What is it like to live with?
My Mum’s Renault Clio, in the popular silver had the ‘cool pack’ fitted which gives extra glass into the roof panels and air conditioning. These help to make the Clio look stylish and much more expensive that it really is. With 5 doors Mum is able to give lifts to her endless friends and the car never labours despite its seemingly small 1.2 TCE engine.
The Clio has seats suitable for adults – which is not the case in all small cars - and offers good road holding on the A12 as she bombs up and down to visit family. The Clio really shows that actually most people don’t need a big car.
Shop around for servicing as some Renault main dealers charge the earth.
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Which one to buy
On the second hand market petrols outnumber diesels by nearly ten to one. This is partially because the petrol variants are cheaper new and considerably cheaper to service. Renault offer a 1.2 Turbo petrol that actually gives better fuel economy than the non-turbo version of the same engine. This is the variant we recommend – in Dynamique trim because without all the gadgets such as air conditioning, re-sale is hard work.
The 1.2 TCE is an excellent engine, refined and powerful which returns economy of nearly 50 mpg. If you are looking for a diesel Clio then the 1.5DCi 86 Expression is the best bet. It offers enough power and refinement to question the need for the more powerful 1.5 DCi 106.
How much to pay?
The 1.2 turbo petrol Clio commands a premium of around £500 over the 1.5 DCi 86 models and the non-turbo 1.2 petrol models. The car is, however, likely to hold on to that premium come re-sale time. Expect to pay £6,000 -£7,000 for a three year old version in perfect condition, but know that prices vary hugely so don’t rush and end up overpaying.
What to check
1. Bonnet catch
Check that the bonnet opens and closes securely. The bonnet catches failed on a small number of cars, leaving the bonnet free to flap up. If the car needs an update, or you wish to confirm an update is not necessary, contact a main dealer.
2. Electrics
Check all electric devices – heating radio, windows etc. There have been a variety of problems with failing electrics. Have the car inspected if in doubt as finding the fix can be tricky.