MINI2

MarkW19 · May 21st, 2003, 06:10 AM

Just ordered my Cooper with 17" wheels, but decided to skimp on ASC-T.

The main reason for this decision was because I don't really want anything interfering with my everyday driving - especially with the reports I've heard about it powering down the engine when trying to dart out at a junction etc.

However, I think it would be good to have as a safety precaution in the wet.

Is it possible to default the ASC-T to OFF when the car's started, so you have to specially put it ON if you want to use it for that drive?

If not, how much does it REALLY come in in normal driving? I don't drive like a mad-man, but I drive enthusiastically and I ordered the MINI because of this and I want to have some driving fun. But I don't want to worry about ASC-T kicking in all the time.

How often does it REALLY kick in for all of you? And how does it help (and hinder) in all conditions?

Quick replies would be appreciated as I need to phone my dealer 2moro morning

:-)

MarkL · May 21st, 2003, 06:44 AM

Ok, a quick reply!

I've had ASC+T on both my MINIs, One and Cooper. In normal use you should rarely see it in action, especially if you have wider tyres. I have 15" tyres on the Cooper and only noticed it three times in the 1st 1500 miles (2 of those because of the car being in the air after clearing a bump at speed!).

ASC+T is always on when you turn on the engine; you will have to turn it off it yourself, if you want to. I don't believe there is any software option to change this behaviour.

I always leave it on, you never know when it might save your life.

MarkW19 · May 21st, 2003, 06:48 AM

Thanks for the reply Mark :-)

What's your driving style?

And what are the condition of your roads?

What about the whole cutting the engine power when trying to dart out at a junction though? That's the only thing that scares me

Does it actually HELP the handling when going round corners etc. at fast speeds or does it hinder it? I do drive relatively fast and spirited :-)

Super Dooper CooperS · May 21st, 2003, 06:52 AM

In my experience - which I will admit is limited, as I haven't got mine yet and am only going by 2 half hour test drives - the ASC only cut in when I tried to do something silly to make it cut in, like floor it round a roundabout. Normal, even rapid driving was left "au naturel"

MarkL · May 21st, 2003, 07:20 AM

My driving style? It depends who you ask! I'm consider myself relatively cautious, but have my "moments".

Roads in Oxfordshire vary, the bumps where I can trigger ASC+T are on a bumpy and bendy B-road between Didcot and Culham. The ASC+T has no effect in this case because the wheels are in the air!

I suspect those people suffering from excessive throttling back are trying to use full throttle coming out of junctions. Just because you have traction control, there is no reason to change your driving behaviour, and expect the technology to sort the problem out. ASC+T is there for the unexpected. It's a bit like an RCD, it should prevent you being electrocuted if you accidently chop your mains lead with your lawn mower, but you still wouldn't stick a metal object in a mains socket just to check that it works!

MarkW19 · May 21st, 2003, 07:31 AM

OK :-)

If it doesn't come on much at all, is it really needed in a small, FWD car?

I've ordered 17" s-spokes too. Surely the car can't be that bad with it not on? I drive more cautiously in the wet anyway but want full power/control to me when I want/need it on starts and in the dry etc.

What do you think? I can just see myself turning it off too often at lights and on dry country roads etc., and perhaps forgetting and flooring it at junctions etc. Could be problematic. I might skip on it...

anthonyyule · May 21st, 2003, 06:35 PM

i think you are putting WAY to much thought into this.

1) its a nice safety feature. yes it can be turned off, but mostly everyone here says it isnt that obtrusive, and i would suspect that also alot of people here have it.

2) without it, you will have a horrid blank cover on your dash.

get it, you know it makes sense

smeg24 · May 21st, 2003, 06:50 PM

I think you will be *SO* annoyed with the blank cover that its got to be worth £100.

Bonjour · May 21st, 2003, 07:05 PM

Personally, I think it's a good safety feature.

I've made it kick in a couple of times, once on purpose. It hadn't come on at all so I wanted to make sure it was working (left turn at roundabout, kicked the gear down into 2nd and gave it full throttle while turning left).

It only has to save you from one accident to be worth at least 10 times the £100 it will cost you.

May 21st, 2003, 06:10 AM	#1
MarkW19 Grinning Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds Local Time: 01:10 AM Posts: 3,622 Offline	ASC-T Default? Just ordered my Cooper with 17" wheels, but decided to skimp on ASC-T. The main reason for this decision was because I don't really want anything interfering with my everyday driving - especially with the reports I've heard about it powering down the engine when trying to dart out at a junction etc. However, I think it would be good to have as a safety precaution in the wet. Is it possible to default the ASC-T to OFF when the car's started, so you have to specially put it ON if you want to use it for that drive? If not, how much does it REALLY come in in normal driving? I don't drive like a mad-man, but I drive enthusiastically and I ordered the MINI because of this and I want to have some driving fun. But I don't want to worry about ASC-T kicking in all the time. How often does it REALLY kick in for all of you? And how does it help (and hinder) in all conditions? Quick replies would be appreciated as I need to phone my dealer 2moro morning :-)

May 21st, 2003, 06:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
anthonyyule MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Local Time: 12:10 AM Posts: 200 Offline	i think you are putting WAY to much thought into this. 1) its a nice safety feature. yes it can be turned off, but mostly everyone here says it isnt that obtrusive, and i would suspect that also alot of people here have it. 2) without it, you will have a horrid blank cover on your dash. get it, you know it makes sense Tony 'SONIC' - '53 Mini Cooper, Pepper White - Just arrived

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May 21st, 2003, 06:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
MarkL MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Abingdon, Oxon. Local Time: 01:10 AM Posts: 228 Offline	Ok, a quick reply! I've had ASC+T on both my MINIs, One and Cooper. In normal use you should rarely see it in action, especially if you have wider tyres. I have 15" tyres on the Cooper and only noticed it three times in the 1st 1500 miles (2 of those because of the car being in the air after clearing a bump at speed!). ASC+T is always on when you turn on the engine; you will have to turn it off it yourself, if you want to. I don't believe there is any software option to change this behaviour. I always leave it on, you never know when it might save your life.

May 21st, 2003, 06:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
MarkW19 Grinning Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds Local Time: 01:10 AM Posts: 3,622 Offline	Thanks for the reply Mark :-) What's your driving style? And what are the condition of your roads? What about the whole cutting the engine power when trying to dart out at a junction though? That's the only thing that scares me Does it actually HELP the handling when going round corners etc. at fast speeds or does it hinder it? I do drive relatively fast and spirited :-)

May 21st, 2003, 06:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
Super Dooper CooperS MINI2 Regular Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Midlands UK Local Time: 01:10 AM Posts: 83 Offline	In my experience - which I will admit is limited, as I haven't got mine yet and am only going by 2 half hour test drives - the ASC only cut in when I tried to do something silly to make it cut in, like floor it round a roundabout. Normal, even rapid driving was left "au naturel"

May 21st, 2003, 07:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
MarkL MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Abingdon, Oxon. Local Time: 01:10 AM Posts: 228 Offline	My driving style? It depends who you ask! I'm consider myself relatively cautious, but have my "moments". Roads in Oxfordshire vary, the bumps where I can trigger ASC+T are on a bumpy and bendy B-road between Didcot and Culham. The ASC+T has no effect in this case because the wheels are in the air! I suspect those people suffering from excessive throttling back are trying to use full throttle coming out of junctions. Just because you have traction control, there is no reason to change your driving behaviour, and expect the technology to sort the problem out. ASC+T is there for the unexpected. It's a bit like an RCD, it should prevent you being electrocuted if you accidently chop your mains lead with your lawn mower, but you still wouldn't stick a metal object in a mains socket just to check that it works!

May 21st, 2003, 07:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
MarkW19 Grinning Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leeds Local Time: 01:10 AM Posts: 3,622 Offline	OK :-) If it doesn't come on much at all, is it really needed in a small, FWD car? I've ordered 17" s-spokes too. Surely the car can't be that bad with it not on? I drive more cautiously in the wet anyway but want full power/control to me when I want/need it on starts and in the dry etc. What do you think? I can just see myself turning it off too often at lights and on dry country roads etc., and perhaps forgetting and flooring it at junctions etc. Could be problematic. I might skip on it...

May 21st, 2003, 06:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
smeg24 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2001 Local Time: 12:10 AM Posts: 22 Offline	I think you will be SO annoyed with the blank cover that its got to be worth £100.

May 21st, 2003, 07:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bonjour der Hummermeister Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Stuck in a box Local Time: 01:10 AM Posts: 1,519 Offline	Personally, I think it's a good safety feature. I've made it kick in a couple of times, once on purpose. It hadn't come on at all so I wanted to make sure it was working (left turn at roundabout, kicked the gear down into 2nd and gave it full throttle while turning left). It only has to save you from one accident to be worth at least 10 times the £100 it will cost you.

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