Hello - Not an owner yet.....

Hello,

Great forum which has helped me make my mind up.

So now the hunt starts for a nice little wind but I think it might be a long wait for the right car. Nearly every car I look at hasn't had the cambelt done and I don't fancy getting hit with a big bill as soon as I purchase one.

Look forward to joining in once I find the right one....oh and if any of long termers are considering selling let me know 

Welcome, darrenb, and good luck with the search!

Hello and welcome to the Group. Hope you find one soon to enjoy the weather.

Welcome to the forum, just for info I had my timing belt changed recently, with the tensioner pulleys and water pump, and the auxiliary belt and it cost £569. If that helps you when looking and considering costs etc. It was done by a trusted local garage not a dealer. They only ever fit 'gates' belts as they consider they are the best.

Good hunting.

Hope you find the "right one" for you.

The 1.6 is the most expensive re cam belts. Renault assess 5.5 hrs to do the job & it took my main dealer's "best technician" a whole day. 

The 1.6 Renaultsport engine is a really tight fit!!

I had previously raised significant concerns re work the dealer had done on my Wind & my wife's Captur so was offered a significant reduction in the hourly labour rate as an apology so the full: belts, tensioners, water pump; etc plus a 2yr service with oil & cabin filters cost me £638 back in 2017.

As Timtnx points out a reputable local garage rather than a main dealer is the way to go.

The Wind is a rare car so main dealer "experience" counts for nothing.

Thanks for the welcome and info. Will keep you posted on the search.

Hi Darren
Got my Wind two weeks ago after seeing one in a carpark whilst I was considering an MX5. Had lots of Renaults previously and still have a Captur which is great so spoke to my mechanic who is a Renault specialist and he had never worked on one but also advised cambelt etc. Quoted £400 - £500 depending on engine if I needed it doing. Maybe I  got lucky as was able to view and drive 3 within 40 miles of me  in Chelmsford in about 8 days. My experience was that although the 1.6 engine sounded sportier, there is more than enough fun to be had with the 1.2 turbo   so do try  both. All  were  very tidy but service history varied from none (shame as it had the Tan seats) to full Renault with can belts etc. I picked up the latter, a  1.2 Collection with low milage for under £4k and am very happy with it. Yes the metallic blue GT Line would have been nice as well but this weather wasn't going to last forever. 
Good luck

I think this was a members car - p100 wnd - black gordini.

Can anyone tell me about it? Miles are low and looks good but not sure about the price £5.5k

Sorry cant post the link - not allowed but its on autotrader

https://www.markhopkinscarsales.co.uk/search_page.php?make=65&model=3186&price=
It looks a nice example... even if it is Black

Negotiate over the possible lack of cam belt replacement then bite his hand off. If you don't someone else will for sure for that model and milage.

So the gordini was a members car.....not up to speed with pricing but have seen loads for around 3.5k , there is a blue one 5 miles away with 11k on the clock for 3.5k but has had 4 owners which puts me off. Has had cambelt and water pump done. Is it worth paying 2k premium for a gordini badge?

Depends what you are looking for. Drive them both and see what you think. I thought Gordini had a stripe which may of been removed but everything else about it looks good. There again Blue in the sun looks great.

I don’t think the Gordini is worth a £2k premium, it’s not mechanically any different so it’s all just cosmetic. At least the blue Gordini is a different blue than standard.

Re the cam belt I think id find the car I liked then negotiate hard on the price if it needs doing, at least you can then choose where it’s done and make sure it’s done properly.

I picked my 1.6 Collection up with 35k miles in July 2017. No service history, so I had a service done straight away (oil, oil filter, air filter, pollen filter, spark plugs checked, brakes all examined and wear checked). Also a timing belt kit and water pump, brake fluid change, two track rod ends and an air con regas. Done by the same place I have had working on my cars for the last few years, total came to £612. Lookking at how the bill was split, in addition to the standard labour charge for a service I was billed for 5.5 hours labour for the additional work.

i looked at one before i brought Millie. been a mechanic for a few years now. the winds have a 6 year cambelt and i believe is also 100,000 miles to. i know thats the 1.2 kit is around 140 but thats trade price so more looking 150 for the full kit and is around a hour and a haft labour. 

however never check to see if that copys over to the 1.6 

id recommend see how long ago it was done. 

good luck hunting youll find the right one

darrenb wrote:Hello,

Great forum which has helped me make my mind up.

So now the hunt starts for a nice little wind but I think it might be a long wait for the right car. Nearly every car I look at hasn't had the cambelt done and I don't fancy getting hit with a big bill as soon as I purchase one.

Look forward to joining in once I find the right one....oh and if any of long termers are considering selling let me know 

hi darren,
bought mine 2 weeks ago but would not complete deal unless belt and water pump were replaced, dealer agreed providing i paid full asking price, not a bad deal.

Thanks all, still looking for the right one.....set aside next weekend for a couple of test drives.