RE: PH Carpool: Renault Sport Spider

[C6NTO]

NotNormal said:

Saw a yellow one going through Reigate a few weeks back. Great road presence (especially in the sun) and popped a grin on my face as you don't see many about.

Out of interest anyone know how many they made or even how many are in the UK?

Whilst 200 were allocated to the UK, only 87 were sold, the rest being converted back to LHD for sale abroad. Or so I'm led to believe (and contrary to many reports suggesting only 60 RHD examples were sold).

[jakemcmahon92]

Great car... funny i knew straight away it was yours just from the picture. (Its jake mcmahon from worksop btw bens bro)

[Gizmo!]

Haha, I saw this exact car join the M25 yesterday and I immediately said "bet you that's going the the Sunday Service". Lovely little things, I particularly like how simple the nose design is.

[anonymous-user]

Not exactly pretty with the roof up,



IIRC most of them were built in this other style and it was the pussyboy Brits who got them to add a windscreen!

[Owlwood]

Another cool Carpool feature. Pity the articule was a bit short. I would of liked to hear more stories. Great pics btw.

[Turbobanana]

Imported one for a customer while working for Broadspeed years ago. Collected from Harwich, after a jump start, drove it 25 miles through a downpour at night. In winter. With no roof. Loved it!
Only car I've ever driven where you have to twist the gearlever to get reverse (or did we just have a dodgy one?).

[tonym911]

you had a dodgy one

[Liokault]

Its looks like most of the pics are taken when its on the road side waiting for the RAC.

[C6NTO]

300bhp/ton said:

C6NTO, that is one very nice car there. And in my opinion one highly PH car too. Only a true enthusiast nutter would commit to such a car. I think it's wonderful!!

Real shame there aren't more about, I very occasionally have seen a yellow one at some shows, but can't even recall the last time that was.

Is yours stock or have you tinkered with it?

It's completely stock, it is tempting to tinker but it seems almost criminal to tamper with such a rare car.

[rswift]

Love it, saw the OP at Sunday Service yesterday, and was disappointed to find out how expensive they still are. Would love one in the garage.

[C6NTO]

tonym911 said:

you had a dodgy one

Take a closer look at the pics, the red anti-clockwise arrow on the shift-pattern diagram indicates that the gear knob must be twisted to engage reverse.

[OwenK]

I've always thought these are a fabulously pretty car. The bloke above who said it's not a looker is mental.

Great to see it at Sunday Service too. Geeky aside: I noticed the windscreen wiper linkage was a bit odd looking; does it move in a weird fashion or anything?

[angusc43]

C6NTO - 10/10 for embarking on a 3000 mile European blast in a Spyder!

Great write up :-)

[C6NTO]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Unfortunately no RHD models were fitted with the deflector, evidentaly not all Brits are as unhinged as you and I.

[TheOrangePeril]

Munich said:

The friend in the Triumph Spitfire was brave to attempt the 3,000 miles round trip.

Why? I did the same mileage around Europe in a 50 year old Austin I found in a barn...

[chickensoup]

Never see nthat (ugly) roof before - had a good look around one that had a tonneaux; did not make sense to pay considerably more than my elise was worth for a car that was maybe as good, certainly not better.

Do recall a lot of space in the engine bay, shame that it did not stay around long enough for hotter versions

[tonym911]

C6NTO said:

tonym911 said:

you had a dodgy one

Take a closer look at the pics, the red anti-clockwise arrow on the shift-pattern diagram indicates that the gear knob must be twisted to engage reverse.

How odd, I don't remember that at all from the test car I drove back in the day but there's no arguing with it. False memory syndrome obviously.

[ThunderSpook]

C6NTO said:

This aftermarket 'roof' was described by its manufacturer as a 'bikini hood', if I'm honest a bikini would probably offer more protection.

Sure it want a bimini hood like on a boat?

[ellisd82]

Always found these cars interesting. I have been looking at them recently because they are not bad value considering how rare they are. Did not know it only had 150bhp. They always seemed more luxery super car from what I can remember from looking at articles in mags (generally just looked at the pictures lol).
Nice looking car though, but need to have the (important) Roll bar removed for better looks.

[Frimley111R]

Schnellmann said:

Great looking car but I seem to recall the reviews from car magazines being luke-warm.

Yep, the styling over delivered but the chassis did the opposite. Even when I was at Renault none of the staff liked driving them. Shame really. The last one we had kicked around the dealerships for months and months. We used it more as a promotional tool.