[devaisl]

Have just had my order confirmed for week 49
but......
I've specified no sports suspension. Now that everything is confirmed I'm kinda worried whether I did the right thing or not!!! My reasons for not getting sports suspension is that the roads where I live are absolutely crap (roadwork central is an understatement!!) so I would prefer a softer ride but not too much at the expense of the handling. I'm not into rallying or anything like that!

Please somebody reassure me that I did the right thing, and that the road handling wont be affected (ie lessened) too much! I'm not going to be rolling all over the road and around corners am I ????

[rec]

i'm used to stiff suspension setup, as i've had quite a few low or rally specced cars, so i specced the sports suspension. looking at the videos, i think the **** end of the cooper bounces around too much on standard setup.

[Martin F]

Autocar said not to bother with the Sport suspension. I have great respect for the views of independent road testers and, given that I have 17" wheels and runflats with the Chili pack, see no reason to make the ride harder still.

[devaisl]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin F (original)

Autocar said not to bother with the Sport suspension. I have great respect for the views of independent road testers and, given that I have 17" wheels and runflats with the Chili pack, see no reason to make the ride harder still.

That was my reasoning too!
My assumption was that the Sport Suspension on the new R56 Cooper S is the equvalent of the Sport Suspension Plus on the R53 Cooper S. I presume the Sport Suspension Plus is harder than the Sport Suspension on the R50 Cooper(2005) that I am driving at the moment?? Or am i just talking through my hat and confusing things?!

[m1m0]

I never found the sports suspension plus too bad, even with 17" runflats - and many say the ride on the R56s is improved & more comfortable than the old generation, too.

[Olly.]

Its a tricky one. A lot of the reviews said that the Sports Suspension was too hard but then MINI2's review said it was a big improvement in ride quality over the old car.

If your car is being built Week 49 doesn't that mean you will have time to test drive the cars on the launch weekend and decide then before finalising your spec?

[Prowse]

I've driven Cooper's with SS, and SS+, 16's and 17's, normal and runflat tyres.

The main difference to making your setup 'harsh' seems to be the wheel-tyre size. I've got the original (and hardest) SS+ and I love it. It's all personal tase. If you like a soft ride go for 15's if you like it hard, ehem, go for the 17's. The SS+ option just seems to stop some of the body roll.

[devaisl]

Quote: Originally Posted by Olly. (original)

Its a tricky one. A lot of the reviews said that the Sports Suspension was too hard but then MINI2's review said it was a big improvement in ride quality over the old car.

If your car is being built Week 49 doesn't that mean you will have time to test drive the cars on the launch weekend and decide then before finalising your spec?

I hope so - I have already changed my mind twice regarding the Sports Suspension so they probably think I'm demented!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Prowse (original)

I've driven Cooper's with SS, and SS+, 16's and 17's, normal and runflat tyres.

The main difference to making your setup 'harsh' seems to be the wheel-tyre size. I've got the original (and hardest) SS+ and I love it. It's all personal tase. If you like a soft ride go for 15's if you like it hard, ehem, go for the 17's. The SS+ option just seems to stop some of the body roll.

At the moment I'm driving a 2005 Cooper with Sports Suspension (not Plus) on 17's. I do find it a bit hard on the road at times so would'nt like it to be any harder (ahem!!)

[Ingrid]

I got the SS+ with 16" wheels, and I love it!

[popey]

Don't forget the new runflats are meant to be a lot better ride.

[ttocs]

from what I read (here and in the press) the R56 sports susp is akin to the current model sports suspn plus. Means it might be quite hard and bumpy. I didn't order this as the new one is for the missus and she prefers a softer ride...mind you it was difficult to do as it had no extra cost.

[phil_c]

I went for sports suspension with 18's and runflats. I just hope its not to bumpy

[devaisl]

I am now thinking of waiting to test drive on the 18th and deciding then, even if it means pushing the build week on further

[Paul]

I cant for the life of me imagine it being a problem/too hard for anyone, the current SS+ I could imagine why (even though I don't find it myself). The new Sports suspension is still much more smooth/compliant than the current SS+, the ride overall is much more refined and less jarring. If I was ordering an S I couldn't do it without the Sports suspension, with a Cooper maybe, if I wanted a softer, more "cruise" like car.

[Irlmin]

Quote: Originally Posted by aislingf (original)

I hope so - I have already changed my mind twice regarding the Sports Suspension so they probably think I'm demented!!



At the moment I'm driving a 2005 Cooper with Sports Suspension (not Plus) on 17's. I do find it a bit hard on the road at times so would'nt like it to be any harder (ahem!!)

It's an 'Ireland ' thing and Our 'brilliant' roads , I specced My MC with 'Sport' not SS in late 04 and now have specced My R56 with 'std' suspension , I have found the 'optimum' for Ireland to be 16" wheels ' non' runflat Tyres and 'Sport' suspension , I agree the R56 is a different kettle of fish and the new generation of 'runflats' are much more flexible in the sidewall than the 1st generation .also remember the build quality is much improved in R56 and the dash etc won't 'rattle' like R50/53 .It's not long until the 18th anyway BUT if You go for a test drive make sure You drive a route You know well and compare suspension performance with Your current car and both Std and Sport on R56.
Gerard

[Paul]

The handling and ride (especially on the fast country lanes around here) are the most important things in the MINI to me, so I wouldn't firm up an order one of the new models without testing the ride of the sports suspension first. I thought the new car with sport and 17" was surprisingly smooth. On the current car my favourite combination is SS+ and 16" alloys with non-runflats.

[KenL]

I haven't driven the car of course but road test on Honest John suggests not mixing 17s & SS+!

[Paul]

At the same time the review says that a current MINI Cooper S Convertible on 17" wheels (and runflats) "could sometimes feel exactly like an original MINI 1275S". Makes me wonder what MINIs they're talking about?! As a current MINI on 17" wheels and tyres is "more work" than a new one... All subjective though I guess.

[devaisl]

Quote: Originally Posted by Irlmin (original)

It's an 'Ireland ' thing and Our 'brilliant' roads , I specced My MC with 'Sport' not SS in late 04 and now have specced My R56 with 'std' suspension , I have found the 'optimum' for Ireland to be 16" wheels ' non' runflat Tyres and 'Sport' suspension , I agree the R56 is a different kettle of fish and the new generation of 'runflats' are much more flexible in the sidewall than the 1st generation .also remember the build quality is much improved in R56 and the dash etc won't 'rattle' like R50/53 .It's not long until the 18th anyway BUT if You go for a test drive make sure You drive a route You know well and compare suspension performance with Your current car and both Std and Sport on R56.
Gerard

Yep it is definitely an 'Ireland' thing Gerard! So you have ordered an R56 with std suspension - are you going to test drive the sport suspension beforehand, I wish I was as decisive

[devaisl]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

I cant for the life of me imagine it being a problem/too hard for anyone, the current SS+ I could imagine why (even though I don't find it myself). The new Sports suspension is still much more smooth/compliant than the current SS+, the ride overall is much more refined and less jarring. If I was ordering an S I couldn't do it without the Sports suspension, with a Cooper maybe, if I wanted a softer, more "cruise" like car.

Paul, if I can remember correctly you have driven the R56 with std suspension - did you find much roll around corners etc., was it very noticeable if so?

Its not so much the open roads here that are bad( even the country lanes are'nt too bad) it is in the towns (strangely enough ) the streets are very potholey!!!?!