Clio Sport 172.....Any good?

[Gavv8]

I'd agree with you on the espace, we had one for as a family dustbin...fu**ing hated that car..

[Gti_Jamo]

I personally agree with Thom, having owned 3 Renaults, I can confirm that they are a money pit after about 5 years. Renault parts are soooo expensive and a lot of the mechanic bits you can do on your Vag relatively easy, are either an absolute nightmare job or require Renault only specialists tools. Our lass is a Childminder and the last Renault we had was an Espace on an 06 plate, the alternator packed up, its water cooled and cost £300 plus vat on exchange 
Fuel sender unit packed in, had to drop the fuel tank out of the bottom of the car and the new, sh!tty plastic, sender was £200 plus vat
The plastic inlet manifold/rocker cover split £235 plus vat Renault only part
Priced up the bits to do my cousins 172 cam belt last week £110 plus vat for the belt and pulley only but you need about 3 different specialist Renault tools to do the job so I can't do it for her.
Buy a VR, give the Renault a very very wide birth

Yeah agree with you there but second hand parts are becoming readily available now. I was working on a 182 last week, they guy towed to a local garage because the alternator caught fire and burnt out. They fannied about with it trying to remove the alternator through a gap you could barely get your hand through. Removed the tensioner bolts when they didn't need too and peirced an air con pipe trying to lever the alternator out. They even cracked the mounting bracket for good measure. I took one look at it, after 5 mins i had the bumper off and the alternator was out. Only way it was possible.

I would never have any other renault as know how rubbish they are to work on but the clio just seems a bit more friendly in that respect but I reckon I will avoid it. Going to look at it just for the sake of it being so close. Any car reaching ten years old is going to cost money to maintain, even the trusty old 1.8t.

[VW BUSH]

One of my dads customers is Renault freak, the last few clio's and meganes  have all had a mystery belt throwing/chewing problem....
After many trips to Renault and many £££ spent they asked my dad to look at it, lots of head scratching later he found that when he revved the engine hard the bottom pulley moved in and out by about 6mm
He referred back to his mate who runs a big garage specialising in engine and gearbox work, apparently the crank bearings wear and allow the shaft to thrust back and forth wearing out the belts and everything connected to the crank......
Gearboxes are a nightmare too!
As it has been said before they are great cars when new but quickly fall apart after they get closer to 100k or have some real abuse.
Still some folk like them and all makes have there downsides, you pays your money and makes your choice
I wont have one, having a French misses is enough

[barrym381]

had a 225 megane was ok i suppose as i didnt have any probs with it 

[IMG]http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc419/barrym381/IMG-20120202-002572.jpg[/IMG

[Gti_Jamo]

One of my dads customers is Renault freak, the last few clio's and meganes  have all had a mystery belt throwing/chewing problem....
After many trips to Renault and many £££ spent they asked my dad to look at it, lots of head scratching later he found that when he revved the engine hard the bottom pulley moved in and out by about 6mm
He referred back to his mate who runs a big garage specialising in engine and gearbox work, apparently the crank bearings wear and allow the shaft to thrust back and forth wearing out the belts and everything connected to the crank......
Gearboxes are a nightmare too!
As it has been said before they are great cars when new but quickly fall apart after they get closer to 100k or have some real abuse.
Still some folk like them and all makes have there downsides, you pays your money and makes your choice
I wont have one, having a French misses is enough

French missus, Nice!!

Funny you should mention that crankshaft issue as I recently discovered the same problem on 2003 megane recently.

Well aparently the clio only had one lady owner from new prior to this guy getting it so should be ok unless it was vicky butler-henderson. Will go look at it tomorow and report back! I'm a proper old skool mechanic so have a good ear and eye for problems and will also see if it throwing any codes.

[Felton]

Here's a pic of my old one

[VW BUSH]

One of my dads customers is Renault freak, the last few clio's and meganes  have all had a mystery belt throwing/chewing problem....
After many trips to Renault and many £££ spent they asked my dad to look at it, lots of head scratching later he found that when he revved the engine hard the bottom pulley moved in and out by about 6mm
He referred back to his mate who runs a big garage specialising in engine and gearbox work, apparently the crank bearings wear and allow the shaft to thrust back and forth wearing out the belts and everything connected to the crank......
Gearboxes are a nightmare too!
As it has been said before they are great cars when new but quickly fall apart after they get closer to 100k or have some real abuse.
Still some folk like them and all makes have there downsides, you pays your money and makes your choice
I wont have one, having a French misses is enough

French missus, Nice!!

Funny you should mention that crankshaft issue as I recently discovered the same problem on 2003 megane recently.

Well aparently the clio only had one lady owner from new prior to this guy getting it so should be ok unless it was vicky butler-henderson. Will go look at it tomorow and report back! I'm a proper old skool mechanic so have a good ear and eye for problems and will also see if it throwing any codes.

Gearboxes are pretty weak, listen under engine breaking or low speed/low gear for rattles, avoid any noises
Auto's are ten a penny as they cost £££ to fix, my dads mate always has one up for sale as even at his prices most folk just say f**k it and take his £500 offer for scrap. he fixes them at cost and sells them on without a warranty.....
 

[Gti_Jamo]

Went round an seen it today, didn't even test drive it as knew it was a binner after 30 seconds. Had oil underneath it and wa sgenrally very rough for the price he wants for it. My Leon is in much better condition.

[Gti_Jamo]

Cheers for the advise but doubt i will be looking at another one. Only took that one into consideration as it was so close. Back to VR6 hunting me thinks.

[Thom89]

Cheers for the advise but doubt i will be looking at another one. Only took that one into consideration as it was so close. Back to VR6 hunting me thinks.

Told Ya!

Thom