Skip advert
Advertisement
Long term tests

Renault Clio 197

Our Clio's back out of of the repair shop, after the 'caravan' incident

My Clio is back from the menders after having its nose rebuilt. Turns out Renault needed to replace the bonnet and bumper skin as well as the front bumper reinforcers that hide behind all the plastic and do the ‘absorbing’. That’s the thing with modern cars – they’re designed to take knocks and, up to a point, you’d never guess anything had been damaged. Well that’s my excuse for not getting it attended to earlier, anyway.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Glad it didn’t happen when I was driving my other long-termer, though. Financially speaking that would have done some serious damage!

Running Costs

Date acquiredNovember 2006
Total mileage23,760
Costs this month£0
Average MPG27.9
Mileage this month1690
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997.2) review – the best car we’ve ever driven? Possibly
Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)
Reviews

Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997.2) review – the best car we’ve ever driven? Possibly

In 2014 we set out to find the best car we had driven during the first 200 issues of the magazine, and Porsche’s 911 GT3 RS was it.
31 Mar 2026
Porsche Panamera review – sports car qualities in a luxury super saloon
Porsche Panamera
In-depth reviews

Porsche Panamera review – sports car qualities in a luxury super saloon

The Porsche Panamera has adapted to a new era, with variants offering alternatives to everything from BMW’s M5 to the Mercedes S-class
2 Apr 2026
Range Rover Sport SV review – A Defender OCTA in a suit
Range Rover Sport SV review
Reviews

Range Rover Sport SV review – A Defender OCTA in a suit

Range Rover’s Sport SV blends ultimate SUV performance with a sense of luxury previously reserved for Range Rovers and it’s all the better for it.
2 Apr 2026