Neal R19
Well-Known Member
Right, with the death of the trusty Xsara I've bought a new daily driver. Well, I say daily driver but I cycle to work and my missus walks to work so most weeks our car gets used once to go to the supermarket and back. But I digress...
This time I wanted to get something that I could have a bit of fun in, while not spending too much. Lisa also found the Xsara too big and wanted something clio sized again.
So what better than a clio?
This one is a 2001 Iceberg Silver ph1 172.
1 woman owner, 52,000 miles and full Renault service history.
It's been very well looked after, serviced at the same dealer every year, thus it's had the oil changed every <5,000 miles on average.
It's also had new coolant on schedule and the proper type D in it is crystal clear.
Cambelt changed around its 5th Birthday at 24,000 miles and then again around its 10th birthday at 43,000
Both rear shocks replaced in the last couple of years, battery looks new and it's even had a new steering wheel fitted :lol: (for those who don't know, these are notorious for the covering rotting/falling apart)
Anyway, piccies:
If there's one thing that lets the car down slightly it's the rear bumper as it has a few blemishes and scratches on it. They've been touched up but you can see them if you're looking. Might get the rear bumper resprayed at some point.
Not got a to-do list on this yet as it doesn't need anything doing. Let's see how it holds up...
[BREAK="Front end stuff"]
Sat Dec 07, 2013
Did some stuff the other weekend. Wanted to get the tracking done as the steering wheel wasnt quite straight and it pulled slightly. Before doing that I thought I'd fit new lower balljoints and track rod ends, although there was nothing actually wrong with the original ones. But why not freshen it up? Lemforder ones from Eurocarparts are known to be OE quality so I used those.
Then took it to a local place here in Southampton called The Wheel Alignment Centre for 4-wheel laser alignment. Although, obviously only the front is actually adjustable on these.
Run by a guy who used to work at Supertracker who manufacture the systems (also here in Southampton). As the name suggests, all he does is wheel alignment.
He said I could do with fitting some camber adjustment bolts as the camber is very slightly out and he could then correct it. Just buy the bolts and take the car back and he'll fit and readjust for free. Top guy.
[BREAK="Service Time"]
Fri Feb 14, 2014
First off: I love this little car. There, I said it
Anyway...
Renault specify the service interval on these to be 12,000 miles. I think not.
This trusty wee beast has ticked over to 54,000, last service was done at about 47,500 miles so it's done about 6,500 since then. That's long enough by my reckoning.
I actually considered getting it done at a garage to get another stamp in the book to maintain the service history... I've never actually had a car serviced at a garage before so had no idea how much it costs. My local specialist, Rentech in Portsmouth quoted £175 for a basic service so on second thoughts, maybe not.
So shopping time:
[BREAK="Wheels and MOT"]
Fri Apr 11, 2014
So I had a buckled wheel, which apparently is pretty common with the standard OZ F1s as they are pretty light and weak. Struggled to find a decent replacement so ended up getting a set of mk1 16V turbines in anthracite.
Then MOT time came around, so got that done - straight through, 2 advisories:
1 - chip in windscreen just within the limit
2 - rear brake pads low - got some new genuine Ren ones in my spares box (they are of course the same as the 19's) so will check myself and change if necessary.
So that's all good.
Also got some new tyres fitted. Went for Michelin Pilot Sport 3s.
'scuse the tyre soap.
This time I wanted to get something that I could have a bit of fun in, while not spending too much. Lisa also found the Xsara too big and wanted something clio sized again.
So what better than a clio?
This one is a 2001 Iceberg Silver ph1 172.
1 woman owner, 52,000 miles and full Renault service history.
It's been very well looked after, serviced at the same dealer every year, thus it's had the oil changed every <5,000 miles on average.
It's also had new coolant on schedule and the proper type D in it is crystal clear.
Cambelt changed around its 5th Birthday at 24,000 miles and then again around its 10th birthday at 43,000
Both rear shocks replaced in the last couple of years, battery looks new and it's even had a new steering wheel fitted :lol: (for those who don't know, these are notorious for the covering rotting/falling apart)
Anyway, piccies:
If there's one thing that lets the car down slightly it's the rear bumper as it has a few blemishes and scratches on it. They've been touched up but you can see them if you're looking. Might get the rear bumper resprayed at some point.
Not got a to-do list on this yet as it doesn't need anything doing. Let's see how it holds up...
[BREAK="Front end stuff"]
Sat Dec 07, 2013
Did some stuff the other weekend. Wanted to get the tracking done as the steering wheel wasnt quite straight and it pulled slightly. Before doing that I thought I'd fit new lower balljoints and track rod ends, although there was nothing actually wrong with the original ones. But why not freshen it up? Lemforder ones from Eurocarparts are known to be OE quality so I used those.
Then took it to a local place here in Southampton called The Wheel Alignment Centre for 4-wheel laser alignment. Although, obviously only the front is actually adjustable on these.
Run by a guy who used to work at Supertracker who manufacture the systems (also here in Southampton). As the name suggests, all he does is wheel alignment.
He said I could do with fitting some camber adjustment bolts as the camber is very slightly out and he could then correct it. Just buy the bolts and take the car back and he'll fit and readjust for free. Top guy.
[BREAK="Service Time"]
Fri Feb 14, 2014
First off: I love this little car. There, I said it
Anyway...
Renault specify the service interval on these to be 12,000 miles. I think not.
This trusty wee beast has ticked over to 54,000, last service was done at about 47,500 miles so it's done about 6,500 since then. That's long enough by my reckoning.
I actually considered getting it done at a garage to get another stamp in the book to maintain the service history... I've never actually had a car serviced at a garage before so had no idea how much it costs. My local specialist, Rentech in Portsmouth quoted £175 for a basic service so on second thoughts, maybe not.
So shopping time:
[BREAK="Wheels and MOT"]
Fri Apr 11, 2014
So I had a buckled wheel, which apparently is pretty common with the standard OZ F1s as they are pretty light and weak. Struggled to find a decent replacement so ended up getting a set of mk1 16V turbines in anthracite.
Then MOT time came around, so got that done - straight through, 2 advisories:
1 - chip in windscreen just within the limit
2 - rear brake pads low - got some new genuine Ren ones in my spares box (they are of course the same as the 19's) so will check myself and change if necessary.
So that's all good.
Also got some new tyres fitted. Went for Michelin Pilot Sport 3s.
'scuse the tyre soap.
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