2002 Renault Clio 172 review from UK and Ireland

Atrocious build quality - rattles from sunroof, glovebox, footwell trim and parcel shelf, frayed seat trim and baggy carpets by the time it was 9 months old.

Mayonnaise around filler cap caused by head gasket failure. Renault tried to get out of paying for it saying the engine was abused. Threat of court action was needed to get them to honour the warranty, which they did.

Strong smell of petrol which was denied three times by dealer. Eventually the fuel tank was found to be pressurising - a known fault apparently. Sorted under warranty, but if it's a known fault, why was the car constantly returned to me as OK?

Horrendous misfire caused by a coil failing. Car was towed in and fixed, but then happened again 2 weeks later. Again, a known issue, but instead of replacing all four coils last time as Renault recommend when this happens, the idiotic dealer had changed only one.

Passenger window wound up outside the door frame the first time it was used! Duff regulator replaced under warranty.

Boot leaked, allowing water into the tail light cluster which promptly shorted out. The fuse blew, but not before the circuit board and a few centimetres of wiring melted.

How Renault have the nerve to sell this piece of junk is beyond me.

Yes it performs amazingly and yes it handles well. But there is no excuse for such shoddy engineering and quality. Dealers are useless too which really doesn't help.

Got rid of it at nine months old and I'm now happy with a Civic Type-R. I will never touch another Renault with a barge pole.