[Mini CVT 4me]

Hello,
I use my car for darting around town, not highway or any kind of racing. 3 questions:
- any experience with Super Chip and CVT? Wonder if will do anything in lower RPM's , or only 4000 +?
- suspension: with 16 inch wheels and sports package, handling is a dream. Only issue is especially rough ride in potholes and road surface changes. Would an upgrade of the shocks help? For example, variable rate Konis were the trick some ( many!) years ago for bikes.
Ideas?
- with CVT and GPS, very little indication on oil pressure and temperature, or heat build up if using CVT as manual.
Anyone play with aftermarket kits?
Many thanks!

[ar75]

Hello! My MINI CVT is about 950 km now. I find the engine brake effect is a little bit strong. Whenever the shift is in D position and I release my foot from the accelerating pedal, I feel that the speed reduces substantially and immediately. Is it the characteristics of CVT? When I drove my Corolla wagon, it would move frorward smoothly even if I release pressure on the pedal suddenly. Does anybody has the same experience?

[PsychoMini]

Kinda weird getting used to that sudden slowing instead of just no longer accelerating. I'm at 950 miles, so I'm finding ways to enjoy not needing to brake even at stop lights, but I've assumed it's a characteristic relating to the "downshifting" that it's basically doing... Definitely odd feeling, though, at first.

[Mini CVT 4me]

Hello,
I agree it's strange at first. But it's growing on me!
In a sense, it's like having a stick without the extra work out of the left leg.
"Normal" automatics disconnect on deceleration, so that the only way to modulate speed is with the brakes. With the CVT, I can modulate deceleration by just how slowly gas is released, much like with stick. This is especially neat in the SD mode. Car hugs the road, rather than float to a stop.
So I find that I need to change my driving habits.

By the way, changing also applies to acceleration and use of revs. My last 3-4 cars had 200 to 300 hp, and huge torque. There was no upside in using high revs. With the Cooper, trick is to keep revs up there, and I need to use a lot more of the gas pedal range than am used to. Fially, the tiptronic is usefull and fun, whereas never used it with previous big V 8's.
Enjoy !!