With reach and rake adjustment for the steering wheel and height adjustment on the seat, most drivers should find a comfortable driving position.
After fragile cars such as the Saxo and the AX, the C2 imparts a feeling of solidity, but the quality of materials looks and feels cheap by modern standards. The VTR’s translucent blue door pulls make way for classier grey items but the overall effect, for a sporty car, is disappointingly anodyne. Much the same can be said of the C2’s instrument cluster, with its childish graphics and hard-to-read rev counter. And, although the VTS gets sports seats, they lack any shoulder support for hard cornering antics.
Viewed separately these are all minor gripes, but collectively they damage the VTS’ credentials as a driver’s car. Four airbags are standard (window airbags are optional) and the VTS is very well specified for the price, with air-con, a CD player and electric windows standard. Rear seat and luggage space is minimal, although an optional sliding rear seat can alter the luggage-to-legroom ratio.
Considering the performance and specification, £11,995 is something of a bargain. That’s just £10 more than a MG ZR105, for a much newer and faster car, and £105 less than a Mini Cooper (without air-con). The case is strengthened by group eight insurance (free in the first year), 20,000-mile service intervals and a combined fuel consumption figure of over 40mpg.