[d2create]

I'm about to order a MiniS (hooray) and i have it speced with no dsc. I'm in Houston TX so there is no snow to worry about and not too much rain, just certain times a year. And i haven't really heard of anyone who has been thrilled with having the dsc as it seems like most people turn it off most of the time. Sounds like the standard traction control is plenty good enough. I've seen plenty of threads with comments that are less than thrilling, but i haven't heard of people who have ordered without.
So will i regret this decision? I guess that is the question.

[ChilliSteve]

I'm not going to order it. I've driven cars all of my life without DSC, so why get it now? the cooper s comes standard here (Canada) with ASC+T, and I think that will be more than enough for me.

-Steve

[moorlockx]

I got the DSC with the sport package. I will admit that turning it off is the first thing I do after starting the car. Of course, I never drive the MINI in inclement weather.

[Froggie]

My Cooper has so fdar never stumlbed with the DSC off. That's one good reason not to have it. But it came with the sport package and I paid for it and expect it o work correctly, not interfere with a normal turn out of a stop.

[d2create]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChilliSteve

I'm not going to order it. I've driven cars all of my life without DSC, so why get it now? the cooper s comes standard here (Canada) with ASC+T, and I think that will be more than enough for me.

-Steve

My thoughts exactly. I have an aud with quattro now, but i think i am getting into a bad habit of relying on that too much anyway.

[d2create]

Quote: Originally Posted by Froggie

My Cooper has so fdar never stumlbed with the DSC off. That's one good reason not to have it. But it came with the sport package and I paid for it and expect it o work correctly, not interfere with a normal turn out of a stop.

Yeah, that's why i'm gonna get everything separately instead of buying packages. I don't want the sunroof or the 17" s-lites either.

[MINImeat]

I decided against it, too, although I think it would be nice for my wife. I think it gets you out of trouble if you're not paying attention.
Hope you've driven a car with the sunroof.

[d2create]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINImeat

Hope you've driven a car with the sunroof.

My test drive had a sunroof. Only a ten minute test drive though. But i don't use my current sunroof, i always have the shade closed too cause the houston sun is too hot/bright. And the mini doesn't even have a real shade, just that mesh.

[SteveM3]

Front wheel drive is inherently safe anyway, traction control is only really
useful for rear wheel drive to stop spins. It doesn't really matter if you
have traction control on front wheel drive except it preserves your tyres.
Too much power and the wheels spin or the traction cuts power, the
solution in either case is reduce the power. DSC is one stage further
down the line of driver aids and might be useful in icy conditions but
you'd have to be a maniac to get into trouble with a MINI the rest of the
time. In the end it's all personal taste, I don't have DSC but do have head
airbags which most people think is a waste of time. I hope they are right!

[Cooper i Do]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteveM3

I don't have DSC but do have head
airbags which most people think is a waste of time. I hope they are right!

Well said. I took the head airbags aswell. Its the best acc. once trouble is there.
I did not go for DSC also. Ill know how to drive (ie ill never go to the max).

Catch Ya L8r,
Cooper I Do (soon to be Cooper "S" I Do).

[mikehome1]

I have autocrossed and drag raced my mcs with DSC off,of course.For everyday driving,I leave it on;it comes on frequently during cornering.It can be a lifesaver.

[MilkmanDan]

I didn't. My opinion is it's not needed. There is no substitute for careful driving.

[Paul]

My old Cooper had ASC+T and I switched that off most of the time, my two Ss both have DSC, and I switch that off when I'm alone (as it can pull you in around bends and pull you back at fast starts, when you dont need or want it to), but keep it on when myself and the family (wife and 2 month old baby) go out in the car. I also specced head airbags, so I've gone for both 'prevention and cure' safety features.

Sorry but I also dont buy the 'never needed it before' line, I've never personally owned a car with ABS before the Cooper S, or head airbags, but I'm glad for them now I've got them.

[northandy]

I havent got it, still not sure wether I would if I had the chance again.... maybe a different view once I've had it during the winter !!!

[d2create]

Thanks for the opinions guys.
Here's how i'm seeing it....

ASC+T is like ESP in my Audi. Great help with traction control and you usually don't even know it's working unless you start spinning tires and you see the light come on on the dash. Then DSC is like Quattro....in the sense that there is additional help with traction/handling. I never had Quattro before, and i think it's great, but it's not really needed even though it is tons of fun. Some people rely on it too much and push the car too hard and wonder why they flew into oncoming traffic because they don't understand that the laws of physics still exists even if you have quattro.

Paul, you said you turned off the ASC+T most of the time, but only turn off DSC when you are alone. Why is that? What differences do you feel between the two systems?

Thanks!

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by d2create

Thanks for the opinions guys.
Here's how i'm seeing it....

ASC+T is like ESP in my Audi. Great help with traction control and you usually don't even know it's working unless you start spinning tires and you see the light come on on the dash. Then DSC is like Quattro....in the sense that there is additional help with traction/handling. I never had Quattro before, and i think it's great, but it's not really needed even though it is tons of fun. Some people rely on it too much and push the car too hard and wonder why they flew into oncoming traffic because they don't understand that the laws of physics still exists even if you have quattro.

Paul, you said you turned off the ASC+T most of the time, but only turn off DSC when you are alone. Why is that? What differences do you feel between the two systems?

Thanks!

I never had a kid in the back when I had ASC+T.

Basically, if I'm driving alone/with adults I switch ASC+T and/or DSC off because the most intrusive part is the traction control element when pulling away, even if you get the slightest of twitches it cuts power far too much for my liking. Basically I found them equally intrusive, but the ASC is not as clever as the DSC, and the DSC is more likely to really save me in a disaster, where as the ASC probably wouldn't, it just stops wheels from spinning (in an OTT manner).

[TopGear]

I'm thinking of buying a MINI. Hooray!

The salesman said that if I got this DCS thing it would stop me from ever spinning out of control when going around corners. He said something about 'othersteer' and 'understeer' and that it would prevent these.

I've always been able to steer normally so I'm not sure it's worth the extra cost.

[Mugami]

Ive currently owned two MCS one with DSC second without. For the most part as stated by SteveM3 the DSC is one stage further than the ASC+T. There for the take off and other hinderencs most commonly done are the same for both DSC and ASC+T in the reduction of power. Something i noticed was that the DSC became intrusive during Hard Braking and made the tail end all squirly during Dry conditions. Which is just the oppisite of what its suppose to do during slippery condidtions. During a Fall folage run done last year i wrecked my first DSC equipted MCS and contribute the ending result to the DSC. Again the ending result not the cause for the accident. With out DSC on the second MCS Braking in Dry condition feels and is more stable. So its a trade off. Better Ideal condition driving(ASC+T) or better less than ideal conditions driving (with DSC). For me like most i drive the mini in More ideal conditions than non. So i dont want DSC.

[GrFa]

I have DSC in my MCS. I live in NJ where we do get quite a bit of snow in the winter. The car came pre specced so I couldnt choose what I wanted anywa. I ould have picked DSC just for winter driving anywa. I find that it is extreememly obtrusive compared to the DSC in BMWs. It will come on and cut power under normal acceleration and cornering. Don't even try to accelerate and corner at the same time. However as most people have said it could save your life. Around town when speeds never exceed forty miles an hour I leave it off because at that speed or under it is extremely hard to get into trouble in the MCS and whatever you could get into would be easily recoverable. So I switch it off. But if I go on the highway where speeds exceed seventy miles an hour it would be far less easy to recover the car and in the case I will either turn it back on or have not turned it off to begin with. I have yet to try the car out in icy winter conditions but I look forward to having DSC then.

[Traveler]

I agree. Not needed in Houston. I guess I'll know for sure in about 7 weeks when my car arrives. As to the sunroof, just have it tinted. That's what the dealer does on his demos. Or better yet, install a sunroff sized Cooper Flags decal.