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My transport for four days recently was a rented Renault Clio 1.2 (pictured) & I was quite impressed with some aspects of the car. It had no model badges on it so I can only confirm it was a 1.2 model.
Looks is a matter of personal taste & although most French cars are very stylish I think ... Read review
...days recently was a rented Renault Clio 1.2 (pictured) & I was quite impressed with some aspects of the car. It had no model badges on it so I can only confirm it was a 1.2 model.
Looks is a matter of personal taste & although most French cars are very stylish I think the designers at Renault must have had a day off with this one. It looks anonymous compared to more stylish looking cars in the same class but I wouldn't hold that against it. ...tray fitted. Just a pity Renault could have not fitted a coin holder & made the effort to include two map pockets behind the front seats rather than just one, on the wrong side for the UK market. Typical French, if it doesn't suit them then tough! Even the bonnet release was set for left hand drive only.
Once on the move two things were brought to my attention, firstly the Clio is a lot quieter & refined than the older models. Even ... more
I am not a lover of French cars; in my former life as a mechanic I found that French cars were always very stylish, very chic, full of innovative ideas. However they were awkward to work on & although the general quality of interior trim was often quite good, their reliability was truly appalling.
My transport for four days recently was a rented Renault Clio 1.2 (pictured) & I was quite impressed with some aspects of the car. It had no model badges on it so I can only confirm it was a 1.2 model. Looks is a matter of personal taste & although most French cars are very stylish I think the designers at Renault must have had a day off with this one. It looks anonymous compared to more stylish looking cars in the same class but I wouldn't hold that against it. It terms of fitted equipment it was quite good featuring electric front windows, (manual at the rear), central locking, radio CD, plugs for MP3 & iPod, air conditioning, alloy wheels & loads of air bags.
The little Clio has grown up since I last drove one, there is so much more room in them & as I sat inside I couldn't help being impressed with the general interior fittings. Everything appeared to be quite well screwed down & nice to touch. It was roomy although leg room was a little tight in the back, getting a comfortable driving position was more of a compromise. The driver's seat was comfortable but the steering wheel was too high for my liking, if I lowered it I couldn't read the instruments properly. There were some nice touches inside, the radio CD controls are mounted on a separate lever behind the steering wheel, two controls will change the volume up or down & a tidy little wheel will allow for radio stations to changed manually or a separate control to change stations automatically. The only drawback with this control is that you cannot see it when driving & peering round the wheel when moving is not advised.
All other dash controls are neatly arranged although the indicator & wiper stalk was a little short of length. Cubby space was quite generous but if you're a smoker there is no ash tray fitted. Just a pity Renault could have not fitted a coin holder & made the effort to include two map pockets behind the front seats rather than just one, on the wrong side for the UK market. Typical French, if it doesn't suit them then tough! Even the bonnet release was set for left hand drive only.
Once on the move two things were brought to my attention, firstly the Clio is a lot quieter & refined than the older models. Even when the engine was pushed it would perform quite smoothly. The gear change wasn't that good being a little clunky & often difficult to engage reverse. Handling was good, as was the steering but the brakes were too fierce, even with trying to brake smoothly they would still grab. It was like driving a commercial vehicle with air brakes.
One other thing I noticed was the usual Renault build quality, a loud knocking noise form the rear of the car above 30mph. A quick check underneath confirmed everything was in its place but it may have alarmed many people. The paintwork was in a shocking state for a car that was only 4 months old with 4500 miles on the clock. It has suffered stone impact damage which had chipped the paint (no fault of the car) but instead of just small chips the paint was flaking off in great chunks, a possible poor paint adhesion problem or possibly the paint being too thin. Less than impressive on a modern car which is so new.
The key Renault supply will open the car remotely, one press to unlock the driver's door; press again to open the remaining doors & a separate button to open the tailgate. When it worked it worked well, but in typical French fashion it was a hit or miss affair. With no lock on the driver door for back up I can foresee problems ahead for many owners.
Fuel consumption was quite good for this 1.4 model returning 39.8 mpg on the computer read out & performance was more than adequate. In some respects the Clio was quite impressive, the interior fittings, fuel consumption, refinement, performance & features. In other it was less impressive, clunky gear change, fierce brakes & compromised driving position. However the one underlying concern for me as ever with French cars is the reliability & with past evidence, recent reliability surveys & what I experienced with this car I'm still not convinced Renault have made much improvements in this department & that alone would put me off recommending it.
Basic information Renault Clio 1.2 74bhp Co2g/km 139 Insurance group 2 Fuel consumption 39.8mpg
Advantages: Exclusivity, speed, improved build quality Disadvantages: economy, perception of Renault reliability, boy racers
...regard to customer service, Parks Renault in Glasgow have been very good but I have heard some horror stories about Renault serviceon once the problems start - that is something you will need to consider fully before taking the plunge.
Al in all, I love he clio 197 - it's a great car and the fact that they are still so rare make it all the more enticing for prospective owners. However, with the launch of the new Civic Type R not that far off (march ...
The_Honest_Truth2006 10.12.2006 (12.12.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Renault Clio III
Advantages: Good value for money, reliable, good looks, nippy Disadvantages: Drivers door handle too far forward on the inside
...decided to stick with the Renault Clio. It is a good car to drive, economical and easy to park.. The downside of my previous model was high repair bills, and I hoped by buying a newer model that wasn't due an MOT for three years that I would be saved this. In the three months I have had the car, nothing has yet gone wrong (touch wood).
Looks
The Clio is a lovely looking hatchback. It is a nice shape and the Dynamique model comes with alloy wheels. ... ...dashboard can look dusty if you don't wipe it down regularly! Spec
The Dynamique model comes with alloy wheels, electric mirrors, electric windows and CD player. The CD player/radio can be controlled by fingertip controls around the steering wheel. My only gripe is that the stereo isn't able to link to an MP3 player. It also has an engine immobiliser and deadlocks.
The 1.4 engine is enough for my needs, and i find it reasonablly powerful after ...
chrissie-anne 26.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Renault Clio III
Advantages: Stylish, Nippy, Comfortable & Economical. Disadvantages: Slightly high bite point. Annoying cup holder.
...have heard all about the Renault problems that everyone is so obsessed about - I would like to say that Renault are wonderful. After I had the car for a few weeks the left back tire blew out. It cost me £85 to have to replaced. I spoke to Renault, and even though I had no proof the tire was in fact faulty or anything they apologised for the inconvenience and sent me a £100 voucher. They regularly mail and call me to make sure everything is ok. They ... ...welcoming me to Renault! I have had no problems since the tire almost a year ago, but I have every confidence that Renault will help me again if I have any problems. Their car, customer service, and general product/service presentation is fantastic. I would highly reccommend them! ...
shazilrock 04.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Renault Clio III
Advantages: Comfortable drive, nippy around town and lots of nice extras included. Disadvantages: Lacks storage space.
...the older version on the Renault Clio (03 plate) I had an idea of what I expected to get in my New Clio. What I like most about the Clio is it always seems to be slightly more advanced when it comes to the in car technology and the as standard spec, compared to any other small car.
I have the Dynamic version and for around £10 500 price tag you can expect one of the most comfortable drives. I was really impressed with the power steering it seems ... ...keep valuables out of sight compared with the older model.
Overall I would defiantly go and test drive if you're interested I think you will be impressed as I really do think that the designers at Renault do think about the customers needs as well as the sporty looks. ...
burnsey81 13.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Renault Clio III
Advantages: economical,elegant,grown up Disadvantages: renault service
...have had have been with Renault themselves!! They were slow in paying off my finance on the car that i part exchanged..which led to me panicking about paying them!! And also that they have not admitted that they have actually fitted the wrong bluetooth kit to my car! I have to now go back to Renault and have it re fitted, only a chore due to the time however the salesman was very nice about it. Compared to a previous clio i had ( a 2002 clio 1.2 ... ...elegance. I think my new clio is a more grown up car if you like and the interior is a lot nicer, this model has chrome trim. I have the added extras of air con, which i am very impressed with so far, a 6cd multi changer - possibly the salesman could have told me that if you have this option then in future you cannot add a i pod device). The stereo controls are on the steering column however so take some getting used to as they don't move with the ...
dee140183 03.06.2007 (15.06.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Renault Clio III
Value for Money
Road Handling
Comfort
Features
Fuel consumption
Looks
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Advantages: cheap to buy, insure and run, looks good Disadvantages: bit sluggish, girls car?
My first car was a green 1999 T Reg RenaultClio RN Grande 3 door, it was a great little car, but then 3 weeks later it was written off after being in quite a bad crash, luckily even though i was hit in the drivers side i wasn't hurt at all not even a bruise, so it's definatley well built.
It was because of its apprent durability i choose to buy another Clio after my first being written off, the one i have now is exactly the same as the one i had previously, but blue and with only 40,000 on the clock.
I mainly use this car for nipping around town, to and from work and college ocassionally i use it for longer trips and it has never let me down.
Being a young male student driver the fact that it is cheap in all aspects is important. Used Clios with low mileage can be picked up pretty cheap, i got this one in Febuary 06 for £1800 ...
Advantages: Reliable Nippy Compact Disadvantages: Small in the back, not a good rearview.
I bought this car 5 years ago, it was a good price and at the time of buying I was really impressed.
It looks nice, although I think it's more suited to females, than males (unless you have the Clio Williams, then that is more masculine!)
Features
Central locking
Dual airbags
Engine Immobiliser
Drivers seat height adjuster
3 seatbelts in the back that are all over the shoulder - yes including the middle
Isofix child safety mount system
Electronic mileage and Oil meter
Air conditioning inc recycled air
Radio remote control on the steering wheel
Cigarette/cigar lighter and ashtray (ashtray can double up as a small storage tray - which I use as)
Power assisted steering
ABS
Electric windows
Tool kit with spare wheel
I am happy with my car, haven't had any problems apart from when my electric window wouldn't go up, but it ...
glossyflower 22.01.2005 (05.08.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Renault Clio 1.4
Advantages: Nippy, easy to park, Disadvantages: Sunroof Rattles
I'm currently on my second RenaultClio - I upgraded a 2000 Renault MTV limited edition for a 2002 3 door Extreme model.
I have throughly enjoyed both cars. My Extreme has given me a few problems. The engine was cutting out and one of the seats jammed but both problems were fixed with relative ease and at fairly minimal cost. The engine problem was caused by something needing a clean!
I would recommend this car to other ladies as it is so easy to park and feels quite sturdy on the road. The only annoying thing is the rattle in the sunroof which i have noticed on both of my clios.
All in all a wonderful car which is perfect for the single ladies out there! ...
dan_ii27 28.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Renault Clio 1.2
