When I passed my test last year I drove my mums 1998 1.2 8v Clio RN. Felt quite fast at the time, used to drive it like I stole it though. At the time the handling felt great, very positive, lots of understeer but I learnt to drive fast round bends in it. Managed to beat some faster cars just because I could go round corners fast.
Anyway got the Valver. Get in the 1.2 now fookin hell its so slow its dangerous. There is absolutely no sensation of acceleration. The body rolls so much I think the sills are gonna scrape on the floor, and the steering is so vauge its like understeering.
As a final point, I used to race from traffic lights against slightly faster cars (usually a 1.6 variant of a hatchback driven by a woman going to do the shopping) and theyd pull away from me. Only realised when I got the Valver that they werent actually putting their foot down lol.
Although I mock them, they are probably one of the best first cars ever.
See ya
Matt