New member, doing some research

[eurospec]

Hi guys, I currently have an MX5 as a track car and Swift Sport as my daily, but i'm looking to condense down to only 1 car (so will be daily and track car), and after much looking around have put it down to a 197/200 or R26 Megane.

Im swaying towards the Clio at the moment, purely because the Meganes seem a bit fragile in some places from what I've read online. The fact they are N/A adds to my decision as I find them more enjoyable on track than turbo cars (it's nice to have to work a car for speed).

Is it worth avoiding higher mileage (100k ish) cars or are they pretty bulletproof? Cambelt etc is not a problem as it's the first thing i'd do to any car if I was to buy one.

Anything these cars consume regularly (bushes etc?)

Couple of pictures of my current Eunos,

38186431616_9921a85e3c_o by Tom Burrows, on Flickr

38209327932_8ce7b0136d_o by Tom Burrows, on Flickr

 

[Foxspeed]

welcome

 

[nutnutwelshman]

Welcome to the family

 

[Pav]

welcome along..

 

[Benno]

I'd prefer a high mileage example with FSH than a low mileage with little or none! If it's been well maintained, there's no reason why these engines wouldn't last 200k, let alone 100. Mine's on 92500 now and after just having the cambelt done myself, it's running like a dream. Good luck finding one!

 

[eurospec]

I've found a couple of cheap ones (sub 2.5k) without service history. Im not bothered about the cambelt side of things as it would be done first thing anyway. Is it worth changing the dephaser on these too? I heard the earlier 172/182 was basically a necessity to change every cambelt change?

 

[Micah]

I don’t think they’re as necessary on the Mk3 but I know I would, just in case, and they come in most ‘pack’ deals anyway.
I had a bad experience when I had mine done as it was faulty, so keep the packaging just in case you need to return it to Renault or whoever!

 

[Johnny 99]

I've found a couple of cheap ones (sub 2.5k) without service history. Im not bothered about the cambelt side of things as it would be done first thing anyway. Is it worth changing the dephaser on these too? I heard the earlier 172/182 was basically a necessity to change every cambelt change?

As Micah said it's probably worth doing the dephaser for peace of mind. I've just had mine changed & went for the whole hog, belts, water pump, dephaser & it was a package. I understand mk3 dephaser is less of an issue than earlier models but was still advised to do it.

 

[Pav]

better do it than be sorry i think..

 

[Marsch]

Welcome and to answer your question. No, Mk3 Clios are absolutely unreliable shitboxes that will break down any time you turn the key or push the start button. That's why we all here are driving them as we like to throw money at cars for repairs. We normally don't drive them because they may break and are just satisfied with looking at them.

On a more serious note: They have two or three "standard" problems like the exhaust flexis, engine mounts/torque (arm) bushes and the synchro rings of the gears can wear out. There's also a problem related to how the bearing shells/inserts of the crankshaft I think it is are installed (they're only pressed in and not secured by a groove/slot) and that under very hard conditions (high G-forces) one of the cylinders may doesn't gets enough lubrication (oil) and will get stuck but the chances for this actually happening are quite low and it's mainly happening to people that really kick the head of the car in on tracks. Otherwise you'll have the normal wear on steering, suspension, brake components that is to be expected. At least if you use the car properly. In general they seem to be quite reliable for what they are.

 

[Dmonk197]

how much for your MX5? :excited:

 

[eurospec]

I

how much for your MX5? :excited:

Have it up for £2799 on the mx5 forum i use. Quite a long spec, all original metal, no rust never been welded.

 

[CJ197]

Hi guys, I currently have an MX5 as a track car and Swift Sport as my daily, but i'm looking to condense down to only 1 car (so will be daily and track car), and after much looking around have put it down to a 197/200 or R26 Megane.

Im swaying towards the Clio at the moment, purely because the Meganes seem a bit fragile in some places from what I've read online. The fact they are N/A adds to my decision as I find them more enjoyable on track than turbo cars (it's nice to have to work a car for speed).

Is it worth avoiding higher mileage (100k ish) cars or are they pretty bulletproof? Cambelt etc is not a problem as it's the first thing i'd do to any car if I was to buy one.

Anything these cars consume regularly (bushes etc?)

Couple of pictures of my current Eunos,

View attachment 12070638186431616_9921a85e3c_o by Tom Burrows, on Flickr

View attachment 12070738209327932_8ce7b0136d_o by Tom Burrows, on Flickr

Welcome onboard, hope you find a good one, just make sure it's got full service history with it, then you know it's been looked after at least.
Good luck.

 

[eurospec]

Picked one up now, spent £3500 in the end on one which is ready to go for my needs.

90k miles,
Full dealer history,
belts done at 80k,
Black 197, non-cup
Recaros,
Cup spoiler,
Scorpion non-res catback,
Centre cat delete,
Ktec remap,
Ramair panel filter,
H&R lowering springs,
DS2500 pads,
Wheel stud conversion,
Ultra Racing rear ARB.

I'm really pleased with it so far, not as bad on fuel as I had feared, been averaging 33mpg on my commute which is mixed A+B road driving.

I think the only modifications I have planned at the moment are RS splitter, some spacers+tyres and a steering wheel retrim.

Some new tyres in the next couple of weeks and then get a trackday booked I think!

 

[CJ197]

Picked one up now, spent £3500 in the end on one which is ready to go for my needs.

90k miles,
Full dealer history,
belts done at 80k,
Black 197, non-cup
Recaros,
Cup spoiler,
Scorpion non-res catback,
Centre cat delete,
Ktec remap,
Ramair panel filter,
H&R lowering springs,
DS2500 pads,
Wheel stud conversion,
Ultra Racing rear ARB.

I'm really pleased with it so far, not as bad on fuel as I had feared, been averaging 33mpg on my commute which is mixed A+B road driving.

I think the only modifications I have planned at the moment are RS splitter, some spacers+tyres and a steering wheel retrim.

Some new tyres in the next couple of weeks and then get a trackday booked I think!

Glad to hear it, Looks like you got yourself a nice little car there buddy, lots of money spent on it so far & on good mods, a bargain I would say mate. It's also good mpg tbh, I'm averaging 23mpg but I'm only town driving mines atm but when I picked her up & had to drive it 180 miles home on the motorway (70mph ) I was getting 41mpg which I was happy with, pity I can't drive at that speed all the time lol.
You will have lots of fun in yours, I guarantee it, as soon as you hit that 4k revs it awakens the beast within them, I love it personally. And just wait until you get it on a track, you'll be smiling like a Cheshire cat the whole time

 

[eurospec]

Yeh, I spent last weekend driving around town and the economy was really bad! So far it's been spot on for what I've needed from it, the real test will be when I get it on track. It's road manners are much better than the Mazda was, but thats to be expected as it's a much more modern car. I'm quite impressed by the build quality as well to be honest. Interior isn't as cheap as I thought it would be, and underneath the suspension components/subframe etc are all still in pretty corrosion free condition which is nice.

 

[CJ197]

Yeh, I spent last weekend driving around town and the economy was really bad! So far it's been spot on for what I've needed from it, the real test will be when I get it on track. It's road manners are much better than the Mazda was, but thats to be expected as it's a much more modern car. I'm quite impressed by the build quality as well to be honest. Interior isn't as cheap as I thought it would be, and underneath the suspension components/subframe etc are all still in pretty corrosion free condition which is nice.

Yeah round town the fuel economy is kinda poor but hey the looks you get make up for that imo lol.
When you get her on the track is when you unleash the heat, these cars are made to be driven hard & fast, they hug corners like they're on tracks, so I've heard it described, that is when you will definitely know you've made a great decision to buy a Renault sport, there's lots of videos on YouTube of people hammering them on the track & it's a buzz just watching those lol.
When you do get it on a track make sure to have a GoPro or similar to record the experience mate.

 

[TwiggyMK]

How do you find the back end with the rear anti roll bar?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CJ197]

How do you find the back end with the rear anti roll bar?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've personally not had one on the track yet but what I've been told is they handle really well.

 

[Pav]

happy days..glad you've found one that ticks all the boxes..looks like the previous owner knew a thing about these..it's not missing much apart from a megane engine

enjoy her