1992 Renault Clio Baccara review from UK and Ireland

Fan Switch - I heard it running, but thought it'd cut out eventually it had been a long night and couldn't be bothered! Regretted that because next morning battery dead! Had to jump start it and use the car that day so until I got the part, had to keep disconnecting the battery every time I switched it off! Minor to fix, just a real pain and makes you look a bit mad standing next to your car listening to it after you switched it off!

At 74 500 Gearbox died - rather dramatically. Car driving perfectly fine, pull over to answer a call, as I drive off BANG! Judder judder judder reversed brilliantly just couldn't get 1st gear! Not the best time for the car to die on me 2am in a dodgy part of London either. Towed away and £750 later, got the car back! Tell-tale sign was the bang every time I put it into reverse admittedly was expecting it!

Heater in car went out in a very cold November! At first flickered on and off then just died completely! £80 later all fixed apparently parts overheated & melted the wires so all had to be replaced. Due to it's locality in the engine meant taking off windscreen wipers etc so that hiked up labour charges!

After gearbox replaced, juddering when cold & first starting off or stuck in traffic. Did jerk forward quite hard just by taking foot off the brake and accelerating slightly. Apparently not the gear box, but an oil leak - connector through to the gearbox was busted not enough oil going through! £150 later all done!

MOT: just had to laugh at all the faults because I wasn't about to break down in the garage! The main points: no full beam lights the indicator switch gone & steering column completely knackered. £450 and hopefully all should be sorted!

As with all old cars, be prepared for things to go wrong, it's just a shame how much has gone with this one!

Overall I must say I adore this car, the garage bills prove that alone! It's a dream to drive, so fast in sports mode and great for cutting in and out of traffic!

The best thing about this car is the leather seats! They are to die for! I dread getting a new car because the seats are like rock, the one's in this are heaven like a soft, cozy, leather armchair!

It has tons of other great features like the electric windows, 4 speed auto gearbox, heated electric mirrors, remote central locking, power assisted steering, remote controls for the radio/cassette, electric sunroof to name a few. I think the sheer luxury of this car, based on affordability makes it too hard to move onto one of these new plastic, computerised, basic cars I feel like I'm going backwards after driving the baccara - to get the same features on a newer model will cost me! If your going to get a clio of this age, get one of these there really is no point in driving the basic versions be a clio snob with the bacarra!