Renault Clio Sport 2.0 Vs Mini Cooper S Vs Honda Civic Type

[pilone]

Hi everybody!!!!
That new topic is for who likes " small " cars like me.
I selected three cars and please say me wich one you prefer not just looking at top speed or acceleration. Look to the pictures too!!
These are tecnical specifications:

Renault Clio Sport 2.0:
Price ( Europe ) 21.651 Euros
Weight 1035 Kg
Top speed 224 Km/h
Acceleration 7 sec.

Mini Cooper S:
Price ( Europe ) 22.601 Euros
Weight 1140 Kg
Top speed 217 Km/h
Acceleration 8 sec.

Honda Civic Type R:
Price ( Europe ) 23.451 Euros
Weight 1205 Kg
Top speed 235 Km/h
Acceleration 6.6 sec.



http://www.renault.it/images/teintier/cl23/color/tbcl23tej41.jpg
http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/sjjn/ps_mini_s1414.jpg
http://www.honda.co.uk/newcars/images/gallery/main_10413_10732_Type-R_01.jpg
:D [/img]

[Mopsdrops]

i would take the CTR overall but the looks are terrible IMO, but still my choise. from the looks i'd take the clio. :shock: 8)

[SDK2003]

I would also take the Honda CTR and I quite like how it looks.
The other cars are quicker to 60mhp than your figures as well. The Clio is roughly the same as the CTR up to 80mph and the Mini CS is a touch slower

[coombsie66]

Having driven a cooper s that my mum had as a courtesy car the other week, i can say that i was not impressed. The driving position is shite, serious lack of cabin space for the overall dimensions of the car, its not that quick.
It did have a nice shift tho (even tho the ratio's were far too long) and good brakes, and did handle well (well balanced).
Ive heard great things about the clio, and there are just too many CTR's about now. So i'd go for the clio too! :D

[TransAm]

The CTR, every time. It's built in the UK for a start!!

[mindgam3]

The cooper S is slower than both, but has a great chassis and opposite to what coombsie66 said, it has a great driving position, maybe didnt adjust your seat enough. The clio and the civic are almost exactly the same around a track although i think the cup version of the clio would outpace the civic as it has a better chassis. I think the civic looks great though and has a great engine and gearbox. Id go for the clio though

[jorge]

I would take the Civic, but i think the 3 cars are very good. :|

[Daggernite]

Well for starters I just dont like clio's. I like the mini quite alot and I've had quite along time behind the wheel of one, Since thats what I passed my test in,So I know thats a great car, even if it was'nt a cooperS, I'm guess a cooperS must be alot better. But I think the looks of the TypeR and figure,,, AND reviews tell me that I'd choose a typeR. even if they are alil too high at the back.

[coombsie66]

The cooper S is slower than both, but has a great chassis and opposite to what coombsie66 said, it has a great driving position, maybe didnt adjust your seat enough. The clio and the civic are almost exactly the same around a track although i think the cup version of the clio would outpace the civic as it has a better chassis. I think the civic looks great though and has a great engine and gearbox. Id go for the clio though

Well, my mate has a cooper, and he has managed to adjust the seat into a more reasonable position than i achieved in the cooper s, but it still aint that great, you are still sat too high IMO and the reach to the steering wheel too long, if you are positioned right for the pedals.
Have you driven a mini? Cus i swear i can remember numerous mini reviews by car magazines and shows stating that the driving position was pants.

[X-ale]

the mini looks better than the rest but the clio cup performs more so... anyway if your going compact, better look good cuz you ain't gonna impress much in any situation really. :?

[Nik^XeN]

Im going with the Clio!
I dont think the mini is that great and the Civic is nice and good, but it end there

[SPEED_DEMON82]

Clio for sure !!!

[FordGTGuy]

Clio is best.

[capore]

Although they are considered as similar cars, from my point of view they are very different. I mean: The CTR is a radical car, a machine to be used on a track only, to have racing experiences (remember that except the ABS, it hasn't got any other electronic help) and not to be used on long trips (unless you want to have your back hurt :D . Imagine going for 500 miles with those hard baqets :? ). Its prize is good enough, but I don't see this car to be daily used.
The Mini Cooper S: This car is a bit expensive and doesn't transmit the same sensations as the Clio or the CTR. It's fine to be driven and it has got enough power to put a smile in your face (by driving it on a mountain way for example, or even on a highway). But I wouldn't choose it.
The Clio: Well, I haven't chosen neither the CTR nor the Mini, so I have to choose the Clio, don't I? :D . Without any doubt is the best one. May be in a track isn't as good as the CTR, but it is more useful, you can go to buy with it (an aspect to be consider, the room inside the car), etc.

[ViperASR]

I think that the Civic Type R is the best of the three. Given the money, i would defanitly have to buy it. It is naturally asperated, makes the most horsepower, and is th fastest to 60. If i was to buy a Mini Cooper S, i would have to get the John Works Cooper package, to get the 200hp out of the car. The mini has the best handling and the best chassis and suspension. If i had the time and the money, i would put a better suspension on the Type R. That would make that car a bat outta hell!!!! :twisted:
The Civic also looks the raciest. The Clio looks like gracery go getter, and the mini looks like a chick car. If you get it in siver, or black, or the dark blue with the black stripes, it looks cool. Yet, the Civic Type R looks te best in any color. The body kit is tastefully done.
My brother owns a 1999 Honda Civic SI blue. It has adjustable shocks all the way around, 16" wheels wrapped in Yokahamas. We autocross it on a regular basis. Its a wonderful car to drive, if driven correctly, it will no understeer, and can be perswaed into oversteer if you want. With the right driver, it will own all, exept those who have way too much $$$$ :fist: .


Jermy Clarkson, "You can drop the kids off at school, and drive home, like your trousers are on fire"-the best explination of hot hatches

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

I do prefer the Civic from this group so far as well....although the clio is a great car, and very accomplished in every aspect that requires a hot hatch (alongside the Pug 206 GTI 180), the 20bhp of disadvantage against the civic, and the lack of a six speed gearbox doesnt compensate my preferance for the civic

[cooperluke]

From what I heard, and having driven the Mini Cooper, and the CTR, I would go to the Mini, although it's engine it's the weakest, but handling makes miracles!!
The Clio seems very good... but it has almost the same looks has a normal Clio 1.2, and don't has has much charisma has the other 2. But a good car, obviously!

:)

[ViperASR]

and the lack of a six speed gearbox doesnt compensate my preferance for the civic


The Civic SI sold in america has the RSX 160hp motor and 5-speed gearbox. The Civic Type R sold everywhere else, has the RSX Type-S 200hp motor, and the 6-speed gearbox.

[Gimp]

The mini would be badass if it was rwd

[capore]

The Clio seems very good... but it has almost the same looks has a normal Clio 1.2, and don't has has much charisma has the other 2. But a good car, obviously!
:)

Because of that it is very attractive. It looks like a Clio much less powerful and it can surprise a big saloon car by passing it in an autobahn at high speed :) .
Well, one aspect we haven't dealt is the security elements of each one. Which equipment have them? I don't know exactly how many airbags, electronic safety systems and those things they have :| .

[astonmartinandy]

Definitely the Clio for me. I like the Cooper S, but you really have to spend the extra couple of thousand on the works kit to get the speed up to match the chassis. I love and hate the CTR for the VTEC, but from all the reviews I have read, the Clio just seems to be the most fun in a small hatch.

[Regie]

As a RS Clio (Clio 172) owner I'm biased.
I've driven a Mini (Cooper, Cooper S & Works S) on public roads. I've had the opportunity to drive a Cooper S around a track (not just a single flying lap but for half a day).
No experience with the Civic Type R (we don't get it over here in Aus).


If it was for purely as a road car, and MONEY WAS NO OBJECT, I'd go with the Cooper S WITH the factory Works pack. The lesser versions (Cooper and Cooper S) just don't have enough get up and go and are more for posing in than driving. Sure they handle well and the chassis is good, but nowhere enough power.
However, I wouldn't get the 17" rims as they made the ride very jiggly around the roads near my home. I'm not a huge fan of the Mini's interior and feel that it will not age gracefully and is a bit loud (although the camel and black leather interior is schmick!)

I'm more a track day kinda guy and that's why I went with the Clio, it is a blast on the track and I haven't once cooked the brakes or had anything go wrong mechanically. Oversized brakes, pinched from the Laguna make for awesome stopping power. More expensive cars such as the HSV Commodores and Ford FPVs have had problems with brake fade and power steering on almost every track day I've attended.

The cooper S is slower than both, but has a great chassis and opposite to what coombsie66 said, it has a great driving position, maybe didnt adjust your seat enough. The clio and the civic are almost exactly the same around a track although i think the cup version of the clio would outpace the civic as it has a better chassis. I think the civic looks great though and has a great engine and gearbox. Id go for the clio though

I like the mini quite alot and I've had quite along time behind the wheel of one, Since thats what I passed my test in,So I know thats a great car, even if it was'nt a cooperS, I'm guess a cooperS must be alot better.
The standard Cooper, with its NA 1.6litre engine is asthmatic and underpowered to say the least. More a car to pose in than drive hard.

Speaking of driving positions, I hat e to say it, but the Clio's sucks big time. The Mini was very good IMO.

Although they are considered as similar cars, from my point of view they are very different. I mean: The CTR is a radical car, a machine to be used on a track only, to have racing experiences (remember that except the ABS, it hasn't got any other electronic help) and not to be used on long trips (unless you want to have your back hurt :D . Imagine going for 500 miles with those hard baqets :? ). Its prize is good enough, but I don't see this car to be daily used.
The Mini Cooper S: This car is a bit expensive and doesn't transmit the same sensations as the Clio or the CTR. It's fine to be driven and it has got enough power to put a smile in your face (by driving it on a mountain way for example, or even on a highway). But I wouldn't choose it.
The Clio: Well, I haven't chosen neither the CTR nor the Mini, so I have to choose the Clio, don't I? :D . Without any doubt is the best one. May be in a track isn't as good as the CTR, but it is more useful, you can go to buy with it (an aspect to be consider, the room inside the car), etc.
The Clio's traction control is switchable (and stays off, unlike Mercedes systems),. ABS is present.

Re: CTR being a good track day toy
A recent Autocar article I read was not glowing about the Civic's ability around a track. They complained about the car's stability under braking and that the rear end was moving around a fair bit. The steering and chassis also disappointed the journos. I'll post a couple of scans later in the day.

THe Civic is in another level, with the R32, the S3 and cars like that. Clio or Mini??? Probably the Clio, which has a better handling, although the equipment and exclusive of the Mini is also better than the french. However, comparing both with the Civic, I would go for it, faster, more agressive... and bigger.
The S3 (old model, not current shape) was a fat ass. Not very nimble or fun to drive around a twisty bit of bitumen and it chewed through tyres like there was no tomorrow. Both cars are also twice the price of a Clio/CTR. The current R32 Golf sounds great and has excellent fit and finish, but again is twice the price of a RS Clio.

I think that the Civic Type R is the best of the three. Given the money, i would defanitly have to buy it. It is naturally asperated, makes the most horsepower, and is th fastest to 60.
...... If i had the time and the money, i would put a better suspension on the Type R. That would make that car a bat outta hell!!!! :twisted:

.....My brother owns a 1999 Honda Civic SI blue. It has adjustable shocks all the way around, 16" wheels wrapped in Yokahamas. We autocross it on a regular basis. Its a wonderful car to drive, if driven correctly, it will no understeer, and can be perswaed into oversteer if you want. With the right driver, it will own all, exept those who have way too much $$$$ :fist: .

The Clio's NA as well (like the type R), the engines more flexible (from what I've read).

Re: putting adjusable suspension
I was under the impression the thread starter was referring to the cars in their bog standard form, without any modifications whatsoever.
The first 'mod' I would do is to stick on some road legal semi-slick rubber (Yoko A032R, Dunlop Formula R, Michelin Pilot Cups). Cuts lap times by almost 2 seconds. Not the best for public roads though as the first drop of water will send the car into the hedges (or even on cold tyres).

the 20bhp of disadvantage against the civic, and the lack of a six speed gearbox doesnt compensate my preferance for the civic
There may be a 20bhp difference between the Civic and the Clio, BUT look at the power to weight numbers. Remember the Clio is a light bugger and has a less peaky engine with more of that torque stuff.
Civic 164 bhp/tonne
Clio 167 bhp/tonne

Gearboxes is more of a personal preference. I don't mind a 5 speeder as long as the ratios are proper.


That being said, I have not ever driven a Civic Type R, so my comments about the car are purely speculation. I could be talking shit.

[capore]

Régie, If you have the oportunity of seeing Tiff Needle driving the CTR you will really enjoy. It seems as if it was rear wheel drive :D , a lot of oversteer in that car.