I'm sorry, have I missed some posts somewhere

FWD repmobile instead? :)

Eww ewwwww w ww wwwww wwww.

Ding. That's exactly what Dan is on about.

I had a go to explain to a Usenet regular in a Pontefract wine bar* yesterday that changing from a mid engined Clio V6 to a front engined Clio would make it more fun. It was all lost, because said gentleman stated that it remained a French Clio...

They aren't the same thing you know. An aircooled 911 is capable, but will kill the those not so confident.

You win ;) Although I did always like Italian bikes. Always had this perverse want for a Moto Guzzi California. Simply because it looked like a Chips bike. No other sensible reason. The noise Laverdas make is fantabulous too.

Setup. All they need is the right setup and you drive them a bit like a 911, in late on the brakes to kill the understeer then shift the weight to the rear using a carefully modulated right foot.

As an everyday car they have mor big issues than Birmingham New Street but rear drive is what makes it worthwhile.

Your brother has the right idea. Every petrolhead should have a big accident once in their driving life, and you didn't keep the Vee long enough.

Erm, weren't your 33s smaller than the current clio, lighter than the current clio, less powerful than the current clio and front wheel drive?

ISTR you hat two of the infernal machines. And replaced them with heavy tipos.

" "

"DAN!!"

I said it was much more capable than the Vee, which it is, anyone that drove both, even SteveH and TSK would admit that.

The Vee has (although it's just gone so had....) AP Racing brakes, Eibach springs, Koni Red shocks, OZ wheels, Porsche tuned heads :-)

The R27 has Recaro seats, Brembo brakes... D'oh :-)

The Vee didn't have the right set up though heh, and didn't have the options to make the setup anygood really. Roll oversteer is a bit scary.

I firmly beleive that if you all took the time, went out an test drove a Cup packed 197 - put aside your prejudices (sp?) and just gave them a good thrashing - there is NO ONE here that wouldn't get back to the dealership with a big daft grin on their faces having really enjoyed it - whether you'd admit it or not. The only thing I struggled with was not changing gear at

No recaros in the vee?

Yes but you took the soft option. Wimp.

Indeed but counterable with a bootful of throttle!

Why don't we met up somewhere and we can all have a go in yours? :)

I know what you're talking about though - Nat's 106, although lacking in power, is fantastic fun to throw about. In fact IIRC Clarkson (and Tiff I think) voted the 106 GTi the best car in the world ever, or something like that, due to it's go kart like handling. However I still prefer driving the SD1, even if it is slower round the corners (and potentially slower in a straight line too), just because it feels right. Powering off a roundabout with a massive V8 sound track and the back hanging out is brilliant, even if it's a little death-inducing in the wet. OK, the Vee is probably a little more scary than the SD1, but based on my extensive knowledge of both models I don't think I could have traded it in. I would have made Nat buy the R27 instead so I could play in both :D

But, horse for courses, and all that - you just have fun me lad!

SportAuto did an 8:49 ring time in 2001 in a Vee. The only standard front drive cars with a faster recorded time are the Integra R at 8:43 and the Civic R at 8:47. Some MTM tuned VW thing got a lot quicker but had c. 300 bhp.