Ten years go by so quickly

[Marky_]

As my MOT was coming up for expiry, I suddenly realised that as of this week I will have been driving around in a bright blue Clio for 10 years!
That’s longer than some of my friends marriages have lasted. It's been so long that I've just checked and I got this car BEFORE @SharkyUK started his project thread!
It’s been through 3 cambelts, 2 cup splitters, 16 valves, lots of brake fluid and seen countless RS specialists.

As it doesn’t have a project thread (doesn’t really get modded much so would be pretty dull) I thought I’d celebrate by being a bit self-indulgent and making a media post.

2008

I started looking for an upgrade in summer 2008. I viewed an Arctic and a Titanium locally before seeing this one pop up about 60 miles away on autotrader.

The day I went to view the car and had a test drive. I was very giddy as it was my first time behind the wheel of an RS. That first 5k kick was sweet. A deposit was down almost as quickly as the handbrake was up.
I'd wanted an RB182 since joining CS with my Ph1 1.2 and seeing photos of cars like @makavelli 's and @Christopher 's old ones.

First week of ownership I ended up parked next to a 172Cup with a giant CS sticker. Never did find out who the owner was.

Met up with @Schweppy & @Tony Hunter for an RB meet at one point.

2009
Standard moody photo after getting some Turinis ?

RenaultSport Clio by Marcus Tang, on Flickr

Cheeky convoy to FCS `09

This was on the way to @Iridium ‘s parade lap. That was a great day and awesome to see so many Clio’s circling Rockingham in his memory. Unfortunately this is the only pic I could find featuring my car!

2010
A pretty snowy meet up Snake pass featuring @v15ben ‘s old RB and I can’t remember who had the Williams (sorry if you’re reading this!)

The Blues by Marcus Tang, on Flickr


This was the Save Donington Park meet back when MK2s ruled CS

ClioSport Stand by Marcus Tang, on Flickr

2012
Cleaned and lowered on Sportlines by @Fred@BTM

With my buddies GTI-6.

Swapped out the pea shooters for slash cut Janspeed thanks to @MicKPM Diamond Motors

2016
In 2016 the week I’d restored the headlights, clayed, polished, sealed and MOT’d it, somewhere along the A1 the aux belt went taking out the cambelt along with it.

After some umming and ahhing about what to do, eventually it was shipped off back to @Birchdown (where it also had its first cambelt change) for a top end rebuild. Top lads got me up and running again after a few months off the road.

2017
Probably as low as it’s ever gotten rammed full of my mates stuff on moving day. Maybe I should just get coilovers ?

2018
Most up to date pic of it.

People tend to be surprised when they find out I still own this thing but I can't bring myself round to selling it.
Plus it still makes me grin whenever I go out for a blast.

Thanks for viewing my thread!

 

[Rubicon_]

Love that! Still looks mint as well.

 

[imprezaworks]

That’s awesome. After owning 7/8 clios over the years there must be something in racing blue paint, owned my current car 3 years In December.

Top work 10 years

 

[AdDaMan]

Impressive. But f**k me, 10 years in a clio?! Obviously you have other cars too?

 

[v15ben]

10 years is a cracking effort!
Good to see the snowy photos with my old one. That was a fun day.

 

[Stay Puft]

I'm 5 years in... I don't think i'll last 10! Fair play to you.

 

[SharkyUK]

It's been so long that I've just checked and I got this car BEFORE @SharkyUK started his project thread!

?Yeah, but I've owned my Trophy for over 11 years so ner-ner! Hahahahaha!

Great update mate! Glad to see it is still with you and still looking spot-on.

 

[hipwell]

Can't see me lasting 10 years but I also can't think of anything else I'd want to swap it for.

All these new turbo engines have plenty of power but I can't see them having the character of the clio!

 

[Marky_]

Love that! Still looks mint as well.

Cheers! It's in alright nick but not compared to some other projects on here now. Some crazy clean cars on here now!

That’s awesome. After owning 7/8 clios over the years there must be something in racing blue paint, owned my current car 3 years In December.

Top work 10 years

It's a great colour. I'll never forget one time I was driving down the motorway and a child in another car held up a sign he'd written to me saying "Nice car" or something along those lines lol.

 

[Marky_]

Impressive. But f**k me, 10 years in a clio?! Obviously you have other cars too?

It's effectively been a weekend car for a few years now. I even get limited mileage discount on insurance!

10 years is a cracking effort!
Good to see the snowy photos with my old one. That was a fun day.

A mad day indeed. Seems like a lifetime ago ?

I'm 5 years in... I don't think i'll last 10! Fair play to you.

Half way there! You may as well stick with it ?

 

[Marky_]

?Yeah, but I've owned my Trophy for over 11 years so ner-ner! Hahahahaha!

Great update mate! Glad to see it is still with you and still looking spot-on.

You win! Thanks man. Really appreciated. Looking forward to yours getting back on the road. I Mick we believe ?

Can't see me lasting 10 years but I also can't think of anything else I'd want to swap it for.

All these new turbo engines have plenty of power but I can't see them having the character of the clio!

Exactly right buddy. People have been asking me what i'd want next for at least 7 years. I still don't have a definitive answer!

 

[hipwell]

You win! Thanks man. Really appreciated. Looking forward to yours getting back on the road. I Mick we believe ?


Exactly right buddy. People have been asking me what i'd want next for at least 7 years. I still don't have a definitive answer!

The only realistic option I can think of at the minute is a 2010 civic fn2.

Keep the NA screamer but with a more modern design.

197s and 200s just don't do it for me.

 

[STEVE.M]

[QUOTE="hipwell, post: 11652018, member: 52468".

All these new turbo engines have plenty of power but I can't see them having the character of the clio![/QUOTE]

So true.

Had mine for nearly 5 years now, 38K driven from a total of 128k, and have enjoyed every one of them.

Banging new everything in to keep it that way.

 

[Jekyll]

Seen this car in the flesh and it's very tidy. Didn't know it was 10 years.

Nice write up too mate.

 

[Chris_Beer]

Happy Anniversary ! ?

Good job, here's to another happy ten years, where parts will be impossible to source !

 

[STEVE.M]

Happy Anniversary ! ?

Good job, here's to another happy ten years, where parts will be impossible to source !

How the f**k do people keep their MGA `S running?

 

[Marky_]

The only realistic option I can think of at the minute is a 2010 civic fn2.
Keep the NA screamer but with a more modern design.
197s and 200s just don't do it for me.

I was half tempted by the R27s but didn't come across one properly specced.

Seen this car in the flesh and it's very tidy. Didn't know it was 10 years.

Nice write up too mate.

Appreciate the kind words Mark ?
Yours is gonna be on another planet after it's been reassembled tbqfh!

Happy Anniversary ! ?

Good job, here's to another happy ten years, where parts will be impossible to source !

Lol. Hold on to it until it's VED exempt.
Saw a thread the other day claiming they've stopped making cup spoiler brake lights already!

 

[182_steve]

That's a great achievement having it 10 years and it also looks a great example too, but at the end of the day when you have a car you love and enjoy driving, why sell it? You know the car, all the work that's been done etc, it's the same old thing of new car = back to the start lol, you can have a service record but you still don't 100% know what you are buying. I'm only 2 and a half years down the road with mine so quite a way off the 10!

 

[Marky_]

^One of the reasons I decided to get the engine rebuilt rather than sourcing another one!

 

[Chris_Beer]

Lol. Hold on to it until it's VED exempt.
Saw a thread the other day claiming they've stopped making cup spoiler brake lights already!

Yep,

172 Cup Driveshafts, genuine rear pads?fuel filler necks, rear pre-fabbed brake lines to name a few. There are a lot more items no doubt...

 

[davo172]

^One of the reasons I decided to get the engine rebuilt rather than sourcing another one!

Sharkey did the same only hes been waiting at least 5 years having the engine built ! ??

 

[Iain C]

Love that. There are a few long term owners on here.

 

[Marky_]

Sharkey did the same only hes been waiting at least 5 years having the engine built ! ??

The difference is he's trying to put it back together using completely different parts!

Love that. There are a few long term owners on here.

Thanks
I reckon the key is NOT to do a project car!
If I'd have slammed, stripped, caged etc etc it, I'd probably have been shot of it years ago! I can enjoy it for what it is. Sure it doesn't get used as often as before but I still get enjoyment from going out in it (Just a lot more worried about bits failing these days)

 

[Craig]

Great write up mate. Glad you've had it for so long. I had mine for 11 years and loved it. I held off for so long with needing a bigger car. Then a bought an e46 330i tourer. If I had the money and space I would of kept mine.

 

[Coops Mk1]

Nice! I own malavellis old one and I've had that six years now, there's something about an RB that gets under the skin!

 

[Marky_]

Nice! I own malavellis old one and I've had that six years now, there's something about an RB that gets under the skin!

Wow! I saw it a few times when Luke owned it and remember you buying it from him but didn't realise it was that long ago already! Always nice when a car remains in the club for so long.

 

[Coops Mk1]

Yeah I bought it from Luke on 103k and basically run it daily ever since so racked up 83k in it, so I'm the highest miler on her now! Lol!

 

[James Mk1]

Plus it still makes me grin whenever I go out for a blast.

How many people can say that about a car they've owned for 10 years+? It says a lot about these 1*2s. Nice car mate.