MINI May Offer Torque Steer Elimination Retrofit

@ James Irmiger: “playing nice” =/= “playing dumb” i.e., I never implied anyone’s OPINIONS are “stupid” (opinions are all equally valid, they are entirely subjective after all), but I do call out some of the EXPECTATIONS (which are not the same as opinions) as betraying a sense of entitlement.

Look… threads on “buyer’s remorse” and “demands” that manufacturers offer retrofit / upgrade options at free / low cost are actually quite common in the world of computers / electronics. This is partly due to the ever-shortening product cycles working to make whatever you buy obsolete… coupled with bombardment of advertising and enthusiast forums we all love to frequent which make us aware of all the changes/upgrades manufacturers release. As a result, the line between “functionality defect correction” and “functionality upgrade” has become quite blurred… and perhaps was grey in the first place since we are not as used to having this discourse in the automotive domain (because as I said, MINI is pioneering here with this potential functionality upgrade).

My point (and I believe Blainstang’s and others’ above) is that we need a working definition of what constitutes a “functionality defect correction” (e.g., any item typically covered by warranty) and “functionality upgrade” (e.g., retrofitting the OEM AUX-IN to your stereo; dealer-installed JCW Suspension).

What Lee said +1

Some people will always say the same thing: “Torque steer is inherent in any powerful front wheel drive car.” However, the first generation MINI MCS had virtually no torque steer. Even the 300+ hp modified MINIs I drove did not exhibit any torque steer. I could let got of the steering wheel, floor it and the car drove straight as an arrow, even when changing gears, nothing. I was amazed and saddened to find out what torque steer actual was first hand. That didn’t happen until I purchased a 2007 MCS. What a difference between the 03 and 07! This car became a beast to handle when pushed hard. I can’t believe we’re going backwards in technology with newer versions of the MINI (don’t get me started on the stereo!) Seeing as how BMW/MINI knew how to make a FWD car without torque steer way back in 02, then “add” it back in in the 2nd gen, I’m really at a loss. Call the “add” a “defect” or “an option” or “get used to it, all powerful FWD will have this” to make yourself happy, but I will call it a “defect” that should be repaired by MINI.