[Grumbler]

well, I went to the MINI dealer on saturday to check out how the trim
work around the windshield should fit(long story, not yet finished), and
I decide to test drive the MCS that was there. The increased power was
noticable, but the rear end seemed squirmy. These are roads I normally
drive in my MC, and was surprized how unsettling the feeling was. After
the test drive was over, I took the MC through the same curves at
"roughly"(this is certainly a factor, but since I didnt have a record, I
can only assume that my effort to take the curves at the same speed was
successful) the same speed, and it felt like I was on rails. The MCS
only had 16" All-weather.....ie, the same as my MC. The MCS did not have
the sport package.

According to the sales rep, the 17" make a huge difference in the feel,
as the MCS is stiffer than the MC. Not sure I am buying into that
without a test drive on the 17".


Anyhow, the only reason I am looking down this path, is that they are
taking orders for the MCS BMW Steptronic for Feb 2005 delivery
now....production start in Jan.......but if thats the way the MCS
normally feels, I will stick with my MC.

some input from MCS drivers would be appreciated.

[Johnny225]

Trust me, the MCS is all it lives up to be. It drives very different from the MC, but it does corner extravigantly. Perhaps the tire pressure was too high...

[Poisonedwell]

My test drive was a MCS w/ 17's and it felt very stable to me. It was a combo of highway and back roads and it never felt out of control. Bumps and road inperfections were very noticeable which is why I didn't opt for the sport package (and also the $1350 price) but I was totally impressed with the handling. Not once did the rear end creep around for me.

[lunlun]

if you are going to buy an auto, buy the normal cooper

[Martin L]

How old is your Cooper????
From around March 2003 the suspension settings were changed resulting in a softer and IMO are less superior ride/feel.
This could be what you've experienced.

The difference between the two settings are very different. The newer setting been more softer and "loose", so therefore it doesn't inspire as much confidence.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin L

How old is your Cooper????
From around March 2003 the suspension settings were changed resulting in a softer and IMO are less superior ride/feel.
This could be what you've experienced.

The difference between the two settings are very different. The newer setting been more softer and "loose", so therefore it doesn't inspire as much confidence.

I concur.

And the 17's make the handling worse than the 16's.

[KlausR]

No squirming problems at all, at least as long as I stay on power, but that´s normal, I´d say. I´ve got the 16in wheels with Dunlop Eagle NCT5. Furthermore I had the impression that the Cooper I had for a test drive with exactly the same chassis spec (16", SSP) was easier to get into oversteer, but was also very stable on throttle.

I would suppose the MINI suspension is tuned on a high precision and sensitivity level so that minor changes like tire pressure or tire brand make a noticable difference whereas a car that´s set up for edgeless understeer feels pretty much the same under most conditions.

Klaus

[Poisonedwell]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

And the 17's make the handling worse than the 16's.

wow, now that's interesting. Can you explain why?

[Grumbler]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin L

How old is your Cooper????
From around March 2003 the suspension settings were changed resulting in a softer and IMO are less superior ride/feel.
This could be what you've experienced.

The difference between the two settings are very different. The newer setting been more softer and "loose", so therefore it doesn't inspire as much confidence.

Tthe MCS I test drove was a 2004. My MC is a 2004. I am beginning to wonder if the tired pressure was high, since, of the groups I have asked, that seems to be a common point. No one has indicated that the 16" would incur the "squirmy" feel I experienced during the test drive. Ah well, just another excuse to go test drive again.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Poisonedwell

wow, now that's interesting. Can you explain why?

OK, different. But that's what the MINI is optimally designed for, everyone in the design/development team I've had contact with have agreed. The 17" wheels with runflats are pretty poor for ride quality, and very good at tramlining, and being "skittish" on uneven surfaces.

There's loads of threads on this subject though in the wheels and tyres forum.

[KatanaPilot]

Ask your dealer if that MCS has an aftermarket suspension on it.
When I was car shopping, the demo MCSs all had aftermarket bits added, from aftermarket exhaust to aftermarket intake.

That said, my guess is on tire pressure as well. Cars were all shipped with high tire pressure to prevent flat spotting, and if the dealer didn't do a good job prepping the car, then you may have test driven a car with tires at 50psi. I even brought a tire pressure gauge when I picked up my MCS.

[Grumbler]

Quote: Originally Posted by KatanaPilot

Ask your dealer if that MCS has an aftermarket suspension on it.
When I was car shopping, the demo MCSs all had aftermarket bits added, from aftermarket exhaust to aftermarket intake.

That said, my guess is on tire pressure as well. Cars were all shipped with high tire pressure to prevent flat spotting, and if the dealer didn't do a good job prepping the car, then you may have test driven a car with tires at 50psi. I even brought a tire pressure gauge when I picked up my MCS.

pretty sure nothing was added to it, the sales rep indicated that this was a "bare bones" MCS. guess it doesnt hurt to ask again though.

[meanboy]

We have a 04 that's a week old and it handles very good although I felt the rear being a little squirrly on a high speed sweeper. It has the dunlp 9000 17" rfs. As far as tramming it's not that bad as some people say it is. Our Lexus GS trammles more with the stock bridgestones then the coop.

I am considering going to sixteen inchers but I still like the looks of the seventeens.

[abs0lutely]

Quote: Originally Posted by lunlun

if you are going to buy an auto, buy the normal cooper

Totally!! Don't waste money on an auto cooper s.

[meanboy]

I might get one in the future so my wife can drive it. She won't learn how to drive a stick.

[rcoffin]

Wife won't drive a stick? Sounds like a perfect reason to buy a stick to me!

[Grumbler]

well, i drove through the back woods of eastern maryland the other day and pretty much decided that my cooper kicks butt, and there is no need for a silly, gas sucking S.

I guess that squirmy test drive really disappointed me more than I thought. My Cooper has such a solid feel, and plenty of giddy-up, that migrating to an S seems worthless. (remember this is IMHO)

ah well. I am basically concluding this post just so those who might have been waiting, or were searching through the archives, understand why I did not go back for the second test drive.


but to those who are going for their first/second test drive, from the posts here, I would suggest being very critical of the options and setup the vehicle has before hopping in.

1. what suspension is it equipped with?
2. what size tires?
3. what tire pressure?
4. how many people in the car and how much do they weigh?

etc,etc

[Andromcs]

So from all this are we to believe that a MC w/16's w/o sport suspension handles better than the MCS w/ 17's w/ the sport suspension? What is the general opinion, for all around driving are the 16s better than the 17s? If so, why offer the 17s at all? Just looks?

[Dave&Stacy]

We test drove an '04 MCS and it handled great. Couple of sweepers into a 90° left. A quick flick of the wheel and the back end steps out a bit. On the power and it pulls right through. Felt more planted than our rallycar. I can't wait to have our MCS paid off so we can rally prep. it.

-Dave & Stacy

[SteveM3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Andromcs

So from all this are we to believe that a MC w/16's w/o sport suspension handles better than the MCS w/ 17's w/ the sport suspension? What is the general opinion, for all around driving are the 16s better than the 17s? If so, why offer the 17s at all? Just looks?

Yep, there has been numerous threads on this subject and the general opinion is that the
17's are really for looks. By general opinion I mean there are dissenters and so far it has
just been subjective views. I also believe reading between the lines that a SMALL percentage
of SS with 17's tramline and/or go light at the back end under heavy breaking. My car has
SS and 17's and doesn't suffer from either problem thank goodness . I certainly went for
17's for looks .