Renault Clio 1.4 16V Dymanique 5door

I bought the top of the range Dymanique model for my son new on 2004 at a cost of just over £10,000 and he has been driving it since.

It came very well equipped as you would expect from the Dymanique with rain sensitive wipers and light sensitive headlights, interior security locks, air conditioning and alloy wheels. The computer states it has delivered 34Mpg over the last 64,000 miles and I have no reason to doubt this. I had to replace a window due to a heavy stone chip which the insurance covered, but the Autoglass man informed me that the list price of the windscreen was well over £650 due to the rain sensor, so it is worth having windscreen cover if your vehicle is like this. He also managed to bend an alloy in a slight accident which cost £180 +VAT to replace from Renault. I thought that was steep for a 15 inch wheel.

Other than that he has kept it in good order and as such it is still a pleasure, nippy little number to drive. There is plenty of room for three mates in the back and the interior is finished well with slate grey fabric with silver flashes. The standard stereo system is fine and even with him being a dance tune freak he hasn't felt the need to upgrade.

I often take his Clio if I am going on long runs, it being substantially easier on the fuel than my TypeR. The only recurring problem I have had with the Clio is starter plugs, which I have had to replace three of, at a cost of £40 each. Other than that standard servicing has sufficed which I guess is good for a 6 year old motor.

We did consider changing after three years but found the value had fallen to just £3000, which is a big three year loss so this is something to think about if you change vehicles often.