You can get some cracking bargains on them and it is arguabley better looking then the next two Clio's that followed it.

I had a previous version (the one with bug like headlights) and had nothing but trouble and vowed never to get another renault again... although when my punto was written off i just needed a cheap run around and i bought this one. There's been 3 mk 2 clio's in my family and i've driven them all here are some of the bits that were common with then all...

Bad bits, if it has a sunroof (and i think most if not all do) then get used to a loud rattling noise - i've got used to it but if you ever give anyone a lift they are always asking what the noise is and when someone does point it out its really noticeable.

All 4 i've drove have a rough idleing thing, and friends have had the same. Its as though the car wants to stall and 99.9% of the time it will recover itself but ocassionally it doesnt and its annoying - the rev counter at traffic lights will move up and down (not massivley like your trying to race) but again its noticeable.

Mine came with a CD player as an extra although the expression doesnt always come with one, if on a long journey it overheats and will turn itself off, anything over an hour means no sound until its cold enough again.

The gator around the gearstick is flimsy and when it breaks looks a mess and is a pain to repair. General build quality is ok vastly improved then the last model but still rattles and noises.

You can never really get that comfory in it, it has reach, rake steering, height adjustable seats and moves back and forwards like you'd expect but you always feel like your still not quite right.

The variable power steering (meant to be light at slow speed heavy at higher speeds) doesnt always get it right and sometimes going really slow its dead heavy.

One thing to mention and not really good or bad but the steering wheel is pretty big, you soon get used to it but its really noticeable when you drive any other car.

Headlight bulbs a pain to change.

Renault after service is poor.

Good bits, no major problems with this or the other two in my family that are the same type mk2 2nd gen - the previous version mk2 (bubble headlights) i owened was riddled with faults.
Extreme is better and even better still is the dynamique model which feels so much better and drives better maybe because its on alloys.

The sterio controls on the stalk behind the wheel are great, really easy to use, shape of buttons different so you can swap cd/radio tracks or channels, volume and mute at ease without even looking.

Overall its been a pretty good car although if your considering it then get the dynamique, i miss the air con and it looks poor with wheel trims which are standard on the expression. Try and avoid one with a sunroof although if you want one take it over a few speed bumps when you'll notice if its got the same issue.

I'm glad i got it then and if that time came again then i'd have got it again knowing what i do now, although my housemates x reg fiesta drives and handles much better - but then my fuel economy is much better.