Standard or Sports Suspension

[chilipack]

Hi Guys, I have a mcs arriving on march the 1st and have until the 21st of Jan to add/take away any of my spec.....im very confused about one minor issue!

which suspension do i go for? the standard or the sports....there is no cost option for the sports but would I be better off with the standard as I wouldnt use the car on a track nor are the roads that great in the area where i live ...the car will be sitting on 17" flame spokes with runflats....

i would be extremly greatful if you could leave comments/suggestions!!!! at the moment I have the standard suspension specced....

please help!

kind regards

[supa-dupa-cooper]

I wouldnt go for the Sport Suspension, I think it handles ok as it is and the ride is still comfy on 17's..

..im sure everyone will disagree with me though

[FergusM]

I have sports suspension and 17" wheels and find it great...though I do prefer a car to have a stiff ride.

Probably best to get to a dealer and test drive both yourself...over the roads you will typically drive.

Just make sure you have the "LSD" option ticked.

[KenL]

My car has 16's and non-sports - really like it.

I test drove a car with SS and 17's. I found the ride a bit too hard for me.

Why not go to the dealer and ask if they can provide a test drive in both if they have them in stock?

[TheBigNewt]

With the SS you get 1mm thicker sway bars front and rear (18mm there). That's it. I think the springs/dampers are the same, as is the ride height. If it's free I'd go ahead and get it. In the US it's $500 extra, not worth it because we can get an even thicker 19mm swaybar for less than that. It won't make your ride harsher. (The rf tires will take care of that!)

[rkw]

SS does include stiffer springs and dampers (in addition to front and rear sway bars).

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by rkw (original)

SS does include stiffer springs and dampers (in addition to front and rear sway bars).

Ride height is the same.

[Lawrothegreat]

I had a 04 Cooper with 16"s and sports suspension plus and the handling was brilliant. Sharp, well-balanced, and chuckable with no body roll. I absolutely loved it. Harsh ride though.

I now have a 07 MCS with 17"s and non-sports suspension. At first I was dissapointed as I thought I could detect body roll, and it didn't seem so focussed on the road. After a couple of thousand miles it feels a lot better, although it slightly lacks the directness the 1st generation car had. However for a hot hatch with 17" alloys with runflats, the ride is excellent. I think my MCS can corner faster than my previous MC and is more sure footed in the process it just doesn't make such a drama about it.

I thought that I would regret not having sports suspension but I haven't. I HAVE regretted not getting the LSD though. As KenL suggests go for a test drive.