RE: PH Heroes: Renault Clio V6 255

[Matt_V6]

Love mine too. Had 2 v6 (Phase 1 and 2) and phase 2 is a world apart from the first model. Can't see me selling in a long long time!

Edited by Matt_V6 on Friday 10th October 11:02

[Oli S]

AliV6 said:

Oli S said:

AliV6 said:

It's pissing with rain in the test, how anyone can accurately test drive a car in those conditions is beyond me...

Thanks for the advice. I didn't realise we weren't allowed to test cars for three quarters of the year in this country.

It's a fair point...Uk weather isn't great and i would imagine the opportunity to drive the car again is limited.

Much as i agree with some of your comments, Re, interior and driving position (improved with recaro's) It's far from being Skitish: To quote

The twitchiness of the chassis – it feels like you could spin in a straight line.

utter tripe, of course in the wet it would! Should you ever be about id' give you a shot on track and you would be proven wrong!

Owners will naturally defend their cars, and you are of course welcome to your opinion!

Ali

There really is no need to defend your car - I actually really liked it as I made clear in the story. I thought the car was twitchy at times on public bumpy roads (but that gave it great character) and I don't need to go to a smooth track to be proved wrong. The bit about spinning in a straight line was kinda a joke...perhaps it didn't come across like that In conclusion I loved the Clio V6 and have put it on my all-time wish list!

[AliV6]

Matt thats a bucket - get it out my face!

Stunning sir! Can't compete with that!

[AliV6]

Oli S said:

AliV6 said:

Oli S said:

AliV6 said:

It's pissing with rain in the test, how anyone can accurately test drive a car in those conditions is beyond me...

Thanks for the advice. I didn't realise we weren't allowed to test cars for three quarters of the year in this country.

It's a fair point...Uk weather isn't great and i would imagine the opportunity to drive the car again is limited.

Much as i agree with some of your comments, Re, interior and driving position (improved with recaro's) It's far from being Skitish: To quote

The twitchiness of the chassis – it feels like you could spin in a straight line.

utter tripe, of course in the wet it would! Should you ever be about id' give you a shot on track and you would be proven wrong!

Owners will naturally defend their cars, and you are of course welcome to your opinion!

Ali

There really is no need to defend your car - I actually really liked it as I made clear in the story. I thought the car was twitchy at times on public bumpy roads (but that gave it great character) and I don't need to go to a smooth track to be proved wrong. The bit about spinning in a straight line was kinda a joke...perhaps it didn't come across like that In conclusion I loved the Clio V6 and have put it on my all-time wish list!

Apologies for what seemed a snide remark...I appreciate your sentiments! However because of the press the Vee gets a terrible write up "The worst handling car blah blah, Usually by people that can't drive!" I've done numerous RS track days in it and proven alot of people wrong. (Then again i've been racing since i was 7 so slight advantage there)

On the road, i will admit if it's very uneven you'll move around a fair bit, but not much more than my 172 for example. On the aftermarket suspension i have it's alot better but we'll void that for a like for like comparison...

If there is one thing which on the road gives me a little bit of worry is the undertray. In high wind the wind buffets and moves the car from lane to lane with ease! Not much fun!

A few owners have developed a splitter for combat the slight lightness of the nose over 100...But i've never had an issue with this even top end on the Autobahn's...

At the end of the day you'll love the car or hate the car, if you hate at best you'll appreciate it for what it is...a bonkers rwd clio!

[Oli S]

I love it!

[JonRB]

If I had the spare dosh sloshing around I would love one of these as a daily driver. There's something so cheeky about a Clio on steroids.

[Painey]

I loved the one of these I had but only owned it for 4 weeks. That was because I went round a gradual bend at 25mph in the wet and without any warning whatsoever it went sideways, and having previously owned a Griffith 500 I was used to such antics but in the clio no amount of quickly applied opposite lock was going to correct that!

I was quite shocked at how it spun without any warning whatsoever and I was driving at what I thought was a very sensible speed purely because it was raining and I had to show it some respect. Still got me though and I managed to do £11.5k damage. Cracked front bumper sir? That'll be £1,400 for a new one!

Great cars though.

[markmakak]

AliV6 said:

It is faster and quicker than the other clio RS range, significantly infact ( I own both)

Really? I had a bit of fun with a 182 in a straight line and was gutted as there was hardly anything between them. The V6 only started to pull away when we got upto a *decent* speed. In the corners i'd be surprised if a 182 wasn't quicker.

[Gsink]

Looks sweet in yellow

[chinnyman]

I had a Vee, how anyone can argue that the bodywork is pisch i dont know. The Rear quarter was a bodge job and had massive lines in it. There not overly fast and it does wobble at high speeds/winds on the motorway.

But it was a truly exceptional car. The sound and the smell of the engine and the gearbox was superb. One day i will have another one.

[Black Frog]

love mine to bits...and they can be made to handle/go round corners/go quicker quite easily and effectively...ask the Kent runners...noise, looks and "occasion" all briliant. A true mod classic.

BF

[scoobybloke]

I've owned a MKII V6 for just over a year. It is such a laugh to drive - not always the most forgiving, but always a lot of fun. I've started so many random conversation on petrol station forecourts (more so than when driving the finest machines from the Ferrari and Aston press fleets!) - everyone seems to love it

If anyone is interested, I have been contemplating selling mine for a while (still have the desire to own an Elise before house buying and babies start appearing!) and I would be open to offers. Details are still in the classified section - or just drop me a PM and send over the details.

Chris

[spectre17]

Oli. Do you live in Wraysbury? I swear that I see the Same car the evening before each review appears on the Website.

[GTiRlover]

I have to agree with a lot of the purists in this thread I really like the Clio V6. I have never driven one but been a passenger in one whilst the owner was breaking in the new engine (car was weeks old at the time...).

I have to admit of all the cars I have had the privilidge of being in the Clio is up there with the best in terms of sense of occassion. Magic cars, I could overlook the relative lack of straight line speed purely for the lunacy of its looks

Out of interest what are the running costs like with a V6, petrol, servicing, tyres etc?

Thanks

[d8mok]

i had a mk1 vee for nearlly a year and i loved it too bits but it was just too slow. I got rid of a evo to buy a vee and since selling the clio i bought another evo to replace it.

They do get some attention though

[schuey]

I have been a passenger in a couple of mk2 v6's,both at trackdays. I think they are great,the first time out was Cadwell in the wet,going sideways on the power whilst looking at a clio dash is amusing.
They may not be that fast or handle that well,largely due to the lack of steering lock but they look great and the experience is every bit as good as a supercar,which is what they are all about.
Ignoring my hatred for french cars I would have one tomorrow and there would definately be one in my lottery winners garage,preferably in that rather nice cup blue. I love 'em

[five50]

Hi

Am currently running a Boxster S - but living in central London and rarely driving out of town, I want something a bit more appropriate for in town driving.

Anyone have any thoughts on how the Clio V6 would compare to the Boxster S for straight line performance (performance figures other than 0-60 seem hard to come by - through the gears, 0-100 etc), but also how fast it 'feels', and also how it would compare to other potental small hatchback 'rivals' such as a JCW Cooper S, Chipped Golf GTI Ed 30 etc.

Would use the car for razzing around town and the odd track day. I love the Boxster, but its fitted with lowered Sports suspension which makes speed bumps / ground clearance a challenge and is pretty unforgiving over London's terrible road surfaces.

Many thanks!

[Mark Smith]

I've just got back from Tour of Mull rally. I took my recently acquired 172 sport up there and had an absolutely superb time thrashing it round the island whilst marshalling on the rally. The clio looks superb, goes like stink and is good on fuel as well! The new V6 certainly looks superb in acid yellow! Not usre I'd have one, the 172 is a dream to drive, and certainly gives me a huge grin every time I drive it!Definitely the best car I've ever owned for having fun with!

[Dizeee]

I drove a 255 this year and liked it but was nowhere near as imppressed as I thought I would be. It didn't feel very fast and the torque felt surprisingly weak unless your ringing it's neck. I can imagine the 255 being extremely competent however in say 2/3rd gear, keeping it at high revs and feeding throttle into and out of a series of bends (i.e track driving).

My main gripe was that I could not find a way of turning the traction control off, which p---ed me off, as it was a real hinderance.

Edited as PH swear filter seemingly inefficient

Edited by Dizeee on Monday 13th October 01:32

[vz-r_dave]

five50 said:

Hi

Am currently running a Boxster S - but living in central London and rarely driving out of town, I want something a bit more appropriate for in town driving.

Anyone have any thoughts on how the Clio V6 would compare to the Boxster S for straight line performance (performance figures other than 0-60 seem hard to come by - through the gears, 0-100 etc), but also how fast it 'feels', and also how it would compare to other potental small hatchback 'rivals' such as a JCW Cooper S, Chipped Golf GTI Ed 30 etc.

Would use the car for razzing around town and the odd track day. I love the Boxster, but its fitted with lowered Sports suspension which makes speed bumps / ground clearance a challenge and is pretty unforgiving over London's terrible road surfaces.

Many thanks!

The S is leapyears ahead in performance and remember your going from a nice Porsche to a Clio.

It has bags of character but thats it. the Porsche will be refined and fast when you want it to be.

Id say it would be a big change that you would mroe then likely regret but thats imo.

Personaly Id never have bought the S in the first place and I cant fit into the drivers seat of the V6 anyway lol

chipped 335D all the way