The PM you received a while back was from me! I've sinced changed email accounts and could not remember my old username...
When I bought it, it had had just one owner for 10 years, had 69k on the clock and was completely original. I was the second owner (the log book stated 3rd as the it was owned by a garage first?). I had it for about a year before some little s**ts decided to break into it for my £20 stereo, not through the glass of course, but using a crow bar to prise the door open. The door was ruined and also there was light damage to the inside frameword behind the door. I decided to just get the whole car resprayed as there was light bubbling on the arches and bootlid, and a few little dings here and there. So yeah, the bodyshop didn't get the shade quite right (and they forgot to spray the mirrors!). I had explained to them how important it was to get the colour right... gave them the proper renault code and all.. To be honest I only really noticed it was too dark a shade by comparing the mirrors and the door pillars to the new paint! They did however get the gold shade on the wheel refurbs perfect...
When I sold it to John with 84k it was cosmetically PERFECT. Not a scratch, stone chip, or blemish on the entire car. It had also recently been to hill power for a major cambelt service with their remapped chip installed. Like John said in one of his posts, there was a little play in the steering but this had always been the case and had never bothered me - the noise coming from the brakes that he mentioned had (honestly!) started about a day before!
Your right about the engine too, it was a gem. I religiously maintained it, oil and filter changes every 3k max, always warmed up etc etc. I've regretted selling it ever since I did so, I bought a Celica GT4 as I always wanted something with a turbo!
Looks like its a gonner for sure, such a shame really. Luckily I'm now in a position where the next one I buy will sit tucked up under a cover in a locked garage for sunny days only.. Got a 5 series for the daily driver! Looking for a proper mint 1 or 3 in the next few months!
Here's some pics of the car just before I sold it to John so you can see what it was like before he had it.... The 1st 3 are from when I bought it, before the respray.
http://s1032.photobucket.com/albums/a407/markjdmcquade/