I had a phase 1 years ago and never found it frightening the bends! It's a mid engine'd, RWD, short wheelbase car! Yes you've gotta be careful in the wet, time and a place! I px'd mine for my evo 6 rsx and the clio held on better than the evo (in the dry) to the point the new owner of the evo was slightly surprised on the same roundabout. Mine was on new'ish michelin pilot sports. To be honest if the bloke I got it from hadn't taken me out and shown me what it could do I'd have driven it around like it was a loaded gun after reading all the internet horror stories.

No they aren't that fast. Yes a normal 2.0 sport would keep up, but unless you've owned one you're missing the point in even comparing the two. Does rather grate on me when people say "the 2.0 is just as quick"

They are just a great ownership experience. It was a car not even remotely on my ownership radar but after owning one it goes firmly in my top 5 favourite cars.

If you don't like attention, do not own one of these. I've had dozens of sporty cars and never had even half the attention in anything else.

If you've got a tight garage they are fun too. Remember backing mine in, open door.. Ah, door almost touching wall and the huge side skirt was stopping me getting out. Was ok with the ns really tight against the other wall.

Prepare for a sweaty back