2005 Renault Clio V6 Phase 2

First registered by Renault UK London West on the 10th of January 2005 as a management car (absolutely not a demonstrator…), it sold with around 500 miles on the odometer to MTG of Stevenage on the 6th of September 2005 for use by one of its directors.

It was then part-exchanged at Extreme Motors, Dudley at 1,331 miles, from whom the vendor bought it on the 4th of January 2006, which makes him the car’s only owner for the past 15 years. He is, in his own words, “a mature and fastidious owner” and has only used it for high days and holidays; he is also at pains to point out that it has never been driven in the wet or on salty roads, much less for tracks days and other shenanigans.

As a Phase 2 car, only 354 right-hand-drive examples are thought to have been built, of which this is number 242. Finished in the fabulous colour of Illiad Blue with a matching blue and black interior, it has no modifications whatsoever and still smells like new.

Always kept under a soft car cover in a garage and on a trickle charger, it has been on SORN since the 22nd of November 2010 and is still showing fewer than 8,700 miles. However, the vendor assures us that it has been started regularly and driven short distances on his private drive since then to keep it lubricated and running well – but never in the wet, of course.

Look, shall we just cut to the chase and ‘fess up that this is going to be a very short section? This is, after all, an ultra-pampered example with a ridiculously low recorded mileage that’s been SORN’d for years and only driven very short distances since 2005 so it’s had little chance to pick up any significant marks.

So, it gleams in an almost unholy fashion and that glorious blue shows off the mm-perfect shutlines, perfect panel alignment, and ripple-free flanks to perfection.

The silver addenda are bright and sharp, as are the badges, light lenses, and glass. It also still sports the original dealer numberplates, which we think is a delightful touch.

The original equipment wheels are free of damage but they do have the odd tiny mark on them plus a bit of what looks to be brake dust in some of the crevices. Given the rest of the car’s condition – and its value – we can see that the new owner may want to invest a few hundred pounds in having them sympathetically refurbished.

The matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres have been kept overinflated to prevent flat spotting, and still show a good depth of tread on tyres.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you an insight into their attitude towards maintenance.

They are now 15 years old though, so it might be an idea to get your hands on a second set of wheels and fit new rubber on them if you intend to use the car. That way you’ll have one set to show it on, and one to drive it on.

The car also comes with original Renault toolkit and tyre sealant kit.

Problems? You'd be hard pressed to find any aside from the faint blemishes on the wheels, we spotted a small mark on the trailing edge of the offside front wing, plus a tiny indentation on the top of the driver’s door. There is also a short, 3cm touched-in scratch on the nearside front bumper near the wheel.

Please see the photographs for details, but be assured that none are serious and we only mention them for completeness.

The blue and black Renault Sport seats are similarly well preserved with almost no visible wear at all – and what there is is limited to a few very minor creases to the driver’s seat.

The correct Renault Sport steering wheel is terrific, as is the suede gear lever gaiter, and drilled pedal covers; these fittings, along with the bright blue accents that are dotted throughout the cabin, provide some much-needed titivation to what is otherwise a standard Clio interior.

As to the condition of the fixtures and fittings, everything – carpets, headlining, dashboard, door cards and controls - looks fabulous and operates as it should. Interestingly, it has dodged the infamous ‘sticky’ controls that so many of this model have fallen prey to.

The numbered plaque, which confirms this car as number 242, sits in between the seats. The plastic ‘frunk’ is clean and the tiny rear boot is neatly carpeted.

Other than a few scuffs to the plastic engine cover, there really isn’t anything to do at all other than to sit in it and make ‘vroom, vroom’ noises…

The servicing regimen, mostly by Renault Sport Clio V6 specialists SG Motorsports of Chippenham, comprises:

• Unknow date and 1,000 miles – oil change

• 25.01.2007 and 3,912 miles - service

• 02.02.2008 and 5,775 miles – service

• 03.04.2008 and 6,012 miles - new brake master cylinder and drive belt fitted

• 10.04.2009 and 6,900 miles - service

• 03.08.2020 and 8,668 miles – service and new starter motor fitted

The car’s MOT history is:

• 23.01.2008 and 5,787 miles

• 23.03.2009 and 6,803 miles

• 27.04.2010 and 7,532 miles

A replacement Renault-branded battery has been fitted and the fuel tank has been kept topped up with high-octane petrol.

We’ve driven it and can confirm that it starts promptly and drives as it should.

The engine bay is very nicely detailed and presented, and the underside is almost unbelievably clean and free of even the lightest surface corrosion.

The car now comes with a fresh MOT, valid until August 2021.

The Clio comes with a brand-new MOT and an impressively comprehensive set of documents (invoice and bills to confirm work done over the years plus old MOT certificates). 

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, fully stamped service history, book pack, and storage wallet plus two sets of keys.

The car’s history is beautifully organized into the following sections:

• Registration certificate

• Purchase receipt

• Service records

• MOT certificates

• SORN and vehicle tax records

• Trackstar and international security register

• Radio and locking wheelnut codes

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and the other paperwork that give this car its unimpeachable provenance.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

And please be reassured, we’ve undertaken a full COVID-assessment and put into place strict control measure to enable us to safely facilitate a no-contact, socially distanced viewing that includes disinfection of the vehicle before and after your viewing.

However, if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

With such a limited production run – just 354 right-hand-drive examples are believed to have found their way to the UK – the Phase 2 Renault Clio V6 is proving to be a good investment, to prove it, we have just sold a gorgeous Liquid Yellow for £52,000.

Our full estimate? £40,000 - £55,000

That is undoubtedly a lot of money but then when are you going to get another chance to buy a Renault Sport Clio V6 with a four-figure mileage and an impeccable service history? Especially one in such an attractive colour.

Given its condition, it would make the centrepiece of a very impressive collection - or why not say to hell with preservation and use it for classic motorsport events such as the Circuit des Remparts at Angoulême?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.