Blue Clio V6 Phase 1 No. 002 - 1,000 miles on the clock
Discussion
Finally got around to posting about the Clio V6 I picked up a few months back.
It is No. 002 and has less than 1,000 miles on the clock. It is 1 of 8 Phase 1s in Illiad Blue (many more Phase 2s in Illiad Blue however) and I love it to pieces.
It had to be a Phase 1 for me as I just feel they look better than the Phase 2, even if they have a little less power and the handling can be a little more 'interesting'.
I bought the car with just 658 miles on the clock and then had the local Renault dealer perform a cambelt and pulley change and flush all fluids (engine oil, gearbox oil, coolant, power steering, brakes etc) before I started driving it.
That was only done about 3 weeks ago and I have also broken my foot, so the only miles I have added have been a round trip to buy the 545i Touring that now performs dog duties, which was 200+ miles.
There is a temptation to keep the miles down but I just love it so much and driving it is always an occasion so I'll get it out as much as possible.
Hope you enjoy the pics:
It is No. 002 and has less than 1,000 miles on the clock. It is 1 of 8 Phase 1s in Illiad Blue (many more Phase 2s in Illiad Blue however) and I love it to pieces.
It had to be a Phase 1 for me as I just feel they look better than the Phase 2, even if they have a little less power and the handling can be a little more 'interesting'.
I bought the car with just 658 miles on the clock and then had the local Renault dealer perform a cambelt and pulley change and flush all fluids (engine oil, gearbox oil, coolant, power steering, brakes etc) before I started driving it.
That was only done about 3 weeks ago and I have also broken my foot, so the only miles I have added have been a round trip to buy the 545i Touring that now performs dog duties, which was 200+ miles.
There is a temptation to keep the miles down but I just love it so much and driving it is always an occasion so I'll get it out as much as possible.
Hope you enjoy the pics:
The willy had 40k on it and was sold on to make space on the drive! It was a Williams 2 in fantastic condition and had been very well looked after indeed. It went to a fellow Williams forum member, which I was very pleased about.
With space for two cars and three in the family, we will be moving house next month so that the V6 can have a garage and stay nice and dry!
The blue is very rare on the Phase 1 but is the most common colour on the Phase 2. Weirdly, I really don't like it on the Phase 2 but it I think it's the best colour for a Phase 1. Originally I was looking for a silver car, which is the most common Phase 1 colour, but very little seemed to be available.
This car is a 1-owner (he was the 2nd person to order, hence 002) and he stored it in a large garage behind his house. I was put in touch with him by one of the guys from the V6 owners club, went to see it, shook on a number and then had it trailered to me a month later. He also had a Sierra Cosworth back there with something like 10,000 miles or less on the odo - what would that be worth now???
I think he intended on driving it more but he hurt his back and one thing led to another and it just ended up shut away. The previous owner was a great guy and he felt the car deserved to be driven, so that is what I am doing. However, long runs without the dog are few an dfar between so my suspicion is that it would take years to get over 10,000 miles anyway.
Should be off to Wales with it, in the next few weeks, with a fellow PHer and his 6.2 GT3, so that will be fun!
With space for two cars and three in the family, we will be moving house next month so that the V6 can have a garage and stay nice and dry!
The blue is very rare on the Phase 1 but is the most common colour on the Phase 2. Weirdly, I really don't like it on the Phase 2 but it I think it's the best colour for a Phase 1. Originally I was looking for a silver car, which is the most common Phase 1 colour, but very little seemed to be available.
This car is a 1-owner (he was the 2nd person to order, hence 002) and he stored it in a large garage behind his house. I was put in touch with him by one of the guys from the V6 owners club, went to see it, shook on a number and then had it trailered to me a month later. He also had a Sierra Cosworth back there with something like 10,000 miles or less on the odo - what would that be worth now???
I think he intended on driving it more but he hurt his back and one thing led to another and it just ended up shut away. The previous owner was a great guy and he felt the car deserved to be driven, so that is what I am doing. However, long runs without the dog are few an dfar between so my suspicion is that it would take years to get over 10,000 miles anyway.
Should be off to Wales with it, in the next few weeks, with a fellow PHer and his 6.2 GT3, so that will be fun!
Thanks for the nice comments, guys.
It needs good clean, so I'll try and do that this weekend and get some pictures of the interior, which is mint as you might expect.
I just love it so much and the V6 really makes a glorious noise, once you have a few revs dialed in. It is heavy at just over 1,400kg, so it isn't really 'quick' per se but it's also not slow and has plenty of performance for the road. It always looks and sounds like it is going fast and the driver is just so 'involved'.
I must admit, as the mileage closes in on 1,000 - I do wonder whether it should be stored but I do so few miles a year anyway that it could take say 5-10 years to hit 10,000 and, even then, it will likely still be one of the lowest mileage Phase 1s out there and 1 of only 8 in this colour so it ought to still be pretty sought after, if value was a worry.
I might as well be honest and say that I paid more than the 'going rate' for a good Phase 1 but I notice that others are now being priced fairly closely, with much higher mileage and in less sought after colours, so I am fairly sure it will never 'cost' me a penny, even if it doesn't make me any money. It is insured for £30k at the moment but I honestly don't know what I would replace it with as there probably isn't another, identical one out there and there is this enormous sense of occasion, which I think is derived from the shear lunacy of it being built, that just couldn't be replicated.
I was 6th on the list at my OPC for a Cayman GT4 but have been bumped down and won't be getting one now, so this was sort of bought as 'compensation' but I am so glad I did it (despite still wanting a GT4) and couldn't imagine being without it now. It just drips 'cool'.
If you get the chance to have a go in one of these, or even own one - do it! Just awesome cars, of the like we may never see again!
It needs good clean, so I'll try and do that this weekend and get some pictures of the interior, which is mint as you might expect.
I just love it so much and the V6 really makes a glorious noise, once you have a few revs dialed in. It is heavy at just over 1,400kg, so it isn't really 'quick' per se but it's also not slow and has plenty of performance for the road. It always looks and sounds like it is going fast and the driver is just so 'involved'.
I must admit, as the mileage closes in on 1,000 - I do wonder whether it should be stored but I do so few miles a year anyway that it could take say 5-10 years to hit 10,000 and, even then, it will likely still be one of the lowest mileage Phase 1s out there and 1 of only 8 in this colour so it ought to still be pretty sought after, if value was a worry.
I might as well be honest and say that I paid more than the 'going rate' for a good Phase 1 but I notice that others are now being priced fairly closely, with much higher mileage and in less sought after colours, so I am fairly sure it will never 'cost' me a penny, even if it doesn't make me any money. It is insured for £30k at the moment but I honestly don't know what I would replace it with as there probably isn't another, identical one out there and there is this enormous sense of occasion, which I think is derived from the shear lunacy of it being built, that just couldn't be replicated.
I was 6th on the list at my OPC for a Cayman GT4 but have been bumped down and won't be getting one now, so this was sort of bought as 'compensation' but I am so glad I did it (despite still wanting a GT4) and couldn't imagine being without it now. It just drips 'cool'.
If you get the chance to have a go in one of these, or even own one - do it! Just awesome cars, of the like we may never see again!
It's a wonderful thing and Renault are masters of the hot hatch, that's for sure.
I understand that my car may have the late Phase 2 subframe as apparently the 'colour cars' were built after all the silver cars and despite being chassis 002, it was actually delivered quite late on when some changes were made.
However, I don't know enough about them, really, to confirm either way. Will try and get to a meet at some point and find out!
It's taxed and insured but needs its MOT, which will be done ASAP. The garage is now being taken up by my little 106 XSi project (there's a thread on here I need to update). So, it'll get driven. I'm not too bothered about the mileage as we have 4 cars to spread the load and probably only do 10k or so a year as a family.
Driving to Italy (without it
) in August but it'll see some road time. Will definitely get a Wales trip sorted for the 106 XSi when that's built as I had my 122bhp PTS engine delivered yesterday. A lot of work to do on that car but will do a bit every evening from now on.
Will get some interior pics of the V6 up when I get the MOT done and it's back on the road
I love it - still my favourite car of all time, just for the quirkiness of it!
I understand that my car may have the late Phase 2 subframe as apparently the 'colour cars' were built after all the silver cars and despite being chassis 002, it was actually delivered quite late on when some changes were made.
However, I don't know enough about them, really, to confirm either way. Will try and get to a meet at some point and find out!
It's taxed and insured but needs its MOT, which will be done ASAP. The garage is now being taken up by my little 106 XSi project (there's a thread on here I need to update). So, it'll get driven. I'm not too bothered about the mileage as we have 4 cars to spread the load and probably only do 10k or so a year as a family.
Driving to Italy (without it
) in August but it'll see some road time. Will definitely get a Wales trip sorted for the 106 XSi when that's built as I had my 122bhp PTS engine delivered yesterday. A lot of work to do on that car but will do a bit every evening from now on.Will get some interior pics of the V6 up when I get the MOT done and it's back on the road
I love it - still my favourite car of all time, just for the quirkiness of it!
lanky28 said:
wish companies still made little cars like these, unbelievable motors, just pure nuts haha, dread to think how much you paid for it too man these are going for alot of money
Me too - I can't see Renault ever doing this again, to be honest.I bought mine just before prices went mental. I paid £25k and then spent over £2k 'recommissioning' it as it had mostly just been standing.
It's currently insured for £40k though. At the time, it was probably the highest price paid for a Phase 1 (2nd hand) but some low mile Phase 2s have sold over £40k.
I do think the Phase 1 is better looking and being the more 'quirky', in terms of handling, I do wonder whether it will become the more sought after car.
Ruskie said:
So rare and with that mileage I would be tempted to just store it as an investment. It is going to dramatically increase in value IMO.
Yeah, that's a difficult one. I bought it to drive but, as above, the values just rocketed after I bought it and it became an asset. This coincided with me settling down with Mrs9 and we're currently looking for a house so I must admit to having the 'value' in the car on my mind, if it needed liquidating.However, even with 2,000 miles on the clock or 5,000 miles on the clock (would take me years) it's still going to be one of the lowest mileage cars anywhere.
Renault 5 Turbos seem to change hands over £50k and towards £100k with 10s of thousands of miles on the clock so I am not too worried.
However, I do still have the 106 XSi project to amuse me and do the real B-road blasting and my daily driver is a V8 BMW, so this is almost a curiosity; a car I just always, always wanted since my Dad and I saw it at the Motorshow (in silver) and he said we'd get one (we never did, sadly... Until now)!
Edited by dom9 on Tuesday 12th July 08:24
coopedup said:
Stunning looking car, thank god you are going to put some miles on it, the value will keep on going up.
I'm not so sure on the latter... Whether it'll ever drop below what I paid, I don't think so but I can see there being a lull in RHD values while we sort through the ramifications of Brexit and the pound re-strengthens. I don't think the V6 is as loved in other RHD countries so I don't think it's one that'll be pounced on from foreign climes, now the pound is weak.PaulJC84 said:
Amazing to have one with so few miles. I wish I had bough a silver phase 1 when they were below £10k just to try. A neighbour has a blue ph2 and its really special.
I went to that motorshow as well. The V6 up high and there was the R34 GTR there that year too. I think the new mini was just released also.
The only year I ever went and must have been about 14 years old. Raiding all the car brochure stands.
I think it's more amazing/ lucky as these cars just weren't worth much 5-10 years ago (like so many other recent 'risers') so it actually wasn't really put away as an investment, the previous owner couldn't drive it due to back issues (I think).I went to that motorshow as well. The V6 up high and there was the R34 GTR there that year too. I think the new mini was just released also.
The only year I ever went and must have been about 14 years old. Raiding all the car brochure stands.
I can remember being at University (or a little after, so maybe 2002) and there were some brand new, silver Phase 1s for sale at the big car supermarket over by Shepherds Bush (Car Giant?). They were 'just' £20k.
They just weren't very loved when they first came out and the Phase 2 was considered a dynamic step up (and arguably less 'interesting' for it).
I can't remember what year the V6 was first shown but I remember it being before they were on general release. It may have been before I went to work for Lotus in '99 as I remember seeing some of the prototype mules there and I wouldn't have been so surprised/ excited at the Motorshow if I was familiar with it.
It was like nothing else and my Dad had fond memories of the R5T from rallying, having almost killed himself in an R5GTT not so many years before.
I can honestly say that it is my favourite car of all time. It still looks modern, it's still more bonkers than anything else on sale from a mainstream manufacturer and it has that 'fun factor' that's so difficult to design into cars, especially in modern times.
Ddouble said:
Looking good Dom!
Are you are around on the 20th of August? Its Origine RS at Goodwood that month, a celebration of Renault/Alpines, hopefully will be 20-30 other v6s on the day. Would be fantastic to see it there.
Duncan
I still have your last email in my inbox, meaning to get back to you after we moved house!Are you are around on the 20th of August? Its Origine RS at Goodwood that month, a celebration of Renault/Alpines, hopefully will be 20-30 other v6s on the day. Would be fantastic to see it there.
Duncan
The car hasn't seen much light until the weekend... Will be out for a few months now.
We'll be in Italy on August 20th or actually in Provence on our way back
You should come up to Oxshott with your Mars, assuming it's on the road?
Terminator X said:
Bloody hell, I'd be scared to drive it!
TX.
Yes and no. It's insured, at the end of the day. The issue for me is that any half serious accident will most likely write it off just because of parts/ panel availability.TX.
My fear is other people. I'll never take risks in this car because it's so 'unique' but you can't account for others, sadly!
Like Duncan (who has one of the one make series track cars, I believe) I should probably get another to hoon about in, since I love it so much. They're just so expensive now.
It's not like having a mint 205 GTi (as an example) for £10k and a sheddy one for £2k. People are probably asking £15k for a sheddy V6 now!
I did miss out on a Cat D that looked well repaired at the same time I bought this. Think it went for £7.5k and was a bargain! Should have done it!
That's why I have the 106 XSi. Although it's eating money quite fast, it's pretty cheap to run and I love the 1.4 litre 8v screamer with close ratio gears. Worst case scenario, in a crash, find another Mk.1 106 and re-shell it!
Thanks to everyone for their kind words - It really does make me smile seeing it outside 
Alex, I think you've captured my feelings exactly. It'll probably never get to even 'average' miles in my ownership, so it's probably not worth worrying too much.
When the odo goes over 1k then I suspect 10k is the big 'deal breaker' for the next tranch of collectors, so I've got a few years to enjoy it before then!
Edited to say: It's actually nice to have support on here for not driving it. Although I will and I understand why people think cars should be drive (what they were built for) there are some cars that should arguably be 'preserved' so that they don't disappear. If this was to be crashed, that would be the end of it. Being 1 of 8, you can imagine how few are left and there may not even be another Ph.1 Illiad like this.
Alex, I think you've captured my feelings exactly. It'll probably never get to even 'average' miles in my ownership, so it's probably not worth worrying too much.
When the odo goes over 1k then I suspect 10k is the big 'deal breaker' for the next tranch of collectors, so I've got a few years to enjoy it before then!
Edited to say: It's actually nice to have support on here for not driving it. Although I will and I understand why people think cars should be drive (what they were built for) there are some cars that should arguably be 'preserved' so that they don't disappear. If this was to be crashed, that would be the end of it. Being 1 of 8, you can imagine how few are left and there may not even be another Ph.1 Illiad like this.
Edited by dom9 on Tuesday 12th July 18:47
MikeGoodwin said:
I hope you plan on driving the thing and not wasting it.
Define wasting it. It does it's job of being one of the coolest cars ever built without moving. A 172/182 is arguably better to drive.The 'event' is in the way it looks and the fact that a major manufacturer created it at all; the craziness of it all.
It's not a race car, it's not a light car, it's not a powerful car, it can be edgy at the limit and the slightest crash would likely write it off.
So, yes, it does get driven but not in anger and it doesn't get left anywhere unsecure and it brings me the greatest joy to be looking after it and preserving it as opposed to ragging it round a track or taking it to work. I have other cars for that.
There's only around 75 Phase 1s left on the road (according to How Many Left) and this is the only other non-insurance categorised Illiad Blue Phase 1 that I know of and possibly the lowest miles even if others exist.
It would be a greater injustice to be wiped out by some careless driver on a trip to the shops than to not drive it everyday.
benjijames28 said:
I don't think I could drive it, values are only going one way with these, and every time you take it out, you risk some knobhead crashing into you and ruining everything.
Other people don't seem to understand this...The beauty of the Phase 1 V6 is not in the way it drives, it's in the way it looks and that it exists at all.
Still my favourite car of all time and it remains taxed, MOTd, insured and in use. Just sparingly
Come over and say hello - I'll likely have a black Labrador in tow
You will be pleased to hear it's just be driven back from the detailer in the pouring rain!
Looks fantastic - Massive thanks to Ed @ Divine who has done an amazing job!
Need to touch in a couple of paint chips at some point but it looks spectacular!
You will be pleased to hear it's just be driven back from the detailer in the pouring rain!
Looks fantastic - Massive thanks to Ed @ Divine who has done an amazing job!
Need to touch in a couple of paint chips at some point but it looks spectacular!
Thanks guys - it really is an awesome car, such presence!
Was that photo taken at the London Motorshow?
I was there with my dad and he always said he'd love one so it's nice that 15-ish years later I got one!
When I worked at Lotus Motorsport in '99, they had some prototypes in the special/ secret project area... Where they propped the door open and you could wander in as you liked
It's running beautifully at the moment and looks great after Ed's work but will probably be covered in crap again by the time it gets to Goodwood tomorrow!
Just a couple of small jobs to do; delicately touch in a couple of stone chips as the car is now so clean they draw the eye and the silver trim with the window switches etc in the doors have gone a bit 'purple' at the edges where the alcantara has bled a bit, likely from opening the door in the rain. Assume they're a 172 part so easily replaceable or repainted
Otherwise - perfect
Was that photo taken at the London Motorshow?
I was there with my dad and he always said he'd love one so it's nice that 15-ish years later I got one!
When I worked at Lotus Motorsport in '99, they had some prototypes in the special/ secret project area... Where they propped the door open and you could wander in as you liked
It's running beautifully at the moment and looks great after Ed's work but will probably be covered in crap again by the time it gets to Goodwood tomorrow!
Just a couple of small jobs to do; delicately touch in a couple of stone chips as the car is now so clean they draw the eye and the silver trim with the window switches etc in the doors have gone a bit 'purple' at the edges where the alcantara has bled a bit, likely from opening the door in the rain. Assume they're a 172 part so easily replaceable or repainted
Otherwise - perfect
ikarl said:
OP you're definitely not wasting it in my opinion. By your own words you enjoy just looking at, and owning one of the coolest hot hatches ever made....not sure what defines 'wasting it' but that certainly doesn't seem to fit with how you type about it.
Awesome car!
It's cool - Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I am sure others would use it differently Awesome car!
I genuinely don't think I could love it more. There's something so 'right' about the Phase 1 V6.
I really think it would still look current/ new if it was the first time you saw one.
Tempted to run it down the local Shell and blow off the dirt from yesterday
Need to fill up the 545i though as well... The fun never ends in car land!
NotNormal said:
Yes it was
I remember it well Coolest car I had ever seen... Used to love seeing a Renault 5 Turbo, locally, many years ago as well.Just blew it off down the local Shell garage and got talking to a chap in a F458 who seemed to appreciate it, which was nice!
Leaving at 6:30am for Goodwood - Any forum members attending feel free to say hello - I'm the bearded one with the black lab, probably stuffing my face with bacon
It's not all about the investment; it's about the irreplaceability (it simply isn't replaceable and maybe not fixable in many cases) and the fact that it is sentimental to me. It's literally my favourite car ever and I'll be happy to keep it forever, as long as a sale isn't forced (I'm in the rocky O&G business).
Anyway; it did more miles through the week than my BMW and Peugeot. Having a full time job etc; it just gets used sparingly!
It'll even be out over winter, though probably only locally and as long as the roads aren't salted.
My buddy Duncan is selling his at the moment:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222298578353?_trksid=p20...
That's a stunner, it really is. Very active member of V6clio.net and that's the car I had a look round before deciding to buy mine (he wasn't selling it, he just wanted to show me round a car and what to look for etc as he's a top lad).
If you want a low mile, interesting colour, great condition Phase 1 then that would be a lovely car to buy.
Anyway; it did more miles through the week than my BMW and Peugeot. Having a full time job etc; it just gets used sparingly!
It'll even be out over winter, though probably only locally and as long as the roads aren't salted.
My buddy Duncan is selling his at the moment:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222298578353?_trksid=p20...
That's a stunner, it really is. Very active member of V6clio.net and that's the car I had a look round before deciding to buy mine (he wasn't selling it, he just wanted to show me round a car and what to look for etc as he's a top lad).
If you want a low mile, interesting colour, great condition Phase 1 then that would be a lovely car to buy.
fridaypassion said:
If you want to use one I'd be selling up and getting one with 70k on the clock and enough spare change to run it for 5 to 10 years!
Interesting car. Dont see the appeal outside the limited numbers myself but there would be some people out there with big money for a proper low mileage car. Given that to actually get out and drive there are many many better cars out there I'd take the money and run before its done a winter on the road. It was a good find but capitalise and get the hell out!
I've considered a higher mileage one (even Duncan's, I've linked to) actually...Interesting car. Dont see the appeal outside the limited numbers myself but there would be some people out there with big money for a proper low mileage car. Given that to actually get out and drive there are many many better cars out there I'd take the money and run before its done a winter on the road. It was a good find but capitalise and get the hell out!
But I love mine and I am not in it for the profit so I am not looking to capitalise (at the moment, still being employed etc) and it has already done one winter on the road so I am not too worried
The appeal is sometimes difficult to quantify and qualify; it's just very cool and there is something very 'right' about them in the flesh. A lot of presence and proportions that, although exaggerated, just seem to 'work' and really make it stand out compared to, well, pretty much any other hot hatch ever made IMHO.
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