First Car (Renault Clio Help)

Larnica · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:15

Hiya Folks

Due to the overwhelming responses to my last thread I thought I should create a new one, on a whole new subject, well on a more specific subject, "Renault Clios". A little background, I'm a learner driver (Waiting for test date to come round) looking for my first car, with my birthday coming up I am hoping to get my first car with a budget of around £3.5k (Maximum unless something amazing arises).

Keeping all of this in mind, Ive been browsing some Renault Clios (2001+ Models) and from my first dirty thoughts of owning a Corsa (Still look nice

) Ive realised there are other cars out there, that are just as good or better including the Clio what seems I can get a lot more for my money (Is there a catch?) for this kind of price I was seeing basic Corsa's and Polo's but a lot more bang for buck on the Clios?

So here are some questions I hope you can answer:

1) Firstly, with my budget Ive seen I may be able to afford a bigger engine (Upto the 1.5 / 1.4), would this be a silly decision insurance / first car wise?

2) Are there any major flaws with Clio's or like my previous thread - "Why wouldnt you buy Clio"?

3) People have told me Corsa are generally not too fast (Slow accel) and are noisey, is this different with the Clio (Faster?)

4) Any information and thoughts (AND PICTURES) would be awesome.

Thanks, have a good weekend.

Larnica

JTrickle · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:24

1) Run the insurance quotes and see.

3) The 1.2 hire Corsa I had was slower than my mothers old 1.2 Clio (the era your referring too). Or maybe the hire car felt slow as I wanted to red line it (and failed - it was too slow) whilst I'd never tried in the Clio.

Edit: I liked my mothers old clio more than her new shape btw. Most people I know who've had one liked it.

triggerthat · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:32

Avoid the 1.2 engines and try and get a 1.4 (for me there was no insurance difference). Personally I'd recommend getting a Focus instead if you must spent that amount of money.

Larnica · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:33

triggerthat said:
Avoid the 1.2 engines and try and get a 1.4 (for me there was no insurance difference). Personally I'd recommend getting a Focus instead if you must spent that amount of money.

Thanks for the information so far.

Why is this Trigger?

InvaderGIR · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:35

Because Focus's are better cars

Bigger, more stable, and as most are going to say, not French :rolleyes:

- Personally I just find Clios are women's cars.

InvG

Larnica · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:37

InvaderGIR said:
Because Focus's are better cars

Bigger, more stable, and as most are going to say, not French - Personally I just find Clios are women's cars.

InvG

The price of them I could afford a sex change aswell

(Aye, why do people hate french cars?)

triggerthat · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:40

Speaking to a few car dealers, they said the reason why Clios sell is because girls like them. They are good for around town but that's about it. The Focus was voted one of the most popular family cars and they do drive much better

InvaderGIR · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:41

Larnica said:
The price of them I could afford a sex change aswell (Aye, why do people hate french cars?)

Heh, fair point.

I don't know, I've always found them to be reliable...sometimes they take a bit of work, but they just keep on going. My family has always had at least 1 Peugeot as long as I can remember, and I've owned Peugeots and a Renault, and my girlfriend has a Clio, a 1.2, absolutly fine little car though.

As with many things, bad experiences get heard about more than good ones, so most people rant about the bad things.

I found the Focus to have a tiny wheel, I was used to a Peugeot 106 as my learner car, then I was driving my dad's H reg Rover 216GSi, and took my PassPlus in a Focus, found the wheel was tiny, but it certinaly was a very nice car to drive.

InvG

Larnica · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:42

Seems most cars I like are girls cars, should I be worried?

Im not a big fan of the focus (too big) but thats just he appearance, Im sure they are great. Is there anything else I should be on the lookout for?

triggerthat · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:45

Larnica said:
Seems most cars I like are girls cars, should I be worried?

Im not a big fan of the focus (too big) but thats just he appearance, Im sure they are great. Is there anything else I should be on the lookout for?

I don't think they are that bigger. Punto prehaps?

InvaderGIR · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:47

triggerthat said:
I don't think they are that bigger. Punto prehaps?

Now that IS a girls car

The Focus is not a large car, it's just not small. If it were a large car then the AA wouldn't use them as learner cars. They are the same sort of size as a 206. Most learner companies use that sort of size car, the independants use smaller ones.

InvG

bmh.01 · 9 Jun 2007 at 13:48

1. As said run quotes and see, if you can afford the 1.4 then go for it. Although the 1.2 16v engine is quite good for what it is.

2. No major flaws really, it'll 99.9% probably rattle a bit but other than that not really. The 1.2 engine does some faults but it'll quite happily take a lot of abuse.

3. Pass, never driven a corsa.

4. Get a dynamique model and i've found it's better specced than most of the competition at that age, get a few bits and bobs here and there.

As for the girls car comments, who cares if you like it?

My 03 1.6 Dynamique:

And my old 1.2 Dynamique+:

Larnica · 9 Jun 2007 at 14:15

I spotted your car earlier BMH, and it looks stunning, specially them Alloys, what are they?

Also, My mum suggested a Punto, although my dad soon shouted "Womans Car"

Kamerad · 9 Jun 2007 at 14:18

That looks great bmh

fonzee · 9 Jun 2007 at 14:20

i dont think the clios have ever been that girly tbh and the new shapes are defo very attractive. i considered getting one once upon a time.

*gets handbag, relaxes wrists and puts pink teeshirt on*

disclaimer: i am not actually gay, i just like clios

bmh.01 · 9 Jun 2007 at 14:21

Larnica said:
I spotted your car earlier BMH, and it looks stunning, specially them Alloys, what are they?

Oz Superturismos but i've had them powdercoated in gloss black :cool:

.

Kamerad said:
That looks great bmh

Cheers

.

Larnica · 9 Jun 2007 at 14:25

Just a quick question again BMH.

Whats the difference between the Dynamique edition and non Dynamique edition of the Clio's?

bmh.01 · 9 Jun 2007 at 14:32

Larnica said:
Just a quick question again BMH.

Whats the difference between the Dynamique edition and non Dynamique edition of the Clio's?

Dynamique is the "sporty" version of the normal clio, basically over the others you get :

Alloys
All black dash rather than the black/cream two tone effort of the others.
Black door cards rather than cream.
Little spoiler
Front Fogs (although they are avaliable on some of the lower models)
"Sports" Seats
"Sports" Suspension/Steering on the 1.4/1.6
Red needles and silver surround in the dial cluster.
Trip computer (although its avaliable on some of the lower models)

And probably a few other things i've forgotten.

Basically the range goes:

1. Authentique(+)
2. Expression(+)
3. Dynamique(+)
4. Privledge
5. Intiale

Larnica · 9 Jun 2007 at 15:14

Do you know much about the "Billabong" edition, ive heard and read about it but nothings jumped out at me, apparently it has more BHP? :eek:

bmh.01 · 9 Jun 2007 at 15:25

Larnica said:
Do you know much about the "Billabong" edition, ive heard and read about it but nothings jumped out at me, apparently it has more BHP?

Nope, still that same power as the other models. Engines don't change for different models.

Its just a special edition of the dynamique with a rather naff green/black seat pattern that gets stained VERY easily, rain water will do it. I'd steer clear of it personally.