A surprising well written and information rich piece. Here’s an excerpt:
>If you could bottle fun, this is what the bottle would look like. From the nifty little steering wheel that invites the perfect hand positions at 3 and 9 o’clock to the big chunky shift knob and solid, firm pedals, you are surrounded by stimuli that will convey a sense of driving excitement that very few cars on the road can match, and most of those cars are either much more expensive or even less practical. It’s nearly indescribably fun to be attached to that steering wheel, flicking your wrists for a lane change, finding that apex on a long highway ramp, gradually turning into it and clipping it on the way to hammering down the gas and feeling the little 1.6 buzz into a frenzy as the turbo whooshes into action to send this lightweight, pint-sized racer merging into freeway traffic, already eclipsing the fastest cars before third gear even runs out. Every inch of pavement seems to giggle in glee and cheer the Mini on, with the Cooper S passing on these happy little messages every step of the way.
While is a very positive review overall, I can’t help but feel a little weary of anyone who can’t feel the difference with the sport button on.
[ 2007 Mini Cooper S Road Test ] automobile.com
The last performance-type car I owned was a 1988 CRX, so I’ve grown accustomed to more standard driving. I’m in the process of buying my first MINI. Ive test driven the Cooper and the S several times each. The sport button is a key feature I test every time.
If you’re not paying attention, I think it’s possible to miss the difference from the sport button. Difficult because you’d have to be distracted from actually driving the car. However, I’ll accept that it’s possible. But when you’re actually focused on the car, it’s so obvious. If nothing else, the change (for the better) in the steering should jump out immediately.
Great review, I experience “adventures” on the most mundane chores around town too. Makes me want to buy an R56 again.
But seriously, editors really need to drive it in the night to find the real weak point. Those darn xenon LOW!-beams.
This is the best review that I’ve read in quite a while.. it mirrors my experience with the car on my road test – minus the writers comments about not noticing the sport button. Me and my passenger (not the dealer of course) noticed immediately!
What I would like to know is an explanation of ImUrTrboLvr’s comments about the Xenons. Whats the problem with them on low beam?
Lemme know.. I am currently too high in the hemisphere to take one out when its dark.. 😉
I have to say, having driven both the new MC and MCS, that the SPORT button makes a much bigger and noticeable difference on the MC when activated. On the MCS … hmm
>I have to say, having driven both the new MC and MCS, that the SPORT button makes a much bigger and noticeable difference on the MC when activated. On the MCS … hmm
I find that almost hard to believe. When my sport button is off, the difference is dramatic enough that I almost stall the car. The throttle tip-in is very noticeable on both cars.
Interesting article from a writer obviously in love with the sound of his own typewriter.
I haven’t found the R56 to be troublesome under braking in my test drives. It always behaved as I expect so I wonder what he was doing.
<blockquote>…the SPORT button makes a much bigger and noticeable difference on the MC…</blockquote>
I agree with this. It’s noticeable in both, but even more so in the MC.
I am also a stalling fool without the sport button on.
Without the sport button high rpm shifts have a long throttle delay when you clutch back in, i can’t see how anyone does not notice this right away, it was my first negative comment about the car when i test drove it and my MA was quick to turn the sport button on, and getting a sale.
Sport button is a huge difference, i guess only a few of us keep the revs up and hammer down on the shifts.
Always nice to see glowing reviews.
In my R56 MCS test drive a few weeks ago, it wasn’t until pressing the Sport Button that it actually felt like a MINI. The difference was instantly apparent. It’s very cool to have the tamer option, but if it were up to me (and I think many agree), the default position would be “on” ;-).
What really stuck out to me was how the seats were noticeably more comfortable and there was a lot more leg room – a very pronounced upgrade, I must admit, over my R53. And I can certainly see how the more compliant ride would be appealing as well, though the car felt a little too BMW “numb” for my liking. I think I’d definitely have to do one of the factory suspension upgrades.
My drive was so short I never really did get used to the vast difference in the power band. It didn’t feel like the turbo had nearly as much down low grunt as my R53 does, but I imagine that would change as I got used to the car. I missed the supercharger-inspired engine note the entire time, that’s for sure! Though it did have a nice little growl when I really got on it.
It’s easy to see how the uninitiated would truly LOVE the R56, but also how R50/R53 owners could have sizable hang-ups. I know I do.
NS in MN
Many of us don’t even use the sport button…imagine that!!! That said…even<strong><em> I </em></strong>can feel a difference!
“Sport Button” gimmickry has no place in a driver’s car like the MINI. That’s why continue to love my R53… It has “sport mode”on by default.
>”Sport Button” gimmickry has no place in a driver’s car like the MINI.
Tell that to Ferrari 430 and BMW Z4M/M3/M5/M6 owners.
>That’s why continue to love my R53… It has “sport mode”on by default.
Ah Frank – what would a day be without some sort of jab at cars and owners that are unlike yourself.
Actually some would argue that the R53’s lack of a decent throttle response means that sport mode is “off” by default. From my experience that’s not quite true. I believe the stock R53 response is right in the middle of the off and on modes in the R56. Meaning that yes, with the sport button engaged, the R56 has a quicker tip-in.
I do think that the on/off position should be owner programmable however.
<em> I believe (as I have for over a year) that the stock ride height is slightly too high on the R56</em> (How’s that Frank?)
Thank you for keep me calling Frankie. Yes I am Frankie Stephenson and I am your father…
It is amazing how opinions and perceptions change over the course of a few years. Allow me to pull up an excerpt from your glossy ex-2005 MCS one month review published back in June 2005:
<blockquote>In the city, the Cooper S (R53) is right at home. With the new gearing and LSD the car is like a full-size slingshot just ready to be launched anytime anywhere. It’s also in this environment that the new exhaust note really becomes a great feature. While it could be a bit deeper, it’s still a great way to let folks know that this isn’t just some cute car.</blockquote>
A very eloquent conclusion:
<blockquote>The 2005 MCS features three key improvements that equal one huge difference from all the Cooper S before it. We’ve all heard about it and we all know how well it’s been received. But until you live with the 2005 MCS on a daily basis you don’t realize what a change it is to the character of the car. Suddenly the MCS is a low-end torque machine. You can now easily maintain a healthy loss of traction all the way through first gear with DSC off. Upon moving into second, you announce your arrival with a huge burst of spinning rubber on pavement, the likes of which only a JCW equipped or modified pulley MCS could achieve before the 2005. Better yet, you can just about do all this with DSC on thanks to BMW’s long standing tradition of allowing the driver some fun before the electronic aids come to the rescue. It all makes for an added dimension to the MCS. One that is frankly hard to pass-up as an owner of a previous MINI.</blockquote>
At your one year review, published June 3rd, 2006:
<blockquote>Ownership.
There’s been little in the way of drama over the past year of ownership. Really about the only thing that I can think of that has been a mechanical issue was a passenger side engine mount that went bad around 10,000 miles. Otherwise it’s been boring in lack of issues. Certainly something I couldn’t say about my 2002 Cooper.
Performance has also lived up to expectations. The gearing and engine improvements along with the addition of a limited slip differential has noticeably improved the cars performance both on and off the track from the previous MCS. The pulley, intake and exhaust have helped further that.
Speaking of improving, it’s hard to find an area in the interior where MINI designers and engineers didn’t improve things over the 02-04 cars. Literally almost every component has been altered in some way. Gone are many of the squeaks and rattles of the earlier cars. They are replaced with simple yet reassuring thud whenever you hit bumps. Quite an improvement.</blockquote>
>Thank you for keep me calling Frankie. Yes I am Frankie Stephenson and I am your father…
I believe that’s fazha.
Hey – and thanks for the quotes. Nice reading those reviews again, I think they turned out well. Not sure what your point is though. Unless of course you’re confusing quicker low-end gearing and improved electronic throttle response?
I do miss that car though. Would have been nice to keep it had I more room in the garage.
Gabe, I am with you on the sport button. On my ’07 MCS, unless I have it on, I almost stall the car. Other’s hardly notice it. My analysis is those who drive with a meaty right foot tend not to notice it. If you modulate the throttle the gradations are so much finer with the button on (at least for the first inch or two of pedal travel.) Meat feet skip right by that stage. Effectively, their driving style is a sport button. I have tried experimenting driving in that style with the button off. It’s just too alien to my natural inclinations to feather the machine.
My issue with the button is that it makes the electric steering “too real”. It’s oversimulating a mechanical/hydraulic linkage. While I have gotten used to the turning effort, I find the kick in response to suspension activity a magnified sensation relative to what is going on with the physics below.
The first time my wife drove my MCS, she commented on the difference the sport button made, and I had not even told her about it. She discovered it herself. I too find that with it off, I tend to stall the car. I have always felt that “on” should be the default position.
Here in the great white north, I do think that the “off” mode will prove to be quite handy for driving on snow and ice, as the slower response to the throttle and steering will be a good thing for winter driving.
…TONY love to the CRX!!!!
…but seriously, what made the CRX one of Motor Trends Ten Best, (aside from the insane MPG) is alive and well in the MINIs…
…but having owned a MC and now a MCS and also a daily driver CRX (91) anyone who can’t feel the difference in throttle response with sport ‘on’ must be numb between the ears…
…i feel a substantial difference between having ASC off, let alone something as active in it’s intention as the sport button…
…well, gotta go — drive…