C172 v MINI v Puggy 206 in Top Gear

[Scudetto]

[moved from Off Topic]

In this months Top Gear. Shoot out between C172, Cooper something, Pug 206 180bhp.

We dont come 1st.

We dont come 2nd, either

But we win the hot hatch spirit/attitude award and that my friends, is all that matters:

"When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, half is lost. When character is lost, all is lost"

Forza Clio 172!

g

 

[philip]

you italian scudetto?

 

[paddymph]

hmm, how come we lost?

 

[RobFenn]

Duh!

Magazine reviews can be so varied so for cars this close you can never tell which is really best until youve driven them yourself. However its nice to know they got charmed by the Clio.

-Rob

 

[Scudetto]

Philip, yes I am. Howdya guess?

Are you?

g

 

[philip]

I am not, but I spend a lot of time in Corsica (house) and in Italy, many Italian friends, support AC Milan (was at the final against Juve in Manchester) etc. etc "Scudetto" gives the game away really..

 

[RobFenn]

hence the duh

How did you move the post G?

-Rob

 

[Scudetto]

yeah, i guess that probably is the mother of all clues. Oh, and Forza, too!

Paddy - we lost because the mini had a better gearchange, we were noisy on the m-way, the steering is a little dead (agree) and the pug and mini felt like they were from a class above interior wise. So, we didnt really loose on anything that actually mattered. However, the engine was described as mighty. Not weasly... and were the closest to the raw, hot hatch of yester year. I dont mind losing because were too raw - its better than winning because youre more rounded (= boring!).

g

 

[Scudetto]

I used magic, Rob!

I havent physically moved the post. Just put on a note on the original post in off topic to say its now here (i.e reply here, not there). So, yeah, I lied!

g

 

[badley]

The Pug would loose the interior styling category, its shocking and tiny!!!! (maybe because Im tall)

I think that the clio has the nicest interior (not biased honest!!!)

 

[geordiepaul]

Performance figures?? As everyone knows thats all that matters

 

[KDF]

Was it a 172 or a Cup 172 ? cause I cant believe the interior of the normal clios is not as good if not a lot better than the mini and pug 206 (unless they take points off for rattles )

 

[Scudetto]

normal 172. Red one, like mine.

No offence to Cooper S-Boy (Simon), but I have a real problem with the minis interior style. Its very contrived; dare to add anything to it and you can imagine the cars designer having a fit at you meddling with his masterpiece. Its so cool and trendy inside, its too scared to chill a bit and have some fun. Does that make any sense?

g

 

[KDF]

no

 

[Scudetto]

what i mean is that everything has been so heavily styled to work visually with all the other parts of the interior (bit like the TT) to create the designers vision of a cool interior. As a result, anything that you do/ add to the interior will clash with the whats in there already (and will probably make the designer scream in horror). Sorry, this isnt making much sense. Ill come back when Im capable of being more articulate.

g

 

[Ian_182]

top gear is funded by the bbc so every now and then they have to be "politically correct".this is the only explanation i can fathom that the clio lost out.the mini is way to expensive with the same spec as the clio and the pug has just raided the parts bin of the 307 to try and compete.A very cheap exercise in marketing to try and fool the world that the old 205 has made a comeback........its not even as fast as the 172 in a straight line.....bad bbc.very bad

 

[geordiepaul]

Yeah, but there is no getting away from the fact the MINI is a good all round car cant comment on the Pug cos Ive never driven one!

 

[Scudetto]

while its true that top gear is funded by the BBC, Im not sure that has much to do with the Minis victory. I suspect it has to do with their pro-BMW stance more than anything else...

g

 

[geordiepaul]

Or it could be down to the fact that the MINI is a good car??

 

[RobFenn]

My mum had a normal cooper so not sure how much the interior differs but i thought it was a bit overstyled, like they were trying to hard. I think in a few years when the cars aged it will look a little strange inside. The seat mechanism is also very annoying!

-Rob

 

[KDF]

IMHO the mini is the ideal car for someone who lacks personality, while some will buy the performance model, most will just buy it to make other people think that they have interesting lives.. when in reality they are the most boring/characterless people on the planet.

 

[Ian_182]

and we all know wot we think of bmw drivers.i do agree however the mini is a good car...

 

[Scudetto]

yes, lets not forget - the mini is a good car, and maybe its victory was justified.

But the Clio hasnt really lost - it has strength of character, the most important quality of all, on its side. Sometimes that counts for more than outright speed or ultimate grip, or whats the most fashionable car at the time.

g

 

[Ian_182]

agree..

 

[CooperS-Boy]

The name is James Scudetto and no offence taken.

 

[rt172]

WTF? Cooper-S boy on the net after 5pm?! Unprecedented!

 

[cerbera4.5]

mag said 172 slowest of the bunch 0-60 7.4?? mk2,qtr mile 15.8,as mentioned said the clio always manages to entertain,eager to please..pure undiluted entertainment..a classic hot hatch,,hear hear!

downsides: small,(compared to the vast mini!) noisy,poor driving position.

looks like even top gear can get hold of a "bad one"

 

[CooperS-Boy]

Alright Rhys!! Yes I think this is a first for me. At my mates for the weekend who happens to be on the net!!!

Will have to meet up for a blast soon. Will be good if we could round a few others up too...................calling Craggy......Paddy.............Matt etc etc.

 

[rt172]

yeah, gotta see how the mighty VTS fares against 210bhp!

 

[CooperS-Boy]

Dont say that mate..............I wont sleep tonight!!!!!

I think we need to sort some PMs out to get a meet sorted as I am banished from posting on the meets and events bit now for being a tight arsed git and not paying a fiver for membership. Will have to get it sorted out.

 

[rt172]

Craggys got a Cliosport sticker in his VTS! I dunno, cheapskate MINI drivers...

We can sort something out. Are you going to come along to York at the end of July? Youve gotta run the S.

Rhys