Track car Clio sport vs modded cooper s

[Scarface1]

Hi All.

After some advice. preferably from people with track /fast rd experience of the above cars.

Me and a few mates regularly do track days and we are getting a little more serious now.

I currently run a 172 Clio for my track car.

Its spec is:
some minor lightening.
Pipercross air filter.
De cat system.
polybushes.
Lowered suspension.
Bluestuff pads
R888 tyres.

Its handling is spot on and the brakes are cracking.

Its served well for several years and round tight tracks like Castle Coombe not much sticks with it despite its lowish power, however I am after something a little quicker as I have reached its limits, needing more power and on the longer racks such as Spa and the Ring its top end gearing lets it down.

I would stick with it for another year or two but 2 of the guys that are normally about equal with me have just upgraded their cars to a Clio 182 with turbo conversion running 245 bhp and an MR2 mk3 with the vvti engine fitted running 200 bhp.

I am going to be left behind so looking for something quicker than my clio but on a budget.

My budget is £3000 give or take so cars like focus st etc are too much.

SO.....

I have been offered a cooper S with a few mods for a decent price and am toying with giving it a go.

Its running around 220bhp with the following mods:
coilovers
17% pulley
Ind kit.
Miltek exhaust
Uprated intercooler.
remap.

not sure on injectors etc and I will be lightening a little and uprating the brakes and fitting R888 tyres.

I know the mini will handle well but does anyone have any idea roughly how quick the mini will be in comparison to my 172 or the clio turbo/MR2

Thanks all.

Steve

[E-bmw]

a couple of questions on your questions may help.

Firstly 245 in a 182 is going to be pretty hard to beat in a well sorted chassis, but then there is where you MAY have the advantage.

Is the cooper 2005/6 & what is the spec?

I ask this because in MANY 2005/6 (ie. run-out models) when they were of a decent spec they included the LSD......... That has got your interest then!

220bhp is easy on these and even 270 to 300 isn't hard, although it is out of your budget.

They are fine handling cars with many people making better bits for them & BMW build quality to boot.

[Scarface1]

Hi. Thanks for the reply.
My saving grace is that the Clio turbo is struggling for traction even on r888s.
He is about to get wider rims with 205s instead of 195 which may help a bit out of corners but it is not LSD yet so I have a chance lol.
As for minis it will be an R53 so supercharged not turbo.
As for LSD I do not know yet if the one I have been offered has one fitted.
I believe lsd came with the chilli pack? And on 2005 plus?
If I do not buy this mini I have been offered (which is a good deal) then I will be looking for one with LSD to maximise traction.
From my research people with 220bhp ish seem to be ok without lsd

[purplerob]

A few years ago I had a standard 2005 cooper s that was fitted with the lsd. I used it for a few track days. In standard form the clios are faster in the bends but you can pull them back in on the straights. The lsd became standard in early 2005 but had also been on the options list for quite a while. I’d do some research on the 17% pulley and motorsport / track use. I know there’s an uprated intercooler fitted but it will create a lot more heat.

[E-bmw]

Scarface1 said:

I believe lsd came with the chilli pack? And on 2005 plus?
If I do not buy this mini I have been offered (which is a good deal) then I will be looking for one with LSD to maximise traction.
From my research people with 220bhp ish seem to be ok without lsd

If you are looking for one with an LSD you NEED to do a vin check on it before buying, yes they are GENERALLY on chilli 05/06 cars but google vin checker & go by that ONLY not what owners say as most have no idea what they are selling as I found out when I was looking.

FTR mine has around 165 at the wheels & even before doing my current mods the LSD was very noticeable.

[Scarface1]

E-bmw said:

If you are looking for one with an LSD you NEED to do a vin check on it before buying, yes they are GENERALLY on chilli 05/06 cars but google vin checker & go by that ONLY not what owners say as most have no idea what they are selling as I found out when I was looking.

FTR mine has around 165 at the wheels & even before doing my current mods the LSD was very noticeable.

Thanks mate. any idea what I am looking for in VIN to say if LSD fitted?

Ta
S

[E-bmw]

It isn't a number/letter etc in the vin, you need to google "mini vin checker" & put the last 7 digits from the cars vin & it will list the full spec of the car as it left the factory.

[Scarface1]

That’s great. Thanks

[rapidude]

There's a guy selling a clio 197 with a meg conversion done on the 197/200 facebook group! £3k would probably buy it. Job done.

[Scarface1]

Thanks but I am now the owner of a mini cooper S and various boxes of tuning parts :

Thanks for everyone's advice.

[davejnr]

Scarface1 said:

Thanks but I am now the owner of a mini cooper S and various boxes of tuning parts :

Thanks for everyone's advice.

So how’s the mini? Used it on track yet? The fans want an update

[Scarface1]

Still sorting it at the moment.
I have just bought:
larger calipers,
Brembo drilled and vented 294mm disks.
EBC blue stuff pads.
High temp brake fluid.
Leightweight bucket seats from my clio,
OMP mounts.
Alta cold air induction.
Lightweight (7.6kg) 16 alloys.
Yokohama AO48 Tyre’s.
Milltek exhaust.
D2 adjustable coilovers.

Still to get are;
Reduced supercharger pulley,
Uprated intercooler,
Uprated cam.
JCW injectors
Remap.

I have been busy with work and family but hope to start fitting stuff next week.

Aiming for end of April track day.
Ta.
Steve