In January 2002 I bought myself a new car, I had a budget of £3000, I was mainly looking at second hand Renault Clio's and Seat Ibiza's, but I decided to stick with Renault's as I hadn't really had any problems with the R5. I looked through the Auto Trader and found a some Renault RSi's and 16v since I was 21 I decided to look for some thing a bit more sporty than my old R5.

(Photos Taken in February 2002)

There was only one group insurance difference between the RSi and 16v but a fair bit of money difference wise after ringing around for quotes, so it was settled it was to be a Renault Clio RSi 1800.

So I rang round a few that were for sale but some were too dear, too much mileage or just plain knackered. But we eventually found one it was local too, so I went to see it. It looked in great condition. A 1993 RSi in Tungston Grey and still in it's original spec, nothing had  been done to it or taken off it, so I snapped his hand off at £2000.

So when I got it back home I insured it the very next day it only cost me £600, I was 21 just, so that help a bit to keep the insurance down.

The very first thing I did to the car was take the alloys that were already on the Clio and take of my Venom Alloys that I had on the R5 and slapped them straight onto the Clio and that set it off really well.

(Photos Taken in February 2002)

I then booked it in at the local place that fits stereo's and have them fit a JVC KS-FX8R, 12 CD multi changer with 4x40 WATT speakers to replace the bog standard ones. It sounds mint, it doesn't go as loud as ones with great big sub woofers in there car but its loud enough and very clear I was impressed.

(Photos Taken in February 2002)

I bought a pack of accessories for the outside of the car (I wish I hadn't), in it was a tailpipe bit, 4 dust caps and wind deflectors for the windscreen wipers, all in silver. I put them all on but the tailpipe fell of when I went round a corner, one of the bolts had snap so I didn't bother with that again. The wind deflectors I got fed up with they just didn't look right and the dust caps were still on but they got nicked.

At the same time I also bought a inside set as well consisting of a gear knob, leather gator and pedals in black and silver. I put the gear knob and the gator on but not the pedals as they look way too small.

In May 2003 I bought an ECO TEK Valve which is suppose to:-

• Give better fuel economy by 20%,
• Enhance overall performance,
• Reduce harmful emissions.

Well the fuel economy is better up from 260 miles on a tank to 280 and the power delivery is smother as for emissions I wont be able to tell until MOT. So every thing works as it should, well yes it does apart from a stupid noise when you lift of the accelerator which can only be described as some one sucking on a McDonalds drink when its empty but very loudly as if they were doing it on purpose to annoy someone, so if you can put up with the noise its fine.

Other things I've done is:-

• Fitted 1995 Clio rear lights,
• Fitted Carbon-fibre effect boot trim

I got my rear lights and boot trim from the local scrap yard for about £15 which now makes it look like a Phase 2 Clio.

• Had little bits sprayed and rust removed,
• Sanded the black paint of the steering wheel to give it a silver effect,

Did this just to tidy it up a bit, steering wheel I did myself but the spraying was done by a local spray shop.

• Fitted a Richbrook chrome surround gear frame,
• Fitted a Richbrook Chrome Tax disc holder with Clio engraved on the back,

Both from ebay, they both cost me around £15 each, they look well smart,

• Bought, had sprayed and fitted Clio Williams 3 bonnet,

Bought off ebay with 1second to spare (very jammy), cost me around £157 including delivery and the £90 to get it sprayed by our local spray guy, it makes it look beefy now from the front end, looks smart.

• Fitted 2 Max Power white LED wind screen washers and a red LED for the back washer,

Bought from our local Motor World at £15, dead easy to fit.

• Painted front and rear brake calipers in red,
• Made new center caps for my alloy wheels,

My best mate who owns my old R5 painted my calipers for me and also made me my new center caps, they look brilliant he's great at doing allsorts like that.

• Clear side repeaters.

Bought from K-TEC Racing

• 3.5" Stainless Steel BB Performance Tuning Cat Back Exhaust System.

Was Going to buy a K-Tec one but would take 6 weeks to come into the country.

I had a few other plans for my Clio RSi but it was money that was stopping me so I didn't get around to it in the end. g The extra things I did want were:-

1. Momo Aluminium Hand Brake with Gaiter,
2. RGM Silver Door Sill Protectors,
3. Renault Clio Williams Grill,
4. Blue Neon's in foot well and in the boot.

The spec is excellent even better then most new cars but then Renaults have always been better spec for the price then any other car manufacture that they compete against. 

The spec of the car is:-

• 0 to 60 8sec,
• Top Speed 121mph, (Reached 125mph though)
• Brake Horse Power 110,
• Weight 955kg,
• Pounds Feet of Torque 112,
• Power to weight ratio 115bhp per ton.

(These Performance Spec's are from the Renault Clio Brochure 1990 - 1993)

The 0-60 run I have done myself and my mate with a video tape so I can prove it. So in other words its like shit off a shovel it is ace to drive, its hard to find the limit when cornering as it just grips like hell, although I have had the back end out on a wet large roundabout it was fun. The only problem I can find on the car is that the steering is very light due to power steering I don't really like it I can't feel the road thru it, new cars I've test driven are fine with the steering, its just too light on the Clio RSi.

For Christmas 2003 I decided to buy myself some leather seats, they come of Ebay for £270 including delivery which isn't too bad. They are from a 1995 Clio Baccara so they fitted straight in with no messing. The drivers side came with lumber support which I find useful on long trips and height adjustment which I do not since I'm 5ft 11.

There is a few marks on the drivers seat but that's from people getting in and out from the drivers side, but with a bit of Auto Glym leather cleaner and then some Auto Glym leather care cream you can hardly notice them, its great stuff. The rear seats and the front passenger seat doesn't have a single mark on them, so really when you think about it its good value for money because you can pay up to four times that amount on a full leather interior.

I've had a few problems but not much really:-

• Oil was getting into the water, it was the oil cooler £30,
• One of the water pipes bust £2,
• Rear right brake caliper wasn't working, replaced hand brake cables at same time £80,
• Starter motor packed in £90,
• Clutch cable broke £12,

and that's it really, they were all replaced straight away, not really bank breakers.

In July 2004 I decided to sell my car as I bought a Clio 172, so I sold Clio RSi with 93000 miles for £820, I sold the 16v Bonnet on its own for £180 and leather seats and door cards for £280.01.

Here is what the new owner has done to the Clio RSi:-

• Sorted out steering, It was a broken joint at the bottom of steering column which stop the car going in a staright line,
• Cut a piece out of back bumper to raise the exhaust system up a bit to stop it banging on the back axle,
• Rubbed down front subframe that had started to rust and waxoiled it,
• Sorted out cambelt tensioner which was becoming noisy,
• Bought off ebay two gold coloured badges for boot door,
• Tried to sort out leak from sunroof,
• Lexus light.

(Photo Taken 14/12/04)

He says he is very happy with it and that it is the only Clio RSi in the village, He will also keep me posted on any more changers