Faults:

Both rear wheel bearings have needed replacing.

Both front suspension springs have broke.

Replaced hazard light switch.

General Comments:

Having read some of the many problems people have experienced with their Clio's, I think I must be quite lucky so far! I've had many unreliable 'always at the garage' cars in the past, but this isn't one of them.

Having been forced to part-ex my 2 year old Subaru Impreza WRX due to running costs, I thought I would hate this car, but I don't!

I've had this car for over 5 years now, & apart from two wheel bearings & front suspension springs (good old potholes!), I've not had any electrical or mechanical problems at all.

I drive the car quite hard, & it's only been serviced 3 times in total (previous owner at Renault, once independent garage, once myself), it's easy to service even for a novice like me - even changed the cam belt myself! Not taken it to Renault at all, so can't comment on their service.

It's quite a nice car to drive - fairly nippy considering, and handles well in town and on country roads, has enough power for the motorways too. For the economy and cheap running costs, you really can't go wrong.

Fuel economy could be a little better, but it may just be my driving style...

The interiors are not the greatest, but there's still no annoying rattles, & it's quite durable. Front seats are fairly comfortable, but rear legroom could be better though.

Overall, I've been very happy with this car so far!

Faults:

The car stopped in the middle of a busy roundabout, the orange engine light came on, and the car wouldn't move. The car wouldn't start in the mornings either. The problem was intermittent.

I had the diagnostic test, and it showed the crank sensor needed replacing. I have now had it fixed, and the problem has gone.

I have read many reviews re this, and many people going back and forth to garages saying the reader does not show a fault. It is the crank sensor; it cost me 100 quid for the diagnostic, parts and labour at my local garage. Problem solved.

General Comments:

The car is good at road handling.

Nippy.

Good on petrol.

Fits easily into parking spaces.

Faults:

Car cuts out at low revs (i.e coming to a stop at traffic lights).

Both spare and my normal key need replacing, as they will no longer start the car; £130 each!

Hazard light button broke, and had to be replaced.

Seal on the sunroof had to be replaced due to leaking.

Seatbelt and service light came on frequently, as wires kept coming loose under the passenger seat.

General Comments:

This car is a great little car when it's good, but boy, when it's bad (which is most of the time), it's really bad!!

If you're unlucky enough to have bought a car from the same year as mine, chances are that you will end up spending more money on trying to find and fix problems on it, than what you paid for it!

Normal mechanics will find it hard to pin point any electrical faults with this car, and so will Renault, but they will charge you a fortune to look!!!

Faults:

Very DANGEROUS FAULT!! Engine throttle does nothing, and engine revs uncontrollably. Car just creeps along. Engine management light appeared at approx 45000 (orange coil) and engine revs up and down with no input from throttle.

Took to it a local garage, and diagnostic test produced faults with either throttle pedal, throttle body or ECU. Changed throttle pedal (cheapest option first!) and fault occurred again.

Took to Renault, as they are believed to have better computers that can 'pinpoint' problems. Had report (£70 down!) and 'suspect' fault with ECU... wait for it... £700 + VAT.

Determined to fix the fault myself, I cleaned the throttle body with carb cleaner, checked looms etc, and discovered a metal plate loose at the rear of the air intake (behind plugs). The metal plate had worn insulation off white cable, which can be traced back to throttle body. I have secured the plate and covered the bare wire, which was shorting, with insulation tape, and the problem seems to be solved. All for the cost of insulation tape.

I recommend checking all looms, and re-taping any exposed wires that are not in ducting.