Just to be clear - DSC is not limited to the snow. If you want to prove it, find a huge empty parking lot and when it is raining, take the car and do some runs through small puddles to get the car to hydroplane. Once you are about to start hydroplaning, crank the steering wheel hard right or left and hit the brakes. With DSC, the maneuver will be managed by the hand-of-God. With DSC turned off (or if it is not installed on the car), you will be doing a series of 360 degree spins (hence the reason for a large empty parking lot...).

 

and the human mind just can't compete with a computer that is doing things in millisecond time intervals.

actually the brain not only competes but by best estimates it will take computers 15-20 more years to get to the computational level of the brain.... it is the extremely slow support mechanism (nervous system, muscles, etc) that can't compete...... and disorientation, great point....we are at a disadvantage with our inner ear mechanisms...... try flying under the hood without instruments..... DSC...DSC....DSC... cheap insurance .... I totally agree

 

I drive with DSC off a fair amount just because I like being able to moderately aggressively ( ) launch from stop lights and stop signs.

However, I will share my story and if this isn't worth $500 I don't know what is...

It was February and it had snowed about 2 weeks prior, hence sand all over the road. However, it had been very dry the last week and the sand had been blown the to side of the roads for the most part. I was romping up a road about 2 minutes from my house (kind of a twisty uphill 35mph road) and came to the final bend which is aproned (that a word?) by a guard rail. I was going much to fast (about 55mph) and hit some sand at the apex of the corner. I felt the tires slip and almost instantly the DSC cut power and I was able to steer out of the possibly very expensive and painful accident.

Moral of the story, don't drive like a complete idiot.

But, DSC has more than paid for itself.

 

Ha! Good point about the support mechanisms - especially when there is the need to simultaneously apply 4 different brakes (while at the same time, continuing to steer the car....).

 

Only one other poster mentioned LSD. The DSC & LSD combination is an excellant package. I would not order anothe MINI without both. Yes, it has saved my bacon several times, when the unexpected happens. Well worth it.

The LSD is a mechanical package and engages faster than the DSC can react. Transfering some of the power to the wheel with traction and preventing wheel spin under less than ideal traction conditions, be it snow & ice, water, paint lines on a wet road, you name it. LSD also allows more vigorous acceleration with reduced possibility of wheel spin. Therefore the DSC does not interfere as much. Less need to turn it off for general driving, even vigorous road driving.

But, if you are accelerating from a stop on snow or ice, or climbing a snow covered hill, you will probably want to turn off the DSC or ASC. Better idea, buy some dedicated snow tires.

I am running 4 studded snow tires and it is fantastic. My baby goes and goes thru the snow. Thru snow drifts so deep that they fly right up over the bonnet and cover the windscreen.

I ordered the front & rear fogs just because I like to have all of the toggle switch spots filled. And no, I do not drive around with them on, unless it is foggy.

The Xenons are great, but not as much fun as the ones prior to '06. The older ones would do this little dance every time they were turned on. The new ones have lost this (really ticked me off). They still auto-level, but they do it every time the car is started, not when the lights are turned on so you no longer get to see their little dance.

 

LSD & DSC are most likely the best options you could possibly get on your mini, period. I look at these two options and consider them a "must have", (notice i ordered them ) all the other options are just cool neat toys.

 

Get the DSC. After redlining 2nd gear on a sharp on-ramp and spinning my 93 RX-7 across 3 lanes of highway a few years ago, I won't buy a car without stability control. No matter how good a driver you are, sooner or later you will do something stupid. A few years from now stability control will be standard equipment on all cars.

 

thanks guys~ have ordered my miniS yesterday with DSC =)