Clio 182 Trophy
Year: 2005 Engine: 2.0-litre, 180bhp 0-60mph: 6.9 seconds Price: £15,500
The most understated car here is actually the most hardcore! The thinking behind the 182 Trophy was to take the sharp 182 Cup chassis and turn it up to 11. On the outside, a bigger rear wing, Trophy logos and red paint mark the Renault out. Inside, there’s heavily bolstered Recaro seats and a plaque proudly displaying the production number.
New dampers from German specialist Sachs – reported to cost Renault 10 times more than the standard units – are fitted to firm up the suspension. On track it’s no less compromising than the other cars here, but on public roads, littered with speed bumps, it’s a different story. In corners the Trophy stays flat and has bags of grip, while its straight-line pace is a match for the more powerful Clio 200 thanks to its lack of weight.
Best of all, though, is that this Renaultsport experience can be yours for £6,000 second-hand!
