MINI2

soamazin · Mar 2nd, 2008, 03:25 AM

Sport suspension in Canada or no? I read the other thread about it but its mostly European minis. My mini cooper s is ordered with..but I wasnt able to try it without sport. Is there a big difference?

miniDD · Mar 3rd, 2008, 04:21 AM

I found the sports suspension to be a little stiff for day to day driving. The run flat tires don't help either. But it is a preference thing. You have to try it to see what you like. Each to their own.

RS3TURN · Mar 3rd, 2008, 05:36 AM

I have the sport suspension on my MINI. IMO, not worth it.
Harsh ride, runflats don't help, and not a huge difference over the standard package. Skip it and save yourself some money.

soamazin · Mar 3rd, 2008, 12:40 PM

More opinions please...and where you're from would be appreciated.

iain cooper · Mar 3rd, 2008, 01:46 PM

I'm from Scotland and have cooper with standard suspension and run flats. ( but has 17" wheels )

I find the car to be very stiff, and I think would actually me too stiff for a lot of people ( eg my wife !! )

you may find that the sports suspension would be too stiff for you ?

ps I would agree with miniDD that each to his/her own, and you really need to try first

ideaexchange · Mar 3rd, 2008, 01:47 PM

I've just moved from a 03 Cooper to an 08 Clubman S with 17 inch runflats and sports suspension....

I kinda like the feel - even on Toronto's newly potholed roads!!!

beken · Mar 3rd, 2008, 05:18 PM

My car is an 05 with Sport Suspenston +. Not sure what the "+" means. Then I went and added a stiffer rear swaybar. Not a problem here in BC and on most paved highways in the US. With the exception of I-5 in Washington state and California. I have not driven much in Ontario or the East Coast but I've heard rumours in the spring there are huge pot holes all over the place.

Most people driving were probably not born in the days of bias ply tires and driving Camaros with rock hard suspensions. But even with runflats, and SS, it's still not near as harsh as the old days.

I like the quicker turn-in of SS with the sport button turned ON in the new MINIs too....

If you want a softer riding car, you will sacrifice some "goKart" handling.

soamazin · Mar 4th, 2008, 01:05 AM

I've tried it around Crowfoot, but there wasn't too many places I could go...so much construction and traffic everywhere. Is the Clubman S Sport Suspension "softer" than the regular S? If it's about the same, I want the Sport Suspension. I wanted the Sport package for the tires and the anthracite...hopefully the Suspension isn't too bad. After driving a MiniVan and a Civic on the highway, I don't mind having a slightly bumpier ride over one where it feels like i'm going to roll.

RS3TURN · Mar 4th, 2008, 04:25 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by soamazin (original)

I've tried it around Crowfoot, but there wasn't too many places I could go...so much construction and traffic everywhere. Is the Clubman S Sport Suspension "softer" than the regular S? If it's about the same, I want the Sport Suspension. I wanted the Sport package for the tires and the anthracite...hopefully the Suspension isn't too bad. After driving a MiniVan and a Civic on the highway, I don't mind having a slightly bumpier ride over one where it feels like i'm going to roll.

IMO you won't notice the difference with the sport package 90% of the time. Only when you are pushing the limits. Even if you sacrifice some of the go-kart handling it is still better than most cars on the road. If I were you I would save yourself the money and use it to pick up a nice set of light weight aftermarket wheels and performance summer tires. That will make an even bigger difference.

faster,Tobias! · Mar 4th, 2008, 11:49 PM

The ride of the Clubman is a little smoother than the Hatch, due to the longer wheelbase, and the '07 and '08 MINI's are a smoother ride than the 1st generation 'new' MINI because when they were designing the R56 chassis and suspension they actually took into account the stiffness of the run-flats and accomodated for it in the chassis design. This never happened with the R53, because they didn't decide to go with run-flats until the chassis/suspension had already been finalised.

Mar 2nd, 2008, 03:25 AM	#1
soamazin MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Local Time: 01:12 AM Posts: 34 Offline	Sport suspension? Sport suspension in Canada or no? I read the other thread about it but its mostly European minis. My mini cooper s is ordered with..but I wasnt able to try it without sport. Is there a big difference?

Mar 3rd, 2008, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
iain cooper MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near Glasgow Local Time: 08:12 AM Posts: 275 Offline	I'm from Scotland and have cooper with standard suspension and run flats. ( but has 17" wheels ) I find the car to be very stiff, and I think would actually me too stiff for a lot of people ( eg my wife !! ) you may find that the sports suspension would be too stiff for you ? ps I would agree with miniDD that each to his/her own, and you really need to try first Last edited by iain cooper : Mar 3rd, 2008 at 01:48 PM. Reason: ps

Mar 3rd, 2008, 05:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
beken 05 MCS BEP Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Delta, BC, Canada Local Time: 12:12 AM Posts: 1,174 Offline	My car is an 05 with Sport Suspenston +. Not sure what the "+" means. Then I went and added a stiffer rear swaybar. Not a problem here in BC and on most paved highways in the US. With the exception of I-5 in Washington state and California. I have not driven much in Ontario or the East Coast but I've heard rumours in the spring there are huge pot holes all over the place. Most people driving were probably not born in the days of bias ply tires and driving Camaros with rock hard suspensions. But even with runflats, and SS, it's still not near as harsh as the old days. I like the quicker turn-in of SS with the sport button turned ON in the new MINIs too.... If you want a softer riding car, you will sacrifice some "goKart" handling. 05MCS BEP - Alta 22mm rear anti-swaybar, Madness CAI

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Mar 3rd, 2008, 04:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
miniDD Get Moose and Squirrel Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Calgary Local Time: 01:12 AM Posts: 53 Offline	I found the sports suspension to be a little stiff for day to day driving. The run flat tires don't help either. But it is a preference thing. You have to try it to see what you like. Each to their own.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 05:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
RS3TURN Shizzak ma blizzak? Join Date: Nov 2005 Local Time: 01:12 AM Posts: 414 Offline	I have the sport suspension on my MINI. IMO, not worth it. Harsh ride, runflats don't help, and not a huge difference over the standard package. Skip it and save yourself some money.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 12:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
soamazin MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Local Time: 01:12 AM Posts: 34 Offline	More opinions please...and where you're from would be appreciated.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 01:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
ideaexchange MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Local Time: 03:12 AM Posts: 23 Offline	I've just moved from a 03 Cooper to an 08 Clubman S with 17 inch runflats and sports suspension.... I kinda like the feel - even on Toronto's newly potholed roads!!!

Mar 4th, 2008, 01:05 AM	#8 (permalink)
soamazin MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Local Time: 01:12 AM Posts: 34 Offline	I've tried it around Crowfoot, but there wasn't too many places I could go...so much construction and traffic everywhere. Is the Clubman S Sport Suspension "softer" than the regular S? If it's about the same, I want the Sport Suspension. I wanted the Sport package for the tires and the anthracite...hopefully the Suspension isn't too bad. After driving a MiniVan and a Civic on the highway, I don't mind having a slightly bumpier ride over one where it feels like i'm going to roll.

Mar 4th, 2008, 04:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
RS3TURN Shizzak ma blizzak? Join Date: Nov 2005 Local Time: 01:12 AM Posts: 414 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by soamazin (original) I've tried it around Crowfoot, but there wasn't too many places I could go...so much construction and traffic everywhere. Is the Clubman S Sport Suspension "softer" than the regular S? If it's about the same, I want the Sport Suspension. I wanted the Sport package for the tires and the anthracite...hopefully the Suspension isn't too bad. After driving a MiniVan and a Civic on the highway, I don't mind having a slightly bumpier ride over one where it feels like i'm going to roll. IMO you won't notice the difference with the sport package 90% of the time. Only when you are pushing the limits. Even if you sacrifice some of the go-kart handling it is still better than most cars on the road. If I were you I would save yourself the money and use it to pick up a nice set of light weight aftermarket wheels and performance summer tires. That will make an even bigger difference.

Mar 4th, 2008, 11:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
faster,Tobias! Fanatically Enthiusiastic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta Local Time: 01:12 AM Posts: 1,150 Offline	The ride of the Clubman is a little smoother than the Hatch, due to the longer wheelbase, and the '07 and '08 MINI's are a smoother ride than the 1st generation 'new' MINI because when they were designing the R56 chassis and suspension they actually took into account the stiffness of the run-flats and accomodated for it in the chassis design. This never happened with the R53, because they didn't decide to go with run-flats until the chassis/suspension had already been finalised.

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