Where does it end? 2003 Clio 172

[Helpimonfire]

Don't judge me... This car was an absolute bargain and I can't turn those down.
It all began with the usual casual browsing on Facebook marketplace of a Friday evening. I saw this listed for £900 down from £1700, figured it was a shed and I love a shed. Sent a message expecting to get told to piss off but I found myself heading to Hopton near Great Yarmouth with an empty trailer... It came back loaded.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a particularly tidy example but for £600 I wasn't arguing. It was sold as having an electrical fault when the weather is wet or after the car has been washed, so I had a quick check under the bonnet, pulled the fresh battery and went to work clearing the debris in the battery tray and around the fuse box.

Yummy.

The fuse box and main connector was full of grime and general grot, so each fuse was pulled, each connector unplugged and every relay pulled so I could work the contact cleaner into it and tidy everything up, it was gross.

I then gave the car a quick wash and it scrubs up ok... From 10ft or further. She's no show pony but the plan is to use it as a daily and to use it for targa/nav rallies while the 306 is in dry storage until I learn to weld


Not bad for £600. Needs a bit of work and it has an airbag light on but it drives well, only 112k on the clock and has 10 months MOT on it. First job is new discs and pads and a set of tyres! Might treat it to some wheels as the standard 16s are a horrible looking wheel. Turinis or Speedline 2118s are the likely candidates right now.

 

[RSRowe]

 

[Helpimonfire]

Feeling that was an attack on my personality there Nathe

 

[RSRowe]

I’m looking forward to the next purchase

 

[Helpimonfire]

Had a bit of time on the 172 this afternoon, cleaned the inside again as I missed a few bits last time. Previous owner had used baking soda and vinegar to clean a few bits and I realised there was loads still in the carpet to get rid of.

Decided to break the polishing compounds out too, couldn't be arsed to get the machine polisher out so I did it all by hand, started with the OSF wing which had a very dull top section. Turns out it was covered in overspray!
Much better. Did a temporary tidy up of the headlights too because they're duller than my future.
Before.

After the first pass with some 3M Fast Cut

Second pass with some Farecla G10 finishing compound


I think I need to split the lights and clean the projector bulbs out though, they're looking fairly cloudy. At some point I'll do a proper restoration on them because they're actually in decent condition, I've watched a few videos of how to do it properly and I reckon I can manage it.


It's tidied the front end up a huge amount. Sadly the drivers door can't be saved as the paint has crazed and split, I might have a go at painting the bonnet myself but we'll see!