Conference terri::cars_uk

The sales staff at weldale motors in Reading inform me that they expect the
5GT Turbo to be in production along side the 16v Clio for at least a couple of
years.

	Barrie.

    I hope they keep the 5GTT in production. The Clio is bigger (and
    heavier) and knowing the inherent lack of torque of the 16v engines
    the 5GTT will beat the Clio 16v in acceleration.
    
    Now, what Renault said is: when we produce enough 16v engines we'll
    kill the 5GTT.
    
    By the way: the Clio will be sold starting on Jul 1 in France.

    Is this clio another badge of the 5?, or is it a new model?.
    What's it look like?.
    
    Rich

    This weeks Autocar and Motor has got the complete run down on all the
    Clio models.
    
    Slightly bigger than an R% and a bit more upmarket in its finish.
    
    Rich
    

        Slightly bigger than an R% and a bit more upmarket in its finish.
                                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
    how can you get more upmarket than the R5 GTT ?
    
    answers please ... (oh my god here we go r5gtt jokes galore...)
    
    ;-)

    Have Renault UK got any glossys etc on the Clio?
    
    Greg

>>    
    how can you get more upmarket than the R5 GTT ?
    
    answers please ... (oh my god here we go r5gtt jokes galore...)
    
    ;-)
>>


the question should read...

how can you go more DOWNmarket than the R5 GTT?



...art		:^)

    
    Renault CLio is the main subject of the French Car Mags this month.
    
    I'm no fan of the old 5 which I have driven on many occasions between
    here and Lyon airport. In my opinion its the worst of the superminis,
    Pug 205's are streets ahead of the rest (including the new Fiesta).
                                                                    
    Clio is bigger 148 inch wb making it now the biggest in its class.
    It will be interesting to see if the new Metro looses sales simply
    because it is not following this trend of growing the cars with
    every new model release. Clio looks nice in the pictures though.
    
    

    I saw a Clio (pretty bland model) at Le Mans. It looked Ok, but a bit
    too much of a Euro Box (the similarity between the old 5 and the Super
    5 has not been continued).
    
    I don't think I'll bother checking out the Clio range too much when it
    reaches the UK.
    
    Mark

	I think the Clio is boring, bland, bulbous and downright ugly.
	Just how does anybody actually manage to conceive such an
	amorphous nonentity?.

	-John

    
    They simply copy Peugeot! :^)
    
    Mark

    Actually, you do get used to the shape. It's like when the new Fiesta
    came out. I personally thought "Urgh", but know i like it.
    
    But i agree the CLIO is ugly, and the only decent lookign one is the
    16v - it somehow looks different - and quite nice!
    
    If you think it is really ugly - check out the new Mazda 121...
    
    Ahh - the clio - what a rose among thorns ;-)

 I am not sure yet whether I like the Clio, but then again, I have only seen a
couple of them. My first impression when I saw the first one, was that it was a
big version of the Dihatsu Charade, but that was a rear view.

		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    
    I agree withthe comments on the Clio, it just looks like the preverbial 
    Euro-car, and for that reason I dropped it drom my list when buying my
    new car.
    
    Now having seen the 16v version, theres really not much difference in 
    basic body design (spoilers, wide arches etc) but, what is very
    noticable is the large hole/air scoop in the bonnet. 
    
    Having had a spin (not literally) in the 16v I can tell you that the 
    power is verging on 'awesome' for a small car may make me look at the 
    Clio next time.
    
    Mark.
    a previous R5 GTT driver

	As if the Clio wasn't bad enough as is it has also achieved
	that wonderous "kiss of death" by being voted "european car of the 
	year".

	Well beaten contenders include - New Metro, Rover 200, MX5 and
	Vauxhall Calibra.

	I don't know what the list of previous winners is but they have
	a knack of picking some right lemons. A bit like being voted
	"Guardian Young Businessman of the Year", all the previous
	winners of which have ended up in receivership or some similar
	disaster.

	-John

    Being the owner of a "Super 5 GTR", and now having had the
    oppertunity to drive Clio, I have to admit I don't see a lot
    of difference between the two cars, other than the cosmetics.
    The driving position and "feel" of the two cars is almost identical.

    Infact, rear visability appears to be worse on the Clio than the
    5, and the heated rear screen with its mass of very visible wires
    is a real distraction.

    I still don't like the rear view of the Clio on the base models,
    but the addition of wider wheels and one or two other minor
    detailed changes make the "go faster" models look quite respectable.


 Mark

    
    Was down in Grasse last week, & a works Clio 16V won the Grasse Alpin
    rally. Very pretty in silver, & driven rather well.
    
    Lots of press coverage -- I am told it was the first outing for the car
    in the French Rally Championships, but I'm not sure my informant (in
    Renault marketing) is that knowledgeable about motorsport.
    
    Lots of extra goodies fitted. Aftermarket turbo version now available
    in France -- that sounds promising ........
    

    Correct: this was the 1st race for the Group A Rally Clio. Jean
    Ragnotti and Philippe Bugalski are the works drivers. The Rally was
    covered with snow (last weekend) and most drivers did not have winter
    tyres ...

I decided to borrow a Clio 1.4 RT from fleet on Monday, and I was very impressed.

The overall impression was that it was very well rounded. That sounds like I am
damning it with faint praise, but that isn't the case. Everything about it seemed
"good", and very well thought out.

The engine was smooth, and very eager (I nearly didn't miss my Turbo!). The handling
& ride was excellent on a very wet day. Steering was light & positive. Build quality
was superb, no rattles (certainly better than Golf GTI 16V - award for rattliest car).

The little touches, like the "plip" locking built into the ignition key, the central
locking that works on the tailgate (don't laugh - Renault have only just discovered this),
and the utterly brilliant stalk control stereo.

I think it's a winner, and I can't wait for the 16V version.

Mark.

    
>The little touches, like the "plip" locking built into the ignition key, the central
>locking that works on the tailgate (don't laugh - Renault have only just discovered this),
>and the utterly brilliant stalk control stereo.
    
    Some 6 years ago I had a Renault 11 with central locking. It too did
    not lock the tailgate. By going to the dealer and looking at the
    microfiche it was obvious that the car was designed to have the
    tailgate locked - all the mounting holes were present for the motor
    and there was even a part (available by special order) with the
    necessary contacts and wiring harness for the tailgate.
    
    Like DEC they had the technology, they just didn't know they had it and
    couldn't sell it !
    
    Andrew

I'm NOT biased. I regularly drive a GTI 16V and have a R5GTT as a
company car. I agree that in terms of quality, the R5GTT is not as
good as the Golf. However, I maintain that the Clio appeared to be
better than the Golf (rattle & squeak wise), and just as solid
sounding, shutting the door. The whole car appeared perfectly built,
with absolutely no rattles or anything.

If you don't believe me try this car.

Mark.

All the French people I speak to tell me how good the Clio is compared
to the R5 ... then I had a Clio as a hire car. Yes, the metal is a bit
more rigid, but apart from that, it seemed to me just like an R5 with 
a different body.

As for durability, the R5 isn't good. For the Clio, only time will tell ...

  <<< Note 1051.22 by TASTY::JEFFERY "I shot the sherrif (and the deputy!)" >>>

>>good as the Golf. However, I maintain that the Clio appeared to be
>>better than the Golf (rattle & squeak wise), and just as solid

Try oiling your earrings - that should cure it

:-)

Steve