Renault Clio Hatchback (2005 - 2012) 1.2 TCE Expression 5d Owner Review

So, the Renault Clio MK3. The biggest issue I have found with my car is the interior. I mean, yes at this price range it's not going to be leather and quality wood materials and the scratchy plastics it contains are functional enough. In fact, the people who review cars like this on YouTube channels and then complain about "Hard interior plastics" or " Numb Steering" (Carwow, I'm looking at you) seem to forget that every day people are driving down the M5, not the Nordschleife or chauffeuring the Queen. My biggest gripe with said interior is the colour scheme . My car is black, but the interior is two tone (how very 1980s) dark grey and beige... Let that sink in for a second... Beige. What the hell were they thinking? Who thought that was a good colour combination? And because of its beige interior, the seats are very susceptible to stains (Coffee stains always remind me of this) If you can overlook this (Or better still, get a model with a single, dark coloured interior) you can't go wrong. Yes it may not have the poise of certain fords or VW group Cars (SEAT Leon springs to mind) but this particular model has its party piece engine. The 1.2 TCE 100bhp engine (So called because it produces exactly 98 BHP) is possibly the greatest piece of engineering for motorists with small budgets. The back seats are reasonable for the average 2.4 children, and the boot, although not class leading, is spacious enough for your weekly shop or for 3 medium sized suitcases if you are going on holiday. (if you are going with my wife, it will fit her 3 suitcases and i put my rucksack on the backseat) If you're in your 40s, then it may not be the best option for you if you want something exciting to drive and reliable. However, if you are under the age of 30 and have insurance premiums higher than the debts racked up by the average student, this car is ideal in my opinion. Reliability can be hit and miss, but that's the same for most cars. If you get one in decent shape, the car will serve you well and make overtaking a breeze. The other good thing about Clio's is there are many websites and pages dedicated to modifying them. A remap of the engine can increase the BHP to around 125, which is not bad for a 1.2. In terms of economy, the car has a large fuel tank at 55 litres (Average price to fill that from bottom to top is £60 depending on fuel prices) Tax is £135 a year, which is roughly £12.80 a month. In context a Volvo C30 (Volvo's attempt at a sporty Coupe) has a 1.6 litre (Petrol) engine that also produces 98BHP and a 55 litre fuel tank, but is £240 a year to tax. The Volvo also has a larger thirst, so it claims to only do around 484 mile per tank. The Clio claims 580 mile per tank, in reality, it’s more like 510 if you drive sensibly. But that's still not bad. So in summary, get a single colour interior, don't let the fuel tank completely empty itself and consider the endless modifying opportunities. It’s not the best in terms of quality, but the engine will always leave you with a smile on your face whenever the road lets you thrash it.