MINI2

MINIMami · Jun 2nd, 2005, 01:18 AM

So I'm seriously considering the MCSA but need some advice first. I live in Brooklyn, NY and travel about 100miles a day, to and from work, and the roads I traverse are not at all smooth!! So I'm wondering if this car can handle that and how well. Yes, I'm a newbie and have only done preliminary research but I find opinions of real folks a lot more helpful. I haven't done a test drive yet, haven't visited a dealer, nothing yet in person, just Internet research. Any advice you guys can give would be great! Looking forward to it.
Thanks!!!

beekman · Jun 2nd, 2005, 05:35 PM

hi, welcome to mini2!

I own a MCSa and live in NYC - the ride is definately on the firm side for the appalling road surfaces here. you will find you brace yourself whenever you see a bad spot of road surface approaching to steady yourself against the jarring impact. the car also likes to tramline and you will find yourself fighting the steering sometimes as the car tries to follow uneven road cambers etc.

that said it's a fantastic car, and the ride is great on average road surfaces and awesome on good ones. if you're worried about ride quality, I'd avoid the 17" rims and go with 16s. you could also try the regular cooper, which has slightly softer suspension and doesn't have to have runflats as it has a spare mounted where the MCS battery is located.

good luck!

AprilWhine · Jun 2nd, 2005, 06:09 PM

What he said.

Plus, I find the MINI is much better at dodging through the potholed minefield that our locals call roads.

asterix2112 · Jun 2nd, 2005, 06:55 PM

Second it. Get 16" tires and non-runflats and carry a spare. While that still won't be Cadallac quality it will be better.

That being said I live in Northern Virginia and drive in Wash DC a lot (roads just as bad). I have the 17" with run flats and it does not bother me.

I would say take a test drive one with run flats, one with out and decide for yourself.

- John

MINIMami · Jun 7th, 2005, 10:33 PM

Thanks guys!! I plan on going for the test drive this weekend. Do most dealers have the automatic available for test drives? Any tips on what I should do/ask to do when I'm there?

Thanks!!

beekman · Jun 8th, 2005, 12:29 AM

They should have plenty of MCSas available to test drive.

My only recommendation would be to test the car in all its various modes - D, SD, and manual, and in manual try both the paddles and the gearshifter to change gear.

have fun!

asterix2112 · Jun 8th, 2005, 02:38 AM

I have driven my new MCSa 900 miles now, and except for a brief test in D, I have never driven it in D or SD at all! Doubt i ever will either...

- John

beekman · Jun 8th, 2005, 03:43 AM

lol, asterix!

I have to confess I haven't tried SD yet and I've driven the car 1500 miles . . .

not that keen on D the once or twice I briefly tried it . . .

conducted my entire test drive in manual mode . . .

so I have to admit I utterly failed to follow my own advice!

Jun 2nd, 2005, 01:18 AM	#1
MINIMami MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 2 Offline	HELP before buying So I'm seriously considering the MCSA but need some advice first. I live in Brooklyn, NY and travel about 100miles a day, to and from work, and the roads I traverse are not at all smooth!! So I'm wondering if this car can handle that and how well. Yes, I'm a newbie and have only done preliminary research but I find opinions of real folks a lot more helpful. I haven't done a test drive yet, haven't visited a dealer, nothing yet in person, just Internet research. Any advice you guys can give would be great! Looking forward to it. Thanks!!!

Jun 2nd, 2005, 06:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
AprilWhine Loves the Fuzzy One Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gypsy Local Time: 01:05 PM Posts: 16,078 Offline	What he said. Plus, I find the MINI is much better at dodging through the potholed minefield that our locals call roads. Global Moderator

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Jun 2nd, 2005, 05:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
beekman MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2004 Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 72 Offline	hi, welcome to mini2! I own a MCSa and live in NYC - the ride is definately on the firm side for the appalling road surfaces here. you will find you brace yourself whenever you see a bad spot of road surface approaching to steady yourself against the jarring impact. the car also likes to tramline and you will find yourself fighting the steering sometimes as the car tries to follow uneven road cambers etc. that said it's a fantastic car, and the ride is great on average road surfaces and awesome on good ones. if you're worried about ride quality, I'd avoid the 17" rims and go with 16s. you could also try the regular cooper, which has slightly softer suspension and doesn't have to have runflats as it has a spare mounted where the MCS battery is located. good luck!

Jun 2nd, 2005, 06:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
asterix2112 Waiting for my MINI Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Local Time: 07:05 PM Posts: 51 Offline	Second it. Get 16" tires and non-runflats and carry a spare. While that still won't be Cadallac quality it will be better. That being said I live in Northern Virginia and drive in Wash DC a lot (roads just as bad). I have the 17" with run flats and it does not bother me. I would say take a test drive one with run flats, one with out and decide for yourself. - John

Jun 7th, 2005, 10:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
MINIMami MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 2 Offline	Thanks guys!! I plan on going for the test drive this weekend. Do most dealers have the automatic available for test drives? Any tips on what I should do/ask to do when I'm there? Thanks!!

Jun 8th, 2005, 12:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
beekman MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2004 Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 72 Offline	They should have plenty of MCSas available to test drive. My only recommendation would be to test the car in all its various modes - D, SD, and manual, and in manual try both the paddles and the gearshifter to change gear. have fun!

Jun 8th, 2005, 02:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
asterix2112 Waiting for my MINI Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Local Time: 07:05 PM Posts: 51 Offline	I have driven my new MCSa 900 miles now, and except for a brief test in D, I have never driven it in D or SD at all! Doubt i ever will either... - John

Jun 8th, 2005, 03:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
beekman MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2004 Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 72 Offline	lol, asterix! I have to confess I haven't tried SD yet and I've driven the car 1500 miles . . . not that keen on D the once or twice I briefly tried it . . . conducted my entire test drive in manual mode . . . so I have to admit I utterly failed to follow my own advice!

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