Any downside of Sport feature

[beaver]

I feel I get better mpg when turn on the Sports feature on my Countryman S. What is the downside of turbo? Why not leave it on by default?

[Mid Life Mini]

I didn't think that the Sport button turned a turbo on or off, just that it gave a better throttle response and tightened up the steering.

[Ryanjdover]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mid Life Mini (original)

I didn't think that the Sport button turned a turbo on or off, just that it gave a better throttle response and tightened up the steering.

As said. Tighter handling and more throttle response I doubt it would increase mpg by using it


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[creedR56]

I compared my driving with sport on and off and there was only a 0.1km/l difference in average figures over the same journey, so no difference to fuel economy. That was driving normally rather than ragging it though. I imagine the longer gears changes (auto gearbox) would have a greater effect on mpg when driving aggresively only.

[steeve]

I find that mine is a little more thirsty with the Sport button on.
What I dont like is the change in feel on the steering when pressing on, if you get used to one mode then the other is so different it makes fast driving a little more iffy. Put it in one mode and stick to it.

[Angib]

I'll be the forum heretic on this one - I think the button should be marked 'BUTCH', not 'SPORT', as the only advantage I can see on a manual is to help a slow driver pretend they are going fast.

By the time grip is beginning to go, there is quite enough force in the steering and increasing the kick-back is no benefit. Sport mode doesn't seem to provide any more feedback, it just requires more force.

And while people describe the throttle behaviour with butch words like 'toughen' and 'sharpen', all it seems to do is open the throttle more for a given amount of pedal movement - so that there is less throttle sensitivity when grip is low, which is no improvement at all.

I reckon the button is there to make a 30mph trip to the supermarket feel quicker than the actual little-old-lady pace.

In an automatic, being able to alter the shift programme seems a real benefit, though I thought the autos were adaptive, so won't they make the same change on their own after a few miles?

[steeve]

Angib, I agree completely......

[The Nun]

Quote: Originally Posted by Angib (original)

I'll be the forum heretic on this one - I think the button should be marked 'BUTCH', not 'SPORT', as the only advantage I can see on a manual is to help a slow driver pretend they are going fast.

How about an ECO button the make the fast driver think hes going slow and saving loads of money on fuel, in that mode it could make the fuel gauge go down slower too?
Of course in reality it wouldnt make any difference whatsoever, but we could pretend it did?

[Ratpack]

Minis are novelty cars... Sport button is just a novelty. Hand in hand.

[creedR56]

It makes quite a noticeable difference with the auto gearbox tbh.

[Theo]

Quote: Originally Posted by creedR56 (original)

It makes quite a noticeable difference with the auto gearbox tbh.

Yes, agreed. I think that changing the shift points is a good idea for spirited driving...but instead of turning on the Sport button, sometimes I just move into the DS mode of the gearbox. I haven't logged the shift points used in DS mode, but I suspect they are the same as the ones used when the Sport button is pressed. Of course, in DS I don't have the throttle angle remap nor the reduction in power steering assist.

I wouldn't mind having control over the power steering assist level by itself...sometimes I don't want to alter the shift points but want to have the steering assist reduction.

[X6Sport]

I hadn't noticed it actually doing anything on our SD All4 Manual. I think they could have called 'Placebo' instead.......

[The Nun]

Quote: Originally Posted by X6Sport (original)

I hadn't noticed it actually doing anything on our SD All4 Manual. I think they could have called 'Placebo' instead.......

I know, you sort of think it would give you an afterburner effect, and propel you into next week, but it doesnt really does it.

[Blackhawks]

And coming to a 2013 Countryman near you, for a $500 upgrade, SPORT side stickers ... in capital letters! Guaranteed to increase lateral-g by 0.05, decrease 0-100 km/hr by 7/10ths of a second and increase fuel economy by 5/10mpg city/highway!

[YSR50]

Quote: Originally Posted by Theo (original)

...but instead of turning on the Sport button, sometimes I just move into the DS mode of the gearbox.

Isn't this the same thing?