[Paul]

I still have not driven a second gen MINI with no sports suspension! I'm waiting on news from MINI for one to try out.

[devaisl]

Oooh, i thought you had!!!! I will definitely have to testdrive one without the sport suspension then - they might be terrible !!!!!

[Paul]

The ones with Sport were more than "soft" enough for me, which is my point really, although I am gagging to get my mitts on one without! The Sport is softer/smoother than the current SS+ by some margin, so I dont personally understand the fear of it, even though the lanes around here are pretty terrible for tracks (thanks to heavy farm gear and lorries) and potholes (thanks to councils who dont give a crap).

[mike58]

I have ordered sports susp on my new cooper but with 15 inch 175/65 tyres.
The thinking behind this is as follows
It is more fun to slide a 120BHP car on narrow tyres hence the 175s
I don't want the car to roll much hence the stiffer suspension , if I need more grip I will change to 16 or 17 rims with wider ( not runflat ) tyres.
I am thinking of running the car in the winter with the narrow tyres and posing in the summer with a set of fat tyres on big rims.
Drove an R56 today ( Cooper , standard susp with 17s) very good , pretty firm setup but my guess was the tyre pressures were too high, couldn't ask the dealer to check as i would have looked an incredible anorak in front of my two boys, but the car was big time better than my last 2003 mini.
In red the car has way too much black beneath the doors it HAS to have sideskirts , a bargain at only 545 pounds!!

[Deutsch]

I don't get it??? Is the std. suspension on the R56 Cooper & Cooper S the same as the SS+ on the R53 S??? If it is then I really wouldn't bother spending the extra $500. The car sticks like glue no matter how you look at it.

[Martin F]

I am finding the standard suspension on my R56 MCS very good. I was driving in Brighton last night over the speed bumps etc and it soaks it all up very well. In fact a friend who was with me whose normal transport is a new Bentley Continental commented favourably.

But out in the country lanes my experience is that it is quite firm enough. There is no discernible body roll and I see no advantage in anything firmer. But I have not driven an R56 with Sports suspension.

[Deutsch]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin F (original)

I am finding the standard suspension on my R56 MCS very good. I was driving in Brighton last night over the speed bumps etc and it soaks it all up very well. In fact a friend who was with me whose normal transport is a new Bentley Continental commented favourably.

But out in the country lanes my experience is that it is quite firm enough. There is no discernible body roll and I see no advantage in anything firmer. But I have not driven an R56 with Sports suspension.

Wow, thanks for sharing!!! Did you have the R53??? It sounds as if the SS is just an even stiffer version of the std. suspension.

[Martin F]

No, this is my first Mini.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deutsch (original)

Wow, thanks for sharing!!! Did you have the R53??? It sounds as if the SS is just an even stiffer version of the std. suspension.

The new car is softer and more "forgiving" in every version than the old MINI. You cant really compare like for like so well, because the character is so very different.

However (as I tried to express in my reviews), the less bumpy, more forgiving ride (I'm comparing the new, optional, "sports" to the old SS+), doesn't sacrifice in terms of grip and cornering. It's a more modern ride, less shake, less rattle, but no more roll (wish I'd have thought of that phrase for the review!).

Today is going to be first experience of "normal" suspension on an S on local roads, I look forward to that.

[R1]

My first Cooper had ssp+, my second had ssp and my current JCW has ss+.

I'd go with ss+ every time myself, but this isn't the R56 mind.

[Deutsch]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Today is going to be first experience of "normal" suspension on an S on local roads, I look forward to that.

Please let us know how it stacks up to SS+!?

[Paul]

Will do..

[Freddo]

The cooper I took for a testdrive this week had the std suspension. And it felt really good, actually not much difference compared to the R56 MCS with sport susp that I drove after the Cooper.
I will probably not order the sport susp for my cooper and get a nice set of coilovers instead

[smartbomb]

I'm having 17s and SS. Drove a Cooper on 15s and no SS and a bit to soft for me, so am pleased I've specced it.
As for what Honest John thinks, I'm not worried too much about what a guy who wears a pork-pie hat and loves Volvos thinks !

[devaisl]

Well I havent been on here in ages!!

Finally decided to go with the std suspension, found it fine - not as bouncy as I thought it would be, did'nt roll much around the corners, the grip and handling are similar to my '05 Cooper (which has the 'old' sport suspension). And I know my passengers will appreciate it a bit more (as will my bones!!)

Arrives 21st Dec but wont be picking it up til start of Jan for the new Irish '07 reg plate

[Vinnies' Mini]

Quote: Originally Posted by aislingf (original)

Finally decided to go with the std suspension & it
Arrives 21st Dec but wont be picking it up til start of Jan for the new Irish '07 reg plate

I feel better for reading that....I was begining to panic.....std suspension or SS+!!!!!

std suspension & 16" seem like they will be good enough for me....

What date did you order that you have a delivery date for the 21st.... No doubt you will be visiting it over the christmas period..lol

[devaisl]

Ordered the start of November, had to confirm whether i wanted the sport suspension or not by Nov 18th(that was the very last date to change anything!!!) so it was a bit of a panic!!

The dealers ringing me when my car arrives, the suspense will be to much so I'l have to take a spin over to the dealership to have a drool over it - would'nt be able to last the xmas otherwise!! What spec have you gone for?

[Vinnies' Mini]

Quote: Originally Posted by aislingf (original)

What spec have you gone for?

Lightning Blue with chili pk, white stripes,spoiler,roof & wheels along with the new sunroof..inside partial pacific Blue leather, blue colour line, 3 spk sw with mf and one had to go for option of the visibility pack....Currently I drive a zetec mondeo which has a heated front windscreen....without this I would be lost...it is a fab idea...you don't notice it in the windscreen... on a frosty morning just flick it on and 60 sec later you can wipe the ice off with the wipers....it was an additional €440 but I love it in my current car....so did not spec other stuff on my wish list instead....like bluetooth.....over €2000....that's taking the P..... only ordered it on the 25th November so hopefully it will arrive first week of February....

I used the miniusa web site yesterday to see what the lightning blue would look like...almost cried when I saw it...it looked like lavender in colour.....then tryied the uk site and looked definitly blue.... I'm guessing/ hoping it's very similar to the hyper blue!!!! and not lavender...can any one confirm this???

I have definitly decided to stick with the standard suspension....

What are you (aislingf) specing colour wise?

[devaisl]

Nice spec Vinnie, very . Lightening blue seems lovely from what i've seen, kind of like the old hyper blue only darker.I'm going for:

Laser blue with white stripes and roof ( a bit unoriginal but what the hey! similar to my old one!)
Driving Lamps
Chili Pack
MFSW
Punch Leather
Heated Seats
Sunroof
Chrome Interior & Exterior
Fluid Silver Trim
Ipod Connection

And i am now officially bankrupt!!!!!
And we'll probably be flamed for going completely off topic!!!!!

[Deutsch]

well doesn't sound like it's all that necessary unless you've gotta have the absolute sported up stock mini. If it's better than the SS+ suspension on the R53 S, it should be more than sufficient, and surely sporting enough.