:p
OK got this idea from the 'most disappointing/surprising car' thread.

Some of us Europeans, let America know the cars they're missing out on over there, as rickg asked. I was thinking more mainstream stuff, (Clio Sport 172.., Alfa 147GTA etc) than the usual TVR, Lotus etc etc which they all know about already..

So to start us:

The Renault Clio V6

The Clio is a very cheap, basic, 'supermini' for popping to the shops in. The standard engine is a 1.2 litre four with a not-so-frightening 60 BHP through the front wheels. There's also 1.5 diesel or 1.4 petrol too in the standard range, if your grandma is feeling the daredevil inside.

However, for no real reason, Renault had TWR, a large motor racing preparation outfit in England, build a fast version of these. You're thinking, bore it to 1.8, fit some cams, make 130 bhp, this ~1000Kg car will be pretty nippy..?

Well, I think something got lost in French-English translation, because the car has Renaults 3.0 litre V6 and makes 255bhp. Yes, that's over 4 times the power of the basic petrol, in a tiny hatchback. Naturally this wouldn't fit up front, nor be much fun driving the front wheels. So where do you put your large V6? Why, in the back of course, right where the rear seats and trunk are. Well, were. And you make it drive the rear wheels. That's sensible.

So, if you pop to your local Renault dealer, amongst the Espace 7-seater 'minivans' and 1.2l shopping hatches, is another shopping hatch with the identical super-cheap plasticky interior, rattley build quality and a 255bhp V6 right behind your ears.

Why? No reason. But that's why it's a bloody great car...


Left: A £7,000 Renault Clio, and some people. They are probably French.
Right: A £25,000 Renault Clio with a V6 in the middle. Handling, unsurprisingly, is rather good.

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190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg

I almost bought the Clio, it was a really close call....I flipped a coin to decide between the Renault and The Nissan 350Z, but ended up giving up the two of them for practicality reasons, I need a rear seat...

I have 28 more days until I receive my 147 GTA

250 Hp V6, 3.2 liters, faster than a Porsche Boxster S..

Am I happy, yes I am

2 things I miss about Europe: The food and the cars!

I owned 2 American vehicles, and 1 Japanese but American built car.

Guess what? They were all pieces of dung!

I will never buy another car that isn't european (except maybe for the crossfire since it's buit in Germany and is 39% Mercedes).

Next car will be a sporty one! I'm thinking 993 911 in a couple of years, or maybe an AMG

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2003 E55 AMG
2007 FJ Cruiser

I saw a review of this car on BBC's Top Gear...they really pushed the little car on the track to the extreme...very nice...

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1995 black pearl/black Mercedes-Benz E420 :

I wouldn't mind if the Alfa 156 came over here (2.5 V6 Sportwagon, manual). Ditto for the MG ZT-T 190, also with a 2.5 V6 and manual).

-Sam

I'm still in love with the old Renault R5 Turbo II

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Make it a great day!
Jay E.

E55 '00 (Silver)
....SOLD

E500 '94 (Pearl Black)
...love my E500 so much!

Toyota FX-16 GTS '87 (Very Red)
...stored in my garage

Audi 4000CS Quattro '87 (Alpine White)
...Totalled

Mitsubushi Montero '91 (Blue)
...my daily ride

I wish we had the small commuter vehicles in the US like you have in Europe, like the Smart car or the 500cc diesel Bellier(?) I saw in France this summer.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'm also jealous of the fact that Europeans have gotten Subaru Impreza Turbos, WRXes, and STis since 1993. Damn the marketing mavens of Subaru of America---all they would have us buy is Outbacks and the departed SVX luxury coupe.

-Sam

Ditto!!

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1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"

Well, at least now we have Lancers EVO VIII!! Saw two of them yesterday. Sweet looking, but people drove them as if they were afraid they's fall apart when pushed. What a waste...

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1985 190D 2.2l Sold-to Brother-in-law
1996 Mustang 3.8l -"thinks it's a sports car"
1988 Grand Wagoneer - Sold (good home)
1995 Grand Cherokee Ltd -"What was I thinking??!!"

Is that Cascade Autocenter, and is that the STi that they have on their showroom floor that they want $36K (gotta looove that smalltown dealer markup, LOL) for?

My parents picked up a Jeep from there in June, and I happened to be visiting them, so at least I got to sit in the STi while they were dealing on the Jeep. Very nice seats...

-Sam