Faults:

Gear stick shaking in 1st gear/revs up and down.

Loosing power/mainly uphill drive.

General Comments:

Wish I'd never bought this car - when I took it for a test drive, I didn't want to go far. Just drove it round the block, and was told the shaking was not enough petrol in it!

Had it 3 weeks, and it has been back at garage more than with me.

Still can't find a fault for losing power - even after been taken to Renault diagnostics.

Currently trying for my money back - wish me luck!!

Faults:

Has been generally good car for almost 4 years, but this month, alarmingly it started veering ever so slightly to the side on the motorway, even though I was holding the steering wheel still. Turns out it needs a new steering column - £900 + VAT.

Faults:

Nothing to report; haven't had it very long.

General Comments:

The car is great, I really like the engine, which is why I bought it.

Unfortunately I'm getting rid of it next month because I have just ordered a 2008 model Clio, which is a lot bigger and a lot more comfortable.

The old Clio is not good on the back for 4 hours driving, which I do every weekend, and it's also not that great for people over 6ft (i.e me!); my legs are always brushing the steering wheel and you feel very cramped. Anyway enough of me, let's get to the rest of the car!

General build quality of the 2004 model is OK, however the feel of the stalks and handbrake feel very cheap. I know this has been addressed in the new model.

The carpets are really hard to vacuum because of the material.

Fuel economy is great as long as you drive properly (under 3000rpm). I was getting 55-75Mpg.

Generally though the car is lovely and I would recommend to anyone who is under 6ft tall! But loved having it for the 4 months that I did.

Faults:

I (& my wife) have owned 2 Clio 172's; a 53 & 54. We only have the 54 now.

The 53 suffered a faulty rev counter in the 1st month and was replaced under warranty, which although it was an IN-PORT (and hence £12000 not £15000) did have 3 yrs Renault warranty. The dealerships don't like to do the work though, as you haven't lined their pockets with gold to begin with.

Then at about 24000 miles the steering wheel suffered the common fault (I've seen it on 2 of my friend's 172's too and now, my wife's at 26000 miles) which is that the leather '?' becomes lumpy, like old skin, and the rubber thumb grips completely decay, split and break off leaving an awful looking mess that puts off any hope of a quick sale at a good price; the buyer thinks the car's infected.

On both cars we have failed to keep the wheels looking good because they easily scrape curbs, being just proud of the tyre rims. I believe the 182 is better for this, having better tyres.

On my wife's 54 the exhaust back box went after 10-15000 miles (warranty job) but her cruise control plays up, switching itself off. Also the traction control plays up allowing the wheels to spin (but I'm not a fan of that anyway) and the 54 has had trouble with the ABS.

But now we come to the BIGGY!

3 days ago I was pulling out of a junction and accelerated (fairly hard) and got a lot of 'Axel Tramp'; a condition that results in the car 'walking down the road' or trying too hard to move the car and the suspension 'bounces' severely.

Severely enough in-fact to cause the passenger's seat AIR BAG to detonate, leaving me very shaken, a HUGE hole in the seat (2 feet) and the prospect of a bill: 1 air bag = £1000 plus the computer £???

I had switched off the front airbag, as we have a small baby, but the seat ones can still deploy.

At Renault UK I have been told that 'axle tramp' won't do this (Yet it most certainly did!) and that (quote) :" You must have hit a pot-hole or a kerb".

Case ongoing...

General Comments:

Good handling, stick to Michelins and good power, but not the fastest.