I fell in love with the MK2 PH1 clio after seeing one in Redline magazine about 8 years ago I guess. All he'd done to it was colourcoding, TSW alloys (I was young!), lowered.. all the nice little touches. It really stood out for me because there it was in a magazine full of bodykitted Corsas, mad Jap Supras - and it still looked looked smart.
Then one day many years later my best mate called me up to say he'd traded in his his Fiesta for a 172. He'd kept it all under wraps untill now, and swung by to pick me up. All it took was for me to sit in those leather/alcantara seats whilst he gave it a quick blast up my road and I was hooked!
I think the real determination to own one came when a big group of us went to Wales for a stag do. We'd had a messy night out but needed to be up early to go rock climbing. My mate was absolutely twatted the night before and just handed me his keys that morning with the word "urrrghhh!" I got to drive his car for about an hour and I really did just fall in love. Even five-up it pulled well. The seat was hugging and comfy, the steering felt precise, the steering WHEEL felt good - I felt good!
Soon after my mum bought a Dynamique which I shared with her. I joined this forum, saw a picture of a Flame Red 172... and the rest is history!