As I daily my 182 and not the 197 I guess I don't really notice the MPG that everyone goes on about. I just think to myself, I am not sure what you were expecting, its a highly tuned NA engine that needs revs to go anywhere, of course its going to go through fuel!! Saying that, I managed 33/34mpg in the 197 on the way up to Scotland and then my record was down to 13mpg one day whilst on the North Coast 500 route.
With regards to the gearboxes, it seems 1*2s and 197/200s are prone, 500 odd people filling in a survey is an average sample size but not really representative enough to draw meaningful conclusions- thats the trouble with trying to report these things, its almost like folklore, everyone thinks the 197s have weak gearboxes, 996 911s have weak engines... and no more come to mind of present, but you get my drift.
I will admit however, that I have been slightly put off buying a higher mileage 197 based on the gearbox concerns...