July 2013 - Friday 26th
Firstly, a HUGE thanks to Fred for the loan of his incredible Renaultsport Clio V6. Having had my trophy for 6 months (no fault of his own mind!) I am now struggling without a car and I cannot continue to share my partner's Type-R as she needs it for her own commuting, etc. Also, a change in my own circumstances mean I am finding it more difficult to share a single car with her due to the logistics of it all. Anyways, to cut a long story short I was going to hire a car and that's when Fred generously stepped in and offered me the loan of his V6! I am now in possession of this wonderful car until my Trophy is done (or Fred urgently needs it back!) As said, a huge and massive thanks to Fred. He's a star and I don't care how brown my nose is... this has helped me out massively and I can't express how grateful and appreciative I am.
So yeah, what a day (thanks also to my good lady for playing long distance taxi driver and driving me over from Wales). Fred did say, as I picked it up this morning, that I'd either love it or hate it. I think you can probably guess where I stand on that one. It really is a bit special. And I've never been in a car that attracts so much attention. If I'm honest I found it a little unnerving. When I'm in my Trophy, nobody really gives it much attention. Unless it's a fellow Clio enthusiast then most just assume it's a red Clio and that is that. But not so with the Vee. Pretty much everybody was straining to get a look on the drive back to Wales. I also found that, on the motorways and dual carriageways, a lot of cars simply moved out the way to let me by. No, I wasn't speeding either! The only issues I had were with blokes in shirts and ties in German barges that seemed to be annoyed that I was sharing the same bit of tarmac with them. Whilst the urge was great to floor it I simply moved over and let them pass.
I pulled in the services to fill up the fuel and as I was about to leave a Dutch couple in a motorhome struck up a conversation about the car; a nice couple and we spent a few minutes chatting until another car pulled up to use the pump. On the way out the station a posse of 'more mature' bikers let me pass and threw thumbs up. This is totally alien to me, but cool all the same. As I got nearer home I called in Halfords to pick up some quick detailer and microfibre towels and was greeted by two police officers when I returned to the car park. They'd pulled up next to it and were checking it out. No issues, they were just looking so I spent a few minutes chatting with PC Evans and (can't remember his name, Huw I think) about the car and the deal with my Trophy. I bet they regretted asking! LOL! To top it off, I gave it a clean for a few hours this afternoon and the neighbours were asking about it as well as the locals who pass by the house. This was weird as I don't know them (apart from my neighbours) and normally just keep myself to myself. So yeah, the car definitely has a certain air of celebrity and presence about it!
In terms of the drive, it drives real nice. And the sound is immense; it just burbles and growls as you go about your business. The gearbox is sublime as well... so smooth. I love it.
Anyways, here are a few pics after today's clean. Sorry they are driveway shots but I haven't had time to take it anywhere yet!
Roll on the French Car Show tomorrow!