75 miles in a MCSa!

[beekman]

Well, after an age of dithering, I finally decided to replace my MC with an MCSa. I ordered it in the middle of march and just took delivery yesterday.

BRG/W
premium and cold
HK
chrome grill
two-tone leatherette
silver dash
x-lites
JCW air filter

When I asked my MA about breaking it in, I was told to drive the car "really hard" but to avoid redlining it for the first 1200 miles! She claimed the car would go faster and get better gas mileage if run in this way!

So far I'm really happy with the car, but it definately has some quirks to it. 'D' mode is less refined than I expected (having driven my whole test drive in 'M') - gear changes are just a touch jerky. With the pronouced whine of the supercharger, at low speeds it can also feel and sound a touch like you're driving a golf cart - unlike the MC which sounds and goes great under 40 mph.

The ratios are also different - compared to what I'm used to, 2nd feels like 1 1/2, 3rd like 2 1/2, etc. Attempts to use 2nd the way I did in the MC (a joyous gear in the cooper) proved frustrating. 3rd and above feel much more "locked up" than the lower gears, where the presence of the torque converter is much more apparent. So all in all, it feels a touch unwilling at lower speeds in urban driving situations - but this could also be due to the engine not being loosened up yet.

Where the car REALLY comes to life is at higher speeds. When my MC would be giving up the ghost, the MSCa is just starting to really get going. Gear shifts using the paddles suddenly seem to happen instanteneously, as if the gears are actually locking, and because you don't have to back off the throttle, downshifts can produce massive, slightly nerve-wracking bursts of speed. Being able to keep both hands on the wheel is a definate plus - LSD would be a plus also, if MINI hadn't seen fit to deny us.

Once the revs get up, the JCW air filter kit sounds completely fantastic - which is just as well being that it costs a prodigous sum of money! I think a growlier exhaust note would really complement the enhanced intake/supercharger whine of the filter, so I might try and get the JCW exhaust at some point, or perhaps the milltek if I don't want to bankrupt myself.

It'll be interesting to see if the JCW kit (if and when it ever comes out) gives it a touch more fizz at the low end, like it does in the 6-speed. Given the MCSa's very ungolf cart-like thirst, I fear SUV levels of fuel consumption though.

All in all, a great car!

Happy motoring!

[Kellzir]

Congrats & happ motoring! Great input.

[GBMINI]

BTW, the JCW exhaust will probably not give you the exhaust note you desire ...

[beekman]

Ian

I thought the JCW exhaust had a deeper tone. I'm not looking for a lot more volume, especially at low revs.

Also, have you noticed whether the JCW air filter increases supercharger whine below 4500 RPM? And is it louder in the MCSa than the 6-speed? Coming off an MC, I have nothing to compare it against . . .

Thanks!

[GBMINI]

When I did the JCW upgrade on GBMINI#2 I was pleased that the exhaust noise was not noticeably louder; as with everything JCW, it is "more refined" and sounds "nicer" ... I searched for some exhaust sound comparisons that I know were done, but I can't find them anywhere on the web

And no, I did not notice any louder supercharger noise at <4500rpm when GBMINI#2 got the air intake upgrade.

[beekman]

If I do change the exhaust, my instinct is to go with the JCW, just in case I ever decide to have the whole kit installed.

At the moment the supercharger whine is so pronounced that I literally can barely even hear the exhaust at all, except at idle - I really don't remember this being the case when I went for a test drive. It almost makes me wonder if the air filter was installed incorrectly, and is somehow stuck in the "open" position.

hmmm . . .

[GBMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by beekman

At the moment the supercharger whine is so pronounced that I literally can barely even hear the exhaust at all, except at idle - I really don't remember this being the case when I went for a test drive. It almost makes me wonder if the air filter was installed incorrectly, and is somehow stuck in the "open" position.

If you open the hood and reach into the vent area behing the intake you should be able to feel the angled "second intake valve" which of course should be closed, assuming you aren't simultaneously revving the engine


You would be reaching to this opening - but the flap would be shut; it shuts not quite vertically, so you should feel an angled piece of plastic ...

[beekman]

Ian

Thanks a mil, I'm going to try and look into it first thing tomorrow!

[beekman]

update

Well I openned the hood and stuck my hand in the snout of the air filter - the flap appeared to be shut, but I fiddled around with it a bit and went out for a drive. The supercharger whine seemed to be at much more normal levels this time out, ie I could actually hear the exhaust note finally. The car drove much better at lower speeds, and resetting the mileage gauge I noticed fuel consumption was much better.

Could just be it's starting to get broken in, but the difference was quite marked. Hopefully I haven't now jammed it closed!