(Not) Spotted: Renault Sport Spider
Tempted by a Renault Sport Spider? Tough luck; there don't seem to be any around
Lots of questions spring to mind too. Will an Alpine-Caterham be front- or mid-engined? Stripped back and basic like a Seven? Or the purist’s Porsche alternative Lotus failed to create with the Evora?
You got seats. But not an awful lot else.
Second time lucky, then? Certainly if you want a template on which you can hang Caterham and Alpine brand values something along the lines of the Alpine-built Spider could work. I always thought it a much cooler looking thing than the Elise but even this hardcore sector of the market needed a few creature comforts. A new-age Spider appeals, though. Power could come from an off-the-shelf four-cylinder engine, perhaps supercharged with Caterham’s bolt-on (and Lotus inspired) integrated chargecooler system for an easy 300hp or so. Transverse mounting would mean you could pinch a front-drive powertrain from a Megane or Clio too.
Buy a Spider. You could be like this guy.
More mainstream buyers, perhaps finally over endless Elise derivatives and priced out of Boxsters and Caymans, could have an Alpine-branded version with ESP, a roof, radio and air-con, all affordably sourced from the Renault parts bin.
Whether the business case stacks up, given even Porsche would be toast if all it made was 911s, Boxsters and Caymans, is another matter – one for Renault boss Carlos Tavares to answer perhaps.
All of this pondering did get me thinking a Sport Spider would be an excellent way to get into the mood. But, dammit, there aren’t any for sale, or that I could find anyway. I coveted them when they were new, had a quick taste of one a couple of years back and craved a proper go ever since. Looks like that might have to wait a little longer though and, in the meantime, I’ll jealously read of PHer Alex Forster’s tales of ownership in a Carpool we ran a couple of years back.
RENAULT SPORT SPIDER
Engine: 1,998cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Power (hp): 150@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): N/A
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: N/A
Recorded mileage: N/A
Price new: c. £25,000
Yours for: N/A
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http://www.arjunauto.com/view.php/e9abee2c-3980-43...
in fact they have 6 http://www.arjunauto.com/inventory.php/reset
He also had a Suzuki X90, that was a strange combination.
Thinking about it, it must have been in 2000, so it may have been pretty much brand new!
My overriding memory was being unable to find the door handle straight away, reaching over to find the interal one and the door hitting me in the chest.
Surely all the above wouldn't add enough weight to actually notice the difference?
http://www.arjunauto.com/view.php/e9abee2c-3980-43...
in fact they have 6 http://www.arjunauto.com/inventory.php/reset
The reviews at the launch were all positive (IIRC). The greater performance and even better handling of the Elise didn't do much for sales (the Elise appeared a few months after the launch of the Spider), but I don't think a high production run was ever intended.
Great concept and great little car. Ultra rare and looks like nothing else on the road too. Definitely desirable. I'll have mine in blue please.
This anyway has the Clio Williams standard engine,awesome bit of kit.
The Toyota GT86 of the 90's,but it's a Renault so on here is s
t,crap and everything is better than it.The rarity allows the owners to abuse on the price unfortunately.
Yellow is the best colour imo. I've seen a Silver one, that makes a change from the three main colours.
I'd imagine they're quite slow by todays standards? iirc they have re worked Clio Williams 2.0 16v F7R engine.
They might handle well but I've never read anything about them.
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