MINI2

Hyper Active · Oct 30th, 2007, 10:10 PM

Just wondering what suspension set up you chose when you ordered / bought your Cooper S, and why ?.

FergusM · Oct 30th, 2007, 10:23 PM

Got Sports Suspension...as it was free with Chili pack, no JCW suspension pack available at time...and any lower and my JCW Aero kit would scrape even more...! I have 17" riums and find it fine

Tara&Paul · Nov 1st, 2007, 02:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Hyper Active (original)

Just wondering what suspension set up you chose when you ordered / bought your Cooper S, and why ?.

Sports Suspension with 18" wheels....car handles like a demented fridge magnet !!!

spiney · Nov 2nd, 2007, 12:31 PM

I got the standard as my wife was sick of her fillings falling out running over white lines in the road on the sports setup on my R53. That, plus the roads around my house resemble the Somme.

We may be moving to California in a year or so, if we do then it's JCW suspension for me when we get there!

ricky1981 · Nov 2nd, 2007, 01:29 PM

Standard for me, don't do track days and the roads around here are awful. Have a little one on the way so that combined with the other half finding the SS on the current S too stiff meant I had no real option!

TomUK23 · Nov 2nd, 2007, 01:51 PM

Drove the Std and the Sports and found the std more than firm enough for me and the roads around Milton Keynes, plus the gf has a bad back and I’m a loving bf

She still hates the power of the JCW tuning kit though

I also had a cooper for 3 years with Sports and I think I actually prefer the std on my new R56.

If I were you I’d just get down to your dealer and drive both to make your own mind up

JayM2 · Nov 2nd, 2007, 08:41 PM

Sports suspension all the way, no brainer IMO.

Capt Caveman · Nov 9th, 2007, 09:12 AM

Non sports, hard enough as it is

Japper · Nov 9th, 2007, 10:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tara&Paul (original)

Sports Suspension with 18" wheels....car handles like a demented fridge magnet !!!

My spec too

Japper · Nov 9th, 2007, 10:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Capt Caveman (original)

Non sports, hard enough as it is

You don't want to drive a R53 MCS then, if you think the R56 is hard riding.

msh441 · Nov 11th, 2007, 03:07 AM

I have Sport Suspension AND lowering springs.

How do I vote for that combo?

Hyper Active · Nov 11th, 2007, 09:07 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by msh441 (original)

I have Sport Suspension AND lowering springs.

How do I vote for that combo?

I'd say that should be in the "aftermarket lowering springs" option

.

Hyper Active · Nov 11th, 2007, 01:49 PM

What do any of you think of the following opinion, in regards to which suspension set up works best with which wheels. It's an extract from a road test of a R56 MCS from earlier this year, by the Daily Telegraph's Honest John.

The thing is, you can order the Cooper S on 16” or 17” wheels with or without sports suspension and with the option to delete sports suspension if you go for the Chili pack. So we tried a non-turbo Cooper on 16” wheels with sports suspension and it was fine. Not quite as much fun as the original MINI Cooper, but a natural, refined successor to it that will find more friends than enemies.
I also drove a MINI Cooper on 15” wheels with standard suspension. Less grip. More understeer. But a good little car with handling nearly as sweet as a base model Peugeot 207. To round it off I even drove another Cooper S on 17s and that was vastly better than the Cooper S we’d had earlier.

So when you order your MINI Cooper S, I’d suggest you go for either 16” wheels and sport suspension or 17” wheels and non sport suspension, but not full-house 17s with sport because you might be very disappointed.

If you want “kart-like handling” and “wheel-at-each-corner control”, choose your wheels, tyres and suspension settings very carefully.

View Poll Results: What suspension set up did you choose ?
Non Sports Suspension	15	31.91%
Sports Suspension	30	63.83%
JCW Suspension	0	0%
Aftermarket Lowering Springs	2	4.26%
Voters: 47. You may not vote on this poll

Oct 30th, 2007, 10:10 PM	#1
Hyper Active MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Watford, Herts. UK Local Time: 06:30 AM Posts: 2,180 Offline	What suspension set up did you choose for your MCS Just wondering what suspension set up you chose when you ordered / bought your Cooper S, and why ?.

Oct 30th, 2007, 10:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
FergusM MINI2 Senior My Classifieds Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Glasgow Local Time: 06:30 AM Posts: 690 Offline	Got Sports Suspension...as it was free with Chili pack, no JCW suspension pack available at time...and any lower and my JCW Aero kit would scrape even more...! I have 17" riums and find it fine Last edited by FergusM : Nov 1st, 2007 at 02:33 PM.

Nov 2nd, 2007, 12:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
spiney MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: nr Boston, MA Local Time: 01:30 AM Posts: 55 Offline	I got the standard as my wife was sick of her fillings falling out running over white lines in the road on the sports setup on my R53. That, plus the roads around my house resemble the Somme. We may be moving to California in a year or so, if we do then it's JCW suspension for me when we get there! Now proud owner of a 2007 Cooper S!

Nov 2nd, 2007, 01:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
TomUK23 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milton Keynes Local Time: 05:30 AM Posts: 171 Offline	Drove the Std and the Sports and found the std more than firm enough for me and the roads around Milton Keynes, plus the gf has a bad back and I’m a loving bf She still hates the power of the JCW tuning kit though I also had a cooper for 3 years with Sports and I think I actually prefer the std on my new R56. If I were you I’d just get down to your dealer and drive both to make your own mind up Last edited by TomUK23 : Nov 2nd, 2007 at 10:35 PM.

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Nov 1st, 2007, 02:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tara&Paul MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hertfordshire Local Time: 06:30 AM Posts: 439 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Hyper Active (original) Just wondering what suspension set up you chose when you ordered / bought your Cooper S, and why ?. Sports Suspension with 18" wheels....car handles like a demented fridge magnet !!!

Nov 2nd, 2007, 01:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
ricky1981 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Local Time: 05:30 AM Posts: 42 Offline	Standard for me, don't do track days and the roads around here are awful. Have a little one on the way so that combined with the other half finding the SS on the current S too stiff meant I had no real option!

Nov 2nd, 2007, 08:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
JayM2 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2004 Local Time: 06:30 AM Posts: 47 Offline	Sports suspension all the way, no brainer IMO.

Nov 9th, 2007, 09:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
Capt Caveman MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Local Time: 05:30 AM Posts: 36 Offline	Non sports, hard enough as it is

Nov 9th, 2007, 10:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
Japper MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oil Country Local Time: 06:30 AM Posts: 933 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Tara&Paul (original) Sports Suspension with 18" wheels....car handles like a demented fridge magnet !!! My spec too 06 HB/W MCS Chilli

Nov 9th, 2007, 10:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
Japper MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Oil Country Local Time: 06:30 AM Posts: 933 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Capt Caveman (original) Non sports, hard enough as it is You don't want to drive a R53 MCS then, if you think the R56 is hard riding. 06 HB/W MCS Chilli

Nov 11th, 2007, 03:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
msh441 MINI2 Senior Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pacific NW Local Time: 10:30 PM Posts: 439 Offline	I have Sport Suspension AND lowering springs. How do I vote for that combo? Founding member of R56 Anonymous: "Hello. My name is Mike. I'm a driving enthusiast... and I still like the R56"

Nov 11th, 2007, 09:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
Hyper Active MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Watford, Herts. UK Local Time: 06:30 AM Posts: 2,180 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by msh441 (original) I have Sport Suspension AND lowering springs. How do I vote for that combo? I'd say that should be in the "aftermarket lowering springs" option .

Nov 11th, 2007, 01:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Hyper Active MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Watford, Herts. UK Local Time: 06:30 AM Posts: 2,180 Offline	What do any of you think of the following opinion, in regards to which suspension set up works best with which wheels. It's an extract from a road test of a R56 MCS from earlier this year, by the Daily Telegraph's Honest John. The thing is, you can order the Cooper S on 16” or 17” wheels with or without sports suspension and with the option to delete sports suspension if you go for the Chili pack. So we tried a non-turbo Cooper on 16” wheels with sports suspension and it was fine. Not quite as much fun as the original MINI Cooper, but a natural, refined successor to it that will find more friends than enemies. I also drove a MINI Cooper on 15” wheels with standard suspension. Less grip. More understeer. But a good little car with handling nearly as sweet as a base model Peugeot 207. To round it off I even drove another Cooper S on 17s and that was vastly better than the Cooper S we’d had earlier. So when you order your MINI Cooper S, I’d suggest you go for either 16” wheels and sport suspension or 17” wheels and non sport suspension, but not full-house 17s with sport because you might be very disappointed. If you want “kart-like handling” and “wheel-at-each-corner control”, choose your wheels, tyres and suspension settings very carefully.

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