SECOND-HAND SENSE: Remember the impish Nicole and her indulgent Papa? Then you'll remember the launch of the Renault Clio almost 11 years ago - a time when small cars were short on style and long on underpowered practicality.
Back then the Clio quickly established itself as a chic presence on European roads and Ireland was no exception. These days it's not a car people talk about much, but it still has a core of fans who believe it has character and style that's not to be found elsewhere.
The original Clio was replaced in 1998 and the second generation car was a good deal better and more roomy. It, too, stood out from the crowd, and became an instant hit with younger drivers and older women. Starting with a 1.2 petrol engine, it offered a very acceptable ride and accurate handling, very comfortable interior accommodation and really good styling inside and out. Some complain that it's not as roomy as others in the same bracket, but as a tall driver I had few complaints. The boot is also good and spacious.
The Clio is one of those small cars that has also managed to appeal to men almost as much as to women. In fact, Renault has gone out of its way to keep a rather sporty image attached to the Clio - perhaps a clever way to maintain an up-to-date profile. Only recently the company launched a 182hp hot-hatch version with an obviously sporting profile.
The range in Ireland is clearly defined with a choice of two petrol engines - a 1.2 and a 1.4.
Renault has also kept the Clio in favour with competitive pricing and good levels of equipment. The current version has anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution, front and side airbags, a CD player and electric windows as standard. This should keep the car popular until its replacement, believed to be some time next year.
The newer Clio got four out of a possible five stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests - a big improvement on its two stars in 1996. A four-star rating puts it way above other competitors in the super mini class.
There have been a number of recalls for certain batches of Clios. Some cars have been recalled for possible brake servo assistance failure and a smaller number for possible faulty airbag deployment. There have also been problems with a faulty accelerator cable and engine hesitation. Not all Clios have been affected by these recalls.
There are plenty of Clios on the second-hand market. A four-year-old one with a 1.2 engine and 45,000 on the clock has an asking price of €5,950, while a two-year-old one with 29,000 on the clock is priced at €11,500. These are asking prices at garages and obviously open to negotiation, so a good bargain is possible.