slim_boy_fat

Looking at getting a more interesting second car, with the winter setting in the zx10 is going in the garage and the Citroen is functional but boring

So the options are

Focus ST
Mini Cooper S Works
Clio 197 F1, all cars are about the same price.

Have driven all 3, kind of prefer the mini for a number of reasons, but all drive well.

Found the focus to feel a bit slow, heave feeling car, good quality and build. More like a BMW than hot hatch ford.

I don’t know much about the mini other than its 210bhp has loads of options on it and feels the most special by quite a margin.

Anyone owned driven these cars?

Cheers

PPP Wagon

Hiya mate,

Not driven any of them but, i think the looks & exclusivity of the works would steer me that way. Mate had a 172 (abit different 2 197 i kno but) alot of fun.

As for the ST, not really my cup of tea, but each to their own i suppose

rb5_336

havind driven the mini works 210, i'd say it would be difficuilt to buy a more fun car, i'd never tire of it, and i get bored very easily

Matteeboy

Depends on priorities.

Looks - Clio (really like the look for some reason!)
Handling - Cooper
Performance - Cooper
Space and vfm - ST
Build quality - Cooper

Shame they are so ugly (Coopers) but probably the best bet!

Snazy

I would say cooper s if your gonna be "driving" it
The all round package inc the works make it a lil beast

slim_boy_fat

Well after a drive this morning the Cooper it is.

Lovely car inside and out, the works is pretty nippy, fairly shifts past 5k rpm
Has a great spec, sat nave, parking sensors, leather, panoramic roof, climate control.

It must have cost a fortune when new. probably nearly £25k

Its so well put together, and the paint quality looked good, especially for a 4 year old car.

Snazy

Nice one, how much mate ?

I take it its the super charged version. The 4-5k powerband is what used to get on my nerves, but fun once your in it.
The newer turbo models have the same oomph, just from a lot lower down, far smoother delivery.

They sound great though

As for the spec. With all that in there, rest assured it was 24+ with no doubt at all.

Congrats mate, may the modding begin.

slim_boy_fat

Was £11k

Sounds good when you stretch it, the different exhaust makes it quite fruity.

The steering is sensational, amazing feel and weight, the thing really goes where you point it.

I think 210bhp is more than enough, although a 300bhp mini cooper might be nice, but no point, i get my speed thrills from the zx10-r. I would need a 900bhp mini to get close to that!! lols

Snazy

lol I know somoene who has a very reworked JCW S and I am impressed every time. Pitstop have done a bit of work to it too, along with the newly added chargecooler etc, its pushing out round the 250 mark now.

Funniest story I have heard is a Mini again redone by Pitstop arriving at the campsite at Le Mans, after a long hoon down the straight and hard braking..... its brakes caught fire, but stopped the car before doing so lol. Dangerous but impressive to see.... I think.

If you get a chance, pop to a dealer and get a go in one of the turbo R56's just to see what you think. I promise you wont immediatly want to swpa the JCW, but you should see the difference I refer to.

A bit like getting out of a 2.0 WRX and into a 2.5. Both excellent, but the 2.5 just delivers smoother power.

As for the sound, I heard Gemma's one , running 225bhp at the time on the rollers, and OMG !!! When that charger got going, the screeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaam

Maz

iTrader: (34)

I know of a 700bhp Mr2 which will come close.

TopBanana

If you like the mini then go for it - you'll be the one driving it.

dpb

you could get a beemer with a boot for that much































sorry

Snazy

And no where near as much feedback from the road.
They have lost the go-kart feel but are still one of the closest comfort cars on the road to it

As a commuter car I would love one. Everything you want on a daily grind, and enough grin left for the weekend.

dpb

Im sure your right but ,as the original, i just couldnt cope with the cutesy image

slim_boy_fat

I need the cutesy image to balance the fecking hard biker crazy mother 1000cc nutter image the Kawasaki gives me.