During the middle portion of the 90s, critics and consumers alike already knew what they wanted from open-topped sports cars. Just then, the Renault Sport Spider entered the market, and this challenged the conventions of sports cars and virtually changed everything from then on. Released and produced from 1998 through 1999, and quite a short production stint at that, it is easy to see that there is no point using conventional standards when taking the car in. Its prices carried widely, with left-hand drive models costing less. The Sport Spider is actually based on the Clio Williams hardware, which indicates strong hardware at that. Should anything go wrong, repair costs would not be that much at all because Clio Williams hardware is neither difficult nor expensive to come by. The 150 bhp 16-valve 4-cylinder engine powers the Sport Spider – the same engine that powered the used Renault Clio Williams, as well as the original Megane Coupe 16-valve. The Sport Spider is very lightweight, which makes it quite the speedy baby on the tarmac. The engine is very commanding and booming, taking only 6.9 seconds to reach 60 mpg from standstill. Its top speed is pegged at 134 mph. With such speed, it is easy to see that the Sport Spider is meant to be a racecar rather than the simple road car. An aluminum bar dominates the design of the dashboard. You can even say that the dashboard is quite minimalist, with just 3 dials in the central pod atop the dash. These 3 dials do not even include a speedometer for you just get your rev counter, your oil gauge, and your water pressure gauge. Speed is recorded and monitored by a digital readout in the upper portion of the dash, along with fuel and distance. You also get Recaro bucket seats that are body-hugging for that extreme sports car feel, as well as a leather-trimmed steering wheel. The doors open vertically, to complete that sports car ambience. When you get the Sport Spider, safety would probably be the last on your mind. Still, Renault claims to cover safety features thoroughly as well. The Sport Spider is constructed in aluminum, which comes with energy absorption capacity that is stronger than that of steel. It also comes with a stout rollover bar, which provides visible reassurance. The Sport Spider is quite the head turner on the city roads, but take it on the racetrack or even any airfield in the UK, and you will certainly be churning stomachs around.