Something small, nippy and exciting was the request i had to replace the ageing MX5, so i took the challenge and completed the request a few weeks later…
…enter the Clio RS 200 Cup
What a cracking little car! After reading all the reviews about this car, it is fair to say it is rated incredibly highly. EVO, top gear (not that i would listen to them), fifth gear, autocar etc gave glowing reviews and i now know why. After a few minutes driving you can tell what a finely tuned chassis it has, the handling is sublime, its corners in a gobsmackingly ‘wow’ kind of way, like a mini exige. Big brembo’s up front ensure you stop quickly, at the rear there is a nice crackly exhaust but not too intrusive, overall build quality is more common with german cars. The 2 litre 200bhp engine revs freely and if you keep it above 4000rpm its a little animal!
If you have not tried one, you must, it is a complete hoot!
As you can tell, i’m thoroughly enjoying her car and i take it for a spin anytime she lets me. Wish me luck in convincing her to take it on a trackday…!
This is the worst ‘I have a new toy’ but ‘I’ll pertend its for my wife’ thread I have ever seen!!!
Nice car by the way
I got my other half a Mini cooper s, honest its not for me,
Hope she does see exiges.com!!!
Chalkey - I had a 197 Cup a few years back.Fantastic car - perfect “out of the box” in all respects, made all the more pleasant for getting it brand new for £12.5k (list was about £16k iirc).
Within 4 days of ownership, I took it out on track at Anglesey, where it proved to be excellent too eg no brake fade/superb handling/stopping Was very sorry to let it go, which was only brought about by a change in my marital status (at least I kept the Exige!!!)
PS At the time, because it was “Cup Spec” it qualified to be covered by the same type of specialist insurance policy as the Exige i.e. I had trackday cover as well as the usual stuff!
It’s cool buying her a car for yourself but showing her a thread on here to justify it really is for her…that’s proper good reverse psychology, I like your style Bruce. The driveway is a bit OCD
We had a look at the Focus ST as well, very nice and most have very good specs. They are thirsty though i’ve been told… Having said that the clio only does about 25mpg according to the computer, Renaults’ claimed 34mpg is a tad optimistic
Back in the good old days, RussT’s race team ensemble was known as “Vinyl Veronique Racing” i.e VVR. Russ had V8 VVR on his V8 Vantage, & V10 VVR on his Gallardo. I bought V6 VVR in anticipation of it going on the Evora which Russ was hoping to get when it was launched - sadly it didn’t happen.
