. You've been great so far!

 

[graham_172]

welcome to the club. if you search through the forum, you will find all the answers hopefully. lovely car! get some pics up asap.

 

[Leeshez]

Hello welcome to the club. You will get used to the car.

 

[you'd never of guessed]

hey man just be gratfull you have a sport! id do anything to have one

 

[Rob's172]

yer clutch it a bit heavy but you'll soon get used to it!

tyres are key to good grip and corners, even more so in the wet

get you self out to some yorkshire meets for some more hint and tips


<<<<<<<<<

 

[172blue]

Clutch does'nt sound right...

Get the tyres changed asap, they are your only point of contact with the road!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aux and cambelt need doing by 5yrs or 72k, guess you'll get to 5 yrs first!!!

Welsome to the club. You have made a great choice

 

[DrR]

No aux is 3 years or 36k, You'll have fun till it breaks.

 

[TeZ]

Yeah get that done before exhasut buddy..

As for the Clutch alot of them do it Search on here there was a thread not long ago IIRC.

 

[172blue]

hehe cynical man doc

Can be an expensive mistake that

 

[Da]

Welcome Heed the warnings about the aux belt though!

As for the clutch, you'll get used to it being stiff!

 

[Mostro]

Wow...! Thanks all.

Yeah, Aux belt and tyres are first priority. Pretty sure the spare is unused, so presumeably that will have a Michelin on it. Will check in daylight.

Not sure if the clutch was just to do with the return spring or something more sinister. Got used to the biting point/action & weight easily enough.

YNOGuessed - I am. Very. They were meant to sound like observations rather than criticisms!

 

[Rob's172]

std tyres on a 172 where contis, but i'd (as would most on here) get the Michelin pe2's like on the 182

so you up for a meet?

***FANCY DRESS YORKSHIRE MEET*** Xscape, M62 Corridoor, Leeds! Sunday 16/12/07

 

[172blue]

Stick with the conti's they are fantastic tyres in both the wet and dry.

 

[172.com]

- clutch - heavy and a shorter action than I'm used too, which made gearchanges a bit abrupt at first. Revs seem to die quickly as soon as the clutch starts to disengage. Is this normal on these?

- mismatched tyres - one Michelin on the n/s/f, three Nang-summat on the other corners

Clutch is quite heavy.

I've heard the tyres referred to as Nankang (sp?) ditchfinders on here. I'd get them replaced with some PE2s or Eagle F1 GSD3s (if they still make them), especially now the bad weather has set in! http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=102955

 

[Mostro]

How big a job (in ££s) is the Aux belt replacement?

 

[Da]

Aux belt, quoted from one of edde's posts in the buyers guide;

Check the AUX belt has been changed ever 36k though or else change it its not cheap as its 2.7 hour labour if you have a car with air con or 5 minutes if your lucky and have a normal 172 Cup. The servicing used to allow the belt to stay as with the cam belt to 72k hence why many dealers think its Ok to leave it that long however there were so many failures that the service rules were changed down to 36k at a maximum. When they do fail they make a right mess they 99.9% of the time take out the cam belt so your looking at £1k at best to fix it since it will have wrecked valves new cam belt is needed etc.

 

[.GAZ.]

get some pics up matey!!

 

[Mostro]

This is the only pic I have so far, taken from the garage website....

 

[GarethM]

nice fella

enjoy it

 

[Neil G]

Welcome to CS..nice car you have there and in the best colour

Clutch in the 172 is quite tricky....takes some getting used to.

Bang under acceleration is probably engine mounts.....common on 172s, mine does it now and again.

 

[Mostro]

Nah, it's not a bang, it's a booooom! It's not a problem with the car (I don't think!) - just a fairly vivid transition from quiet mild-mannered tootling around to VROOOOOM when giving it some beans. Sounds almost like an aftermarket exhaust but it isn't - it's the standard OE rusty one

 

[FlameR]

Nice mate!!

If I were you I would:

- change tyres
- get aux belt replaced
- Change exhaust OE ones have a habbit of falling off. Mine was hanging off for ages, and it sounded ridiculous

 

[Mostro]

That's exactly what I intend to do, but Aux belt first just to be safe. Car's in great condition but you never know how previous owners have driven it. About to contact RSTuning for a quote.

Then tyres given the weather - looking at Eagle F1 GSD3s.....

Then exhaust, assuming it hangs together for long enough. Looking at ProSpeed in Cardiff for that maybe. :evil:

Sadly, it needs to be the dull things first...... :S

 

[16vMK2 to 172Sport]

Nice one mate tidy looking car you got

 

[edde]

- clutch pedal - creaked and vibrated noticeably when depressed with the engine running but car at rest. Again is this normal? Not really noticeable while driving though :S and doesn't do it with the engine off.....

Thrust breaing probaly on its way out.

As for the stiffnes slibricate the cable or a new one is £20 which helps but take a little while to fit.

 

[Baz 172]

ProSpeed is a must if you ask me

 

[Mostro]

Baz - did you get one as a result of the Bulkbuy thread from 2 years ago? How's it been?

I've read through that and was impressed with the service, price and quality mentioned.

 

[Mostro]

Thrust breaing probaly on its way out.

As for the stiffnes slibricate the cable or a new one is £20 which helps but take a little while to fit.

Hmmm, maybe. Not so noticeable today - think it only happens when it's fully warmed through. When it does happen (at standstill), the clutch pedal creaks and you can feel the vibration through the brake pedal too....

Got the SERV, ABS and traction control lights come on on the way home yesterday which had me worried. Then I did a search on here to find it's probably the brake light switch, so that can wait till it goes in next for the aux belt.

Otherwise, this car is SOOOOOO FANTASTIC!!! :rasp:

 

[Wiking]

Bought mine 3 months ago at the same colour. It is a dancing french frog.
Love it

 

[Limca]

should have got a ph1 instead

welcome
j