BREMBO
ClioSport Club Member
V6 Mk1, Golf GTI Mk5
I usually try and keep my Clio stories updated on CS. Tend to lurk in the background these days but felt worthy of a post.
I've had my Clio V6 now for over 15 years. Mental. I still can't believe I own one!
We got married last year and we postponed a honeymoon but we discussed combining two interests. Me driving around France and my wife taking in the vineyards. She is now recently WSET 3 qualified. So, on the 26th of June our journey began. Our route was -
Scotland
Newcastle Ferry Port
Ferry over to Ijmuiden
Ijmuiden to Champagne Ay
Champagne Ay to Rue d'Alsace
Rue d'Alsace to Beaune
Beaune to Saint-Pierre-de-Varennes
Saint-Pierre-de-Varennes to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc to Barolo
Barolo to Monaco
Monaco to Cagnes-sur-mer
Cagnes-sur-mer to Gallician, Vauvert
Gallician, Vauvert to Sete
Sete to Saou
Saou to Belleville-en-Beaujolais
Belleville-en-Beaujolais to Stores
Etoges, Champagne to Calais
Truly amazing trip. I didn't want to come home. Clio was amazing, tight on space but made it work. Wine didn't like being inside with how hot it gets with both boot options (front and back)
One negative we stayed at Hotel Le Cep in Beaune. Sad but I partly stayed here having watched many a Harry's Garage video who has mentioned this place. Anyway, somebody reversed into the car. Damage could have been a lot lot worse but is mainly paint which will be sorted. If the bumper cracked or worse I'd be buggered. Making me realise just how difficult things are going to become with these cars and parts. Hotel was useless.
On a positive. On our travels in the South of France, purely by chance. Alex Breun. He designed the Clio V6. I reached out to him expecting a no reply but we met him in person. Appreciate not a very honeymoon thing but what a gent. Had a coffee and chatted about our trip, France and of course the Clio. He signed the V6.
Then on our second last day I cleaned the car at a local place. Across the road was a Renault showroom. Closed as think it was Sunday. The UK sticker fell of the back so returned the following day finding said badge. They then had an Alpine A290s outside so went across for a look. Young guy that came out was brilliant. Loved the Clio and basically chucked the fob for the A290, 10 minutes later we are ripping it about the country roads of France. Didn't want any details etc. Imagine that in the UK! It was cool but getting back in the Clio with noise was better. For me. I took the guy out for a quick run in the V6 which he seemed to love.
Must have done just under 2,500 miles. Clio was fairly impressive on fuel. We also stopped at Clarksons pub. Was crap tbh but in the morning went up to Cafe and Machine. Very cool place.
I've obviously kept this very car centric but the food, wine, places and people made it. Would I do it again, 100% . Probably wouldn't do it in the V6. A nice quickish estate would be ideal. Quite a fancy a V60 Polestar now.
Maybe classic LeMan in the Clio next.
