R56 Need better highway comfort
#1
Need better highway comfort
Hey guys,
I currently have a '13 S as my only car. It has around 54K miles. My problem is highway comfort. I have made the drive from Austin to Tulsa many times in this car but it is not the best for these trips. It takes a day or so for me to recover. Well now my Daughter is moving to Tulsa from Austin with her mom so I will be making this trip about once a month(about 450 miles). Should I keep this car and put something besides run flats on it or trade for something that is better for the highway. I owe about 4K on the car. Originally bought it for my son to drive to college but the ex made him give it back.
I currently have a '13 S as my only car. It has around 54K miles. My problem is highway comfort. I have made the drive from Austin to Tulsa many times in this car but it is not the best for these trips. It takes a day or so for me to recover. Well now my Daughter is moving to Tulsa from Austin with her mom so I will be making this trip about once a month(about 450 miles). Should I keep this car and put something besides run flats on it or trade for something that is better for the highway. I owe about 4K on the car. Originally bought it for my son to drive to college but the ex made him give it back.
#2
Hey guys,
I currently have a '13 S as my only car. It has around 54K miles. My problem is highway comfort. I have made the drive from Austin to Tulsa many times in this car but it is not the best for these trips. It takes a day or so for me to recover. Well now my Daughter is moving to Tulsa from Austin with her mom so I will be making this trip about once a month(about 450 miles). Should I keep this car and put something besides run flats on it or trade for something that is better for the highway. I owe about 4K on the car. Originally bought it for my son to drive to college but the ex made him give it back.
I currently have a '13 S as my only car. It has around 54K miles. My problem is highway comfort. I have made the drive from Austin to Tulsa many times in this car but it is not the best for these trips. It takes a day or so for me to recover. Well now my Daughter is moving to Tulsa from Austin with her mom so I will be making this trip about once a month(about 450 miles). Should I keep this car and put something besides run flats on it or trade for something that is better for the highway. I owe about 4K on the car. Originally bought it for my son to drive to college but the ex made him give it back.
#5
Runflats are loud and ride poorly....
Everything in life is about compromise....
Some tires give up lots to gain ultimate grip....
Some give up a bit if grip for comfort...
They all get louder as they wear....
A MINI is an ok highway car...if you were spending long drives weekly...it might be time to switch...but monthly is not bad for most.
Everything in life is about compromise....
Some tires give up lots to gain ultimate grip....
Some give up a bit if grip for comfort...
They all get louder as they wear....
A MINI is an ok highway car...if you were spending long drives weekly...it might be time to switch...but monthly is not bad for most.
#6
#7
Change to non run-flats and consider a slightly taller sidewall. If like most Minis your speedometer reads 3 MPH slow at 30-40 MPH, you can get closer to accurate readings with a small size change. The charts at tirerack.com will help you sort that out. Also, don't max out your tire pressures.
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My 2007 MCS came with 17" wheels and runflats. The stock wheels were quite heavy. Sold them and bought some light weight 17" wheels and put non-runflat tires on them. The ride improved, but I was still not happy.
Got some Rota Slipstream 16x7 wheels which only weigh 14 lbs. ea. and allowed use of a 205/55-16 tire. That gave it 10mm more sidewall, but still maintaine the 205 tread width. The overall dia. of the tires is a little bit larger than stock which eliminated the 7% error in the speedometer. :-)
The increased side wall, reduction in unsprung weight, and change to a non-runflat tire made a significant difference. To go smoother you would need to cut the MINI in half and stretch it for a longer wheelbase. Wont be as fun to drive, but…
Smoothest car I ever drove was a 1967 Citroen DS21. That was a great car.
Got some Rota Slipstream 16x7 wheels which only weigh 14 lbs. ea. and allowed use of a 205/55-16 tire. That gave it 10mm more sidewall, but still maintaine the 205 tread width. The overall dia. of the tires is a little bit larger than stock which eliminated the 7% error in the speedometer. :-)
The increased side wall, reduction in unsprung weight, and change to a non-runflat tire made a significant difference. To go smoother you would need to cut the MINI in half and stretch it for a longer wheelbase. Wont be as fun to drive, but…
Smoothest car I ever drove was a 1967 Citroen DS21. That was a great car.
#22
Really, that's all you need to address. I drive from CA to MT twice a year and have no comfort issues at all. I'm old and like to complain a lot, too. In August, I loaded my two grown kids in the MCS for the trip. No issues at all.
#23
#24
Can you take a side shot of your mini? I was thinking of going down to 16s and getting a meatier tire myself.
#25
Go to Home Depot and invest $13 in a thin patio seat cushion and use it during your long trips. Throw it in back seat when not in use. It’s not a perfect solution but it’s worth trying - and the investment is minimal.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-B...-9D8/300037348
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-B...-9D8/300037348