Thinking about getting a 16v

[KyleB]

Im thinkin about getting a 16v clio at the end of the year, probably janurary, when i get my 1 years ncb.

I got a few quotes and will probably be paying about 1500 a year fully comp, with alloys, lowered and exhaust declared.

Basically im at university though, and have a 1.2 53 plate authentique, which looks nice, but doesnt go fast. Its great on petrol and if anything goes wrong (which touch wood, it hasnt yet,) i have warranty to back me up.

What i am wondering is would anyone reccommend buying a nice valver, would probably buy it from within the club, and would i need to spend alot of money maintaining it. It would be parked outside see, and I would need it to start all the time, and as im a student, i wouldnt be able to foot any large bills.

So guys, and gals, what do you all think?!

 

[White16valver]

You have to think that the depreciation on a new car will probably equal the maintenance of a valver.

I think Ive spent about £1500 on mine in the year Ive had it (which may have included some unnecessary toys lol) but it brings a smile to my face every time I chuck it into a corner at some mad speed

And yes, mine is quite thirsty, but I dont drive very slowly lol

 

[KyleB]

im not too bothered about petrol costs, id only use it when at uni (when im skint) to razz home which is about 230miles each way.

just living in norfolk, the roads are awesome for driving, and whilst i can throw my car around, i cant keep up with my cheeky mates that have decided to get big engined astras and civics, and with all the track days we have here in norfolk ;-) i get depressed when they leave me in a trail of dust.

so just wondering about reliabilty really.

 

[trailerparktrev]

Keep your 53 plate car. Yeh you get depreciation - but you get piece of mind.

 

[Tom_16v]

Buy a decent one and the cost of maintaining them is very cheap.

Had mine three years now, and still nothing has really gone wrong with it. Its been a lot more reliable than I ever imagined.

Also, theres no point insuring one fully comp in my opinion. For the extra cost, and the extra cost in future insurance if you ever made a claim, theyd outway the price of what the insurance would pay out to you for the car....

 

[moggs]

Get a valver! I had mine through uni and it did cost alot on a tight budget but so worth it. Helps if your handy with tools too cos labour charges are high for most jobs. Get a good one and service it regularly and itll be fine Mines on about 160,000 at the mo and going strong.

 

[cat171]

As Tom said, buy a decent example & you wont go wrong, they do take cash to keep them up to scratch & in the best possible condition, if your thinking of running it on a budget - forget it !!!
most people want sh*t loads of cash to work on them, so id advise finding a decent specialist (one with a good rep for working on them) and getting them to do the servicing etc (you could do it yourself though)
If poss, try & learn how to do some of the maintence your self, that way costs will be reduced.
Beware though - finding a decent one is very hard these days (it took me two months to find my standard one 3 years ago) so i think the chances of getting a goodun are even less now !
always get one with tons of bills (plus stamps in the service book etc) as most will have had loads of things repalced on them (you will need the proof that work has been done, so that nothing does go wrong)

I do regret selling my one, as it was the nuts & a completey standard car, but im moving on, so i sold it.

The grin factor is good as they are very good to drive (they are quite raw) plus they are becoming very rare now, so you will be safe in the knowledge that no one near you will have one (i only ever saw a few round my way in the 3 yrs of ownership)

 

[Nafoff]

you sound like me about a year ago

i was in your shoes last jan, my first years no claims come up and i was driving an rt but decided to go for a valver......i also am at uni but drive in everyday, if you find a good example you should be ok, they are so much fun...a little costly but not that bad i found

 

[TomS]

I am also at University. I live at home and drive my 1996 16v to uni and back 4 times a week (70 miles there and back). I used to have a 1.2 8v mk1 clio.

I am lucky and have a mint, well looked after example. They are not very economical - but you dont buy a hot hatch for that!

I love mine and live in the country so the roads are very well suited to the valver.

Fuel and servicing will obviously be the main costs, intervals every 6,000 miles is quite costly but well worth it.

Hope you find a good one

Tom

 

[KyleB]

cheers for all the replies guys, im definately tempted.

would be looking for an immaculate one, and whilst im not very mechanically minded, im sure with a bit of practice, i can do a few things to help.

I am always worried when a car gets near 100k though, is this not really a problem nowadays?

 

[Scott]

i got a very good condition one for £1495 on an m plate, its been well looked after and its on 83k, in the 3 months that ive had it its been very reliable, it went to santa pod with no problems which is a 200 mile round trip, and its also been to devon and back with no problems which was about 600 miles altogether. the only expenses have been petrol, its quite good mpg when you dont boot it everywhere, but then again as people have said you dont buy a hot hatch to drive it slowly. its started every morning without fail and has had nothing go wrong (so far) it puts a smile on my face every time i go for a blast and would deffo recommend one

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

Get a minter and youll have very very few problems. I paid less than market average knwoing things needed to be fixed. Beyond those things its only needed a new alternator and new thermo housing and coolant pipe. Everything else has been done for vanity really.

Needs a new sump but thats cos some garage has jacked it up on the sump.

Id forget lowering it and putting aftermarket alloys on. Keep insurance costs down and enjoy a fine standard car.

 

[KyleB]

once again thanks, im seriously tempted now. Just have to convince the parents, namely mother dearest, that an old car doesnt mean it will die every other time.

Swervin, i know i shouldnt lower it, but having driven non-lowered cars, i just couldnt be without a lowered suspension set up. Although i have never driven a lowered or standard valver so i wouldnt know if the suspension was superior as it was, standard.

But thanks all. Any more opinions are welcome, but im pretty much considering it seriously now...

 

[Swervin_Mervin]

Trust me mate, its better standard IMO. Worth saving the cash on as well.

I was very worried about buying an old car before I got mine 15months ago but took the plunge in the end. Ive learnt a hell of a lot about car maintenance and Ive also realised that cars dont suddenly start falling to pieces over a certain age like most people think.

 

[Andyvalver]

Get one in mint condition. Idealy at about 80-90k id say. Thats when its likely to have had a clutch/cambelt and any other bits and bobs. Gearbox is expensive to fix so make sure its nice and tight. Get one with fsh too. Lower mielage one is good but you have to wait for the things to start going wrong, might as well get straight in there lol

 

[dannyboy]

i have had mine for just over a year now, and apart from a flat battery, and having to buy a new one. nothign has gone wrong. its my 1st car! and my 2nd years incurance with 1 years NCB is just under 600quid. I fully recommend one, but look at loads, and check the history, even get it HPId to check for damage more than finance on an old car.

they are great fun, and can be 100% reliable if you get the right example!

 

[KyleB]

who you get a quote like that with danny?

 

[White16valver]

Yeah, Im wondering the same! lol

And Id say stay standard as well - if you want to upgrade then fork out for the williams wide-track conversion! The are supple and flow nicely from corner to corner and generate huge grip in the dry, so there is no real reason to lower it other than for looks!

 

[Rich_16v]

Kyle you can buy mine next summer as ill prob be letting it go around then and its mint

Should give me a knock mate have a look at mine ill show you the weaknesses/common faults

If youre going to look at any up here in newcastle let me know and ill come with you if you like

 

[dannyboy]

my quote was through adrian flux. i have all the paperwork in my hands, so its not a mistake!

 

[White16valver]

How big is your excess though? They always give massive excesses because they just want your money! lol

 

[dannyboy]

250. it was a policy that you needed to have a full thatcham cat 1 system tho. that was the only condition.

 

[White16valver]

Let me guess - you had to go through GAP insurance as well?

 

[KyleB]

Quote: Originally posted by clio16v1996 on 08 August 2005


Kyle you can buy mine next summer as ill prob be letting it go around then and its mint

Should give me a knock mate have a look at mine ill show you the weaknesses/common faults

If youre going to look at any up here in newcastle let me know and ill come with you if you like

cheers rich, ill let ya know.

definately wouldnt mind owning the best looking valver in the club. Only right i guess that the best looking cliosporter gets the best looking car

 

[Matty]

Had mine for 4 years and 7 montsh now. 60k miles later and it still starts 1st time and returns 400 miles per 50 litre tank.

Had to pay for cambelt change, water pump change, new clutch and cable, new battery, new brake disks and pads all round, wheel bearings all round, new dizzy, rotor, leads and alternator and other than that, just service items like plugs, oil and filter. Only non essential items were coilovers, BMC CDA, magnex decat, supersprint manifold and BB chip.

Considering the age and milage. You will need to replace most of these things over time and I always fit best I can when doing so. So upgrade as things wear rather than for sake of it. Also before anything stuffs up. Clutch was far too heavy and not at snapping cables stage but wouldnt of been far off. Why risk being stranded...... get things done before they fail.

So Valver ownership isnt that expensive and tehy are great cars with more presence than most cars.. Reliable too if you look after them. A lot should have already been repalced when you arer looking at buying yours. Rear silencers rust and fail. Mine did befor eI got mine and it was 4 years old. Thats why most replace with a stainless exhaust. Look at what many people do to their valver and when looking see what has and hasnt been replaced. Things like suspension wear so if OE, check all is tight.

 

[Andyvalver]

Get a Naples red one as they are more reliable

 

[KyleB]

thanks alot matty, some good pointers there. i think its definately worth the plunge, and im sure that owning an older car isnt as bad as some people make out.

a quick question though, do valvers have ABS or anything like that?

 

[Andyvalver]

Abs was an option mate. Some of the later ones have it and some dont. Same goes for leather interior too.

 

[Matty]

Yeah thought mine had as standard and realised it hadnt when I changed disks as had no sensors. Perhaps one less thing to go wrong and easier for fitting 4 pots.

 

[dannyboy]

white- nope :O)

 

[cat171]

1995 m reg valvers onwards have an air bag, 1994 m reg ones & older dont.
my valver was a 94 M reg (reg 01/08/94) and it had nothing apart from power steering, which they all have (it did have factory leather though, which is lovely, but well rare)

 

[KyleB]

not mega fussed about air bags and that, just havent ever driven a car without ABS.

saying that, i think ive felt my abs kick in once...

 

[TomS]

The brakes on the 16v are very good in my opinion.

No problems there

Heres mine to help "Aid" you decision!

Any excuse to post a pic

Tom



http://tinypic.com/a5bwaf.jpg


[Edited by TomS on 08 August 2005 at 11:26pm]

 

[KyleB]

i just love that bonnet bulge, looks wicked.

does it have a proper use? like can you use it as an air feed? or is it more cosmetic>?

 

[TomS]

Yes the vent directs air onto the manifold If Im not mistaken

They are prone to getting a little warm, so good job realy!

 

[KyleB]

ah i see.

whats this i hear about 6,000 mile service intervals? thats not right surely>!


[Edited by <KLB> on 09 August 2005 at 7:42pm]

 

[cat171]

yep it is true, get the cambelt done about 60k or about 5 years (which ever comes first) you dont want it snapping on you.
a service is only about £80.00 I never changed the oil on mine once - i always had it serviced (they changed the oil etc) mailny to keep up the stamps in the service book.

 

[Scott]

another pic to help convince you..........(that you want a naples one)

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3/scott1987/my%20clio/AAAA0005.jpg

 

[TomS]

LOL very nice Scott

Monaco all the way though

Yeah like Cat171 says, the minor 6k services are not very expensive, just an oil/filter change etc.

Tom

 

[KyleB]

ahh thats alright then, there was me thinking i had to fork out 150£ every 6k.

do renault still do them, or do you need a specialist?

oh and that pic sure is tempting