2003 Renault Clio Sport 172 review from UK and Ireland
"Genuinely The Best Performing and Best Equipped Car For Under £15,000"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Car recalled for replacement of rear seat belt mounting bolts before I took delivery of the vehicle.
Car arrived damaged with very slight knocks on rear bumper and interior trim.
The dealer and Renault UK refused to do anything about this as I had signed for the vehicle even though I realized the faults on the same day.
Renault UK did send me some vouchers for use in their dealerships in the end after numerous unanswered and unreturned phone calls to dealer and Renault UK about the wait for the car to be delivered and the problems on taking delivery of the vehicle.
Not returned to dealer since I took delivery 9 months ago.
General comments?
This car is a great hot hatch for the money.
It goes extremely well, especially above 4,000 rpm when the Variable Valve Timing cuts in.
The engine thrives on revs and doesn't produce its best under 3,000 rpm, but beyond that it will leave many much more expensive cars in its wake.
Handling and grip is also top notch. The standard Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Traction Control have very rarely ever cut in, even in the wet the grip is so good.
The standard equipment list is endless for a car of this price. Climate control is good, xenon headlamps are excellent and the standard radio and CD multi-changer are of good quality.
Everything is electrically operated and even the lights and wipers are operated automatically. Though the sensor can get a little confused on the odd occasion.
Brakes are also very good with the standard ABS and Electronic Brake Force Distribution adding to an already impressive standard safety equipment list.
The interior and seats are very comfortable and smart to look at. The interior build quality is probably the only area of the car that falls below a generally high standard. The odd squeak and rattle has started to appear.
The exterior really looks the part. Understated and purposeful. The Iceberg Silver paint finish also does it great justice.
Its just as happy hammering down a country road as it is cruising on a motorway or in town.
A genuinely great little car that is well worth its £14,600 price tag.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 16v Manual |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 28 miles |
| Most recent distance | 10500 miles |
| Previous car | Renault Clio |
| Date of Entry | 31st December, 2003 |