F1 197 - Frenchie

[MarkTeamF1]

Good job sorting out the oem rust, it's one upgrade that must be done!

Thanks mate, one down, one million to go

 

[MarkTeamF1]

I've been a little quiet recently, so I thought I'd give a quick update. Got another rack on the way that's in 'great' condition, free of charge from the company that sent me one worse than my original. My headunit has also killed itself, not too fussed about this one as I never really liked it anyway haha! I was also at a big car meet at Scarborough over the weekend, saw a few nice 197/200s.

Had a 3 hour detailing session; Wash > Wheels > Polish > Sealant > Sealed Wheels > Wax & Windows. Luckily I've got a very helpful Mrs who cleaned the interior whilst I cracked on! None the less, it came out nicely!





Bit of a miserable day on Sunday it rained all day, roads got filthy and I had to drive to Scarb - which is about a 40min drive from mine, so car got a bit dirty, still got some good photo's taken though






& because I'm at a car show... I took loads of photo's... I didn't, I'm showing my age and I took two photo's of the sunet...

A little off-topic

 

[///M]

Great post mate. NG is just SO photogenic!

And hats off to your Mrs helping you clean your car, she's a keeper!

 

[Cossers]

Great post mate. NG is just SO photogenic!

And hats off to your Mrs helping you clean your car, she's a keeper!

Funny you should say that, I always thought the opposite but the op has done a great job of capturing just how nice this colour is, I sometimes thought pics showed it off as a bit more of a gold tinge to the paintwork

In the flesh its a lovely colour

 

[Christopher]

Great updates, I've just read through it all.

I love Nimbus, it's such an underrated colour!

Good news on the rack though, finally. Personally, I'd always buy new parts, especially ones buried deep inside the car. No point in putting yourself through hell fitting things like that twice.

 

[///M]

Funny you should say that, I always thought the opposite but the op has done a great job of capturing just how nice this colour is, I sometimes thought pics showed it off as a bit more of a gold tinge to the paintwork

In the flesh its a lovely colour

Silver car mate so all down to the lighting. With the right light you could make it any colour you wish. But NG does have a slight brownish tinge to it, but I think that's what makes it.

And silver is definitely the best colour for car photography. This guy bought his Exige specifically in silver so he could get good photos of it:
http://www.motorverso.com/amazing-photography-visual-echoes/

 

[MarkTeamF1]

Great post mate. NG is just SO photogenic!

And hats off to your Mrs helping you clean your car, she's a keeper!

Cheers as always M! She's photogenic when she's not caked in a month worth of road haha!
I'll pass on your compliments to the Mrs

Funny you should say that, I always thought the opposite but the op has done a great job of capturing just how nice this colour is, I sometimes thought pics showed it off as a bit more of a gold tinge to the paintwork

In the flesh its a lovely colour

Thank you matey It's definitely a look back at the car type of colour for sure!

Great updates, I've just read through it all.

I love Nimbus, it's such an underrated colour!

Good news on the rack though, finally. Personally, I'd always buy new parts, especially ones buried deep inside the car. No point in putting yourself through hell fitting things like that twice.

Normally I'd agree and buy parts new all the time, but I've had issue after issue with the car and pretty much have no money left, so second hand parts will have to do until I can recover my financial mess haha! I think the only reason I still have the car is because it's so fun to drive!

 

[Jimmy]

The car looks great Mark, I like the sunstrip! What car meet was it at Scarbados?

 

[Pav]

great to have some help to do the interior..find that boring
as above,really like your sunstrip..where did you get it from pls??

 

[MarkTeamF1]

The car looks great Mark, I like the sunstrip! What car meet was it at Scarbados?

Thanks man! It was a Static Royals meet, they host them every so often, this one happened to be the first one of 2017, so naturally it was a big big turn out. Have a look for them on facebook, they host regular meets

great to have some help to do the interior..find that boring
as above,really like your sunstrip..where did you get it from pls??

She usually helps me with my interior, but yes, I agree, most boring aspect of cleaning haha! I need to clean my belt, but I really can't be arsed.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RENAULT-S...223099?hash=item25cd10d7fb:g:VfMAAOSwNnRYkyQx

Sunstrip - option SU85

 

[MarkTeamF1]

All I seem to do is provide quick updates haha! Anyway, here's another quick update.

Car is in tomorrow for a new column as the needle bearing (UJ) had broken and now needs fixing. Other than that the car is pretty much fixed on all aspects, mechanically anyway

I decided, in good spirit a purchase was needed.



Upgraded speakers & tweeters and a headunit to fix the broken one. Only problem is, I now have a suspected blown 15amp fuse, the headunit won't turn on. Anywho, worked out for the better because I took a photo. They look the part, I wonder how they perform

 

[MarkTeamF1]

Right so big update I guess...

The car is now fixed!! It has been a long distance between then and now, looking back I don't even know how I managed to keep the motivation to plod along and keep chipping away at the issues it had because my god... this car has tested my patience!

Any who, Friday, the car went back in as my mechanic suspected that the cause of all my steering issues was not faulty racks but indeed a faulty column or more to the point a faulty UJ, the needle bearing kept coming loose, causing me to get a lack of steering or a lot of play in the steering, either way... not good! So that went in to be replaced after my mechanic did a bodge and welded the needle bearing in, so that lasted two weeks before it cracked.

I got a rental, and before I get onto the-what seems an endless list of repairs- I need to tell you about this little car



This little Clio 172, is by far... the best car i've ever driven, I got in it and accelerated and it made my Clio 197 feel like a 1.2, it was totally different, only downside, the ride was as comfy and the steering wasn't as sharp as my 197, however, each acceleration in this beast felt amazing, it was there, ready to be abused, just like a cheap hooker haha! Not to mention the previous owner had a pop and bang re-map on it, call it yobbo, but I absolutely loved it! Everytime I accelerated in second and let go, it sounded like ww3 behind me, it was incredible, it made me laugh my head off each time, and each time I had a beaming grin. I WANT ONE! I think it's set me up for a future purchase, but for now, I need to recover my finances. Now lets get to the point...

I bought this car in July 2016 and since then it has been a nightmare, I'm grateful in a sense because I've learnt so much about cars in general, what bits are what and it's taught me how look for faults etc, in the other hand, it's cost me a lot of money. Before I picked this car up, its steering rack was being reconditioned (first rack). I took it home, and then it all fell to pieces, so lets make that list... shall we?

Steering racks x3
Steering column x1
Clutch x1
Replaced 4th Gear Syncromesh x1
Seized Caliper x1
Rear discs and pads x1
Headunits x2 (Not a mechanical necessity, but the first one still almost set itself on fire)
Reverse Switch x1

Basically the list, although I'm not counting the fact I've had my alloys refurbished twice because I can't park, that's a secret and I'm not counting that I've bought a cup spoiler either haha!

I hopeeeee to god, anygod & all gods, that this car is now fixed and I can enjoy it as it was supposed to be enjoyed before some numpty got his hands on it and ruined it!

Mark out for now, time to rest my poor, weary head haha! Thanks for reading!

 

[///M]

Epic update Mark. WHAT a story! My god mate hats off to you for not just chucking the towel in. So sorry to hear of all the troubles you've been having.

Could really feel the level of hope with the "any god and all gods" bit!

Fingers crossed it's all sorted now and there won't be any further mishaps.

Even more hopeful that you can get out for a run somewhere nice in the car over the bank holiday and enjoy the hell out of it.

And yep, those Mk2 cars are FUN!

 

[MarkTeamF1]

Epic update Mark. WHAT a story! My god mate hats off to you for not just chucking the towel in. So sorry to hear of all the troubles you've been having.

Could really feel the level of hope with the "any god and all gods" bit!

Fingers crossed it's all sorted now and there won't be any further mishaps.

Even more hopeful that you can get out for a run somewhere nice in the car over the bank holiday and enjoy the hell out of it.

And yep, those Mk2 cars are FUN!

I'm glad to see the back of the issues for sure! You're absolutely right, the hope is real haha, I'm praying that everyone that is making fun of the car saying "it'll be broke in a week" is completely wrong, mainly so I can laugh at them haha! Luckily for me I've got more than one day off, I work in education, so I'm pretty much always on holiday, lots of opportunity.
I treated the car to a clean the other day, that's as good as its got so far haha!

 

[///M]

I'm glad to see the back of the issues for sure! You're absolutely right, the hope is real haha, I'm praying that everyone that is making fun of the car saying "it'll be broke in a week" is completely wrong, mainly so I can laugh at them haha! Luckily for me I've got more than one day off, I work in education, so I'm pretty much always on holiday, lots of opportunity.
I treated the car to a clean the other day, that's as good as its got so far haha!

Get a good route planned and get out for a drive mate!

 

[Jimmy]

That is a long list of troubles you had there Mark, good on you for having the patience to stick with it and get everything sorted! The 172 sounds like it was a hell of a lot of fun!

 

[MarkTeamF1]

That is a long list of troubles you had there Mark, good on you for having the patience to stick with it and get everything sorted! The 172 sounds like it was a hell of a lot of fun!

Just a few I think if I didn't have kids already, I definitely would've set fire to the damn thing haha! Oh it was, usually I'm in a hurry to get my car back, on this occasion I wasn't, I was more saddened that I had to give the 172 back

 

[///M]

Just a few I think if I didn't have kids already, I definitely would've set fire to the damn thing haha! Oh it was, usually I'm in a hurry to get my car back, on this occasion I wasn't, I was more saddened that I had to give the 172 back

Next mod a stripped out 172 then Mark?

VERY tempted to do this myself. Just splash a grand on a car I can pull to bits and drive like I stole it until it dies

 

[MarkTeamF1]

Next mod a stripped out 172 then Mark?

VERY tempted to do this myself. Just splash a grand on a car I can pull to bits and drive like I stole it until it dies

Yes yes & yes! I'm hoping I'll have a new job by the end of the year, and if this happens, it's definitely going to be a purchase! Going to track it and drive it like I just don't care haha! I'm stealing your drive it like you stole it idea!

 

[///M]

Yes yes & yes! I'm hoping I'll have a new job by the end of the year, and if this happens, it's definitely going to be a purchase! Going to track it and drive it like I just don't care haha! I'm stealing your drive it like you stole it idea!

Winner winner chicken dinner!