How unreliable are Clios?

[RB_182]

I;m wanting to get a 1.4 Dynamique but my dad says theyre unreliable and I would be forever fixing it etc, so I was wondering if they're really that bad?

He was told by someone with a ph1 172 that theyre a bit of trouble. And I;ve had my 106 about two years and so far I;ve had engine light on, air bag light, new brake shoes, and something with the exhaust so is it just French cars or?

Thanks

P.s - sorry if it's in the wrong section,

 

[AK]

hes right lol

see this thread lol http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=404597

 

[Daniel]

Its a used car, it will go wrong.

They are no more unreliable than any other mass market car.

 

[Firas]

depends on the car. if you buy a good one that hasent been ragged and has been properly looked after then you wont have any problems i woudlnt think.

 

[Gumby]

Something will go wrong with any car really.

 

[Chrisjk]

My 1st clio absolutely perfect, no trouble whatsoever, my 2nd clio was a ball ache, needed new coild every few months mainly. Now on to my 3rd clio (172) and so far its been fine.

 

[RB_182]

hes right lol

see this thread lol http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=404597

Blimey, would that sum up clio sports though or all clios?

 

[Tom|Nbk]

OMG a French car that MUST mean it's unreliable and if ANYTHING goes wrong it must be because it's French. As someone else said they shouldn't really be anymore unreliable than any other mass market car. Electrics have a s**t fit every now and then but I had a BMW that also had electrical problems every now and then so...

 

[Tom|Nbk]

depends on the car. if you buy a good one that hasent been ragged and has been properly looked after then you wont have any problems i woudlnt think.

Fine for a 1.4 I guess but if you're buying a 172 it's kind of hard to presume the car has had an easy life since they are sports cars and designed to and most have had the nuts drove off them.

 

[Daniel]

I've had loads of problems with all types of cars.

Being french is not the cause.

 

[RB_182]

Thanks for your replies everyone, I wasn;t really asking if theyre unreliable because of being french, more that my dad was told by someone who had one that they were abit of a nightmare.

Thanks, I'll try persuade him

 

[Tom|Nbk]

I take it your dad is paying for it?

 

[RB_182]

Nope I am, sold my 106. He would come to view it with me so would be better if he approved.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Then it's your money buy what the hell you want.

 

[Beef-Mc]

Clio's aint any less reliable than any other car provided there looked after.

 

[Daniel]

Dads are just looking out for their sons mate. Its all good.

But unless he's actually owned a few of them or works as a mechanic/AA/ or works for Renault, he's just spreading rumours.

No offence!

 

[RB_182]

Then it's your money buy what the hell you want.

Well I'm going to do that I just wanted to find out if they were reliable-ish. And I think youre refering to when I said "I;ll try persuade him" - I meant to come to view one with me, not to let me buy one.

 

[pinky]

My car is a 53 plate and has only needed the o2 sensor changed.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Well I'm going to do that I just wanted to find out if they were reliable-ish. And I think youre refering to when I said "I;ll try persuade him" - I meant to come to view one with me, not to let me buy one.

Yea I know he's just looking out for you but if you've got your heart set on a clio and it's all your cash then just go for it mate. Make sure you find the right one though post it up on here if you're not sure about it

 

[RB_182]

Yea I know he's just looking out for you but if you've got your heart set on a clio and it's all your cash then just go for it mate. Make sure you find the right one though post it up on here if you're not sure about it

Cool


http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2003&vehicleRegLetter=53

^ Seen that, seems a bit of a low price though?
Going to ring tomorrow and ask if it's got FSH, belts changed and HPI clear,etc.

 

[chris_p]

Clio's aint any less reliable than any other car provided there looked after.

Yes they are.
In all honesty, the build quality is shocking.

The irritaing thing is, they have electrical gremlins, so you can't just take it to your local garage, they need to be taken to specialists or dealers = £££.

Personally, I can't wait to sell my cup so I can actually drive my new car instead of it sitting in the driveway 50% of the time!

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Yep sounds like you know what to ask about, looks good. Good luck with the hunt dude!

 

[chris_p]

Thinking about it, my post was bitter as fuk, but I've had a bad experience.

I think the main point to take from this is some are good, some are bad, and some are real bad.

Just looking at the power outputs of RS shows how the consistency of build quality varies.

 

[Daniel]

Yes they are.
In all honesty, the build quality is shocking.

The irritaing thing is, they have electrical gremlins, so you can't just take it to your local garage, they need to be taken to specialists or dealers = £££.

Personally, I can't wait to sell my cup so I can actually drive my new car instead of it sitting in the driveway 50% of the time!

Perhaps take it to a good local garage then??

I've never had to take any of mine to a dealer. My mechanic always sorts mine out.

 

[Tom|Nbk]

Yes they are.
In all honesty, the build quality is shocking.

The irritaing thing is, they have electrical gremlins, so you can't just take it to your local garage, they need to be taken to specialists or dealers = £££.

Personally, I can't wait to sell my cup so I can actually drive my new car instead of it sitting in the driveway 50% of the time!

Of course it is, you don't buy a cup for build quality :rasp:

Get a BMW if you want build quality but it won't be half as fun, unless you get an M3.

I used to have a E46 3 Series, fantastic build quality and no rattles even at 130k but it wasn't half as fun

and what's all this about taking it to a dealer or specialist, it's a tuned renault not a bloody ferrari, most local mechanics worth half their salt wil know what they're doing with them.

 

[chris_p]

Perhaps take it to a good local garage then??

I've never had to take any of mine to a dealer. My mechanic always sorts mine out.

Nice and reliable motors then are they? lol
I've had electrical problems with mine not many mechanics will have a clue with because they're electrical, hence they need an electrician.

Of course it is, you don't buy a cup for build quality :rasp:

Get a BMW if you want build quality but it won't be half as fun, unless you get an M3.

I used to have a E46 3 Series, fantastic build quality and no rattles even at 130k but it wasn't half as fun

Funnily enough my shortlist is: bmw 330ci/330ci d, 350z, audi tt.
Honestly, even a golf would be more 'fun' to drive at the moment. Mines sitting in the drive feeling sorry for its stupid self!

 

[Tom|Nbk]

I should mention I had the 320i, 330i has a fair bit more grunt but you'll miss the driver involvement of the Clio round those twisties.

E46 great cars though

 

[tim124]

you'll have issues with any car if you start to show it some grief. my grandmas has literally never had a single problem and its now 12 years old. But she drives it so carefully, the tyres get replaced due to old age.

ive never had any electrical issues with my clios. but yes the build quility is shite and with some of the mechanicals it looks like theyve thought about doing it properly and then drunk some coffee and bodged it.

 

[JCC]

Funnily enough my shortlist is: bmw 330ci/330ci d, 350z, audi tt.
Honestly, even a golf would be more 'fun' to drive at the moment. Mines sitting in the drive feeling sorry for its stupid self!

My boss got a TT for his wife that was on 60K and turned out to be shagged, needed a new ecu etc. so they aren't exempt from problems either.

If you look after a clio well enough you should be fine, some people are just unlucky with them.

 

[Reyes]

Very.

Enough said.

 

[Jamie]

No problems here tbh, with any of mine. The list includes:

A 1997 1.4RT for 3 years, my wife had this for a further 1 year - 30,000 miles.
A 1995 Williams 3 for 3.5years - 17,000 miles.
And my current 2003 172 is on 8 months - 5,000 miles.

Nothing has gone wrong with any of the above (172 touch wood as yet). I can't really complain of build quality either. If you have a Bentley or Roll's fair enough complain if something is so much a whisker out of place but for a cheap hatch I have no reservations.

 

[Dyewitness]

had a few issues with the 3 i have had but nothing over the top and always fixed under warranty..

1.4 dynamique - no issues at all

182 -door and drivers wing had to be realinged - xenons blew within week of having car due to light covers not being installed

197 - cold start issue and knocking noise off of front end

 

[Fletcher]

Mine has been great, now on 101k and running very well.

 

[chris_p]

My boss got a TT for his wife that was on 60K and turned out to be shagged, needed a new ecu etc. so they aren't exempt from problems either.

If you look after a clio well enough you should be fine, some people are just unlucky with them.

never said they would be exempt! Jap cars are the most reliable cars out there fact

 

[Ben.]

my clio had so many little annoying problems, it was always in the garage

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

Car reliability is an absolute lottery, you either get a monday morning car or a friday afternoon car.

If you look after it it should last, the interiors generally rattle but i think they all do that, atleast the ones ive been in.