Soo, the cars here and honestly, it's everything I had hoped it to be. I went for blue, like last time, but the particular colour is Albi Blue.. it's kind of a metallic blue that flips to purple in some light. It looks very sexy.
To contrast with the black front, mirrors and rear diffuser I went for black speedline wheels, which are awesome and work sooo well with the big red BREMBO brake calipers.
The full spec of the car is:
- RenaultSport Clio 200 FF (full fat, i.e. not CUP)
- CUP suspension pack
- Reb BREMBO calipers
- Uprated springs & shocks
- Uprated anti roll bar
- CUP rear spoiler
- RenaultSport monitor pack
- Heated/folding mirrors
- Black speedline wheels
- Recaro front seats
- USB + Bluetooth upgrade
- RenaultSport mats
I've also fitted a HTC phone cradle to not only hold my phone but charge it whilst it's doing it's bluetooth/sat nav thing.
First drive?
Well, from the moment I saw it on the back of the trailer it looked great, perfect. I love sporty cars and this just looked right up my street. I have described it to friends as a clowns shoe. It's ridiculous, over the top, boy-racer-looking, shouty car - but take it for what it is...
Then you start it up and go for a drive. Wow. I've driven some of the great cars in my time, my last car was a rare Alpina B3S which oozes history and torque from every panel... but this was something else.
Once you've pressed the start button the engine bursts straight into life and purrs. Of course, I need to run the engine in for 600 miles, but just pottoring around makes a stunning noise. Like a panther growling, ready to pounce. Slowly accellerate and the growl turns into a quiet bark - and this is all below 3000rpm!! At this point I've only taken it to about 3400rpm and that's sitting on the M4 at 70mph - God only knows what it's going to sound like at the point the rev limiter BLEEPS to tell me to change gear.
To add to the impressive first drive, the tight new engine returned 34mpg on my cruise to work. Granted, these are exceptional trips pottering around and then putting the car on cruise control at 70mph on the way to work, but still.. 34mpg is a good base that I know is 'good enough' to manage the fuel costs for. If it returned 25mpg cruising, then I'd really be in trouble with paying the fuel bill each month.
Do, does it handle?
Tough to say right now as I've been nannying it around, still getting used to using a manaul after 3 years with an auto/tip gearbox, not to mention all the 'new buttons' to play with.
First impressions is the CUP pack have made it tight and responsive, easily making up for a slightly rougher ride over slow bumpy roads. In time I'll get on a track day to find the limits of the handling (and my talent), but it feels like this car will stick to the road way after I run out of bottle.
I'll add more to this as time goes on, but wow... what a car! Everyone should drive or have one to remind them just how exciting a simple drive around the block can be!