Time really does fly when you're bickering on the internet. It's now more than seven years ago that the world's media first drove the fourth-generation Renault Sport Clio 200 EDC, the PH first drive having been published on March 15th, 2013. A lifetime ago, in car terms.
Because collective memories are never the most reliable of historic sources, here's what was said about the Clio back then. Bear in mind this is with the previous, much-vaunted Clio 200 in much more recent memory. And as an entirely standard vehicle. With a very cynical journalist driving. "Properly attack a twisty road and you quickly realise this thing is properly focused"; "disable the ESP completely and (you will) find yourself in a front-wheel drive car with one of the most mobile rear ends on sale"; "while I was flicking through the paddles and feeling the car lightly oversteer... it dawned on me that I was having a lot of fun driving the thing." Doesn't sound like such a spudder in reality, does it?
Even that sort of praise couldn't save the Clio from a fairly frosty reception elsewhere, criticism levelled at its gearbox (which, in fairness, wasn't the best DCT in the world) and the five-door only body. Going from a three-door only, manual-only, naturally-aspirated Clio hot hatch - one of the best ever, it should be said - to a five-door only, auto-only turbo Renault Sport Clio certainly rubbed a few people up the wrong way, despite the plaudits.
Seemingly keen to assuage those doubters, Renault introduced the Trophy in 2015. This was more like it: a stiffer, faster, feistier Clio, one that sacrificed a bit of the standard 200's fluency for some traditional aggression. Despite some costly options, it was a really good Renault Sport: fine chassis, plenty quick enough, seemingly durable and willing enough to withstand punishment.
Yet, still, the Clio IV was not enjoying the sort of reception enjoyed by its predecessors. Why? Well, the blunder that was the RS16 concept must hold some responsibility, teasing fans with a tantalising taste of what a manual, track-honed Clio of the old school might have been like in the present day and then not following through. Second problem, quite clearly, was the Fiesta ST...
If the Clio charm had always been in relatively simple, raw, back-to-basics thrills, then that's exactly what the EDC car abandoned - and the Fiesta encapsulated to a tee. It had a manual gearbox, a naughty sense of fun and an alluringly low price; it seemingly didn't matter for buyers that the Clio probably had just as good a chassis (if not better), boasted a nicer driving position (as well as overall interior) and was just as quick. For the majority of buyers, it was the Fiesta's cheap thrills that appealed more than the Clio's more mature dynamism.
Those in the minority, however, might be served well by a used Clio IV - especially a Trophy. This one is still one of the more expensive around, though £15k after 8,000 miles seems reasonable given the spec of many - our test car back in 2017 was £26,000. Black on black gives it some attitude missing from more demure Renault Sport specs, and this one also comes with the added benefits of an Akrapovic exhaust and the Renault Sport monitor. Regardless of what you've been told, it will be fun. Honest.
It would be remiss, that said, not to mention the kind of Fiesta ST available on offer at £15,000. Because not only could you have one of the very best ST200s of the last generation, the three-cylinder car is also in budget - see here. The Ford's combination of talents is always going to make the Clio's case tougher to make, just as it was new and presumably as it will be all the way down to Shed money, but don't dismiss the Clio out of hand - not everything you read on the internet is true, after all...
SPECIFICATION | RENAULT SPORT CLIO 220 TROPHY EDC
Engine: 1,618cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed dual-clutch auto, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 220@6,050rpm
Torque (lb ft): 207 @2,000rpm
MPG: 47.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 135g/km
First registered: 2017
Recorded mileage: 8,400
Price new: £22,425
Yours for: £14,995
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