1996 Renault Clio RSI review from UK and Ireland

The car has been superb. The front wheel bearings had to be replaced and the exhaust went at about 50,000 miles, but that was just an excuse to fit a bigger exhaust.

The car has been superbly reliable with no unexpected problems occurring.

There are signs of rust on the rear wheel arches.

The car is fairly fast, out-pacing most cars on the road, however I would not say this was the RSi's strong point.

The car's steering is fabulous, always letting you know what the front wheels are doing and how much grip there is left.

The handling is also superb due to the lowered and stiffened suspension, although this does have the tendency to let you know about every bump on the road. This isn't a problem on faster roads though.

This is a very relaxing car to drive a long distance. I've driven 300 miles in it without getting either bored or uncomfortable.

Its pick-up from high speed on motorways is sometimes amazing and very good for overtaking on A-roads without having to drop a gear.

The brakes also deserve a mention. The all round disc brakes allow the car to be driven very quickly with confidence if you're in the mood.