Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

This was down near East Knoyle on a drive from Bradford on Avon.
Sun stayed out which was a bonus :)

ah, man. i am in kingston deverill. pipe up next time you are out that way...

+1 more for the Clio 1*2

Slowly falling in love with mine.

Corners on 3 wheels, and returns 40mpg.

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Nicole..papa !

indeed - just down the road and looks like a lovely place to be

Psyched you’re enjoying it. Deffo considering one when I’ve got a bit more cash.

@umop3pisdn

3k will get you a 1.0 Lupo with coilovers, light wheels with very sticky rubber, and a Gripper diff if you want to go balls out.

Renaultsport Twingo has also been suggested

Haven't checked the price of the 3.0 in a little while, wow. Just under 50 grand would get you this:

Problem is that in just about every circumstance (other than presence and noise) a 172/182 has it beat. Down a twisty road, a V6 wouldn't see where the smaller car went.

I remember when they were £10k and I was poor.

Can't get two dogs in that, there's a V6 in the way.

an RS Twingo does look tempting. Bit harder to find than an RS Clio though.

What about a Panda 100HP?

Is the 182 where it's at then, and the 197 pointless? The lairy looking ones that come up with the aero kits really appeal to me...

Yeah, and the Swift Sport.

That's not really why you buy one though is it?
50 grand could get you one of a whole load of cars that would thrash the Clio

You buy it because it's cool as hell and the engine is where the kids you haven't had which have allowed you to make this sort of fun purchase would otherwise have been sitting

No I think a 197 would be a great car too. 172/182/192/200 should all be good. Just depends on budget. I've only spent time in 172/182s but I've got a feeling that the cars after that were a bit heavier and more complicated as is often the case. My mum had a 182 Trophy when they first came out and that really is the sweet spot of them.

I'm actually planning on relocating back to the UK in the next year so a lot of my time is spent day creaming about getting another fun car again and a hot hatch is high on the list. Probably french.

Oh absolutely. It doesn't have to make sense. My uncle also owned (he's had a lot of great cars) a Mk1 Clio V6 and it definitely felt special.

The UK is truly spoilt for choice when it comes to affordable fun cars.

Ah am a fan of the boxer engine, have had sud and 33 and lack of power IMO is made up with the improved handling of flat 4 engine.

EDIT french hot hatch- got to be the 205 ;)

Don't think its any faster and from memory the gearbox is made of cheese.

Yep apparently there was a big weight increase and no real power increase to match it. I get the impassion lots of Clio folks went back to the 1*2 after 197/200 ownership.

They're still meant to be great fun through.

I’m clearing out my garage and have a roof rack/bars for an A2, let me know if it’s of any interest

Thanks for the thought, but have one. It well sell easy on ebay, quite desirable. If you do, let me know and i'll link it on the A2 forum.

Can I step in and dibs?

Collecting mine tomorrow...

Rear suspension beams rot and are unique to the 100. Better to swap to the later KA suspension set up and springs and dampers as the rates are different and seem to be better on the KA.

What about a twin air fiat/alfa