Test drive by Renault Clio 5 doors 2001 - 2006 hatchback

Renault Clio Symbol

For many, this sedan became the first foreign car after the 1998 crisis. And they are in no hurry to part with him. Despite a somewhat inharmonious appearance, there are many reason to love Renault Clio Symbol
In its popularity, Renault Clio Symbol can be compared with Skoda Felicia or Daewoo Nexia in the mid-90s: buyers then had the opportunity to purchase a real new foreign car at a price that is not much exceeding the cost of a new domestic car.
Sit in the sedan. Sedans love in Russia. However, the number of fans of this genre belongs to residents of many not very wealthy countries. It is in them that the compact class B sedans are mainly produced for them. It is not surprising that a special version for developing markets received just such a body. And Renault Clio Symbol began to be released in Turkey at the end of 1999 with an eye on Russia, a number of countries of Eastern Europe and North Africa. In some markets, the car is known as Thalia, named Muse of Comedy. This is their family: Clio is a muse of history!
Clio Symbol production was discontinued in May of this year - it was replaced by Symbol, which differs the front part from the Clio hatchback and somewhat richest completion. At the same time, the car has risen quite noticeably: the basic version of Authentique costs $ 9,100, and the Expression with an eight-valve engine will now cost $ 10,650. Only the price of a 16-valve modification has not changed-$ 11,500. However, the official dealers still have a certain amount of Clio Symbol, which can sometimes be bought at a $ 200-300 discount.
Simplicity is the key to health. The main task of creating a car was to reduce the price. Therefore, the model range is sharply narrowed-only two modifications of a 1.4-liter engine are offered:, 75-horsepower eight-valve and 98-horsepower sixteen-valve, plus two performance. Their combinations are given by three versions: with an eight -valve engine, a simple rn (there is not even a glove compartment cover) for $ 8,800 and the RTE air conditioner for $ 9,900. A sixteen -valve engine is available only in a richer version.
 
In addition to the presence of CLIO Symbol trunk from the Clio hatchback, it has an interior. The instrument panel and other details of the cabin are changed and made of cheaper materials. However, it looks quite modern and, taking into account the price, quite high quality. Unfortunately, with an increase in the volume of the trunk, the Renault concern considered it unnecessary to make the rear seat folding, which limits the capabilities of the car.
The equipment of all options includes a steering wheel and a driver’s airbag. An expensive version of RTE, in addition to the air conditioner, differs from RN with electric windows in the front doors, the presence of a tachometer and a number of other useful little things.
In general, the design is quite simple and something differs from French canons. For example, the rear suspension was made by almost now generally accepted semi -dependent scheme - two longitudinal levers are connected by a twisting beam. It is worth noting that the machine is not at all the worst character in terms of a combination of stability and comfort than the previous models with a traditional independent torsion suspension for Renault.
Healthy childhood. The use of the design tested by time and a thorough study of the nodes allowed Clio Symbol to do without childhood diseases characteristic of new models. A more or less noticeable source of problems became the relay of turning indicators, which failed about a third of the cars. The defect was detected at the beginning of 2001, and at the moment we can assume that the faulty relay was replaced on all machines - this operation was performed free of charge as part of the guarantee and took about half an hour.
 
Around the same period, another unpleasant feature of Symbol surfaced, however, however, has a direct relationship to the structure. It turned out that the prices for a number of body parts are very high-one and a half to two times higher than for the models of other classes. It was not the owners from this, but mostly insurance companies, since most Symbol owners, as statistics show, are insured by their cars. It was noticeable to raise tariffs for one model insurers. Such a high cost of details was associated with defects in logistics: from Turkey they came to Russia through the central warehouse in France. And the insurers paid for the replacement of the front door - $ 700, the front bumper - more than $ 300. Later, the system was revised, and now they are sold at quite acceptable prices: bumpers for $ 200-250, doors for about $ 200.
Naturally, the lack of serious problems is associated with a relatively short service of this model. In 2000, 497 cars of this model were sold in Russia, but 2001 became even more productive, when Symbol (3360 cars in Russia) only a hundred copies behind the leader of this class in our market - Skoda Fabia. The most intensively operated Symbol has now traveled about 60 thousand km, there are also separate specimens selecting for a hundred. At the same time, for Renault, the normal service life is considered to be a mileage of about 250--300 thousand km.
Unobtrusive service. Among the inexpensive foreign cars Renault Clio Symbol stands apart. Low prices make the car’s emphasis from another country meaningless. And the probability of meeting Clio Symbol of criminal origin is infinitely small. A three -year guarantee and relatively low prices for the first, with their acceptable frequency (15 thousand), allow owners to serve cars exclusively on official services, which are now quite a lot: there are 17 authorized stations in Moscow and 11 more are located in various cities of Russia. One of the incentives for addressing an official dealer is such a body feature as plastic front wings. They are cheaper in production (the recommended price - 60 euros, the cost of dealers - up to $ 80), are somewhat more stable with light strikes and, most importantly, are absolutely not subject to corrosion. But ordinary editing and repair technologies for them, of course, are not suitable.
The Russian representative office Renault is trying to maintain the cost of service and spare parts at a single level. On the official website you can familiarize yourself with the recommended cost of parts - however, for this you need to know their numbers - and calculated costs for that. For example, it is easy to find out that 60 thousand will cost three times more than usual: its price reaches $ 350 for a 16-valve engine and does not exceed $ 320 ???. This is due to the fact that in this mileage, the timing belt is replaced. It is naturally not recommended to neglect this operation. The belt itself is not so expensive ($ 74-85), but you still have to pay for work ($ 93 and $ 81, respectively, for 16-valve and 8-valve). Another expensive thing-180--200 dollars-will have to go through after 90 thousand km. All the rest (frequency-15 thousand km) include the replacement of candles and filters and cost about $ 120-150. As a rule, replacement is made as a state: on the service they can postpone the replacement of candles or air filter. And they can, on the contrary, advise them to change them more often. This also applies to timing belt: 60 thousand or 4 years - the deadline for its service, in conditions of intensive operation, it can work less.
The spread of prices for spare parts is also quite large and reaches 20-30 percent: for example, the front wing of official dealers is offered at a price of $ 56-80 (including VAT). On the other hand, in expensive places, the probability of the presence of parts, of course, is higher. In unofficial sellers, spare parts for this model are also found, however, their prices are usually not too different from dealers in equal quality.
 
Text Valery Chusov, photo Dmitry Lekai
Renault Clio Symbol RN 1.4 RTE 1.4 RTE 1.4 16V
Length/width/height (mm) 4150/1639/1416 4150/1639/1416 4150/1639/1416
Working volume (cubic meter) 1390 1390 1390
Power (L.S.) 75 75 98
Equipped mass (kg) 940 950 950
Maximum speed (km/h) 170 170 182
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 12.5 12.5 11.2
Fuel consumption (l/100 km) highway/city 5.7/9.7 5.7/9.7 5.6/9.4
The price in Moscow (2000) $ 7.5-8.0 thousand $ 8.5-9.5 thousand $ 10-11 thousand.
The cost of spare parts and work to replace them for Renault Clio Symbol RTE 1.4
Spare parts work
Oil filter 7.04 -
Air filter 9.49 -
Fuel filter 10.25 -
Candles (set) 22.67 -
Oil 5w50 (4 l) 27.84 -
Work on that - 45
Total (recommended cost then) 128.54
 
Timing belt (complete with the video) 85 81
Brake pads (per./Rear) 60/60 18/45
Farah assembly 90 9
Wind glass 200 100*
Front wing 60 168 **
Front bumper 200 114 **

* Taking into account the cost of consumables
** Given the cost of painting work
 

Source: "Autopilot"