The original Clio was a breakthrough for Renault. Its chic, cosmopolitan looks, low running costs, confident handling and clever use of space had buyers reaching for their cheque books. By the mid-Nineties, European competitors had caught up. Like greying Papa, Clio was beginning to look a bit tired, and niggling mid-life reliability problems were emerging.

(Nicole remained as vivacious as ever, but was conveniently married off when Clio MkII appeared.) Renault’s answer was a comprehensive make-over programme, fixing the faults and improving the car in almost every area. The cheeky Clio MkII was launched in 1998 as a thoroughly modern supermini that inherited all the charm and classless appeal of the original Clio but felt sturdier and better built.

But being bigger and heavier than the 1991-98 car, it feels a little less agile and handling can seem blunter and less entertaining than the original.

Parkers top buying tips

As with all used purchases, do remember to get a car history check. It might just save you from an unpleasant surprise later down the line. Also, don’t forget you can use our valuation tool to get an idea of how much you should be paying for a car. You can also check our reviews section for more information about the cars you are interested in.