Renault Clio II - Advice - to buy or not to buy

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Sat 24 Jul 2010 22:17
Renault Clio II - Advice - to buy or not to buy - goingonholiday

Hi, been looking at buying a Clio and have looked at a variety of cars from 2002 - 2006. Looking to spend no more than 4000. Found a 2006 55 plate campus sport 1.2 for just under 4k. Condition is very good, 2 owners, the last owner has had it for 18 months or so and put 20k on the clock (total mileage is 30K) but from the service book looks like they haven't had it serviced. It's had 2 services from the first owner (main dealer I think) but not for the last 2 years.

The garage is a well known name franchised dealership (not renault though) and they've had it a while now and have reduced it a few hundred quid. I'm not mechanically minded but it runs well, will come with a warranty, HPI clear etc. Best I've seen so far.

So, would you be concerned?

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Sun 25 Jul 2010 08:54
Renault Clio II - Advice - to buy or not to buy - gordonbennet

Unless they can produce a receipt or other proof of servicing then i'd be initially inclined to give it a miss, plenty of cars for sale.

As for condition, it might have come into the garage a filthy neglected heap, half a day in the valetting bay and 3 hours with dentman/smart repairer tarting the bumpers bonnet and doors and the good condition vehicle you now see has resulted, don't underestimate how much difference they can make.

On the other hand it just might be worth a punt, and it might well have been serviced by the last owner themselves and had an oil change etc every 5K, it might well be maintained better than a workshop would...could you contact the last owner and then make judgement, they no longer have any interest in the car and you might just get a gem.

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Sun 25 Jul 2010 10:51
Renault Clio II - Advice - to buy or not to buy - captain chaos

Agree with gb, though I sometimes wonder if it's better if you want a particular make of car to go to a same make dealer. You will pay a bit more but the previous owner has had a good experience and has gone for the same manufacturer again. Of course in the OPs case the previous owner may have just fancied a change...or needed to off-load a lemon.

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Sun 25 Jul 2010 18:50
Renault Clio II - Advice - to buy or not to buy - goingonholiday

Thanks for the advice, some more digging found that it had been part ex'd against a new car and had been at another dealership then moved to this one so in fact it had gone 17 months between services while in use. I believe the reason it hadn't sold was the price, far too high and they've now reduced and talking of a deal at a price I think it's worth going with.

I'll let you know if I buy and it turns out to be a lemon!

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Sun 25 Jul 2010 20:00
Renault Clio II - Advice - to buy or not to buy - mrnikko

Personally speaking if the car looks and drives o.k. it is worth a punt.

I bought a 1994 Clio five years ago with service admittidly but in the five years we have owned the car it has covered 35,000 miles taking mileage to 111,000 approx and apart from routine service it has needed an alternator,four tyres and really at my insistance a new heater radiator.

To my mind the clio is a good small car and really does not deserve to be labelled poor alongside other cars in the Renault range of recent years

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