Renault Clio Renaultsport (2006 - 2012) 2.0 16V RenaultSport (200bhp) Cup 3d (2010/60) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That I like to go fast, but not necessarily in a straight line. And apparently permanently due to a poor average of 24mpg.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Anyone who has the displeasure of sitting in the back hates it for the duration of the journey. But the general reaction to the car is that it looks good, performs extremely well and isn't too impractical. However to those less familiar with cars it is 'just a Renault Clio', until they see it move.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Definitely, and I probably will one day. If it were at all financially feasible in this day and age I would never sell it.

What are you likely to buy next?

A Nissan 350Z/370Z, Porsche Cayman or Lotus Elise. This car has showed me how much fun driving can get really be, so I want to honour that by making sure the next one is just as fun with a bit more pace.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£11,000

When did you buy the car?

July 2012

Did you get a good deal and why?

Yes. The car wasn't even two years old and had less than 4,000 miles on the clock. £11,000 was a bargain at the time.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

After months of research into various hot hatches, I deemed the RS Clio 200 the best money could buy.

What was the dealer like?

Good, changing over from the previous car was quick and painless. Being a small garage they did not offer my preferred option of finance, however.

What's it like to drive?

Stunning on the right road. It has seemingly endless grip and can always put a smile on mine and any passenger's faces. The naturally aspirated engine requires you to really push it to get the best out of it in terms of pace, and the car does feel like it could use a bit more power sometimes. But it still outperforms some cars that cost even twice as much, especially on complex B roads. Not the most pleasant on long distance motorway trips though, as there is plenty of road noise and the cup chassis makes you feel everything that you drive over.

What's it like to park?

No problems here as visibility is good, as you would hope from a hatchback.

Have you had any problems with the car?

After a year and around 15,000 miles it developed a crunching in the gearbox changing from 3rd-4th. Now into the second year the steering wheel has started peeling away due to wear, but other than that it has been fine.

What's most practical about your car?

The boot is surprisingly big and the car can even accommodate a 6"4 adult in the back - but only for a short journey.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

This car has absolutely no gadgets, and none of the optional extras were added to it, but it does have a handy AUX connector. I would have it no other way though, I'm only interested in driving this car.