Compared to Renault’s first Clio Williams from the mid-1990s, the modern Clio RS feels like a posh luxury car compared to its illustrious predecessor, and while it may be faster on paper, keen drivers would still prefer the experience of driving the former, especially if they have done so before, and can compare the experience.

Nevertheless, the Williams wasn’t Renault’s best effort at making a small hot hatch, and they got much better with the next-gen car, which after its final facelift and revamp was pushing out 176 hp. To my knowledge (and after some quick thinking/calculating), the Clio 182 as it was known, still has the best power to weight ratio of any hot Clio to date, being rated at just under 162 hp/ton.

It’s so appealing as a package, in fact, that EVO’s Harry Metcalfe bought one while conducting the road test of the final Trophy version, back in 2005.

Metcalfe’s latest video focuses on his very own little red terrier on wheels, which shares its garage with many wonderful cars, as you’ll see after having scrolled down and clicked play. However, don’t go thinking it’s inferior in any way to the supercars and other classic and high-powered machines that he owns, because it’s not, and I’ll tell you why…

One of my own personal regrets is selling what I still think was the most fun car I’ve ever owned; a Clio two-door, like the 182, but it wasn’t the full hot hatch, and only featured the 105 hp 1.6-liter petrol engine. However, it was even lighter than the full-blown hot version, and with a makeshift cold air intake, it was even zippier on its feet.

It also held on well in corners (better than its main French rival at the time, the Peugeot 206) and the rear could be controlled with throttle, most of the times, being much nimbler, and genuinely faster than you may have thought, especially in the first three gears, through traffic. Now, while I’ve not driven the 182 or 172 models, I’d say the extra engine, better brakes and stiffer springs make it even better, and in the Trophy trim that Metcalfe has, it really is a very desirable machine, not only because it’s fairly rare, but also because on a twisty road nothing can stick to the back of it…

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