[mikbmini]

Last night I took my MINI Cooper S on her last adventure

Some of you might remember I said last week that I was looking at getting a new car. Well during the week I took the plunge and put a deposit on a Renaultsport Clio 197 F1 Team R27. Its number 130 of 500. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, but I know that soon I will be forced to settle down and get a house, so while I still live at home and have disposable income I want to make the most of it.

I felt terrible stripping the Cooper S of all her upgrades and putting her back to standard I've only owned her 6 months, but I can honestly say its been the best car I've owned so far. My main regret is that I couldn't own her through the summer to get the best of the car. But the mileage is creeping up (she hit 37000 on the journey to Southampton last night) and I don't want her to lose too much value. If anyone is interested I will be listing the bits I have removed from the car on the classifieds soon, including JCW mats, chrome scoop and CD changer.

I'll be adding photos of the new car after I pick her up (if I don't change my mind!) to see what people think. Its gonna be sad to say goodbye though

[I love MINI, Laura]

Awwww thats sad, but you've got to do what your heart tells you!

[Fin]

Put some pics of the Clio up when you get it

[mikbmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

Put some pics of the Clio up when you get it

Will do. I'm picking it up in about an hour. The sadness of getting rid of the MINI is reducing the excitement though

[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikbmini (original)

Will do. I'm picking it up in about an hour. The sadness of getting rid of the MINI is reducing the excitement though

By all accounts the Clio is a cracking hot hatch. I'm sure you'll feel much better on the drive home.

[vickietots]

Yes some pictures will be nice! But it will be worth it in the end and of course you can always come back once you are sorted on the house front etc

[Tracie]

Your lucky to get hold of an F1 R27, they sold out very quickly when they were released and it will hold its value a lot better than the standard 197 Hope you enjoy!

[mikbmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tracie (original)

Your lucky to get hold of an F1 R27, they sold out very quickly when they were released and it will hold its value a lot better than the standard 197 Hope you enjoy!

Thank you, I've picked it up now. Its 6 months old, with just under 3000 miles on it. Took it out for a bit of a spin earlier and I am very pleased with it Its very quick, and the engine tone is superb. I havent had a chance to take any photos yet as it was dark once I got back, but I'll add some in the morning!

[mikbmini]

OK here are photos as requested of the new car!

Please let me know what you think!?!

[David King]

Thats awesome, those seats look great aswell. Very Cool.

[Fin]

It does look excellent. The only thing that I'm not keen on is the interior (with the exception of the Recaros).

How do you find the performance? It must be quite different from the low down torque from your MCS.

[mikbmini]

The performance is exceptional, only problem is it begs you to rev it! I didn't think anything could sound better than the Cooper S but this car really has a great engine tone, and when you put your foot down it just gets better.

The interior might look a little bland in comparison but to be honest it feels better put together than the MINI, and it doesn't creak and rattle like the MINI (although the MINI was 4 years old and this is only 6 months old). The plastics in the Clio feel better quality too. The doors don't have the same sort of high quality feeling when you close them as the MINI though. The seats are very comfortable, I would definitely say to anyone who might be considering a Clio 197 to get these seats (they are normally an £850 option but are standard on the F1 R27).

Its a real head turner as well. As people walk past quite a lot of them look at it as it stands out! Only thing concerning me is that every time I come to a set of lights people will try to race me as it has that sort of look about it!

[Tracie]

Nice to see the F1 stickers on there as well, some ppl opted to not have them when they ordered, and I know exactly how it is to drive, awesome and the exhaust note is amazing over 5k revs...give it some welly it won't disappoint and who cares if the inside is a bit boring you'll be looking over the steering wheel anyway!
All you need now is a colored coded front splitter and get that CLIO badge off the back, it'll look a lot cleaner!

If my local dealership hadn't scratched mine when I went to take delivery it would be on the driveway now

[Meeerrrk]

its very nice, congrads.

did you take the jcw steering wheel out the mini?!

[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikbmini (original)

Its a real head turner as well. As people walk past quite a lot of them look at it as it stands out! Only thing concerning me is that every time I come to a set of lights people will try to race me as it has that sort of look about it!

I know that feeling!

[Jordan210]

Very nice i had a look round an F1 in black a few weeks ago very nice,

The one thing i would say get is the rear spoiler theres a yellow F1 near me with it, Looks amazing

[vickietots]

I like it! I had a 172 before I got my MCS and the performance in that was amazing so I can only imagine what the 197 is like!

[mikbmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Meeerrrk (original)

its very nice, congrads.

did you take the jcw steering wheel out the mini?!

Nah, gutted really but as I already sold the old one and I didn't have a normal 3 spoke to replace it with, I had to let it go with the car. I took everything else off though, so when I get round to it I'll list them in the classifieds. The bits I have are: genuine chrome bonnet scoop, genuine US spec larger Cooper S exhaust tips (fitted for 1 week), John Cooper Works Richbrook tax disc holder, genuine CD multichanger, genuine chequered tyre valve caps, genuine spotlight covers (unused).

[mikbmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by vickietots (original)

I like it! I had a 172 before I got my MCS and the performance in that was amazing so I can only imagine what the 197 is like!

To be honest the 182 is meant to be marginally quicker (I'm not sure about the 172 in comparison). The reason being that the 197 is much more refined and a larger car than the old Clio. The engine in the new car is based on the 182 one but has variable valve timing... and other stuff

[mikbmini]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

I know that feeling!

Is it a GP that you have Fin? I guess that the 197 F1 is in the same sort of spirit (only cheaper and less extreme!) Odd thing I found is that when I notified my insurance company they wanted to charge more for a normal 197 than for a 197 F1! Even though the F1 is a better specced 197 with lowered suspension, uprated springs, uprated brakes, and Recaro seats as standard. Not to mention it will be worth a lot more if I were to crash it in a years time!