Car care and other automotive topics Options

[motormad]

Haha, done anything chassis based? Coils, roll bars etc? never actually been in one
My sister had the first of the "newer" shape Renault Clo, I think it was a P plate, 1.2 . It was brand new and red, I remember you couldn't tell it was idling as it was so quiet.
However that's probably changed by now.

[Claude]

Haha, done anything chassis based? Coils, roll bars etc? never actually been in one
My sister had the first of the "newer" shape Renault Clo, I think it was a P plate, 1.2 . It was brand new and red, I remember you couldn't tell it was idling as it was so quiet.
However that's probably changed by now.

Up front standard shocks are Sachs remote reservoir dampers (used by BTCC teams back in the day), with Eibach camber bolts, and it's on lowering springs manufactured by a chap who won a race in the Clio Cup series at Brands Hatch last weekend. Koni adjustable shocks and a Whiteline anti-roll bar finish up the rear.

This video is great for summarising how much fun my car is...

Renault Clio 182 evo Diaries

[motormad]

Yes! I saw that video before. I subscribe to EvoTV, Drive network, etc . Very interesting. I quite like the old Harry, what a car guy.
shame he's gone to work for Jaguar/Land Rover really.

No doubt that handles well
And sounds like you use and abuse it suitably!

[Turin Machine]

Thanks mm, what I'm gonna do is run it over the winter, then whip them down to Basingstoke in the spring, I'll probably have dinged at least one again in the next few months. **** annoying when it's a new car. Ho hum. Ta anyway.

[motormad]

Oh that's sods law

I've only curbed two wheels in 3 years.
One was on a stupid mini roundabout that had a raised curbed centre thing (ah well) and the other was on my show wheels *CRINGE*.
Luckily I was able to file it down and polish it up so you wouldn't notice it now

[Turin Machine]

Yeah, it seems new cars and narrow cornish lanes are not a recipe made in heaven!

[The Hatter]

My Nan has a Renault Clio, which she uses a fair bit. Trouble is the spares are expensive - which pushes up service costs. Not a bad runner though. She got it from her friend, who had just brought another one, so they must have something going for ithem.

[Claude]

My Nan has a Renault Clio, which she uses a fair bit. Trouble is the spares are expensive - which pushes up service costs. Not a bad runner though. She got it from her friend, who had just brought another one, so they must have something going for ithem.

Spares being expensive is relative. Compared to a German VAG car I think spares are cheap, compared to Italian exotica they're peanuts, but it all depends on where you get them from. Main dealers & even independent garages will charge a premium for sourcing parts for you, whereas if you source them yourself you'll generally be able to get them much cheaper.

[The Hatter]

Spares being expensive is relative. Compared to a German VAG car I think spares are cheap, compared to Italian exotica they're peanuts, but it all depends on where you get them from. Main dealers & even independent garages will charge a premium for sourcing parts for you, whereas if you source them yourself you'll generally be able to get them much cheaper.

I'll tell her, I didn't even think you could do that, always just took what the garage said. Think she could have saved a few bob recently if she'd had cheaper parts. Thanks

[Biker1]

My Nan has a Renault Clio, which she uses a fair bit. Trouble is the spares are expensive -

Depends where you get them.
From a Renault dealer yes, from Motor Parts Direct, Hambridge Road much less!
You could even go to MDC if you can tolerate the surliness and swearing from behind the counter!

[Claude]

Depends where you get them.
From a Renault dealer yes, from Motor Parts Direct, Hambridge Road much less!
You could even go to MDC if you can tolerate the surliness and swearing from behind the counter!

Or Euro Car Parts online - they're forever doing special discounts.

[Andy Capp]

Beware that some cheap parts can be inferior. Some cheap tracking arms, for instance, don't last two minutes.

[motormad]

Beware that some cheap parts can be inferior. Some cheap tracking arms, for instance, don't last two minutes.

I think Andys point is very valid.
Im mobile at the moment so I will share a few stories when back on a p.c

However anything suspension or engine related such as suspension bushes, engine sensors such as MAFs, thermostats or pressure switches, ALWAYS buy GENUINE parts.

[dannyboy]

With some cars all you can buy are geunine parts.

[Andy Capp]

With some cars all you can buy are geunine parts.

The like the ones your driver conveys you in on your weekly premises inspections!

[dannyboy]

The like the ones your driver conveys you in on your weekly premises inspections!

Exactly so I'm told. And the one I drive at the weekend.

[motormad]

Okay back to my story.

A friend has an Audi TT.
She had an oil pressure sensor fault which was replaced with a non genuine sensor from a large supplier.
It was faulty and caused all sorts of issues for her.

Friend put a non genuine MAF into his Mk4 1.8t - Ran WORSE than with the standard faulty MAF.

Another friend put a non genuine thermostat into replace his slightly sticky one on his PD130 .
Replacement thermostat broke in 1 month..

All genuine parts from VW come with a 2 year guarantee. If you have them fitted at VW that means if they go faulty within the 2 years it's repaired free of charge to you, if you have your friend/private garage fit it then you'd only get the replacement part for free.

The point is genuine parts are not excessively expensive

Aftermarket Mk5 GTI bumper - £160.
Genuine bumper - £200+vat

Aftermarket Coolant Temperature Sensor - £28
Genuine Coolant Temperature Sensor - £52

If you buy through TPS (VAG that is for but I'm sure others exist for other manufacturers) you can get 50+% of retail prices for genuine parts (normally need a trade account but some branches will sell to general public)

[On the edge]

Good example of market forces, if the car manufacturers and garages hadn't tried to lard the price of spare parts, the pattern market would be much smaller or wouldn't exist.

[Mr Brown]

I can be rally smug then! I live somewhere I don't need a car so don't suffer from these issues, that represents a pretty big saving.

[Biker1]

Front brake pads & discs Nissan Dealer £350
Set of discs & pads bought by me £67 labour £0
EDIT - Oh and Haynes manual £13.99!