Steve Cropley: my supermini face-off winner was surprising
This week our man ran his Lotus Elan among a motley crew at Shelsley, and reminisces about time spent in Lamborghinis
Our man has been busy getting acquainted with the latest-generation Renault Clio this week, but still found time to head for the hills in his Lotus, and think back on some memorable moments spent inside Lamborghinis - not all of them positive.
*Monday*
Deep joy to have rival 1.0-litre three-cylinder superminis on my drive: a £23,000 Ford Fiesta and an £18,000 Renault Clio. These are two of the happiest cars going. It might sound ridiculous to call them uncomplicated, but that’s their nature.
The Ford arrived first, and I warmed to its sporty character: 153bhp mild-hybrid powertrain, strong body control and quick-fire responses. I like Clios, but didn’t expect the cheaper TCe 90 to match it, and it didn’t. In fact, it was better.
This was a shock. The Clio was slower, of course, taking three whole seconds more to reach 0-60mph and having a top speed 20mph lower, but that hardly matters on traffic-bloated roads. The car still felt brisk, and its composed, quiet ride suddenly made the Fiesta seem (whisper this) a bit juvenile. Better-weighted brakes and steering, plus a more precise gearchange, completed a surprise package.
All cars have ups and downs, and it strikes me that the Clio (on a new platform) is at the height of its powers. A cleverly modernised veteran, the Fiesta has slipped, probably because its maker has more urgent, electrified fish to fry. The question is, can Ford get it back, or will it depend on well-honed marketing skills while concentrating on the new models of tomorrow?
*Wednesday*
Are you a school, college or university leaver hell- bent on getting into journalism? If so, we have great news. Our publisher, Haymarket Media Group, is launching an Editorial Apprenticeship Academy and kicking it off by hiring four new recruits to work across our leading motoring titles: Autocar, What Car?, Classic & Sports Car and Car Aftermarket Trader.
Successful recruits will follow a programme that combines NCTJ studies with hanging out with the 57 of us who already work here. Competition will be hot, but as a veteran of 30 years, I can honestly say that this is an opportunity worth fighting for. It’s a career you will love every day. Interested? Find out more by visiting careers.haymarket.com.
*Friday*
I’ve been enjoying the ‘50 years of Lamborghini Countach’ coverage springing up all over the place. I’m not normally keen on anniversaries, but this one takes me back to the car’s heyday; I must have driven seven or eight of them through the 1980s and early 1990s. My favourite will always be the original LP400, a miracle of design despite sizeable gaps in its on-road development.
In those days, the local importer used selected hacks to bring cars to Britain rather than paying for transport. I did it three times. It was always a risk; the cars weren’t given a pre-delivery inspection, so gremlins emerged (two out of three air-con systems conked). Worst was the anxiety at borders: the sheaf of paperwork that Lamborghini gave you when leaving the Sant’Agata factory never seemed to impress customs people.
My worst experience was having an LP500 impounded at Dover. I spent the night in it (locked in a special compound) to keep it safe. The next day, after fruitless phone calls and some shouting, I completed my journey by train.
*Saturday*
Good fun at Shelsley Walsh running my front-wheel-drive Lotus Elan for the first time this year, helping my pal Paul Matty celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Lotus Hillclimb Championship that he started off his own bat and continues to sponsor. The Elan was promising, despite fundamental driver errors (bad lines and botched gearchanges).
I was surprised by its speed off the line and excellent roadholding, despite body roll. It was interesting to see how much slower we all were in the 30deg C heat of the timed runs compared with earlier, cooler practice. Learned estimates said our engines lost 5-8% power between morning and mid-afternoon, and it certainly felt like it.
*And another thing...*
There has been a sudden rise in the number of tourist- packed Zipcars meandering the Cotswolds. Looks like the result of a rethink on car ownership (uncertain as never before) by city residents who in future will grab a car only when they need one. It wouldn’t suit me, but the logic is clear.
*READ MORE*
*Best new small car 2020: The final three*
*Why I love hillclimbs*
*Autocar Vauxhall Corsa-based hillclimb series holds first session*