Faults:

Windscreen developed a leak

Clonking front suspension

Rattles and creaks everywhere

Passenger window came out of its guides and dropped into the door

Steering wheel trim started to disintegrate

Gear linkage fell apart

ABS pump failed.

CD player jammed

Engine became rough sounding later on.

General Comments:

The car itself is impressive, and the 172 bhp engine gives silly performance. Handles nicely too, and looks cute in that chunky hot hatch sort of way. But the build quality defies belief. To put it bluntly, it's a joke. The dealers are also clueless / couldn't care less (delete as appropriate).

Seems that Renault haven't learned a thing since the days of the old 5 GT Turbo. Design a fast, fun car and then build and support it so badly that buyers quickly get frustrated and look elsewhere. My 306 was by no means troublefree, but compared to this it was angelic!

It's especially disappointing, as there's a cracking car in here somewhere. It goes like stink, handles like a go kart and is suprisingly economical. However, there is no excuse in this day and age for such appalling quality. Sold it early this year and bought a Civic Type R. What a difference!

Faults:

Car would not start - we were informed that this was due to having started it and moved it only a short distance, which confused the engine management system. We were told that this was a common problem.

Car started running on only 3 cylinders. This was due to a faulty ignition coil.

Car started running on only 3 cylinders again. This was due to another faulty ignition coil.

General Comments:

The Clio is a pleasant car that handles and well and it is easy to forget its small size. Even reasonable road bumps are hardly noticed. Driving long distances can be covered with ease, although the driver seat could be a more comfortable.

The 1.4 engine provides ample power for town work and even motorway journeys are executed with ease.

This particular model has air conditioning, which does work, but is not as powerful or effective as that on larger cars.

Due to reliability problems carefree use of the car is no longer possible as there is the permanent worry of breakdown.

Faults:

Engine has been replaced at 7000 miles as there was a load rattle coming from the engine on start up.

Clutch was replaced at the same time as the engine as there was a lot of clutch judder.

There was a leaky sunroof when I picked up the car.

General Comments:

This is a very comfortable car and I like it a lot in-spite of the early problems I had.

Faults:

Dents on the body not picked up by the dealer upon its delivery (and not picked up by me until I got home)... one had already been 'touched' up. The dealer rectified after a short negotiation.

Driver's door had no colour on the bottom inner section (just primer). Dealership unhelpful said they sometimes come like that and that the primer would give sufficient protection! Eventually re-painted under the warranty.

After 3000 miles, the engine on start up sounded like diesel for first 10-15 seconds. 3 trips to the dealership failed to secure agreement that the engine was faulty. Renault HQ (UK) were contacted and after 4 months after my first complaint, they replaced the engine claiming piston slap to be the problem.

The clutch now judders sometimes when pulling away, but only slightly and I can't face further arguments with the garage!

'New' engine has done approx 4000 miles and is noisy on start up and rattly on tick-over, but they tell me that's normal!

Sun roof fixings rattle almost constantly, but can't be heard when the stereo is up loud...

General Comments:

Good fun little car, but I have been very disappointed by the resistance I have received for problems which have been major and very obvious, giving me no confidence in the Renault company as a whole.

Like the economy.

Like the performance and handling.

Like the low insurance group.

Don't like the noises the engine makes on start-up/tick-over.