Hmmmm, difficult one.
I've had a 182 with cup packs, and driven a FRP. I'd take the puma if it had a bit more power, but day to day it would frustrate me - my Saxo Vts handled pretty much as well as the FRP, and with just an exhaust/filter/de-cat it outdragged the Puma.
If you could get a Puma with the Focus Rs lump in it then I'd do that!
However, you probably wouldn't be too disappointed with the Clio.
Just to throw a couple of other options into the mix - what about going a tiny bit older and considering an Integra Type R or Mini Cooper S? I sold my s which had about 185bhp with just a smaller supercharger pulley, and the Vtech engines in the Hondas are just awesome if you like that kind of thing (which I do, hence the S2000).
Having said that I got my S2000 for 7300 so not that much outside your budget, and I could have got a cheaper one if I hadn't got one with a hardtop/that had an immaculate service history. Insurance is savage though.