Test drove a bad egg today

[mrgund]

Just thought i would share my experience i had today.

Arranged to view a 172 exclusive that i had seen advertised. When i got there had a quick look around it and it looked good! The price was reasonable and i had a good feeling that this was going to be the one for me!

Anyways, we (was with brother and dad) got in the car and the guy who was selling (a trader) took us out in it for a spin. Unfortunately, previous hopes were immediately dashed when upon accelerating (hard) out of his street the car got to about 3500 rpm and (how can i explain it?) hesitated, almost kangaroo hopping and then carried on as normal, but it did it every time it got to 3500 rpm??? Anybody know what could be up? The guy tried to fob us off with "all it needs is a bit of a tune up".

Needless to say i'm still looking for a 172!!!!

 

[Darren S]

Sounds a bit a dodgy that, m8......

D.

 

[DH_GTI]

does sound bad, not good

 

[Daz]

Was it cold?

Could just be damp plugs etc..?

Shouldn't be thrashing it up the rev range anyway from cold, heh.

 

[mrgund]

It's a shame cos it looked neat and tidy.

All day tomorrow i'm out looking for a good one, got a feeling it's going to be harder than first imagined. I've been to look at 3 now and all were bad.

Anybody got any advice? Would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

 

[mrgund]

Was it cold?

Could just be damp plugs etc..?

Shouldn't be thrashing it up the rev range anyway from cold, heh.

No he shouldn't have!!!! But he was a nutcase nearly wiped some old dear out in a fiesta during the test run!!!!

Yeah it was a cold start, but it was really violent, not like a little judder, the car just didn't want to go.......

 

[Karlos182]

Don't most Ren-sport Clios do that annoying hesitate thing at 3.5k when they're cold, to protect the engine?
Anyways, if he drove it like that with you in it, imagine what he's like normally!

 

[Day]

They do indeed, normally ok after a few minutes though.

Whereabouts are you as I saw a 172 Exclusive on a forecourt up for grabs near me (Salisbury)

http://www.virtual-showroom.co.uk/scripts/stockList/vehicleDetail.asp?laf=SHOWROOMLNKS&dealer=9370&vehicle=619&ss=HTTP://WWW.GLASSINTERNET.COM/CSS/BASICGREY.CSS

 

[jonnyboy]

dont waste your time with dealers m 8 just get one from the for sale forums on here, we all look after our cars and I'm sure you'll find a bargain

 

[V1NNY]

if he was driving like a nut case and giving it some from cold do you really think hes looked after it

 

[GarethM]

sounds dodgy wait till you find a minter!!

 

[ukaskew]

Every 172 I've driven has done this if its properly cold (not started for 6hrs+), stutters quite a bit even if you get near 3k, can't imagine how bad it must be if you floor it, I'd guess its not good!

If you let it run for around a minute before setting off its fine, if you don't and keep the revs low its fine also, you notice a little surge after a minute or so when it all of a sudden becomes fine. I guess the management is stopping you rag the engine when its completely cold.

A clever dealer would run it for a while about 3 or 4 hours before a test drive, as although it will seem cold when you arrive it doesn't appear to have the 3k "problem" as much as if it had been left overnight or a bit longer.

 

[cat171]

Maybe the dude was trying to show off by ragging the ar*e off it ?

There are a few 172 exclusives around though, wherebouts are you? as a dealer near me had on in the other week.

Also if you really want an exclusive it maybe worth travelling for one.

 

[mrgund]

Thanks all. I didn't know about the 3k thing and obviously neither did the dealer! i will know next time, but still, there was something not quite right about it. . . . . I did a reg check by text, and it came up with 7 previous owners! For a 5 year old car thats quite high!

I'm after either a mk1 172 normal OR an Exclusive, not fussy. Hopefully, will have some better luck tomorrow!

 

[mrgund]

if he was driving like a nut case and giving it some from cold do you really think hes looked after it

Yeah, that's a fair point. It's not his car as such as he is a dealer, prob got it from a part ex or something but he was working from home which put me off also.

 

[ukaskew]

Yeah, that's a fair point. It's not his car as such as he is a dealer, prob got it from a part ex or something but he was working from home which put me off also.

I was lucky with mine, home-run dealership (when I say home I mean mansion!) but the guy was spot on, he gave me the keys and told me to go out and make sure I was back within 45 minutes and not to get any speeding tickets! He was a Focus RS specialist and admitted straight away that he knew next to nothing about Cups, so he just left me to it, he left me in peace for hours whilst I looked over it etc.

I was the second person to view it, bought it on the spot and never regretted it since.

 

[benhwolves]

7 previous owners!! wouldnt touch it - thing is mate to be patient and the right car will come along as if you rush into buying you will prob end up disappointed

 

[matt the cat]

7 previous owners!! wouldnt touch it - thing is mate to be patient and the right car will come along as if you rush into buying you will prob end up disappointed

^^^^^^spot on advice. 7 is far too high, there will be story tucked away in that cars past. try pistonheads theres always a few on there.

Im on my 4th RS clio. They are a 'little' jerky when cold but nothing more. like jerky to any throttle input and jerky when letting off throttle. They should NOT do what you described no matter what, don't let anyone tell you different my friend.

MK 1's are the best IMHO, Ive got a trophy but if they still made the mk1 and the 2 were lined up i'd take the mk1 any day of the week and twice on sundays. the original and best. hang in there and get only one that is spot on - you WILL find one and it'll be worth the wait. :approve:

 

[Neil G]

Revving the hell out of a car from cold is definately not good...if you go to look at any cars and they do that I'd just walk away.....plenty of other good cars out there.

 

[Rich_16v]

Sounds like you were sensible to avoid that individual car

From what you say the dealer was just trying to sell it on a basis thats its quick so i'll rag it about and that'll secure the deal

As people say the cars need a minute of two to settle upon start up when from stone cold, after that they're fine

 

[ChrisR]

7 previous owners!! wouldnt touch it - thing is mate to be patient and the right car will come along as if you rush into buying you will prob end up disappointed

Think I'm the 5th or 6th owner of my mk1, guess I was just lucky as it's mint Well was until some oik drove into me. Oh and it was also cheap as he was wanting to drive the Z3M he had on his drive more so didn't need the clio anymore.

Bought it with 33k from a guy on here and it's not sitting on 47 running sweet as. Also I don't notice any juddering or hesitation at 3-3.5k when first started, runs fine.

Did test drive a modded clio from a garage before buying this one and it was a dog, 1 owner, made horrific noises when going over bumps and round corners, and the exhausy (a magnex) sounded awful.

 

[Loopz]

Hm, i too have never noticed any hesitation from the throttle at 3000rpm, even when the car was ice-cold...but i've never hammered it when cold...


a funny thing occured to me on todays morning run, though...i was slowly warming up the car, did about 7 miles, keeping the revs between 2000-2500, same as always, after that i got on to a long straight and put my foot down in second gear and the car hit the limiter at 6800rpm - i know it's only suppose to set the limiter lower when the engine is cold, but i've already done about 7 miles, warming it up properly...on my way back home, i tried it again and the limiter was back to 7250...has anyone else ever experienced anything similar?

 

[Bluebeard]

Oh my god!!

Took my car out last night for the first time in weeks. Warmed it up properly (about 10 miles at 40mph) then gave it s**t on some roads i know.
Sometimes it hit the limiter bang on 7000rpm, other times it went up to 7250. WTF??!

 

[Loopz]

Well, depends wich gear you were in, the limiter is set to 7250 only in 1th and 2th gear. Other gears are set to 7000.

 

[matt the cat]

Hm, i too have never noticed any hesitation from the throttle at 3000rpm, even when the car was ice-cold...but i've never hammered it when cold...


a funny thing occured to me on todays morning run, though...i was slowly warming up the car, did about 7 miles, keeping the revs between 2000-2500, same as always, after that i got on to a long straight and put my foot down in second gear and the car hit the limiter at 6800rpm - i know it's only suppose to set the limiter lower when the engine is cold, but i've already done about 7 miles, warming it up properly...on my way back home, i tried it again and the limiter was back to 7250...has anyone else ever experienced anything similar?

ive had that - not sure what exactly governs the cut in - people say oil temp, but it is erratice. somedays the car is only just warm and no cut in, sometimes could have doen 10 miles and it does!! wierd. had 4 rs clios and all the same!