Clio Conundrum _ sell or make like new

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Clio Conundrum


In a quandary over our Trophy. We bought it three years ago as a replacement for our 182 which we had almost restored to new having spent 3 times what we paid for it on replacing and updating the bits and getting it sparkling. (Although this spend is not as bad as my Mini Innocenti which is something like a ten times number - and still going)

The Trophy we picked up was in good nick from a cosmetic perspective but had the Ktec suspension. We upgraded that to the brand new Bilstein set having just missed buying a spare set of original suspension to have in the garage for the collectors perspective,(this remains on the shopping list).


At this year’s MOT the Trophy came in and the CO2 was high. So rather than find a dodgy Joe and get it MOTed we decided to let Andrew Cochrane (ex R Sport) who has looked after it since we bought to compression test it, take the head off and have a look. Bores were good so the view was there was two oil control rings were in need of replacement. So whilst not the end of the world we still needed to crack the cases and do an engine refresh, and once starting down that road the opportunities expand….. So we are now at a cross roads.

Having taken the head off our view you see it as an opportunity and hence replace everything that may need done and effectively have a new engine -gearbox/ refresh with new belts, gearbox selectors etc. etc. rather than do the bare minimum.


From a personal perspective I love the thought of doing that. However I am in central London, have no spare time any time soon and the garage is already occupied (Mini still needs a bare shell rebuild).
So I am swithering between selling and buying another Trophy or spending the next six months formulating the rebuild strategy and executing via an R Sport garage specialist (Andrew). Then I will have the satisfaction of a car that I know from an engine and gearbox perspective is like new. This will be great but my other half may get rather upset in the meantime with yet another rebuild project.

So my question is what is the car worth as it is ?

The details are

Mileage approx. 90k miles (think it just clicked over before I dropped it off with Andrew),

Internally engine and interior is completely standard. Only change I am aware of is that it has a recent Bilstein suspension and springs suspension set up and upgraded discs/ hoses.

Cosmetically whilstElise & Trophy1.JPG Elise & Trophy1.JPG Elise and Tropy2.jpg used in town I think its in good nick for its age/mileage and I have some pictures attached.
 

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If I read it right you have a 90k mile car that is in good cosmetic condition but without original suspension, the car isn't a runner as the engine is in bits. If I'm right with all of that I would want to pay about £3500 for it at absolute most. I base that on a value of a complete car with that sort of mileage at £5500 engine work and suspension could easily come in at £2k.


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Difficult to comment on value as without Sachs it's a red 182 with Recaro's, a V6 spoiler and anthracite Turini's. How much is a 2005 182 with 90k miles, nice seats and wheels worth? I've seen it around the Wandsworth Bridge Road area and always wondered if the owner frequented here.

Are you working with Andy independently? Would love him to look after my MKIII 200. Last heard he was at Renault London West. Has he set up on his own yet?

I took the 200 there for the last free service from the 4+ scheme and asked for him specifically to conduct the service. The day it was booked in he was on blooming holiday and the chumps over filled it with oil and under filled the coolant! Muppets.
 
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There is a set of Sachs for sale on the FB site, good price, if I didn't have four sets i'd have them.
 
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Four sets and not one sent to me yet.. Pull yourself together man...

They are all good apart from the set I emailed photo's of and I was planning on getting those and the road set the R.P. treatment but with New Zealand in the offing a few plans have to go on the back burner.
The set I mentioned above sold immediately, too cheap.
 
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Guys thanks very much for all the input.
The car is indeed up in Fulham although with Andy at present.
Andy is working at Renault at Hanger Lane but also does his own work.
Will have a look at the Facebook site for the shocks if we keep it.
For the moment though I will put it up for sale at 3k
 
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Guys thanks very much for all the input.
The car is indeed up in Fulham although with Andy at present.
Andy is working at Renault at Hanger Lane but also does his own work.
Will have a look at the Facebook site for the shocks if we keep it.
For the moment though I will put it up for sale at 3k


Actually changed my mind and decided to go for the whole engine rebuild, refresh, paint the block engine bay and all ancillaries that need changed. Again showing a classic inability to sell cars!
 
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Actually changed my mind and decided to go for the whole engine rebuild, refresh, paint the block engine bay and all ancillaries that need changed. Again showing a classic inability to sell cars!

Ah, the draw is strong isn't it. Easy to become attached to these things. Good luck with it all. I've separately sent you a direct message about Andy.
 
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Ah well after a few weeks and many shiny new parts arriving Andy Cochrane is getting on with the strip down , clean, inspection and rebuild. Turns out the only thing really wrong was two oil control ring being gummed up . However we are going the whole hog and getting everything replaced renewed so bearings, belts, rings, etc etc . So a virtually new engine and should be much sharper than before (and maybe than when new).

Anyway before and after photos- a coat of paint always makes it look soon much better!
image-4.jpeg
mucky and being replaced

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image-5.jpeg
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getting cleaned

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All nice , clean and shiny now
 

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All nice , clean and shiny now[ well the outside of the block anyway/QUOTE]

More photos of the development
All new bearings , new synchro n gearbox etc etc
Carbon cleared off.
Bores amazingly still had original cross hatch marks although one piston had small pitting round gummed oil control ring (now replaced). At least extra oil was protecting the bores. Crank also well within original specs as well so all good with new shells and gaskets etc.
Head ,valves, and ports decarboned ready for re-assembly.
So should effectively be a brand new engine and can't wait to get her back on the road.
Should be much sparkier than I remembered!Image-1-3.jpgImage-2-2.jpgImage-4.jpgImage-5.jpgCarbon Head.jpg
 
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Nice. Andy is a superb chap. Hopefully you'll also receive some photos of the head, pistons and valves looking all super shinny during the reassembly.

Love the F4 on the block in the fourth photo in the prior post. I've not seen an F4R out of the bay; nice touch from Renault.
 
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Gordon agree Andy is a good man - He has been a bit busy of late so taken longer than anticipated but quality of what he is doing seems very good.
Her are some more piccies
 

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Ah yes round two of upgrade Andy is putting in a K and N filter putting in new sensors, injectors and changing the K Tec exhaust for a Scorpion 192 exhaust. So it will run better than the day it was new. ( old exhaust up for sale by the way).

Piccies below of the beautiful as new engine in place with new mounts etc.

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So just had it back from getting the injectors changed, K and N air filter and scorpion exhaust.
Exhaust much quieter than the Ktech one ( bad thing) but otherwise running so, so, soooo much better with the injector and lambda change. It never felt quite as frisky as my previous 182 and it was tracked down to the injectors. Now feels fantastic and much more on its toes.

Just ordered some brand new front Shocks so resto almost complete. As always probably spending much more than makes sense from a value perspective but feels really good to have everything singing perfectly.
Anyway here is some of the list of items changed / rebuilt by Andy Cochrane ( who did a great job) on the way back to its like new state.

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