Picked up my TG F56S last night w/ sports suspension (haven't read any other first hand reviews of such) and while I haven't been able to push it very hard yet (given that it's in burn in and also very wet weather here) it rips...

Even in green mode the car cuts and is very responsive. You flip it over to sport mode and everything gets even tighter. Very throaty and VERY responsive. I used to rip through roundabouts in my R56S (w/ sports suspension) and I don't think it corners nearly as well as the F56S w/ the sports suspension.

I'm looking forward to being able to push it a bit...

 

Auto or Manual?

 

Thanks for the input - I've just read the "Cooper S suspension too soft, made my wife barf" thread (Abarth driver) and think we all need to hear more opinions.

 

Abarf troll
Mind you not.

 

My understanding is that the driving modes don't affect the sport suspension.

 

I will admit that I have not driven a Sport Suspension optioned MINI S, but I am MORE than happy with the handling performance of my MINI S. I honestly do not need the SS. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I really love the stock suspension. I went around a local bend at over 60mph (40mph limit) and it could have been more had I wanted to push the car. My old 2003 Cobra could not have maneuvered that turn at that speed without noticeable body lean. I'm happy as a clam! But there are surely those who will just have to have the Sport Suspension, at the cost of a stiffer ride.

 

Planning to order my first Mini and trying to sort this out. The dynamic damper control is supposed to give +/- 10, selectable with the sport/normal/green switch. When you add the sport suspension (+30), is it always on or is it selectable if you have DDC?

Thanks,
Win

 

DDC and sport suspension are not configurable together, because they are each/both complete suspension systems.

So sport suspension is always +30%.

 

Thanks Marcus.

 

That "sport/normal/green" is described thusly: "For extra punch, use Sport Mode to automatically adjust your engine, steering and transmission settings points for a stiffer, sportier ride."

When they say "ride," I don't know if they really are referring to the suspension.

 

I had read about it in a different review, but here's one that mentions the tie-in. http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/02/03/20...-drive-review/

 

The "ride" part of the statement only applies if you have DDC.

If you don't have DDC, all other parts of the statement still apply, regardless of the suspension you have.

I think.

 

Auto. Wife + extra gas mileage = winning. I do miss the satisfaction of moving through the gears though.

I did go a little nuts on a roundabout this morning (dry pavement finally). Couldn't get the tires to slide at all and was pushing it pretty hard.

Got a couple thumbs up from the early morning dog walkers who stopped to see what the guy doing circles in the roundabout was doing.

 

Yes, I think you're right. Altho it only specifically says it adjusts settings for engine, steering and transmission, in the Jalopnik review, he says the Sport setting activates the DDC on the Cooper S. I'll bet it applies to the Justa, too.

They don't spell this stuff out too well, do they?

 

Even though they aren't configurable together on the US website my MA assures me you can in fact have both and it makes sense. The dampers can still adjust regardless of base springs vs sport springs.

what I want to know is if there is any difference in ride height with sport sus or is it the same?