[aerodragon]

guys,
just wondering whether ASC is enough for Cooper S or do I need the DSC?

thanks

[KlausR]

I don´t think the Cooper S really NEEDS DSC neither for normal nor for fast driving. The suspension is capable of very high cornering speeds and stays controllable in a unique way even when exceeding the friction limits. Especially in twisting corners and esses the tendency of staggering into a spin is minimal. I am going to order DSC anyway. Why? A friend of mine spun and wrecked his Ford Puma (equipped with TC) while entering the autobahn in a long right-hander. I spun my BMW (equipped with ASC+T) because of a hidden tire puncture in a similar situation.

There is no question that loosing control of your Cooper S is unlike to happen when driving concentrated and careful (not to be mixed up with slow ). But within thousands of miles it is also quite possible that a situation may come up in which you need the last two or three percent of safety and control. That amount can be given by DSC.

Klaus

[aerodragon]

thanks for your info

[rich]

Quote:

Originally posted by KlausR
I don´t think the Cooper S really NEEDS DSC neither for normal nor for fast driving. The suspension is capable of very high cornering speeds and stays controllable in a unique way even when exceeding the friction limits. Especially in twisting corners and esses the tendency of staggering into a spin is minimal. I am going to order DSC anyway. Why? A friend of mine spun and wrecked his Ford Puma (equipped with TC) while entering the autobahn in a long right-hander. I spun my BMW (equipped with ASC+T) because of a hidden tire puncture in a similar situation.

There is no question that loosing control of your Cooper S is unlike to happen when driving concentrated and careful (not to be mixed up with slow ). But within thousands of miles it is also quite possible that a situation may come up in which you need the last two or three percent of safety and control. That amount can be given by DSC.

Klaus

That's why I'm getting it too

[DocT]

I have DSC on my current car, a 330i sport convertible, It is essential in a rear wheel drive situation when the roads are even slightly slippery, ie after a rain storm, slight frost etc etc. (most of the time in Scotland)
the beauty of it is you can switch it off for some tail-out fun. I specced it for my cooper s because of this reason, even though we are driving the front wheels but remember, you can switch it off for the track!

By the way, On a BMW, it has two off modes, mode 1 is off completely and mode 2 leaves you ASC+T.

On a previous 728i I had, it only had ASC+T and it is noticably intrusive compared to DSC.

I'm no expert but At the small premium it commands, you'd be mad not to get DSC

[aerodragon]

hi,
what did you refer as 'intrusive'?

[DocT]

Instead of selective braking all it did was cut power, a bit disconcerting mid corner! mind you, it did have an auto box.

[AidenL]

I have ASC on my 323Ci, manual, and its very intrusive, going round slippery corners, it can almost cut the WHOLE power in the wrong conditions.....

Get DSC !!

[Addicted_to_S]

DSC is overkill!

The MINI apparently has the best handling of any car in its class, maybe of any car regular mortals are likely to own. DSC should not really be necessary - after all many of us have been thrashing cars with poorer handing and no DSC for years.

OK. Confession time, this is sour grapes - by the time I decided I wanted DSC it turned out to be too late to add it to my spec. But would you lot mind not harping on about it any more, that would make things be a lot easier! Still looking forward to taking her out for a "spin".

[KlausR]

Quote:

Originally posted by DocT
By the way, On a BMW, it has two off modes, mode 1 is off completely and mode 2 leaves you ASC+T.

That´s not totally correct. Keeping the semi-backup mode on leaves you with just the automatic brake functions active. The system will not cut down the power like ASC+T would do. That´s quite enjoyable for enthusiastic driving as you still have the traction advantages of +T and most of the safety aspects of DSC without loosing too much power with ASC being active.

IMHO the best solution is a car with a state of the art limited slip differential and DSC like the BMW M3. That gives you the chance to choose between 100% performance and 100% safety without any compromises.

Klaus

[smokinjoe]

DSC ?

My god, I drove cars with none of these technical
goodies. We are talking of a car with front wheel
drive, sitting flat on the ground with more grip than
a golf gti, one of the easiest cars to drive.

Safe the money and get a HARMON/CARDON instead !!

[DocT]

ahh, but a harman/Kardon is not speccable till sept build and we need to throw money at this NOW....

[kshapiro]

Quote:

Originally posted by smokinjoe
DSC ?

My god, I drove cars with none of these technical
goodies. We are talking of a car with front wheel
drive, sitting flat on the ground with more grip than
a golf gti, one of the easiest cars to drive.

Safe the money and get a HARMON/CARDON instead !!

Yeah...wait until you're crankin up that HK, powering into a blind corner through the woods, and a freakin' deer is sitting in the middle of the road. That won't happen on a track...neither will trees along the roadside. DSC can save your life, let alone your precious paintjob. Before you delete DSC from your list of options, consider how many drunken drivers come towards you during any given week.

[Basil]

Quote:

Originally posted by aerodragon
guys,
just wondering whether ASC is enough for Cooper S or do I need the DSC?

thanks

Have a read of the f.a.q.'s aero....... All you need to know about loads of things...... Just click "f.a.q." at the top of this page or hit this link to go the ASC/DSC/etc etc faq.

Cheers

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...&threadid=4669

[Basil]

Quote:

Originally posted by kshapiro


Yeah...wait until you're crankin up that HK, powering into a blind corner through the woods, and a freakin' deer is sitting in the middle of the road. That won't happen on a track...neither will trees along the roadside. DSC can save your life, let alone your precious paintjob. Before you delete DSC from your list of options, consider how many drunken drivers come towards you during any given week.

I agree......active DSC III will replace my current AWD passive safety.

How old are you lot. I'm 39, and it took until I was about 34 to realise I'm no longer immortal.

[DocT]

38,soon 39 undoubtedly NOT immortal, not even that robust!!......anything that gives you a safety benefit is worth it.

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by Basil


I agree......active DSC III will replace my current AWD passive safety.

How old are you lot. I'm 39, and it took until I was about 34 to realise I'm no longer immortal.

Although he's much older than I am (8 months ) I agree with Basil. When I look at how I drove when I was younger I just shake my head. Getting smacked around by a big rig once when there was nothing I could do about it made me realize how easy you can end up dead. It certainly convinced me that anything that makes driving safer is a good deal and well worth the cost (and its not like DSC is terribly expensive).

[AidenL]

Im just gone 37.......it seems us older guys are quite keen on DSC.......I shudder to think what I was driving like when I was 19, and I think anything that gives me a safety advantage is worth buying......

[Basil]

he he he...... what a bunch of old fuddy duddies we sound. But it's true. We want our fun (we are buying MINI's after all) but we want to have the additional active safety device like DSC etc.

No one seems to question the active safety air-bags provide. Why question DSC.

From the few reports I have read, and Pauls review of the Cooper S driven in Portugal, you have to be either driving in snow, or pushing exceedingly close to the limit for DSC to activate. Suits me just fine. Just don't expect it to defy the laws of physics and so raise your speeds beyond what you would normaly drive at..... Some people could argue against it on that basis alone.

Hmmm.......

[Martin L]

I've never come across a situation where the car I've been driving has lost "control", but as stated above, every safety feature is a good investment if you don't want to wind up dead or badly injured. The £210 or whatever it costs is a small price to pay.
One thing to note though is that having DSC may "encourage" some people to push the car harder than their own abitilites as it may give them too much confidence which in turn is dangerous too...
BTW I'm 33 and it doesn't even cross my mind to test the cars limits on the public highway. I'm not been a stickler, just someone who wants to live to enjoy my car