Mine too.

--Matt

 

Anyone else with the sport suspension on their F56 that would like to comment and post a review maybe?

 

I have it, to me it makes a huge difference in the car. Mine carves corners like it was born to do it... (and it was!)

 

Thanks. How harsh is it for everyday driving or long road trips?

 

To me, the Mini is all about handling, and IMO you can only get that with the sport suspension (or after-market additions).

My '03 MCS had the Sports Package but not the sports suspension. I improved the stock handling by adding a three-way adjustable rear sway bar.

I was a little smarter when I ordered my '10 MCS and included both the Sports Package and the sport suspension. This was a better car in all respects: noticeably better handling, engine output and gas mileage.

My F56S with sport suspension is another step forward in engine output and gas mileage. The handling is at least as good as my '10, but I haven't really "pressed" yet, as my car only has a bit over 1K miles.

As far as ride quality, I don't have any problems there. It's firm but acceptable. I may be the exception, though, as the only two cars I've ever driven that had too harsh a suspension for everyday use was a Shelby GT350 and a Lotus 7.

And, yes, I have practically nothing but twisties here in the mountains of WV; so I get to enjoy the superb handling every time I drive it.

 

Sport Suspension Plus was standard equipment on 1st Gen MCS models.

 

I found that to be inadequate as the '03 wanted to "plow" . Adding the thicker rear sway bar cured that.

 

QBear, I agree with you on handling. that's what I wanted.

That settles it!! Even though the sport suspension components may improve the suspension marginally as some have stated, I simply want handling like my Coupe S had with the "standard" or basic suspension. I want a MINI that carves corners!! If JCW springs and sway bars do the trick, I'm adding them.

 

Not harsh at all, about the only time I really notice it's bumpy is when I'm going over very rough pavement and that's probably just as much about the fun-flats as it is about the suspension.

 

Thanks! It's been hard finding an opinion on the sport suspension, as it seems like everyone went with the adaptive damping. I'm leaning towards the sport suspension, but just a little concerned with how livable it is as a commuter and long distance cruiser.

 

I can say that the F56 standard suspension with fun-flats is smoother-feeling than the R56 sport suspension on regular tires. There's still one speed bump in a parking lot near me that I want demolished, but there's places on my daily commute that I don't bother changing lanes to avoid. There's a bit more body roll but I've adapted well to it now. Of course no telling how much of that difference is due to having 104K on the original R56 sport suspension. Never replaced anything.

 

I was on the fence about the sport suspension as well. With this being my first MINI, I really didn't have any basis of comparison. The standard suspension really sold me on the car. I felt it handled and rode much nicer than any other car I've driven (My current daily driver doesn't even have IRS...). If in time I feel I need something stiffer, I'll just buy some aftermarket goodies.

 

Seems like a wise approach to me. Maybe more difficult to go softer than stiffer? The standard suspension is rougher riding than the 2007 Civic we used to have and I thought the Civic was a bit rough. I can stiffen up my MCS w/ the DDC when I choose to. Our roads are okay but not glassy smooth.


Can't remember -- does the S have a firmer suspension than the Justa?

 

I ordered sports suspension after driving a MINI with standard and adaptive damping. It was too soft for me. Soft as in you could feel the car "Squat" under acceleration and body roll in turns. Even the Adaptive was too soft relative of my 02 msc, 08 clubman w/SS, and Countryman w/SS. I am actually very surprised at how soft this Gen is being built, but hear why MINI has gone this route. I would not buy the new MINI hardtop in its standard guise and therefore ordered the SS. From what I have heard it should be about 30% stiffer, whereas the Adaptive is only 10% stiffer when in Sport. I am sure everyone has read/discussed this on this board.

I advise driving both Standard and Adaptive. Doesn't sound like MINIs are going to be spec'd with SS unless you custom order it, that is what 3 dealerships have told me.

Another reason I went with MINI SS instead of aftermarket, is an aftermarket guy told me that in the past Base Hardtops had fewer parts made for it while the S model had hundreds if not thousands.

I ordered 16" Wheelset with SS. I hope that this is the perfect combo for me!!!!

 

I have the SS with 17" Cosmos Spoke wheels on my new MCS and am very pleased with it. In both Mid & Green modes it's very comfortable and soaks up the ruts and bumps without transmitting much into the cabin yet never feels like it's wallowing at all. In Sport mode it stiffens up significantly, transmitting much more into the cabin but really gluing the car to the road. I also find the S can be driven in Mid mode about 85% of the time with last 15% split 10 & 5 between Sport & Green for my driving style.

 

So from the above post, I infer that even with the sport suspension (over the "dynamic suspension") there is adjustability to the ride/rebound/etc based on the mode chosen (green v comfort v sport)?

And, therefore can I also infer that the components of the "sport suspension" allow for more extreme when going to sport?

 

I don't have the Sports Suspension, but I find after driving my MINI-S for a month now that in Mid mode the ride is good and cornering acceptable. In Sport mode, it is (to me), perfect. Any stiffer and (for me) the ride would be too far into the harsh side. I love my MINI-S just as it is.

 

spfdhed
I would say your inferences are correct from my experience.

CobraBob
I love my Mini S too!

 

It sounds like you have "Dynamic Damper Control" which is different that "Sport Suspension". Sport suspension is fixed and not adjusting/adaptive.

 

I think that's not correct. When I selected Sport Suspension on the configurator the option for adjustable dampers disappeared. You can still drive in the sport "mode" but the 3 modes are standard. FYI I used to diss the Sport Suspension in favor of an aftermarker 19mm rear ASB and did that on my 2007 MCS with the standard suspension and non runflats. Now have a 2014 JCW Coupe with the Sport Suspension and runflats and both the ride and handling are better in this car. There's a little understeer true, but there was a little with my old car too. I never thought the coilovers were any different, just the sway bars. I think some of the ride improvement is the Dunlap SP 01 summer tires. They're great.

 

Hello, everyone, this is my first post! I'm getting ready to order an MCS, and the suspension is at the top of the list of things to learn about, so thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing your knowledge and opinions.

After years of having dedicated track cars (the German ones that look like turtles), I'm now interested in having a fun street car that will see light track use a couple of times a year. It's main job will be transporting me on back roads. I drove the new MCS and fell in love with it.

I'm inclined to order the sport suspension after reading this thread and the excellent review at MotoringFile. With 17" wheels and a tire swap for some decent high-performance (non-runflat) street tires, I'm guessing the ride will be acceptable while providing decent handling on occasional track days. Anyone here done a track day with a similar setup?

I really like the idea of the variable dampers, but it sounds like the stiffest setting may not be what I'm looking for at the track. I'm not going to obsess over this too much longer; I need to place the order! I'm sure the car will let me know what needs changing for aftermarket bits.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to being a part of this community.

Oh, and if anyone knows of any MINI tuners in or around NC, I'd be interested in a recommendation.

 

Welcome...Charlotte here. Substantial NC club in the Tar Heel state...

 

Can't remember, but isn't the standard S suspension stiffer than the standard Justa's suspension?

 

Track play?
Sport suspension!

 

I don't think so, I think they're the same. I'm guessing that Mini will make available the aftermarket JCW suspension for the F56 sometime soon. That cost $1300 dealer installed on the R56 I think and includes front/rear swaybars and coilovers and lowers the car about a half inch. Definitely more serious stuff than the Sport Suspension for $500. What I gathering here is that most folks with the adjustable dampers leave it in the Sport Mode just like they leave the car in the Sport mode for driving (steering, throttle). Like I said before in this thread the SS is about a little thicker sway bars, not stiffer springs and dampers. They have a different number on them but people like Way Motorworks who install aftermarket springs and dampers have said that those parts are the same with the SS or standard suspension.