Renault Sport Spider: Spotted
Don't forget, the A110 is not the first mid-engined sports car built in Dieppe with a Renault hot hatch engine...
Like all of us here at PH Towers, I like the new Alpine A110, but its £50k-plus price tag always seems a little steep to me. That is perhaps not saying much: most price tags seem a little steep to me, even those attached to a packet of crisps, but then I was born before the Boer war, and such money as I have is firmly tied up in my daughters' iPhone accounts.
Resorting to the past for something as entertaining as the A110, but at half the price, brings us face to face with the ruthless Renault Sport Spider. No wait, I mean the roofless Renault Sport Spider. This magnificently open confection was one of the first vehicles to issue from the Renault Sport portals, and was actually built in the Alpine factory in Dieppe.
The wacky Spider took its mid-mounted 150hp 2.0-litre 16-valve engine from the delicious Clio Williams and, with just 920kg of car to haul around, its performance was suitably lively - think 0 to 60mph in 6.5 seconds, and an eventual, and very windy, top speed of 131mph. It had a five-speed manual 'box driving the rear wheels, an industrial-strength, extruded aluminium chassis, a composite body - such as it was - with scissor doors and double wishbones all round. It was fast, nimble, grippy and fun.
Here of course you might be tempted to bring up the name Elise, a car so light by comparison it had to be tethered to the ground. I suspect Renault's reaction to the contemporary Elise at this time would have echoed that famous quote by Bing Crosby on Frank Sinatra. When someone said to him that singers like Sinatra only come along once in a lifetime he famously shot back: "Yeah, but why did it have to be in mine?"
Never mind. Whatever the virtues of the Elise, the Sport Spider doesn't lack for visual drama and a little tactile pleasure. With those enormous side air intakes, its looks are still head turning today, and its quick-flick (but unassisted, like the brakes) steering and immense grip are both still delightful.
Search the web for a Spider and you'll soon find one with legs. Once upon a time you could buy one for a lot less than the one we've found here, but considering only around 100 of them were imported to the UK you have to accept this is now a collector's car, and subject to the whims of the market. They cost £25,950 new in 1996, so perhaps this 15,000-mile example's asking price of £28,995 isn't so far-fetched. After all, it's still nearly half the price of an A110.
SPECIFICATION - RENAULT SPORT SPIDER
Engine: 1,998cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 150
Torque (lb ft): 136
MPG: N/K
CO2: N/K
First registered: 1998
Recorded mileage: 15,000
Price new: £25,950
Yours for: £28,995
See the original advert here.
Mark Pearson
Of course it had the default flat battery and, by the time I'd found that, started it and worked out I had to twist the gear lever for reverse, it was pouring with rain.
I got soaked on the drive home, but had a LOT of fun
Just dont damage it!
£14,250 with 16,000 miles, should have hung onto it.
I'm not sure about the 0-60mph time of 6.5 seconds, it didn't feel that quick.
Never had I owned a car that got so much attention, petrol stations, people taking pics, people asking about it etc...
Classic moment was at Harpenden car show, two Police officers were discussing what it was.
The lady saying "it's a Renault", the chap saying "no way, Renault never made anything like this" as he's walking around the car.
He then says "what do you know about cars?" to the lady officer.
She replied "nothing, but it has a Renault badge on the front"
The Elise was so much better.
The Renault had a welded chassis which was heavy (the car actually felt heavy when driving)
The Elise was so much lighter, had a roof, a heater (almost) and better brakes, much better brakes. The Spiders brakes were NOT servo assisted.
I do wish I'd have kept it though.
I'm sure I still have the Renault workshop manuals somewhere if anyone ever needs them.
The Elise was so much better.
The Renault had a welded chassis which was heavy (the car actually felt heavy when driving)
The Elise was so much lighter, had a roof, a heater (almost) and better brakes, much better brakes. The Spiders brakes were NOT servo assisted.
I do wish I'd have kept it though.
I'm sure I still have the Renault workshop manuals somewhere if anyone ever needs them.
Lack of servo on the brakes is a great thing in S1 and early S2s. Can't compare to that on the spider, as never got to drive one.
I remember sitting in one at the motor-show in Birmingham, there was also a prototype V6 clio there too. Both looked fantastic to an 18 year old me.
As per above these do create a huge amount of attention when out in them, maybe because 99% people have no idea what it is?
Missed opportunity IMO.
Besides... in a light car non-servo brakes are great. Arguably however, the Spider is just getting to the weight that they may be beneficial - much like with the Toyota engined Elises...
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