Car for the mother

obi604

So the mother is thinking of buying a car
She is not interested in speed, gadgets, power etc etc
She recently seen the new 2013 renault clio and took a liking to it.
I then seen the new clio today myself and I must say it looks decent
She just wants to buy a car and drive it, doesn't want to suffer with an unreliable car

So my old school perception of renault = French, stay away, un reliable, will break down a lot..

Is this still true of modern renaults or have they improved ?

Mycroft H

obi604 wrote: »

So my old school perception of renault = French, stay away, un reliable, will break down a lot..

Is this still true of modern renaults or have they improved ?

Any new car is going to be much of a muchness. All pretty reliable.

ninty9er

I work in car rental and we see a lot of Renault drivers for replacement vehicles. Other brands to a lesser extent, but the best way to get an extended test drive of various cars is buy a new Renault.

Chuck Stone

Mazda 2.



50+ MPG.
Low tax band.
Very good visibility so easy to park

bazz26

I'd look at the new Kia Rio to, 7 year warranty with them and they are well equipped:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/KIA/Rio/1.2-LX/34213634502888780/

obi604

I should have also said in my opening thread that she kinda has her heart set on the clio.

So from year replies with other cars, are yee sayin that renaults are not great and to stay away

Chuck Stone

obi604 wrote: »

I should have also said in my opening thread that she kinda has her heart set on the clio.

Show her this thread and she might reconsider.

obi604

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Show her this thread and she might reconsider.

Sure I have kinda showed her all the other similar cars out there already and the above cars were included, but she still prefers the renault clio over them all.

Chuck Stone

obi604 wrote: »

Sure I have kinda showed her all the other similar cars out there already and the above cars were included, but she still prefers the renault clio over them all.

Well if she has her heart set on it I don't think there's much you can do. The new Clio is very attractive I must say.

bazz26

obi604 wrote: »

I should have also said in my opening thread that she kinda has her heart set on the clio.

So from year replies with other cars, are yee sayin that renaults are not great and to stay away

No, we are just saying that there is plenty of choice out there. The Clio was always a good car even when Renault made other models that were not so good.

obi604

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Well if she has her heart set on it I don't think there's much you can do. The new Clio is very attractive I must say.

Tis a nice lookin car alright.
we'll she has her heart set on it alright but I just wanted to check to see if renaults are as dodge as their reputation from the past suggests

But it seems to be that every car has an element of risk about it and that buying a newish renault would not be the end of the world or a total disaster from a reliability point of view.

RealExpert

Take a fools advice dont go anywhere near Renault.

obi604

RealExpert wrote: »

Take a fools advice dont go anywhere near Renault.

Me being thick here but I'm not familiar with this saying

Are you saying that only a fool would tell one to STAY AWAY from renault ?

dgt

obi604 wrote: »

Me being thick here but I'm not familiar with this saying

Are you saying that only a fool would tell one to STAY AWAY from renault ?

I'm interpreting that as they bought a Renault and looking back was a rather foolish thing on their part to do.

There's no shame in admitting a wrong decision, for others to learn about and use to their advantage

I can't comment on Renaults of modern-ish (Lag 2 we had was crap though) but I'm seeing plenty of those new Clios about....

RealExpert

obi604 wrote: »

Me being thick here but I'm not familiar with this saying

You are familiar with it now:-)

obi604 wrote: »

Are you saying that only a fool would tell one to STAY AWAY from renault ?

No the opposite actually.
I am saying do not go near a Renault you will regret it.

obi604

RealExpert wrote: »

You are familiar with it now:-)


No the opposite actually.
I am saying do not go near a Renault you will regret it.

Oh ok, have ya now. I was initially thinking a fools advice was advice from a fool but it actually means advice from someone who has been fooled and is therefore better informed to give advice on the particular subject in question.

Foxhole Norman

Since 2003 we have owned 4 renaults from new.

2003 Laguna II Estate, completely reliable bar one day when it sheared a bolt.

2006 Clio II 1.2 petrol, never any problems.

2011 Clio II Facelift 1.2 petrol, again no problems, even after I crashed it.

Currently have a 2012 Fluence 1.5 Diesel since new in August, no problems at all.

munchkin_utd

just handed back a 2012 Clio rental car and it would be a grand car for the older and/or female driver.
The steering is VERY, unbelievably, and for my taste far too light so you arent challenged in the slightest when locking the wheel from side to side whilst parking.
The gearbox is very forgiving and has a really long soft biting point. I could change smoother in the clio after 1 minute driving that my focus that I have nearly 4 years.
Drive wise its grand about town and has adequate power at low speeds but not a car you want to bring on the motorway for longer journeys as its just too bouncy/ jittery and generally unpleasant.
Obviously after only a weekend I cant guage reliability!

Its funny this thread came up because on my way to work I was trying to figure why the clio is designed or evolved the way it has.
Its definitely a car that would suit anyone learning to drive or someone that wants a car that is easy to manuevure and operate so also good for women and frail pensioners so it seems that Renault are targetting the clio at this market.

If I were in the market for a small town car it'd definitely be on the list, but always with the idea that a hire car is needed for proper spins!

saggycaggy

Sorry to jump in on the thread but I just have a question in relation to the Clio.
I too had my heart set on a little Clio-2006 (in my budget) car, the nice newer version. But so many people have warned me off them (friends, Renault owners, mechanic!) and told me not to go near them so I'd be afraid to get one for fear of the "i told you so".
So I'm just wondering what would be the next best thing to the Clio but similar to the Clio- nippy,easy to drive, boot space? Thanks!

walus

Stick to a petrol model and it will prove a very reliable car. Renaults are very well engineered, but have had their reputation ruined by bad electrics and issues with diesel powered cars in the past. Petrol engines and gearboxes in most of Renaults do no give any trouble.

keithclancy

Honda Jazz .... cracking little car for around the City.

I'd recommend she test drive a few and see what she likes.

Best to have a comparison rather than try one and say 'i like clio'

obi604

keithclancy wrote: »

Honda Jazz .... cracking little car for around the City.

I'd recommend she test drive a few and see what she likes.

Best to have a comparison rather than try one and say 'i like clio'

Get ya, but the honda jazzs are slightly dearer in price

Celly Smunt

Punto?

or if she still feels trandy and young at heart

colm_mcm

Grande/evo punto is out 8 years at this stage, it didn't set the world alight in 2005 and the game has moved on.

Great second hand buy for €3000 but hard to recommend a new one.

obi604

So I'm posting on an old thread, don't know if this is allowed or not. So in the end the mother bought the Clio.

Had a drive in it tonight and was checking the on board computer. Normally for the units on these modern cars it's measured in litres per 100 km I think.

I'm confused as to the reading in the Clio. See attached.

Is this the same as litres per 100 km ??

Dord

That'd be around 8L/100km or 35mpg.

colm_mcm

Any pics of the car, some of those new clios are pretty tasty, theres a black one with red detailing locally that looks great, saw a yellow base model in Spain recently and it looked great even on steel wheels

obi604

Dord wrote: »

That'd be around 8L/100km or 35mpg.

So the computer is not the usual litres per 100km.

And it's in fact stating it as : you are doing X amount of kilometres per 1 litre of fuel ?

obi604

colm_mcm wrote: »

Any pics of the car, some of those new clios are pretty tasty, theres a black one with red detailing locally that looks great, saw a yellow base model in Spain recently and it looked great even on steel wheels

Don't have any pics handy Colm

But it's nice enuf looking alright - well the front is anyways, I like the big Renault sign on the front.

Dord

obi604 wrote: »

So the computer is not the usual litres per 100km.

And it's saying it as you are using x amount of kilomrmetres for 1 litre of fuel.

Yep. It's a different unit. Best to check the manual.

ba_barabus

colm_mcm wrote: »

Any pics of the car, some of those new clios are pretty tasty, theres a black one with red detailing locally that looks great, saw a yellow base model in Spain recently and it looked great even on steel wheels

Lovely until you sit in to drive a 1.2 version and realise its the slowest car you've ever driven. I haven't experienced anything like it in a long time. I've driven two and both had the same experience. The 1.5dci is a different kettle of fish however

obi604

ba_barabus wrote: »

Lovely until you sit in to drive a 1.2 version and realise its the slowest car you've ever driven. I haven't experienced anything like it in a long time. I've driven two and both had the same experience. The 1.5dci is a different kettle of fish however

Ah yeah, tis slow as Christmas alright. (1.2 petrol ) Zero poke. But mother cudnt give a Fook about that.

ba_barabus

obi604 wrote: »

Ah yeah, tis slow as Christmas alright. (1.2 petrol ) Zero poke. But mother cudnt give a Fook about that.

Funnily my mother got a 1.2TSI YETI and loves the TURDO kicking in. It can surprise a few people when pushed on.

ltdslipdiff

Some of the early new model Clios (and Capturs) are via UK and have had their speedo's re-programmed to km/h for Irish roads and the Fuel consumption computer also changes to km/litre configuration to match. same in lots of UK scenics now showing km/h readout. Yes that 1.2 is painfully slow, the 898cc TCe is a hoot though!

Friend picked up one of the Clios earlier this year. Have to say, I think the black and red version is very good looking. Very menacing looking.

I love the front of the car: