Renaultsport Clio V6 | Spotted

With new suspension amongst a host of other mods, might this be a Clio V6 for driving and not just collecting?

The Renaultsport Clio V6 has become a familiar star of classifieds features over the years, and justifiably so. Combine the wackiness of the idea with the car's rarity, along with some very punchy asking prices, and it's easy to see why the discussion returns to them so often. This one, though, is a little different...

Because we're all pretty familiar now, 15 years since V6 Clios went out of production, with the ultra-low mileage, factory fresh, exorbitantly expensive ones. There was the car advertised at £60k a couple of years ago, and even today there's a Liquid Yellow V6 with fewer than 1,000 miles on it for sale at POA - all guesses invited on that one.

There's quite a lot that marks this particular V6 out, however, and which makes it almost the polar opposite of all those pristine show ponies. It's a phase one car, first off, which is almost certainly the lesser spotted V6 thanks to its infamously tricky handling. And, to be entirely accurate, because there were fewer to start with as well, howmanyleft suggesting a peak of 213 original V6s were on our roads against 285 for the second generation. As a sidenote, that both now languish in double digits - the original at less than 50 - is a cause for some concern.

In addition, this is a modified Clio V6, of which there can't be many now given how prized originality is. There's KW suspension, which will hopefully help iron out a few of its less desirable dynamic tendencies, a Janspeed exhaust, a Momo steering wheel and the front splitter off a Trophy race car. Plus, quite clearly, the gold wheels, which the keen will have noticed are from a later car. The ad suggests they're on four fresh tyres, too, which is encouraging.

There's another key difference in this Clio V6 to others: usage. While some are out there with fair mileages, an incredible amount still seem to surface with four-figure odo readings despite plenty of passing years. This one has 40,000 miles under those gold wheels, driven both here and in France, with what's described as a "comprehensive" service history to back it up - including a recent engine-out cambelt service.

For a buyer keen to get the Clio V6 experience, then, and not simply acquire an asset, this one should hold a lot of appeal. Especially so with an asking price of £26,950; appreciation doesn't seem very likely, though neither does losing your shirt. Because, as these sorts of stories will always tell you, there really is nothing like a Clio V6. This one most certainly isn't original, but it might well be better for it, ready and raring to go as maker intended. Perhaps not with December a week away, sure, but then winter might be the perfect time of year to do a good deal...

SPECIFICATION | RENAULTSPORT CLIO V6

Engine: 2,946cc, V6
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive,
Power (hp): 230@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 221@3,750rpm
MPG: 25. Ish
CO2: 267g/km
First registered: 2002
Recorded mileage: 50,000
Price new: £26,675
Yours for: £26,990