It's not the cumbersome styling that gets me but the suffix 'Mountaineer'. If anything ever looked a less likely candidate for a name suggesting goat-like ability on mountain paths, I'd like to see it, and an initial wallow around Seattle's streets does nothing to curb my cynicism.

But, at the end of three weeks me and 'fat boy', or The Mercury Mountaineer to be more accurate, are firm friends. For the hols at least I loved its laidback approach to life and 500+ cup- holders. The thing even handled OK off road - more woolly mammoth than mountain goat, but fun nevertheless!

Which made me think, on return to Blighty, how it has also taken time for the Clio to get completely under my skin, but now that it has I reckon it's here to stay and I can't see myself parting with it. A replacement is coming (350+ bhp, two doors, four seats, rwd - can you guess what it is yet?) but, bank manager allowing, I would love to clear a space at the back of the garage for the V6.

I reckon that's true evoness. I've probably failed miserably to put it into words, but I know a man who did: '...and somehow, the car should remain in step with you: 12 months on from taking delivery of your (.....) you should still be discovering characteristics, tweaks and hidden talent... on your way to nailing the perfect apex. Part of the process: live and learn.'

That'll be Russell Bulgin then.

The seemingly never-ending silencer box saga continues - as does the steady deterioration of said component. At the behest of Renault, SMC Woking are currently talking to a number of people about getting a one-off replacement made. My brief being no loss of power and certainly no change to the current gorgeous exhaust note. Oh okay, a bit louder if you must.

Practical issues? Sorry, nothing to report other than total reliability and zero costs as usual. The car will have attended an evoactive day at Donington by the time you read this, so it will be interesting to see what that throws up.

I recently spent a day with snapper Anthony Fraser hopping between my V6 and evo's long-term 172 Sport and still can't see why people insist on trying to compare the two. Believe me, apart from a few bits of body and interior trim (all of which seem a lot less solidly attached on the 172) these two cars have zero in common and the performance gap oft described on paper as 'slight' translates to a pretty big one on the road. Clio V6 - accept no substitute.