'94 Clio RN 1.9D 5-dr; 1.0-litre economy, 1.6-litre grunt (Renault Clio (1991-98))

Name: failme

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	Renault Clio (1991-98)
Date:	18.11.04 (4960 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Economy, Specification, Handling

Disadvantages: Power, Insurance costs

I bought this to replace my dearly beloved (despised) 1989 VW Polo, and it's quite a culture shock to end up buying a car with electric windows and one that doesn't whine and rattle constantly.

The specification of the car is pretty good for a mid-'90s small car - front electric windows, retractable sunroof, foglights, remote central locking, colour-coded bumpers, four stereo speakers and power-assisted steering. In fact the only thing it could do with is a rev counter (why no rev counters on your older diesels, Renault?). In fact I probably hit the jackpot with this car considering nearly every diesel Clio I've seen has been a poverty-spec model.

Running costs are fantastic, the car gives 50mpg without even trying to drive economically; in fact I was doing the opposite. You could probably hit 55mpg if you drove with economy in mind. Parts and maintenance items are very cheap too. The only snag is insurance, at least for younger drivers. Insurance companies seem reluctant to give you a decent quote because they consider the engine size (1870cc) large - but surely the horsepower figure (65bhp) is more relevant? But I somehow managed to get it well under £1000 a year, despite only being 18, though with Pass Plus qualification. I guess that's what you get for not wanting the gutless lesser petrol versions.

The engine is more than adequate most of the time. Although the horsepower figure is low, the torque figure of 87lb/ft at low revs more than makes up for it. These are meagre figures for a 1.9-litre engine admittedly but it always feels full of guts. 80mph cruising is easy, but once you get over 90mph it starts to feel gutless. Apparently the top speed is 97mph but I haven't tried...

There have been no problems other than a reluctance to start on cold mornings/days, remedied by changing the glow plugs (£8 each from the motor factor), the speedometer is a little "nervous" below 55mph, the power steering reservoir wasn't holding its fluid but it's been sorted with a little power steering anti-leak formula. Reliability-wise I can't find the problem with Renaults that everyone else seems to have, my father had a '94 Clio 1.2 van and my grandfather had a '95 Renault 19D and they were faultless and never let them down.

The interior is pretty spacious considering my height (6ft. 3in.), and the smallness of the car. At a squeeze I could probably fit me behind me. It seems decently built with just one or two rattles (to be expected on any 10-year-old car). It's very comfortable too, but I'd have to try it on a really long journey just to be sure.

Handling-wise it's fantastic, you can hurl it into practically any corner at any speed you want and it'll work its way round with a little wag of its tail. It depresses me when I see lower-powered Clios with big, wide tyres - I'm sure they won't be having any of the fun I'm having on the tiddly standard 165-section tyres and 13" steel wheels. It's the only reason I'm resisting having alloy wheels, I'd rather not lose the handling delicacy.

It still looks decent, helped by the foglights and colour-coded bumpers - front-on it's almost an RSi or 16v, at least until you catch the five doors and 13" rims. It's refreshingly free of any dents or major scratches, but there is a little rust bubbling up (specifically at the bottom of the driver's door; common on Clios, watch out, and on one rear and one front wheel-arch).

The general design of the car is very good and the only thing that irks are the tiny offset pedals, but you get used to them.

To sum up it's a great economical runaround and would probably suffice as a long distance (I have a 400-mile round trip to Glasgow soon so I'll update then) car too. Although common (as muck), it still has a little character about it, and is much preferable to those paragons of blandness, the Vauxhall Corsa, and pre-96 Ford Fiestas.

Summary: