well, i have an R27 which is basically a 197 with a cup pack and tasty stuff like recaros and tinted windows etc..
day to day, the car is fantastic. it'll do the daily grind with ease, interior quality is a big step up from before.... dare i say it, but its not too far off german quality these days.
on weekend drives, the car never fails to put a smile on the face. the engine is actually more torquey than reviews would have u believe, but takin it abover 5500rpm is seriously addictive.
yes, the mpg is pretty pants compared to the 172. average, i'll get about 25-28 depending on how the car has been used that week. its not bad really considering what it is, but it is lower than the 172s.
The 197 cup has a bit of a naff interior imo, the plastics aren't as nice as the FF, but thats me just being fussy.
what i will say tho, the steering wheel on the FF 197s are lovely, but the cup steering wheel is lot more ordinary. not much, but a pretty big thing for me given thats what u'll be holding all the time!