jjdugen

Hi all Once the gauge moves, the heater is nice and toasty. I did suspect the thermostat myself, just needed a bit of confirmation. It may just be that I drive it like a pussy until warmed... Anyway, where is the thermo, how easy to get too? Cheers

Hi all. Don't know whether tech or general but... How long does it take to the Z get warm enough to drop engine revs to normal idling? Mine seems to take up to 10 mins before the temp gauge starts to climb and the revs drop back from circa 2K to just below 1K. On a recent run at steady motorway speeds, early morning so a bit chilly, the temp gauge hardly moved, had me leaping out to check coolant level! Is this OK? I know its a big lump with a big rad but on most of my local drives I hardly need to touch the accelerator! Cheers

Found the little insert in the front cubby hole, handbrake now adjusted to perfection!!! I did spend a lot of time faffing with the centre console cover for no good reason, but now I know where all those screws are too! Cheers

If I make it sound as if I'm some kind of male Sabine, far from it, if I get close to sub 12 minutes I'm a happy bunny. I might add, the reason for the Clio and now the Z is that, for their respective monies they are incredibly good value performance cars. Just for the record, I've been riding stupid fast motorcycles since 1965, had more than my share of decent enough cars, done most of the hairy chested things..... but the 'ring....... Its the only place that genuinely gives me the willies. Each completed lap is like a victory. Even when you think you have finally found your way around it, it will catch you out. Nowhere and nothing else to compare it too. Still need some info on getting to the damn handbrake adjuster.............. Cheers

As detailed in my first post, I'm a newbie to the Z so still getting used to it. Given its weight, it feels quite remarkably agile, almost as good as a the Clio sport, but on humongous amounts of steroids! As also detailed, I buy a car for my twice a year trips to the Mosel Valley and the close by Nurburgring. So, as I see quite a few of you visit the 'ring, can you tell me what improvements / mods you do, if any, to make it 'ring suitable. Next trip is May 2016 so plenty of time to sort things out. I'll be fitting new tyres to it, naturally, but don't want to mess with ride height or anything that makes it harsher, the trip down and a week of touring is just as much a part of the fun. Oh, and I don't have a lottery win to fund it either! Just one other point. I noticed a few mentions of rust on these, especially wheel arches. Inspected mine. I must have pulled a pound of muddy dirt from the inside lips on the rear, and that after giving it all a good power wash. Now its clean and dry, I'll be coating that area in sealant as thick as I can get it! Last point. I've studied the hand brake adjust threads but I'm a bit stumped. I have a cubby with a sliding lid right next to the brake lever and a larger push lid cubby behind that. I can't seem to move either of the inner boxes to get to the adjuster, neither have cup holders. So, how do you get the inner boxes out without damage? Cheers

I've been looking around for a replacement for the Clio 172 and this caught my eye on t'Bay. Ploughed throgh the forums for the things to look out for, (why are forums so full of scary stuff!!?). Its an 06 rev upl, 52K miles, UK model with GT pack. Not much service history so went over it with a fine tooth comb. The only haggling point was the clicky rear drive-shafts, at the price, I was prepared to wear the repair costs. Had it two weeks now, put a few miles up, so far so good. Lockwood and Greenwood did the shafts on Thursday and gave it the once over. (Damn good service from them, highly recommended). Apart from the back box flange looking a bit moth-eaten, they give it the all clear. They do a weld up repair for not much money so will have that done when I book it in for a service. I buy a car purely for the Nurburgring, the Clio Sport has been thrashed unmercifully for the last three years, belting little thing and not too outclassed, especially when its wet! But, time for something a little more capable So, apart from gritting my teeth at the petrol pumps I'm well pleased with it. Just got to keep my eye on the oil level!!! If anyone has any history on this one,OE 06 VHF please let me know... For better or worse! Cheers