RE: Spotted: Renaultsport Clio V6 255

RE: Spotted: Renaultsport Clio V6 255

Friday 18th January 2013

Spotted: Renaultsport Clio V6 255

V6 Clios: catch 'em while you can!



As motoring continues along the inexorable path towards small-capacity, turbocharged homogeneity, it's hard not to look back on the first decade of this century as halcyon times for engineers.

Looks like this one's been cared for
Looks like this one's been cared for
A 'because we can' attitude appeared to pervade the industry where engine installation was considered. How about the VW Passat W8? Sure, we'll give it a go. Or why not slot the engine from a Focus ST in Ford's S-Max MPV? If customers don't want a diesel, they can try a 220hp five-cylinder petrol instead. And who can forget the MG ZT V8? Not that powerful and hopelessly inefficient, but it was a V8 saloon with decent handling for £27,000.

Never again will such motoring oddities exist, so we thought it time to celebrate arguably the most eccentric and exciting car to emerge in the recent past; the Renaulsport Clio V6.

Launched in 2000 and subjected to a significant facelift in 2003, the V6 was about as far removed from a regular Clio as possible. The front-engined, front-wheel drive supermini became a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive piece of exotica. Its mid-mounted V6 had 50 per cent more capacity and cylinders than the front-wheel drive Renaultsport cars, and a list price many thousands of pounds greater.

As bonkers now as it ever was - and rare too
As bonkers now as it ever was - and rare too
Icon status is now assured for the Clio V6 owing to the lunacy of the concept. Moreover, with the next Renaultsport Clio moving away even from natural aspiration and a manual gearbox, values of the V6 are strengthening as crazy Clios become even more collectible. A feature on another website late last year had the best cars at around £13,000, whilst a 2009 buyer's guide suggested a 255 was worth around £15,000. The cheapest Phase 2 we could find right now was on offer at £14,950.

This Spotted is the only Clio V6 255 for sale on PH, and it appears to be a fantastic example. The advert contains a detailed history of the vendor's time with the car, and even an invite for coffee to further discuss his pride and joy! The gearbox, differential and clutch have recently been replaced and are still under warranty following a shattered diff in 2012. The wheels are been resprayed despite having only covered 38,000 miles, as has the front bumper, which is notoriously susceptible to stone chips.

On the subject of paint, this V6's 'Black Gold' hue was the second most popular colour for Phase 2 cars, one of 74 British examples. Only Illiad Blue (191 cars put of the total 354) is more common, whilst Deep Bronze, Moonlight and Lunar Grey are some of the much rarer colours, with their production numbers in single figures. See the Renaultsport website for full production details.

This Clio V6 is for sale at £17,000, almost exactly the RRP of the outgoing Clio 200 Cup. A heart versus head duel if ever one existed! Undoubtedly the newer car will be more habitable on a day-to-day basis and remains a great car to drive, but the V6 is on another level altogether for thrills. It's a hugely exciting car even stationary, and massively rewarding to drive also. And if its residual values remain so strong, it could pay you back financially too.


Renaulsport Clio V6 255
Engine
: 2,946cc V6
Transmission: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel-drive
Power (hp): 255@7,150rpm
Torque (lb ft): 221@4650rpm
CO2: 285g/km
MPG: 23
First registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 38,500
Price new: £26,995
Yours for: £17,000

See the original advert here

Author
Discussion

pSyCoSiS

Original Poster:

3,581 posts

204 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
I quite like the Clio V6

And that looks stunning in that Black Gold paintwork.

How reliable are the engines on these?

Are they cambelt or chain driven?

Sorry - I am not that-up-to speed on fast French cars!

Garlick

40,601 posts

239 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
RNO 4RSY.

Hmm...

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

195 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Garlick said:
RNO 4RSY.

Hmm...
my thoughts exactly hehe maybe he had a bad experience with the main dealers?

McAndy

12,338 posts

176 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Garlick said:
RNO 4RSY.

Hmm...
In fairness it does have a big arse, and a reputation for pointing it any way other than intended (in Mk I guide at least). hehe

tomoleeds

770 posts

185 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
what 0-60 and top speed are these,i remember looking in 2009 for one saw plenty of silver mk1 for £9k but did not think they were that quick.

VeeDub Geezer

461 posts

153 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Is that plate supposed to read "RENAULT ARSEY"?

ETA: Beaten to it!


roystinho

3,767 posts

174 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Absolutely love mine. Can't think of a better car for the amount of money that has such a sense of occasion. Every morning when I fire it up just makes me grin from ear to ear driving

Word of warning, if you don't like people staring, asking questions, wanting you to rev it at traffic lights (yes really!!!) and looking on dumbfounded when you put the sainsburys shop under the bonnet then it's probably not for you wink

Gary C

12,315 posts

178 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Always fancied one of these.

A friend of mine was the chassis engineer on this project at TWR and they had one with the engine from the Laguna touring car in it.

Phase 1 cars can be sorted, I believe they used standard uprights from a Laguna (?) at the rear and the steering knuckles were too compliant giving some rear steering under load. Surely a simple fix.

Look good too !

I believe V6 engine and gearbox are standard Renault parts from Laguna so should be as reliable as most French cars (eek!) with plenty of spares available.

Nice.

delays

786 posts

214 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
One of those moments of madness from a big car company that should be celebrated.


kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Turning circle of an oil tanker; poor weight distribution; dubious handling; horrible driving position; not particularly fast; utterly impractical;... but I'd love one.

GroundEffect

13,819 posts

155 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
tomoleeds said:
what 0-60 and top speed are these,i remember looking in 2009 for one saw plenty of silver mk1 for £9k but did not think they were that quick.
The Mk1s aren't that fast - only 230BHP. The PH2 are 255BHP so quite a bit more nippy. 0-60 in the 5s and probably near 150mph top-end.


M666 EVO

1,124 posts

161 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Stupid number plate and for that reason, I'm out.

Chicane-UK

3,861 posts

184 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Looks fantastic - I really like these smile Surely a future classic?

enroz

98 posts

164 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Went to motor show with a friend who owns one in grey. In the car park, we parked next to a V8 Vantage, and later on, a Ferrari 355 slotted in next to us.

I can still remember holding back and watching people going to and from their cars, walking pask these three motors, with most checking out the Clio. It had it's picture taken quite a lot that day.


I also remember a story of a friend of mine who is a member of the London Golf Club, telling me that a guy he used to play(golf)with sold his Lamborghini Gallardo and purchased a Clio V6 so he could get his clubs in it(resting over the back shelf and the engine cover).


carsnapper

334 posts

240 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
I think I broke the record for the 'number of spins in a single off' when I lost it on a wet track in one of these. It stepped out at high speed, I lifted - 3,643 revolutions later...I went a little green. Fun car & makes a MK1 S2000 feel easy to handle in the wet smile

Edit - I can see why they are collectable, hence expensive, but even so that is a ridiculous amount of money for a Clio.

Edited by carsnapper on Friday 18th January 11:20

Terminator X

14,921 posts

203 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
3.0 litre straight 6 in a small car over here lick keeping the dream alive.

TX.

The Boosh

116 posts

173 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
My next car. Truely bonkers machines.

hwajones

775 posts

180 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
I've no doubt this is a great car but £17k?!

Thats 3yr old Boxster S money!

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
Love these. Absolutely fantastic thing, reminds me of Group B-levels of lunacy.

monthefish

20,439 posts

230 months

Friday 18th January 2013
quotequote all
the article said:
This Spotted is the only Clio V6 255 for sale on PH,


hehe