[joshie]

I am finding it difficult to chose between the two and was hoping some people here it driven them both. I only drove the clio 197 for around 10 minutes, and even though it has 25bhp more and gets to 60 in 0.4secs quicker it didn't feel much quicker... the deep sound of the cooper s engine and sporty whine of the supercharge makes it feel faster... (try turning your music up extremely loud so you cannot hear the supercharger and put your foot down.. im sure it feels slower..)

Back to the point though!... was hoping someone could give me their impressions after driving both?

Thanks!

[Hugo]

MINI site baised

Cilo cheapily made, maybe fun but the Mini is well made and at least twice the car.

[Jaw_F430]

Not drove both but from looking at the clio old and new would go with the mini eveytime. Much better quality and fit a smaller pulley to the MCS and it will be quicker than the 197. Then let the tunning bug continue plus the supercharger wine alone makes the MCS worth buying


Regards


James

[neilobe]

Have driven the clio 197, thought it was just to plastic and the build quality on them not up to scratch, think my R56 S is just as quick in real terms.
Another thing check how much the 197 looses when you buy them new.....

[joshie]

Quote: Originally Posted by neilobe (original)

Have driven the clio 197, thought it was just to plastic and the build quality on them not up to scratch, think my R56 S is just as quick in real terms.
Another thing check how much the 197 looses when you buy them new.....

In terms of speed only, does the 197 not feel slower than your R56?

[Hugo]

R56 is a great car had a Cooper, Cooper D and Cooper S as courtesy cars and R56 Cooper S is 2008 hot hatch of the year again but I prefer the R53.

Are you racing it?

[feenaldo]

Asking that on a MINI site will probably get you the same answer.

I was lucky enough to be asked to do a review on the Clio when it came out, meaning I had plenty of time to get familiar with it.

It certainly felt much higher up than the R53, that was the first thing I noticed getting into it. Driving off in it was a little less harsh a ride than the MINI and it performed better than I thought going through the gears. The thing I didn't like was the handling, although I'm not saying it was bad, the R53 feels much more planted by comparison. Clio felt like a gust of wind could topple it, but being brave and pushing it harder showed me this not to really be the case, it was fun.

I would say the R53 suffers from more understeer than the Clio did but then Alta Rear Sway bar and perhaps some wheel spacers and struts really sort it out. Having a supercharger definitely gives an edge I think on twisty roads because for some reason you really have to be on the boil in the clio to keep it pumping, so the S is far easier to drive in that respect.

The build quality of the clio isn't by any means awful, I love the recaros and also the fact that the brakes are so much better than the MCS however its uninspiring, the same usual stuff you would expect. The Cup version of the clio really is nice though, check it out in last months Evo mag.

All in all i would still go MINI. The lure of the better depreciation, better build and more character makes it a winner for me, hence why I dive one!

Remember, you can trawl through hundreds of peoples opinions, but at the end of the day its your money and you need to feel 100% happy with what your getting.

Good luck with the hunt!

[ALD0]

U would get a newer car if you got the Clio...
Personally if you test drive both, go with what you like best, as if you asked this on ClioSport, they would say, get a Clio, and vice versa!

I had a 172, fun car to drive, cheap thrills, the MINI is miles better in build quality, althought the 172 didn't rattle as much on the dash-the seat had more movement in it though as though it werent bolted down proper!!!

[scottp7]

imo if you was to get the clio, try and get hold of one that is about 1 year old. They lose lots of money.

The interior on the clio is not as sporty, and the glory of the Mini is that you can personalise it to how you like it. It is never ending driving fun to a certain extent.

I considered these two cars, but after sitting in the clio, it does not feel as nice as the Mini.

If you already own a Mini, it will feel as if you are going backwards and you will probably regret changing.

[Paul]

Having owned MINIs and a Clio, I'd not consider the Clio as a main car. Terrible quality.

[Ant FR]

i think i would get the Clio, ( sorry guys)

I really am taking a shine to the 197, esepcially as they start at 9k now for a 197. I think the Cup would be the one to go for though.

I just think that with the Cooper S, unless you are to spend lots of money on it your always going to be wanting a little. I woould love to do a track day ina 197.

But, hey i'm not exactly in love with my car as much as i used to be, so don't listen to me. Ironic really i own one of the faster minis on this site, yet i'm still telling people to get a different car. In fact i spend my time trawling the classifieds to check on prices for TDi Golfs and Ibizas, so i'm probably not the best person to comment.

Oh and in answer to the previous posts, the clio has come on leaps and bounds in build quality, it coems with all the essentials such as good handling, amazing brakes and good grunt. Ignore the low torque comments as if you learn to drive it properly it will trounce a cooper s round a track, in fact i think any mini runnign up to 220bhp will still lose out to the Clio's superior allround package. Residuals, bah, if you think about that then don't buy a car, residuals are out the window with most cars now.

[batou]

Depends what you like and what its for...

I'm not a fan of rev happy cars that you have to thrash or drop too many cogs to get anywhere. I would like say an old type r or Clio if it was a track car but I'd hate driving it everyday. Staying above 5k just to outrun a TDi is not much fun as a daily driver imo.

Granted the MCS (gen1) could do with a bit more power as standard and needs at least 200bhp before it's properly potent enough but that costs a measly £300-500

But, the MCS punches well above it's weight for what it starts out with, and with a few minor tweaks it embarrasses much bigger cars. A mate at work has a 330ci (the one thats just been replaced) with an SMG box, on a straight road 0-100 (KPH of course ) lets just say his left hand indicators are functioning correctly .

No one can decide for you, just buy what you enjoy

[r1_kde]

I have both, well my partner has the Clio, what a pile of s==t everything keeps failing through bad design, most of it rattles and while it is quick I do not rate it. cost much more to tune, looks like a Clio and its french... this will be the last french car she has.

the most annoying problem so far is the washers always failing because the rubber switch is porous so it grows and sticks. must have spent close to £80 in 2 years of ownership on new pumps let alone the money on everything else. bloody crap.

as for the mini, well it does rattle the engine mounts went after 40k, the bushes went about the same time. that's all, and I drive it hard. can be tuned without too much money and to a good spec. costs more than the Clio but tbh you can feel the quality between them.

[neilobe]

Quote: Originally Posted by joshie (original)

In terms of speed only, does the 197 not feel slower than your R56?

Wats more important is 30 -70 times, in second gear, put your foot down to quickly get past another car for example, try that when you drive the 197, then try a r56 mini cooper s..
The S has more low down pull, better than a reviee french engine.

[feenaldo]

Quote: Originally Posted by neilobe (original)

Wats more important is 30 -70 times, in second gear, put your foot down to quickly get past another car for example, try that when you drive the 197, then try a r56 mini cooper s..
The S has more low down pull, better than a reviee french engine.

That's another fine example of what I meant by having a certain edge going through twisty roads where you are on and off the power. The tug of the supercharger without having to have the car on the boil all the time is a definite and noticeable advantage.

[Ant FR]

i think a few of you guys need to go get a test drive in a Clio 197 or even better a cup and stop believing the mags. i think some of you would be pleasantly surprised with the clio. also lets not forget the original question involved an R53 not an R56. the torque in the R53 is a lot lower.


Also remember you could always use the 4k you saving buying a 197 over a new MCS on fitting a couple of bits to the 197.

[batou]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ant FR (original)

i think a few of you guys need to go get a test drive in a Clio 197 or even better a cup and stop believing the mags. i think some of you would be pleasantly surprised with the clio. also lets not forget the original question involved an R53 not an R56. the torque in the R53 is a lot lower.

So when flooring a 197 R27 from 2000rpm feels like the car has turbo lag does it not?

I very nearly went for a Clio 182 and I found the 197 no where near as good, the 182 and even the 172 are awesome cars if you can live with the trim. The 197 is good when it gets ragged and the brakes make the minis brakes feel like milk bottle tops but I just hate the character of the engine (had the same feeling with the CTR) I really couldn't live with it everyday.

[neilobe]

If your not going to buy the Mini, then how about the Corsa VXR a compromise. Still has the Turbo engine, and you can chip it up by 25bhp, for £400, plus, you can pick one up now for £11 500 - 12k .. At the end of the day its what feels best when you drive it, you have to live with it day by day, take a long test drive..

[r1_kde]

though my post was a little ott but I am so dissapointed with the cars quality that if I could have afforded a new mini I would have, but my budget after having my JCW ment I only had enough for the clio, which she loves! I suppose if you could pick one up for about 4K then it would not be so bad but new "very very dissapointing", the car is quick but built by chimps, for chimps? I feel like one for buying it...

[JMCS08]

I had alot of problems with what to get iv had alot of cars tbh and loved all of them from 172 cup/182 trophy civic type r etc iv always had a soft spot for the mini cooper s my partner just told me to get one and see how i liked it! i love it! its a total different car to the clio's type r etc i was SO close to getting a corsa VXR i still would but the mini is so much fun and fun to spend money on! i got mine for a good price now have got a car that will be better than all the cars above and still spent less money go with what you want but you can always test it out if all fails you can always sell up! move on i always do but i can see me in the mini for a while my partner has even got a mini One now!