Renault Clio 1.8 16V Review

Overall Rating

Quick, fairly cheap to run, relatively cheap insurance, good handling.

Expensive parts, size of engine makes changing parts difficult

I baught my 1994 Renault Clio 1.8 16v in October with a siezed engine for £400. It is metallic silver, superchipped and came with lowering springs on the front. I bought another engine for £100 with 53k on the clock to replace the busted engine.
Luckily a friend of my dad used to work for Citroen so he agreed to do the job. the guy I bought it off assured me the siezed engine was the only problem with the car, and as I found out over the next month and a half this was far from the truth!
One thing after another was discovered by the mechanic who was working on it in his spare time, some idiot had 2 rubber suspension bushes on one side and none on the other, to balance it up and make up for the fact the wrong nut was used to fix the top of the suspension on! So I had to buy a whole new front suspension set up along with all the usual service items- oil etc.
Then the new engine was finally fixed in and I thought great it's ready - but no! It turned out that a power steering hose had also been bodged and was leaking fluid everywhere. Renault wants £90 for the part so we decided to get it from a scrappy. Next day delivery was agreed with the total coming to £35- it took over a week! During this time I sold my 1991 AX GT which I loved to bits! Finally the car was ready and I could bring it home. The car cost me a bomb to sort out, and as you can imagine I'm pretty naffed off with the person that sold me it. But the car now runs like a dream and is brilliant! The acceleration is more than a match for cars like 205 GTi's! The handling is brilliant around corners both in wet and dry and the ride is very comfortable. The look of the car from the front with the vent is gorgeous and must be very intimidating if all you can see is that in your rear view mirror! Overall the car stil needs a few little things on the interior to make it mint, and if anyone is thinking of buying one do! The insurance is only group 12 which is good value considering it will beat an XR2i easily in a race and that is insurance group 14! beware of the costs of problems though! Make sure if you buy one you get one with lots of history and in good overall condition!

Members' Comments onjim smith's Review

• ali g 29 on 2nd May 2007

  I agree mine came with lots of history and bills but still costing me lots but hey the fun makes up for it I'm currently running 160 bhp and it leaves most hot hatches in its wake its all worth it in the end trust me.