Renault clio rs 197 Vs Corsa opc (vxr) Vs Mini cooper s (163ps)

[tony1311]

Renault clio rs 197 Vs Corsa opc (vxr) Vs Mini cooper s (163ps).

What would you prefer and why?

Fire away!

 

[homeforsummer]

Interesting decision, given that the Opel is still on sale and the other two have been superseded, but regardless, my money would be going Renault's way. They know hot hatches better than any other company and the Clio is reported to be a much better handler than the other two, which is impressive given how average the non-RS Clio is and how good a chassis the MINI already has.

I also think it looks great with it's flared arches, it's naturally aspirated which I prefer, and I have a soft spot for Renaults anyway so it was always going to be my choice.

The MINI is nice but the non-S Cooper is a nicer looking car and still offers 90% of the fun for much less cost to buy and run, and I hate Opels/Vauxhalls and their typical owners with a passion and the Corsa even more so, so wouldn't touch the OPC with a ten foot pole.

 

[TheCracker]

As much as i agree with HFS about Renault making the best hot hatches, the early Clio 197 wasn't Renault's best effort, it's taken subsequent Cup versions to get the best out of the chassis. The Cooper S is probably a slightly better car. The Corsa wouldn't even be considered.

 

[Stotty]

Clio or Cooper S is quite a difficult one, but I'd have to go for the Copper S.

At 10/10th's the Clio would probably be the most rewrding to drive, but the rest of the time it would be noisy, have no torque and bits would fall off it. The Cooper S would be 90% as good to drive flat out, but would be far superior the rest of the time.

Corsa is the usual Vauxhall chav mobile.

 

[Joey D]

I'm a bit curious why we are looking at an older MINI? The R53's went away in 2006. Shouldn't we be looking at the R56 if we want to make a comparison to newer cars?

I'd take the MINI but I'm biased so my opinion doesn't count.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'm a bit curious why we are looking at an older MINI? The R53's went away in 2006. Shouldn't we be looking at the R56 if we want to make a comparison to newer cars?

As I mentioned above, that Clio isn't the latest version either. There have been a good three or four better ones since then!

Incidentally, I agree with Stotty, the Clio would be less pleasant day to day, but compared to my current daily driver it'd probably be like piloting a magic carpet...

 

[niky]

That Cooper had the better steering, but the rougher engine. I'd take the non-S model please, as stripped down as possible.

The modern Cooper S is nice... more power, turbo overboost function, lots more supple... and even if the steering is kind of naf, there's a "Sport" button that firms it back up and gives you back some of the "feel".

Never driven the Clio... we don't get it here... but I'm a hardcore kind of guy, and I'd love to have one...

 

[YSSMAN]

My understanding is that the Clio RS is a monster, so I'd be tempted to lean in that direction from the start. But, my GM bias still makes me want the Corsa, especially when I understand its quite the good car as well.

Make it a shootout between the new Twingo RS, the Corsa VXR and the Cooper S and we could have a real party. Just for the hell of it, someone should invite the Abarth 500 as well.

 

[homeforsummer]

My understanding is that the Clio RS is a monster, so I'd be tempted to lean in that direction from the start. But, my GM bias still makes me want the Corsa, especially when I understand its quite the good car as well.

Pfft. There's no such thing as a good Corsa. They range from Almost Average to Hitler.

Make it a shootout between the new Twingo RS, the Corsa VXR and the Cooper S and we could have a real party. Just for the hell of it, someone should invite the Abarth 500 as well.

The Twingo RS would be outgunned in that company. The Corsa and Cooper are circa-200bhp machines, the Twingo has 130-ish bhp. The Abarth would be a similar story, unless it was the Essesse.

 

[YSSMAN]

I was under the impression that the low weight of the Abarth and Twingo would offset some of the power issues, but then again, most of these are vehicles we don't see in the US.

Sad fact:

I'd have to go to Mexico to get myself a Renault of any kind, and even then, it seems rather difficult to track down the RS models. Doesn't stop me from thinking about it...