Originally posted by scottgib
MSRP was what I have been told on two different occassions. They don't open for business until June (or July according to the MiniUSA site).

http://users.chartertn.net/scottgib/images/Yellow%20Cooper%20Sb.jpg Scottgib; I was told by Mini of Nashville there would be 10% upcharge for my Cooper S. Spec your car with all your options and then add 10% and you have your price, not incl.taxes, title, etc.of course.I am not suprised by this, especially after reading about other dealers in S.Calif. Sounds like we are getting 2 stories here. Lemooz in E.Tenn.

Originally posted by Casey
.......Remember a few things - the circumference of the 17s is actually smaller then the 16s as the 17s are low profiles. The 17s weigh more, since they are low profiles, they will be harsher riding if your not on good roads, they cost more, easier to blow out tires and bend rims etc.

Cheers

They are wider though = more grip !!

:)

Originally posted by Casey
Remember a few things - the circumference of the 17s is actually smaller then the 16s as the 17s are low profiles. The 17s weigh more, since they are low profiles, they will be harsher riding if your not on good roads, they cost more, easier to blow out tires and bend rims etc.

I wish I liked the 16"wheels I really do, but I don't:(

I have the 17" S Spokes on my Cooper and they look class:D

I have no complaints in the ride or handling department either. But what I will say is that when time comes to put new rubber onto your car, it is going to put a severe dent in your wallet :eek:

LMB;)

My X-lite decision is becoming more firm after seeing DS X-lite pics from KarmanS (I'd opt for the DS roof as well). I think polished X-lites will match the chrome trimmings nicely. I will immediately purchase 205/50 summer tires and trade in the run-flats for a smoother & even better performing ride.

LSD - Limited slip differential. The lack thereof is probably my biggest disappointment about the MINI. While traction control is offered through the cutting of power, I'd much rather have the excess power mechanically redirected to the gripping wheel instead. LSD really helps pull a FWD car around the tighter turns. Think of a snowy hill. In an open diff, the wheel which looses traction first will start to spin (gets all the torque due to the path of least resistance), even if the other wheel is on dry pavement. Rather than redirect a large portion of the torque to the gripping wheel to continue pulling the car up the hill, traction control will step in and brake the spinning wheel (and cut engine power) until traction is available to that wheel. As you can see the car will only go up the hill as quickly as the tire with the least grip.

Originally posted by LMB

I have the 17" S Spokes on my Cooper and they look class:D

I have no complaints in the ride or handling department either. But what I will say is that when time comes to put new rubber onto your car, it is going to put a severe dent in your wallet :eek:

LMB;)

Worth every penny LMB........:)

and as I may have mentioned I like the 5-star 16"s when they are showing their nuts....... These wheels are standard on the ozzie Cooper S with X-lites as a no-cost option.

Originally posted by FritzMan
SomeBlondGuy,
I actually haven't ordered yet as I'm waiting to test drive the S in the next week or two (that and see how much the lack of a lsd will annoy me :().

I'm curious why you'd want a LSD in a FWD car? Seems like you'd just be asking for under steer.

I seen many people drive right off the road in 4x4 when the locked the differential. It just makes it very hard to steer.

I've got LSD in the rear, and when ever I go park in a parking garage, where I have to drive up 6-10 floors, the drive train binds and gets very tight. I have to give the gas a quick flip every few floors just to release the tension.

Get the ASC+T or DSC instead. If a wheel starts to slip, the brake for that wheel will be applied sending the remaining power through the other wheel. If it also slips, its brake is also applied.

As for wheels. Is there a bad option? I know everyone has their own personal choice, but seriously. For me I haven't seen a photo of a bad factory combo.

I'm still aiming for the 16" X-lights mostly due to the poor quality of the roads in Oregon. I'd still need to find out which rims can accept a snow tire, or tire/chain combo.

There are times of the year when they don't let you go skiing without chains.

Cheers,
Brant

Given that I want everything else in the UK Chili pack, and at the price the 17" wheels are effectively free, I guess I'll be getting the 17"s.

I think the 5-stars look best, the X-lites are probably the performance option, and the 17"s are going to be the most popular.

A locked diff will definitely be very hard to steer as both wheels are forced to rotate the same amount, regardless of turning radius. This is why a LSD is so beneficial, it never fully locks so turning performance is not effected, but does offer some locking to redirect spare torque to the gripping wheel.

Actually, LSD will fight understeer. In a typical turn, the outer front wheel would receive more torque due to increased traction and would then actually help pull/rotate the car around.

Again, as stated in my previous example, the DSC only option will comprimise using 100% of the available grip, as it artificially increases available traction by braking the slipping wheel, and hence slowing the vehicle down. Great for safety, not so great for AutoX where tenths of a second count... Now a LSD with with DSC would be "the balls" as they say overseas. :)

Originally posted by FritzMan
... Now a LSD with with DSC would be "the balls" as they say overseas. :)

Not quite right.....but we get the picture.......:D