Mk4 Renaultsport Clio as a daily?

[IW365]

Hi folks,

I'm thinking of getting rid of my 2008 Civic FN2 type-R daily and I'm seriously considering a Mk4 Clio EDC as its replacement.

It looks to me like it would be a good daily drive thanks to the auto box and fairly good MPG.

What's peoples experience of these and what sort of things should I be looking at with a view to common problems etc?

I've got my eye on one with a trade seller, its a 63k mile trophy at just under 10 grand which seems fairly reasonable to me.

If anyone's got one coming up for sale anytime soon, let me know!

Cheers

Ian

 

[JamesBryan]

@Sash

 

[leeds2592]

@S-JM

 

[S-JM]

I had mine for 3 years (phase 2 non-trophy), had absolutely zero issues with it and it made a great daily.
Nice to cruise around in, the auto box was really nice, stick it in race/manual and you can have a lot of fun once the roads opened up.

I modded mine a fair bit - exhaust, ITG, discs, pads, tyres, wheels etc. It was only missing a remap but even on standard power it was easily adequate for daily use with the occasional trackday.

Although it was a 'daily' it didn't really get a huge amount of use (10k in 3 years) so fuel economy wasn't a concern, but from what I did see it was always in the mid 30s 👍.

 

[Bluebeard]

@Sunglasses_Ron

 

[Sash]

A daily you say… why haven’t you done it yet?!

Soon to be 7 years as mine, 190k in my ownership (214k in total). ~32-34mpg is easily achievable for me day to day as a driving instructor but it seems some struggle (I’m really not sure how!) on a run I’ll easily see 40+mpg.

 

[VenomUK]

I've been considering one of these as a daily also!!

 

[charltjr]

I think the Mk4 is really underrated because the Fiesta ST came along and was just that bit more fun in the group tests. But then everyone with a Fiesta as a daily wants to change the s**t suspension. I’d like to run a mk4 for a while too.

 

[Starlet_gt]

I had one for around 2 years from 2015-2017. Easy to drive, don't remember it having any issues at all. It was only 2 years old when I bought it though!

 

[Adey.]

Had mine nearly 2 years, awesome daily and track hack. Slapped a big turbo and a load of bolt on nearly straight away. shave over 300bhp no major issues to note. I cover about 35-55 miles a day in it and averages around 34/36mpg, shave over 40mpg on a run though.

 

[Sash]

I think the Mk4 is really underrated because the Fiesta ST came along and was just that bit more fun in the group tests. But then everyone with a Fiesta as a daily wants to change the s**t suspension. I’d like to run a mk4 for a while too.

Everyone with a ST is constantly sh!tting themselves that it's going to get nicked... You'll never have that trouble with a Renault!

 

[Burny16v]

I actually went from a mk7 Fiesta ST into a mk4 Clio 200 (with Cup pack) back in 2016, and found it a far better daily. It had a more comfortable ride and felt more "grown up", I drove it about 80 miles a day for six months and it was fine. I did struggle to get it to do more than around 36 mpg day to day, but on a steady motorway run you could get it up to around 40. They look good value now and I'm considering getting back into one, ideally a 220 Trophy.

 

[IW365]

This all sounds positive, I'm 47 this year so I think something more grown up than the type-r is more suitable. It's also going up to £400 a year VED do that's something to consider. I get about 32mpg with the civic so the Clio is a slight improvement.

I'm favouring the 220 trophy at the moment, perhaps I'll have a look over the weekend at a couple, the problem is there aren't that many for sale anywhere near me.

 

[thebigmoose]

I've had mine about 6 months, done about 5k in it and as a daily it's great. I got a 200 rather than the Trophy and i regularly find myself looking at Autotrader wishing i'd just bought a LY Trophy.

The odd internal trim rattle is par for the course and the seats could do with being a smidge wider at the hip point (but that's cos i'm 6'7). Other than that, can't fault it. I do mostly country roads with some queuing through town and average 31mpg.

 

[PP200t]

All I will add is do it. A few choice mods and they really can ange character. Great to drive and easy to live with.

 

[danord]

I've had mine for 5 years now (phase 2, 220 trophy), not done much mileage - under 30k on the clock. Apart from some coolant hose clip that got corroded near the radiator, which got fixed under warranty, it's been absolutely solid. Can't fault it. Echo everything else everyone else had said. Plan is to keep it for as long as I can. No mods and no plans to mod it in the future either. Fits the family in and is fun to drive 👍

 

[Iain C]

Only had mine a few weeks but used daily. It's great. Fairly quiet in run about mode then stick it in sport and it comes alive. Im a convert.
I'm 47 as well. My wife says the 200 is a kids car and I need to grow up

 

[IW365]

Only had mine a few weeks but used daily. It's great. Fairly quiet in run about mode then stick it in sport and it comes alive. Im a convert.
I'm 47 as well. My wife says the 200 is a kids car and I need to grow up

😂 I don't think we ever grow up when it comes to cars do we?

 

[IW365]

I've had mine for 5 years now (phase 2, 220 trophy), not done much mileage - under 30k on the clock. Apart from some coolant hose clip that got corroded near the radiator, which got fixed under warranty, it's been absolutely solid. Can't fault it. Echo everything else everyone else had said. Plan is to keep it for as long as I can. No mods and no plans to mod it in the future either. Fits the family in and is fun to drive 👍

That sounds like just what I want to hear cheers 👍

 

[IW365]

I've had mine about 6 months, done about 5k in it and as a daily it's great. I got a 200 rather than the Trophy and i regularly find myself looking at Autotrader wishing i'd just bought a LY Trophy.

The odd internal trim rattle is par for the course and the seats could do with being a smidge wider at the hip point (but that's cos i'm 6'7). Other than that, can't fault it. I do mostly country roads with some queuing through town and average 31mpg.

I think I can live with the rattles, and I think I'll look more towards a trophy too

 

[IW365]

A daily you say… why haven’t you done it yet?!

Soon to be 7 years as mine, 190k in my ownership (214k in total). ~32-34mpg is easily achievable for me day to day as a driving instructor but it seems some struggle (I’m really not sure how!) on a run I’ll easily see 40+mpg.

I think I've made my mind up, I just need to find one near me, there's a 30k Trophy nearby but it's up for £12k which I think is a little on the high side. Sounds like mpg is similar to the civic, which I can live with.

 

[IW365]

I had mine for 3 years (phase 2 non-trophy), had absolutely zero issues with it and it made a great daily.
Nice to cruise around in, the auto box was really nice, stick it in race/manual and you can have a lot of fun once the roads opened up.

I modded mine a fair bit - exhaust, ITG, discs, pads, tyres, wheels etc. It was only missing a remap but even on standard power it was easily adequate for daily use with the occasional trackday.

Although it was a 'daily' it didn't really get a huge amount of use (10k in 3 years) so fuel economy wasn't a concern, but from what I did see it was always in the mid 30s 👍.

View attachment 1732834

View attachment 1732835

That looks lovely, I don't think I'd be looking to mod it, but you never know!

 

[Matt Cup]

Perhaps it’s just me, but unless the average mpg’s were ridiculously low I wouldn’t get hung up on the economy of them.

 

[IW365]

Perhaps it’s just me, but unless the average mpg’s were ridiculously low I wouldn’t get hung up on the economy of them.

Yeah, as long as it's similar to the Civic its fine, I just wondered if the auto box had any bearing on it

 

[Bluebeard]

Everyone with a ST is constantly sh!tting themselves that it's going to get nicked... You'll never have that trouble with a Renault!

I beg to differ…

 

[Matt Cup]

Yeah, as long as it's similar to the Civic its fine, I just wondered if the auto box had any bearing on it

Any bearing on what fella? The mpgeeees?

 

[IW365]

Any bearing on what fella? The mpgeeees?

Yes mate, I wondered if the auto box would make it a bit less economical, I know they used to but I haven't had an auto since the late 90s....

 

[Matt Cup]

Yes mate, I wondered if the auto box would make it a bit less economical, I know they used to but I haven't had an auto since the late 90s....

I don’t think they designed it for economy in mind, but it’s gotta be a hell of a lot better than the early 197’s with their ridiculous short gear ratios.

 

[Iain C]

😂 I don't think we ever grow up when it comes to cars do we?

I've had diesel estates the last 8 years so I'm regressing

 

[Martin_172]

I had a 220 trophy as a daily driver when i was doing a bit of milage with work, it was night and day compared to the mk3 200 it replaced, nicer place to be, much faster, especially day to day, i actually thought it stopped better than the 200 with brembos too!, handled brilliant - overall it was just a great thing to live with - HOWEVER, the first 2 weeks i had it, i wasn't sure it was for me and then it suddenly just started to click, so try to keep that in mind if you test drive one.

mine was reliable apart from the rear window exploding one day when it was outside work!!

I replaced it with its cousin, the mk4 Megane GT205 which is also worth a look, same engine but with the 7 speed box from the Alpine A110, it lacks a bit of the theatre that the Clio has with its lack of noise but the box is much nicer to live with day to day and much faster on the paddles (although i never found the 220 box too bad on the padles - much better than the early 200 cars) - Interior is light years ahead too

 

[IW365]

I had a 220 trophy as a daily driver when i was doing a bit of milage with work, it was night and day compared to the mk3 200 it replaced, nicer place to be, much faster, especially day to day, i actually thought it stopped better than the 200 with brembos too!, handled brilliant - overall it was just a great thing to live with - HOWEVER, the first 2 weeks i had it, i wasn't sure it was for me and then it suddenly just started to click, so try to keep that in mind if you test drive one.
View attachment 1733225

mine was reliable apart from the rear window exploding one day when it was outside work!!
View attachment 1733227

I replaced it with its cousin, the mk4 Megane GT205 which is also worth a look, same engine but with the 7 speed box from the Alpine A110, it lacks a bit of the theatre that the Clio has with its lack of noise but the box is much nicer to live with day to day and much faster on the paddles (although i never found the 220 box too bad on the padles - much better than the early 200 cars) - Interior is light years ahead too
View attachment 1733229

They both look like great cars, I hadn't considered the Megane, I'll see if there are any about for me to take a look at. Cheers

 

[DaveL485]

This all sounds positive, I'm 47 this year so I think something more grown up than the type-r is more suitable. It's also going up to £400 a year VED do that's something to consider. I get about 32mpg with the civic so the Clio is a slight improvement.

I'm favouring the 220 trophy at the moment, perhaps I'll have a look over the weekend at a couple, the problem is there aren't that many for sale anywhere near me.

I'm the same age, with a MK4 220 Trophy. Can't fault it, great car, excellent all rounder. I use it to go to the shops, fast road, track, and everything in between. Easy to maintain, reasonable costs. I can't see me parting with it at all.