1995 Renault Clio 16V from UK and Ireland - Comments

The fan stopped working at 30,000 miles causing the engine to overheat, contributing to an oil leak in the head gasket, which was quite expensive.

The sunroof motor came loose and the sunroof wouldn't close, but this wasn't expensive to fix.

Otherwise not much, besides a bit of surface rust round the back wheel arches.

The car is great fun on country roads and over 4000 revs it can accelerate - overtaking two or three cars at a time is not a problem! It sticks to the road and handles predictably. I've fitted a Magnex exhaust which gives it a great sound too, otherwise the car is standard.

Drivers of seriously fast cars like Imprezas or M3's tend to underestimate the 16V and it can be fun when you surprise them, although if they really try forget it.

A heavy clutch makes it a pain round town (especially in London where the traffic is stop start) and the Magnex exhaust makes it noisy on the motorway. The car rattles and squeaks a lot and isn't that well put together (well it is French) and repairs can be expensive, otherwise I love it.

Yeah I agree with you on the squeaks and rattles, I owned my Clio 16 for 18 months, and it was a very quick car! had lots of fun in it, it did surprise a few people.

When buying check for...

-Wheel bearings (clio 16v seem to take them every 15,000)

-Rust on back arches (usually wet mud behind them)

-Lots of play in the steering rack (ie a large dead zone)

-Oil pressure when running (guage on dash) mine ran at about 1.5 bar when hot this goes up and down depending on ambient temp and revs.

- Tappets can get very noisy on cars with thiner oil.

- Leaking and rattling sunroofs.

Other than the things above the car was a great little mota, loved driving it, great engine noise when floored!!

I've just bought clio, good handling and very quick, but needed new clutch cable and overheating problem after just 2 weeks of ownership!

It's a 1991 j reg, cool light green/silver metallic.

I'm 19 and have a 2.0 16v focus, like to see you at the light it would be a close race I think, what break is the c 16.

I also own a 16v however mine has been chipped and makes it a real animal.

But yeah, like you say, they will suprise so many cars! I managed to pull from a 3.0 non turbo supra the other day!

As for the comment before - the St170 yeah?

The Clio is quicker!

I doubt it mate... the valver would nail a 2.0 16v focus, ST170 would be close, but it'd pip that as I've actually raced and beaten a few. This car for what it is is amazin. I've had mine 2 yrs now, no probs and it's a bullet WITHOUT a de-cat... it's goin on soon with uprated sparks, leads and boost valve. Supercharging is in 6months.

Even with an ST170 I'm afraid a Clio will wipe the floor with the Focus.

See ya.

Matt.

SORRY, Boys, but my 2.0 16v corsa does 14.2 at santa pod and eats 16v clios and st170 and 2.5 v6 vectras, it does 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and 0-100 in 14 seconds so if you want a race let me know lol!!!

It must be modified then, it takes a 2.0 16v turbo to do 60 in 5.5, even in a light corsa. A 2.0 16v vaux engine is only 150 bhp standard.

Hmmm 0-100 in 14 seconds in a Corsa. That's faster than a DB7. You could stick a jet engine in a corsa and it still wouldn't do it.