Mito Cloverleaf - any good?

[anonymous-user]

I just searched the last 15 pages of this sub forum and didn't find anything about Mito Cloverleafs, so I thought I'd make a thread.

I didn't even know these existed until yesterday, but now I can't stop searching the classifieds and auto trader for them! The reviews from car mags/websites seem mixed, but I like them, and more importantly also like their price. A 4 year old car such as the one that has sold below - 170bhp and 47mpg for just over £8k is very attractive.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

I'm looking to change my S2000 in August for something that uses less fuel, but is still quick. I also need it to be good on the motorway, specifically quieter road noise than an S2000 (shouldn't be hard) and I don't want another car that sits at 4000 RPM at 70mph in 6th gear like the S2k does. 75% of my total miles is motorway too. Also, I want to fit roof bars to carry two bikes.

So what are these like on the motorway, does anyone know how refined they are at motorway speeds and what RPM they sit at going 70 - 80?

I would love a Giulietta Cloverleaf, but I don't want to spend £11k - £12k.

[F40GT346]

My wife has a 2009 Mito Cloverleaf and its used mostly as a run around but we do the odd longer journey. I liked it initially but have gone off it recently for a number of reasons - one of which is noise and refinement. Compared to my Audi S4 it is very noisy at motorway speed, lots of wind and tyre noise accompanied by rattles from the various pieces of loose trim and rattling speakers. We have also had quite a few reliability issues so are looking to change it. Most recent failure was the powersteering - turned itself off just as we approached a roundabout. If my wife had been driving we would not have got round the corner.

If you still really want one - I would say it is quite fun to drive in dynamic mode - the engine is surprisingly torquey and the front diff is remarkable as long as you keep the throttle pinned.

[CobolMan]

70mph = 2950rpm and you won't get anything like 47mpg out of one, mine averages 35mpg. They're not bad as long as you accept that they will not be 100% reliable and the dealers can be hit and miss. In 4 years and 28,000 miles I've had 4 new front tyres, new top mounts, a new gearbox, new brake hoses and a new alternator. Mine was one of the first in the country and the later ones have had fewer issues e.g. the gearbox has been redesigned and the Multiair unit changed.
They do go pretty well though and the ride is fine with the adaptive suspension.