Does anyone here know this car?

[Randles 2402]

Does anyone here have any information on this particular car?
It's up for sale and I'm actively considering it even though the garage is 300 miles away!
thanks

 

[Ed wales]

Looks nice

 

[Charlie1875]

Looks fairly well priced, wheels will be tatty up close, no pics of front brake discs? Mileage is missing from the cluster? Last mot70k, advertised as 74k, worth asking questions, had my R up for sale for a while but after dealing with day dreamers on the phone decided to keep it. Decent service record but claiming to “have had the Cambelt done”. It’s a chain on these. The R is a real beast and rare too, you wont regret it. Good luck with your search.

 

[Charlie1875]

Does look like a very nice car though!

 

[Randles 2402]

Thanks for your replies. I spoke to the garage a couple of days ago and went through some of the history with them but I’m going to call them again today based on your feedback.
When I spoke to them it looks like the car had all four discs replaced last year along with the timing chain and auxiliary belt and tensioner.
The chap said it had a scuff on the rear bumper that they dealt with and from the photos they appear to have done a good job of blending it.
The drivers seat side bolster also looks to be in quite good condition compared to some of the pictures I’ve looked at as I believe they can wear quite quickly. (My 207cc seats had a similar problem)
I like the fact that it’s a two owner car as it’s less likely (in my mind at least!) to have had it’s arse repeatedly kicked and trashed by new owners who then get bored and move it on.

 

[Charlie1875]

Don’t forget these are now 11+ years old, if you are looking at an R, you want to see evidence of an impeccable service record, timing chain invoice, hpfp invoice and of course the front brakes, caliper rebuild also, you need to go and drive one but down on the south coast you will have to travel.
What I like about my R is insurance is ok, group 42 I think, it’s cheaper to tax than a 200bhp version and will return 45mpg on a run. Oh and the fact ive never seen another R on the road! good luck with your search.

 

[Randles 2402]

Charlie your help on this has been invaluable, thank you.
I've just sent a holding deposit on the car via Autotrader.
They sent me various videos about the car including the service history and all the big ticket items have been done within the last 16 months. The only exception so far seems to be a caliper refurb but pads and discs where changed in november for genuine Peugeot parts.
He also messaged me to say that he has just had the wheels refurbed so good there too!
I'm probably going to go up to Harrogate on Saturday by train and hopefully should be able to bring it straight home if it's as good as it looks.
If I do buy it, how would you feel about meeting for a coffee somewhere as I drive home south then you can
a: see another on the road, and
b: laugh at me and point out all the bits I missed and what a mistake i've just made!

Andy

 

[Charlie1875]

No problem Andy, so you have taken the plunge and left a deposit on it, it does sound like a well cared for example, hopefully they have refurbished the wheels with a nice diamond cut finish and not just powder coated them, just had mine refurbished and Im very happy with the result.

im Away all weekend but thanks for the offer, I’ve never seen Red one in the flesh as mine is Black, roll on the weekend!

 

[Randles 2402]

They look good

 

[Charlie1875]

Ta mate, enjoy the drive back down south on Saturday, it’s still available to reserve online!

 

[Randles 2402]

He cancelled the autotrader deposit but I have made a different arrangement with the garage and have a receipt for it!
enjoy your weekend.

 

[Charlie1875]

Good luck today mate, hope you enjoy your drive back home!

 

[Randles 2402]

Thanks, but there is a slight change of plan for collecting the car.
The dealer sent the car for a service (including sending the car with a container of the correct make and spec of oil) before I collect it and the mechanic (who sounds as anally perfectionist as me!) spotted a couple of little issues with the front suspension as he said it had standard rather than R drop links (doesn't affect the suspension geometry but means the anti roll bar is not quite as effective as it should be at extreme limits) and and one of the ?tie rod ends? had a non safety/MOT issue but he wanted to replace both to be on the safe side. The suspension work and service have been done but He also identified a very sight rattle from somewhere away from the engine/transmission when driving but had not found from where it was from by end of play last night.
He was happy that the car was perfectly safe and was content for me to take it home and get it sorted here and bill him or I could leave it with him to fix. As I'm not in a rush I have left it with him to sort out and will go up later in the week once he is fully happy with it.
Jay (the dealer) was so apologetic and he even offered to reimburse me for my train ticket if was going to be out of pocket not collecting the car today.(I'm not but it was a nice gesture).
The more I talk to him, the more I like him and I think that we are similar in our outlook (although he might just be very good at blowing sunshine up my arse!!)
At this point, there would have to be a catastrophic issue for me to not buy the car and it's not looking that way.
I'll let you know what happens and when I finally have the car.

 

[Charlie1875]

Hi Andy that’s a shame about the R, as you have posted your detailed update, the dealer sounds pretty genuine in his reply but I think the drop links are the same whichever rcz model it is, secondly the tie rod ends have suddenly encountered an issue, mot done recently and not picked up on the mot but now is an issue? Entirely possible, I would be slightly concerned however from the “slight rattle” that’s been disclosed to you.
The trader/dealer sounds pretty decent and honest to his credit although as he has disclosed this “rattling issue” with you beforehand and made you aware of the issue, if you do decide to purchase I wouldn’t have thought there would be any comeback if it turns out more serious soon after you drive away.
Obviously these are just my thoughts and as long as you are happy with the rcz you are purchasing then that’s what counts!
hope that helps.

 

[Randles 2402]

The car is going back to the mechanic on monday for him to have another look. It may not have been a tie rod; I was trying to talk to him in the middle of a supermarket at the time; and it sounded like preventative maintenance rather than an MOT issue. I know what you mean about the rattle but from the description he gave me it sounds more like a heat shield or something similar rather than the engine. The mechanic also preps cars for the Mini Cooper and Mini JCW team Jays son is involved with (several wins over the last few seasons) so knows the foibles of the prince engine in high states of tune and at the end of the day, I can still get my deposit back and walk away if i'm not 100% happy.
In the meantime, I'm quite enjoying the chase!!

 

[Charlie1875]

Sounds like they know their way around the prince engine, so should sort it out for you soon, keep enjoying the chase!

 

[Charlie1875]

A decent review on this very car is on the pistonheads website