2002 Renault Clio V6 review from UK and Ireland

Nothing!!

The MK1 Clio V6 2002. (Silver no.464 of 500)

Well, I have owned this car for 6 months now and knew that I would have to own one of these awesome V6 powered Clio's from the first moment I saw this creation reviewed in EVO magazine.

I took my time reading many reviews to find out if there were any 'bad' points about owning this car! I repeatedly read about the terrible 'fish tail' like handling, if pressed too hard into a sharp bend and its lack of power for a £26k 3LTR sports car. And the poor fuel consumption! (Which is true, if you intend on using the best fuel, Shell Optimax! But well worth every penny)

I read one review that said that it was a nightmare to check the oil level? And slated this on the Clio V6. But, he failed to realise that the oil level is electronically displayed on the dash if he bothered to read the user manual! (Along with the trip computer)

Well, apart from your chin hitting the floor when you first see this car in the metal, and not just from a magazine picture it will bring a whole knew experience to any sports car enthusiast! You will feel a tingle in your stomach just at the sight of it!

From the first moment I turned the key and heard the beautiful sound of this 3ltr V6 supercar I knew I had made the right choice! It made you feel like you were sitting in a much larger beast... and may even give you the Lambo or Porsche 911 super human feeling sitting behind the wheel! (Like it did for me!)

I carefully took the car out onto the public road, awaiting the unknown!! Asking myself, will it handle well? How fast will it accelerate away from the lights? Has it really got the power to match the looks and the awesome sound of the engine?

The plain and simple answer is YES to all the above!! I have previously owned an Escort Cosworth and Modified Turbo'd Racing Puma that will out-handle the Clio V6! (Just) BUT, what you get is great handling in the DRY! You will have to try extremely hard to lose this car around a bend under 60mph in the dry! It grips beautifully with those specially developed Michelins.

If you are Thrashing the living daylights out of this car around every 90 degree bend, then you will lose it! Like any other rear wheel drive Sports car. But, if you are a capable driver, and respect the rear wheel drive car you will have no problem, just lots of fun powering OUT of the bend and hearing the V6 sing from 4000 and past the 7000 rev mark and changing up through all 6 gears to a max 147 mph (on a track).

The most uncovered secret about this car, is that it love Shell Optimax!! It feel very slow using Super Unleaded once you have used Shell Optimax, and will rev much more freely! I was very taken back by the huge difference immediately after filling up with Optimax for the first time. I have raced many faster cars such as the WRX Imprezas and Lotus Elises, and they will not get past you from 30mph - 100mph. Off the line the will pinch a few meters, and that's all! But the Elise is totally a track car anyway and not practical at all! and the WRX Impreza is just not attractive, and never gathers any genuine admiration as far as looks are concerned. I have had so many 'Scooby' drivers tell me that the Clio V6 looks far better! And even after taking them for test drives, they have agreed that there just isn't much in it at all! and the V6 sounds far better than they ever imagined!

You may find that the attention you will get from this car, out weighs any performance figures! You will catch everyone's eye, from little kids.. to the elderly! They all stare in admiration and mostly smile at you in disbelief at this cars appearance and V6 purrs as you cruise past them. People you have never met will wave and smile at you!

This car will make you smile every time! Forget the bad reviews, this is a extremely rare opportunity of any enthusiast to experience! Buy One Now! (unless you can afford the very latest 2004 MK2 Clio V6!!) Listen to someone that actually owns this car, not from a office boy that wants to make his review standout with allot of nonsense.

Happy motoring!!