Hello from Ex Renault UK PR Manager

[mick.harris]

welcome graeme,
fantastic stories, what are you up to now, are you still in the motor trade ?

I actually went to a round of the andros trophy ice racing a couple of years ago to watch my F1 hero Alain Prost in his dacia duster (slightly different to the standard cars !!!)

great to see your still excited about the V6 after all these years

 

[GPH]

welcome graeme,
fantastic stories, what are you up to now, are you still in the motor trade ?

I actually went to a round of the andros trophy ice racing a couple of years ago to watch my F1 hero Alain Prost in his dacia duster (slightly different to the standard cars !!!)

Thanks Mick
No not in the motor trade anymore although cars are still my first passion. I worked for Honda UK PR first for 5 years ( in the good years of the NSX launch and CRX and prelude VTEC with fellow Clionet member Ian Hosk ) before moving to Renault UK in 1994. Although it was a dream job i just fancied a change and so decided to do my other passion full time - Property developing.
So now working towards the house with the 10 car barn so i can combine the two into one great result!! its still a few years off though

 

[mick.harris]

the nsx is the only car I would swap for my clio, with your background it would be interesting to get your view

NSX or CLIO V6 ????????

 

[Kett]

Hi Graeme,

Your opening passages gave a fabulous insight. It's very flattering that you're pondering Vee ownership (given the breadth of vehicles that you've been well acquainted with.)

Many of us will testify that this is a great place to hone your searching skills. I look forward to hearing more tales...

Regards
Kett

 

[GPH]

the nsx is the only car I would swap for my clio, with your background it would be interesting to get your view

NSX or CLIO V6 ????????

well Mick it is funny you should ask as one of the reasons I left Honda to go to Renault was because they paid me 50% more so instead of just drooling over the NSX I bought one in 1999 and kept it for 3 years! It was a 92 original spec manual transmission and manual steering car in red. I was in love with the technical specification of the car, being the 1st series production aluminium car (which Audi always convieniently forget about when talking A and the way it drove without having to fight it like 348's of the time was a revelation. Gordon Murray bought one from us to drive whilst developing the McLaren F1. ( and the Sultan of Brunei bought 8 identical red ones from the jersey dealer but that's another story!)
It was utterly superb to drive but is remarkably similar to the Clio in many ways. The ride was very good and the engine sounded amazing but more so at higher revs when the VTEC cam changed over. Yet unless you were thrashing it at low speeds or over 70mph it was all very calm. and that's where the Clio beats it hands down. the 2nd or 3rd gear burble from 2000rpm in the clio is unbeatable. it means you have fun in it at any speed not just at the limit.
This is the problem with so many sports cars these days and what the Mclaren MP12 has been rightly criticised for.
The NSX was amazingly reliable as you would expect. in 3 years i only needed an electric window switch (thanks Ian Hosk ) but to maintain one now would cost serious money because of the lack of parts and aluminium panels. I left it on the drive one night and some scumbag tried to break into it using a screwdriver around the door lock. thankfully they gave up after a while but the new door skin alone cost over £2000 and that was 12 years ago when it was still in production....
So for me , even if I was a multi millionaire....... I would have the Clio every time. It is much more exciting to drive..... Unless it was an NSX type R of course but they never brought those to Europe!
I hired a Ferrari F355 last year as that was an itch i thought I had to scratch as the last beautiful Ferrari and guess what. It sounded like a VW Beatle under 5000 rpm ( which Jeremy T will confirm as i took him out in it. ) Not a patch on the Clio so that made my mind up it has to be another Vee.

 

[Williams]

Welcome to v6Clio.net Graeme! I've just been reading through all your posts, you've certainly made quite an entrance! [smilie=yay.gif] I always seem to be in awe of those involved in the early days of the Clio v6. :bow: There is just so much history, and seemingly countless tales about these cars.. I love it! Great to have you along Graeme! Looking forward to hearing more stories of Clio v6 days of old..

:welcome:

 

[Big Iain]

:welcome: Tell us more and get all those things we havn't seen yet on the forum :race:

 

[phillv6]

Welcome to the home of all things Clio V6 Graeme [smilie=yay.gif], good luck with your search for a Vee

Some cracking stories there :bow: IMO these cars are amazing value for money now and will surely increase in value in the future

 

[Adrian]

Welcome Graeme! :approve: Already a very interesting read! :salut:

 

[Brembov6]

Possibly the best memeber to join the forum?

Can we all meet up and sit around while you tell us stories and we drink beer.... Sounds like a fantastic job you had at Renault and nice to hear the passion you have for the V6. Really enjoyed reading your threads and welcome!

I can see the knowledge section being updated in the future lol :approve:

 

[ian hosk]

Ah, Big G.... the reason I am a V6 owner! Donnington 2002/03 i think was where the sale was confirmed. You chucked me a set of keys and said "drive it and then try to tell me you don't want one"

We then went to drive the Ph1 back to back wth the Ph2... there is a clear difference in the handling we found as the Ph1 went a little bit sidways the backwards.

Ian

Ah Ian my friend. That was an interesting test drive wasn't it and yes it was Donnington circuit where i demonstrated my ability in a ph 1 to have the rear swing out one way, then back the other then back nearly straight before dumping us in a spin on the grass! We both then concluded that the ph2 went through the corner a lot better and that was the most satisfying friends and family discount i ever organised. 10% off wasn't it

It may have been 10%,I think probably more though, i can't remember.. what ever it was I paid for it new its not much difference than whats its worth now! I'll check the paper work, I still have a Renault comp' slip you sent me with a sticker on the back showing the 'newly added' (at the time) colour black gold. I think I paid £21k ish for it back in 04

Ian

 

[ColinG]

Hi Graeme! Just to echo what others have said, what an entrance you have made and definately looking forwards to hearing loads more stories about the vee's early days!

Good to hear your after another one! You know it makes sense to have a mars red next time

 

[Alpineandy]

Hi Graeme
:welcome:

Who did you take over from (Tim J?)?

The ACE Cafe has a french car evening on the 3rd Monday (and is close to you) but it's usually quite quiet between October & April.

You mentioned RUK only having the old AX but I remember borrowing a 4CV for the ROC stand at the Bromley Pagent in the mid 80s.
It was rather rough and a friend (at RUK then) mentioned they had a few (3 or 4) others but they were kept 'wherever' and poorly treated.
Rolled out for the occassional event but always kept far behind barriers to stop people seeing how rough (but well polished!) they were.

 

[GPH]

Hi Andy
I was there at the same time as Tim. He was the Public Relations Director who covered all PR activities but particularly the motorsport which he loved and I was the Press Relations Manager and my department was responsible for writing all the Press releases, photos, press car fleet and launch events.
and yes you're right there was a 4CV somewhere in storage at Sounthampton docks i think. i never saw it though.

 

[ColinG]

Oh and Graeme one more question we all want to know, and maybe you can dig something out....

Was there definately 2 petrol blue / paddock green v6's sold in Austria?? It's in the sales data, and yet no trace or evidence of either car has ever been known??

 

[DFB]

Good question Colin.

Another fine welcome from me to GPH.

Please don't think we would get bored by any of your memories or reminisces, they are very entertaining and you are going to be such a great addition to this forum.

:approve:

 

[GPH]

Possibly the best memeber to join the forum?

Can we all meet up and sit around while you tell us stories and we drink beer.... Sounds like a fantastic job you had at Renault and nice to hear the passion you have for the V6. Really enjoyed reading your threads and welcome!

I can see the knowledge section being updated in the future lol :approve:

Blush thanks Ben I will do my best to entertain and inform you all as you all have one thing in common. a great enthusiasts site here and impeccable taste in motor cars [cmilie=iconcheers.gif]

 

[scudRS]

:welcome:
Can't wait to hear more stories.

 

[ColinG]

Any info on my above question??

 

[GPH]

Oh and Graeme one more question we all want to know, and maybe you can dig something out....

Was there definately 2 petrol blue / paddock green v6's sold in Austria?? It's in the sales data, and yet no trace or evidence of either car has ever been known??

hello Colin,
I've no idea personally but I have sent an email to the PR person in Austria i knew to see if they have ever seen them. will let you know.