2004 Renault Clio V6

First registered on the 17th of June 2004, this Phase 2 Renault Clio V6 is finished in Iliad Blue. Still showing just 36,000 miles on the clock, it has been in the care of the vendor for the past two and a half years.

Driven to us from his home, it was stored for five years immediately prior to him buying it. Recently lightly recommissioned by SG Motorsport, probably the UK’s leading Clio V6 experts, it’s now running beautifully.

Number 144 of 1,309 cars built, it is being offered for sale with a very sensible reserve, making this your chance to get your hands on one of the best looking and most usable Clio V6s on sale in the UK today.

Iliad Blue might be our favourite colour for the Clio V6. As bright and vibrant as the car itself, this one looks especially terrific thanks to dent and ripple-free panels, good shutlines, and a very nice sheen to the final colour coat.

This is due to the car’s obviously careful curation over the years, something the five years it spent in storage and the low recorded mileage will have contributed to; the Clio V6 was a modern classic from day one, so they tend to be used only sparingly and stored with more than the usual degree of care.

The alloy wheels were refurbished in December 2019, so they’re still in great shape. They’ve got a set of new and matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres too, in 205/40ZR18 on the front and 245/40ZR18 on the rear. The open nature of the design allows the AP Racing calipers to peek through at the front, giving cognoscenti yet more proof of the car’s focused nature.

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 a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The lower edge of the front spoiler is stonechipped, and given how good the rest of the car is we can see the new owner might want to get it sorted at some point.

There are, of course, a few stonechips dotted there and there plus the odd mark but there’s nothing to worry about and it’s all consistent with the car’s mileage and light use over the years.

The Clio V6’s somewhat staid interior might not reflect the exotic nature of the rest of the car but there’s no denying that this example is in a remarkably good condition.

The RenaultSport seats, for example, are in fine shape. Only very lightly creased and bobbled, they’re still as firm and comfortable as ever. There’s no sign of any damage and they’re actually considerably more supportive than they look, which is handy given the Clio’s penchant for pulling high-lateral G.

The rest of the interior is just as good with great door cards, carpets and headlining. Free of extraneous switches, dials and brackets, it’s exactly as Renault intended.

Well, it is on the surface: There are actually £800’s worth of upgraded Audison APK-130 and AP5 speakers hidden behind the factory covers, plus a modest Kicker Key amplifier hidden beneath the glovebox. It now sounds far better than the factory set-up but the old speakers will come with the car should the new owner prize originality over high-fidelity.

The steering wheel has been refurbished, too. These are prone to bubbling, so the vendor had SG Motorsport send it off for refurbishing as part of the £5K+ he spent with them. It’s now perfect, and as much of a joy to hold as it is to behold.

It’s the same with the alloy gearknob; a perfectly weighted globe and only lightly patinated, it makes every gearchange a joy. The all-important plaque confirming this to be #144 sits between the front seats on the bright blue centre console, a colour picked up by the lateral strip across the dashboard.

The boot is small and perfectly formed. Lifting the (very good) engine cover shows a neat and tidy engine, but that’s only to be expected given the car’s recent fettling.

The Clio’s service history os recorded as follows:

• 03.09.2007 and 16,796 miles – service and brake pads by R. Reilly

• 03.07.2009 and 22,175 miles – service, cambelt and air-con recharged by Sunwin Renault

• 25.05.2011 and 27,873 – new gearbox by Hemming Chicester Renault

• 12.10.2017 and (unknown) miles - service plus a cambelt and waterpump by Rentech Ltd

• 06.12.2019 and 33,570 miles – service plus a cambelt and waterpump, new Michelin Sport tyres and refurbished alloy wheels, a refurbished steering wheel, a crankshaft pully and engine mount, fresh brake fluid, and an air-conditioning service plus all the other bits and bobs identified as needing attention by SG Motorsport Services Ltd. Please see slide #149 for details, but the headline figure is than £5,000 spent but then it was carried out by SG, so you know it will have been done properly.

As you can see from the video, it starts promptly and revs beautifully with a hard-edged crackle to the uprated Quicksilver exhaust that’s at odds with its humble silhouette. We’ve driven it too (of course we have…) and can confirm that it drives as it should.

The Clio’s MOT certificate is valid until August 2021 which it passed with absolutely no advisories, which is an endorsement to all the work the seller had undertaken on the vehicle in December 2019. It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus some old invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also still has its original owner’s handbook, the service history booklet, book pack, and storage wallet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this paperwork.

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.

NB: The cherished registration number ‘V16 ELF’ is excluded from the sale.

We’ve sold a few Renault Clio V6s recently, a sign the market is increasingly recognizing them for what they are; huge fun to drive and a bloody good place to stash some money now that banks and building societies are paying such derisory rates.

As a Phase 2 car, this is a tad more civilized than the somewhat wayward early cars - that it is finished in the wonderful colour of Iliad Blue just makes it even more desirable.

As does the fact that it treads the line between investment and usable car better than most; with just over 35,000 miles under its belt, it’s nicely run-in and ready for fun without being so leggy as to put off those for whom it will be an investment as well as a toy.

With a guide price of £31,000 and £41,000, it straddles the price range nicely, too. While some examples have now broken the £50,000 barrier (including the Liquid Yellow one we set a new record with…) its usefully cheaper but not so cheap as to set alarm bells ringing…

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’.