[Zub]

Im considering getting a Cooper with Chilli pack. Should i stick with the normal sports suspension or get the PLUS suspension from the Chilli pack fitted? What is the pysical difference between the two? Has anybody had the chance to compare the two different versions? What would you advise?

[euan]

There is plenty of discussion if you do a search and see what turns up. This really is personal preference and also depends on what you are used to. I had a Golf GTi and now have a Cooper with SS+, while it's much stiffer I would not have swapped, handling is great fun. But if your coming into it from a sponge mobile, you'll no doubt hate it.

The answer? Try one of each.

[DJC]

Hi Zub, my Cooper has 17" X lites with sport plus suspension, and while the ride is firm, it also handles well and is fun to drive, if you like that. Maybe the normal suspension is more suited to general drivers ??

[noahe]

I prefer SS on a Cooper, and SS+ (only choice) on an MCS. The extra weight of the S tempers out the SS+ a bit.

I drove a Cooper with SS+ and 16" tires, and it seemed towards the harsh end of the spectrum. The 17" on our MCS seemed either the same, or a tad more forgiving when I got back in our car.

That said, if you can take it (you'd get used to it) the SS+ with the 17" rims has the most go-cart feel. Although a fair bit of performance testing here on MINI2 has proven the 16" rims to have faster linear acceleration, and better handling on bumpy real-world pavement.

In perfect black-top conditions, I.E. Magazine testing, the 16" are faster straight-line, and the 17" are more nimble, with quicker turn-in, and better at handling transitions. The best skidpad numbers are generated with the 17". That could well change if you put something wider than 195mm rubber on the 16".

[brycem]

I have a Cooper with 16" wheels and ss. I drove cars with both and found the ride with 16"s and ss to be firm enough. The handling differences between the two vehicles were negligible but ride quality deterioration was noticable with ss+. For the streets of Edinburgh with potholes galore and the odd expanse of cobbles I felt ss and 16"s was the right combo.

SS+ was standard with chilli pack but is now a no cost option which must be specified. There must have been an awful lot of complaints about ride comfort for the change to occur.

Go and see Bill McWilliam at Eastern and he will sort you out and let you drive cars with both.

[stokey]

I've been driving my Cooper with chili pack and SS+ for three months now and don't find it overly harsh. There has been so much discussion over SS and SS+ that I worried myself stupid over my choice of SS+, even when I'd driven a S with SS+ on and finally reassured myself, someone wrote in to say a Cooper would ride differently with SS+!!
In reality its fine. My dealer said that there are about 8 different suspension settings anyway, depending on the allup weight of your specced up car.

Not that I've stopped worrying though, now that I've ordered a Cooper S I'm getting the same differing views over wheel size 16 or 17 inch!!!

[noahe]

Get the 17" on an S. If you like your SS+ on your Cooper, you obviously don't mind a firm ride.

There are some people that can't acclimate. I've driven some older relatives around that get ****ed off at me for driving roughly. They just can't comprehend that the car is taught. I'm accelerating painfully slow, slowing down miles before the intersection, and taking wide wallowing turns, and that's all you can do.

The only other time I was painfully aware of the car's tendancies, we were transporting a HUGE 4-layer cake that was to serve 60+.

The times when you need a soft car are few and far between. And you learn to plan around it.
"No, I probably shouldn't take Timmy's delicate Science Fair project to school in my car."
"I'll take Grama home in your A4, because she'll be more comfortable."

[3GGG]

You will soon learn to steer round every slight pothole in the road! I was on the Scottish festive run last Sunday with 21 other MINIs and it was amusing to follow the others and seeing them avoiding the potholes, manhole covers and so on. In a 'normal' car you don't bother doing this.
I have SS and 16" Runflats on a Cooper and find it handles very well and is plenty firm for me.

[Damo]

This has been discussed to death and really the only consensus is try all the coombinations and go with what you like the best.

I have SS+ AND 17" with Run flats. I like the firm ride, some people say its to firm, I know people who say I need to get it stiffer!! (They are a Girl Racer who drives a moded Clio RSi though)

We can argue about which is the best for performace but the fact is its how YOU like it, nit us. Facts and figures, states that SS+ is 10% stiffer than SS I beleive.

[Paul]

I say go with what feels best to you, and the only way is test drive all combinations.

[lotuseatsvipers]

the handling of the SS+ MC is spectacular

[Paul]

I have SS+ on a Cooper with 16" wheels and I think it's great to drive, but everyone has their own views on that one.

[lightbody]

SS+ on 15" here (has anyone else done this!?) and the ride/handling combination is great!! Very reminiscent of the original Mini.

[MarkL]

As others have mentioned, this is all down to personal taste...

I test drove a Cooper with SS+ and 16" wheels yesterday and thought the ride quality was preferable to my One with standard suspension and 15" wheels!

I'm probably going for SS and 15" wheels for cost reasons, however. Although SS+ and 15" does sound tempting.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Quote:

Originally posted by lightbody
SS+ on 15" here (has anyone else done this!?) and the ride/handling combination is great!! Very reminiscent of the original Mini.

I am currently running that combination for my winter wheel/tire setup. It is just the littlest bit more forgiving over road irregularities. The grip is definitely down from the stock 195/55R16 on dry pavement but much better in snow and slush. The grip is more than adequate for normal winter dry road conditions where the road conditions are more variable and traction more unknown.

[GAJ]

I have 16"s and SS+ and it's smashing!

[Zub]

Dont think it matters now, i just had a browse through the 'faults' forum and it has put me off totally! How can you guys pay so much for a car that can possibly have so many faults?

Looks like its Seat Leon or Octavia RS time for me, at least i can get the shopping in the back of those!

[3GGG]

Quote:

Originally posted by Zub
Dont think it matters now, i just had a browse through the 'faults' forum and it has put me off totally! How can you guys pay so much for a car that can possibly have so many faults?

Looks like its Seat Leon or Octavia RS time for me, at least i can get the shopping in the back of those!

Have you test driven a Cooper yet?
The back seats do fold down for the shopping BTW. Its a MINI gokart not a family hatchback.

Bet we get more admiring glances and smile a lot more than the Seat driver does.

[Zub]

I have had a test drive of the cooper, it was not a bad drive.

I dont want to buy a car for admiring glances though, i want it fast, practical and reliable. (and cheap!)

[3GGG]

Quote:

Originally posted by Zub
I have had a test drive of the cooper, it was not a bad drive.

I dont want to buy a car for admiring glances though, i want it fast, practical and reliable. (and cheap!)

Fair enough!

I wouldn't be put off by the faults forum however, remember that most of the faults were fixed on the latest build and that the rest are usually easily corrected by the dealer as has been discussed to death in another thread. I don't have any problem in recommending the MINI as a fast reliable car, practicality is a relative term that only you can decide on yourself. Admiring glances was not a big factor for me either, but it is the only car I have had that still gets strangers approaching me to talk about the car at the petrol pump and car park!