Clio V6 or Mini GP ??
Discussion
I currently drive a mini GP , had it for about 18 month and its a great car, fast, handles brilliant and feels special.
Ive been driving about 15 years and this is my 11th car, I get bored quite quick and fancy a change every 12 to 18 month. The problem with this is it costs a fortune to keep swapping cars cause of depreciation.
So I have an idea ? Buy a cheap little run about for less than a grand and use my "proper car" just 2 or 3 days a week. This way it should keep the bordem away and keep my "proper car" feeling fresh and new and special every time i get in it.
So now I have 2 cars I thought theres allsorts of exotic, rare, impractical cars i could have.
My Shortlist was :
elise 111s
vx220 turbo
clio V6
After alot of thought Ive decided the clio v6 suits me best as im not a b-road blaster but more of a relaxed tourer and its a car ive always dreamed about since its launch.
Question is, Will I get bored of it after 12 month ? And will I regret selling my GP ?
Anyone else owned both of these cars ? And which would you rather have ?
Ive been driving about 15 years and this is my 11th car, I get bored quite quick and fancy a change every 12 to 18 month. The problem with this is it costs a fortune to keep swapping cars cause of depreciation.
So I have an idea ? Buy a cheap little run about for less than a grand and use my "proper car" just 2 or 3 days a week. This way it should keep the bordem away and keep my "proper car" feeling fresh and new and special every time i get in it.
So now I have 2 cars I thought theres allsorts of exotic, rare, impractical cars i could have.
My Shortlist was :
elise 111s
vx220 turbo
clio V6
After alot of thought Ive decided the clio v6 suits me best as im not a b-road blaster but more of a relaxed tourer and its a car ive always dreamed about since its launch.
Question is, Will I get bored of it after 12 month ? And will I regret selling my GP ?
Anyone else owned both of these cars ? And which would you rather have ?
I've not driven a MINI GP, but I own an Elise 111S and have driven two Clio V6s, one for a fair amount of time on twisty roads.
The Clio V6 is a fantastic car - full of character, interesting handling, lovely noises from the gearbox and engine just behind you, and surprisingly civilised for daily use as well. The only downside is the rather odd handling; I think I'd get frustrated after a while on track.
The Elise 111S has a similar appeal at low speeds, but adds better control feel (the best you'll ever experience I think), chassis feel, and utterly astounding ride and handling. All of that only applies if your geo and tyre pressures are spot on. They're very useable everyday. I'd definitely choose one over a Clio V6, even if I never drove that quickly, purely because it's a more rounded and better sorted car with better control feel. It's just a nicer driving experience I think.
Both are great cars though, and I would suspect better to drive and own than the MINI.
My Elise may be for sale. I'm deliberating over swapping it for a Caterham, as I only use it at weekends now that I've got a good everyday car that I'm really pleased with.
edited to add: Check out the driving position in the Clio before getting too excited about owning one...
The Clio V6 is a fantastic car - full of character, interesting handling, lovely noises from the gearbox and engine just behind you, and surprisingly civilised for daily use as well. The only downside is the rather odd handling; I think I'd get frustrated after a while on track.
The Elise 111S has a similar appeal at low speeds, but adds better control feel (the best you'll ever experience I think), chassis feel, and utterly astounding ride and handling. All of that only applies if your geo and tyre pressures are spot on. They're very useable everyday. I'd definitely choose one over a Clio V6, even if I never drove that quickly, purely because it's a more rounded and better sorted car with better control feel. It's just a nicer driving experience I think.
Both are great cars though, and I would suspect better to drive and own than the MINI.
My Elise may be for sale. I'm deliberating over swapping it for a Caterham, as I only use it at weekends now that I've got a good everyday car that I'm really pleased with.
edited to add: Check out the driving position in the Clio before getting too excited about owning one...
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 15th November 12:54
slees78 said:
Ive been driving about 15 years and this is my 11th car, I get bored quite quick and fancy a change every 12 to 18 months
So I have an idea ? Buy a cheap little run about for less than a grand and use my "proper car" just 2 or 3 days a week. This way it should keep the bordem away and keep my "proper car" feeling fresh and new and special every time i get in it.
After alot of thought Ive decided the clio v6 suits me best as im not a b-road blaster but more of a relaxed tourer and its a car ive always dreamed about since its launch.
Question is, Will I get bored of it after 12 month ? And will I regret selling my GP ?
Anyone else owned both of these cars ? And which would you rather have ?
Personally I dont see the Clio as a tourer, but it's your choice and you can always change again in a year. So I have an idea ? Buy a cheap little run about for less than a grand and use my "proper car" just 2 or 3 days a week. This way it should keep the bordem away and keep my "proper car" feeling fresh and new and special every time i get in it.
After alot of thought Ive decided the clio v6 suits me best as im not a b-road blaster but more of a relaxed tourer and its a car ive always dreamed about since its launch.
Question is, Will I get bored of it after 12 month ? And will I regret selling my GP ?
Anyone else owned both of these cars ? And which would you rather have ?
Would driving the cheap car get tiresome for you after a few months or even weeks?
Have you considered doing your bike test for a completely different challenge?
Mini GP All the way. Shall be my next car after I get rid of the current one.
Test drove one a couple month back. I was in awe. Supercharger behaviour is great... Two options... On or Off. Unlike my turbo'd powered car which is unpredictable lol.
Comes with a Diff too. BMW done very well with the GP
Test drove one a couple month back. I was in awe. Supercharger behaviour is great... Two options... On or Off. Unlike my turbo'd powered car which is unpredictable lol.
Comes with a Diff too. BMW done very well with the GP
The1Driver said:
Mini GP All the way. Shall be my next car after I get rid of the current one.
Test drove one a couple month back. I was in awe. Supercharger behaviour is great... Two options... On or Off. Unlike my turbo'd powered car which is unpredictable lol.
Comes with a Diff too. BMW done very well with the GP
You mean a limited slip diff? Test drove one a couple month back. I was in awe. Supercharger behaviour is great... Two options... On or Off. Unlike my turbo'd powered car which is unpredictable lol.
Comes with a Diff too. BMW done very well with the GP
Seriously though, I'd be very surprised if a front drive hatchback is going to cut it compared to the Elise 111S in terms of driver appeal. The Elise was designed from the ground up as a sports car, it has a seperate chassis and body, suspension designed and tuned by the acknowledged world leaders in ride and handling, and completely unassisted controls (the 111S doesn't even have a brake servo).
The MINI is more practical though, with more storage space, no roof to fiddle with and a "park it anywhere" appeal.
RobM77 said:
Seriously though, I'd be very surprised if a front drive hatchback is going to cut it compared to the Elise 111S in terms of driver appeal. The Elise was designed from the ground up as a sports car, it has a seperate chassis and body, suspension designed and tuned by the acknowledged world leaders in ride and handling, and completely unassisted controls (the 111S doesn't even have a brake servo).
See now when you put it like that th Elise would be a better choice. The mini is still a great car!The1Driver said:
Mini GP All the way. Shall be my next car after I get rid of the current one.
Test drove one a couple month back. I was in awe. Supercharger behaviour is great... Two options... On or Off. Unlike my turbo'd powered car which is unpredictable lol.
Comes with a Diff too. BMW done very well with the GP
The OP was wanting to change from the *current* Mini GP to an Elise or Clio V6.Test drove one a couple month back. I was in awe. Supercharger behaviour is great... Two options... On or Off. Unlike my turbo'd powered car which is unpredictable lol.
Comes with a Diff too. BMW done very well with the GP
And as good as the Mini may be, there is no way its as special as a lightweight Elise or a virtually one-off lunatic asylum that is the Clio V6.
The two option supercharger sounds terrible - hitting the throttle, its off ... off ... then mid corner its suddenly on? Or do you mean that its quite smooth and progressive?
And surprisingly, most cars tend to have a differential.
clonmult said:
The two option supercharger sounds terrible - hitting the throttle, its off ... off ... then mid corner its suddenly on? Or do you mean that its quite smooth and progressive?
And surprisingly, most cars tend to have a differential.
Sorry for not being clear enough. Im saying superchargers kick in almost instantly. Whereas turbos dont.And surprisingly, most cars tend to have a differential.
Yes, but many dont come with mechanical ones.
mat13 said:
The1Driver said:
Sorry for not being clear enough. Im saying superchargers kick in almost instantly. Whereas turbos dont.
Yes, but many dont come with mechanical ones.
I'm sorry but don't pretend to know about how a car works if you haven't got a clue, its just embarrasing.Yes, but many dont come with mechanical ones.
If you're anywhere near Hampshire/Berkshire, I'd be happy to let you have a look at my Elise and give you a passenger ride. Clio V6s are much rarer, and the friend I have who owned one has now changed his car. I do remember a horrific bill for an exhaust once though; it might be worth checking out spares prices.
vz-r_dave said:
The1Driver said:
...Thanks for the reply`s . Well it sounds like nearly all of you would change the GP for either V6 or 111s . I guess a test drive in both is the only way to really know which one. havin a ride to ron hodgson cars tomo to have a look at some vee`s, there a bit pricey though and its prob best to buy private from an owners forum but then its the hassel of selling the GP private, not that im in any rush anyway (prob wont happen till after xmas)
The running costs seem better with the 111s (cheaper ins, tax, mpg). and i appreciate the lotus is a much better drivers car but it just dosnt seem quite as special somehow as i like rare limited number cars like GP, R26R, RS500, VXR220, V6 etc. My budget is around 15k so cant afford some of those.
The one downside with the clio is the interior but this prob wouldnt matter with a 3l v6 rumbling behind.
The running costs seem better with the 111s (cheaper ins, tax, mpg). and i appreciate the lotus is a much better drivers car but it just dosnt seem quite as special somehow as i like rare limited number cars like GP, R26R, RS500, VXR220, V6 etc. My budget is around 15k so cant afford some of those.
The one downside with the clio is the interior but this prob wouldnt matter with a 3l v6 rumbling behind.
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