Am I the only one experience a lot of torque steer in, 1st, second and a bit of third gear during spirited drives?
Can get a handful if the pavement is uneven, repair work done.

 

Not sure what model year you're driving, but no, you're not the only one. Mine can be a handful when I give it the spurs.

Apparently, model years subsequent to mine received (from the factory) a software change that keeps torque steer in check. I remember seeing some threads in the past where folks were requesting dealers retrofit that software update to their vehicles; you might search for those threads. I've never bothered as the torque steer has never been a particular concern to me.

 

Torque steer is just the nature of front wheel drive.
Here's a good read on the issue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_steering

 

I had all the updates done, feels the same to me.

My previous car was a Mk V GTI, it had 266 hp and it didnt have a hint of torque steer. It was also a front wheel drive car.
I dont have a major issue with it, makes the car feel faster than what it actual is just wondered if it was a known issue on these cars as before I purchased it I test drove a Cooper S and it didnt have torque steer.

 

How many miles on the mini? Could have some torn control arm bushings which would contribute to the torque steer.

 

OP: you've posted in the 2nd gen forum, but your name suggests you might drive an R53?
The R56 does have loads of torque steer unfortunately, but the R53 does not. Torque steer is not an intrinsic feature of front wheel drive, it is very much dependent on the implementation. It is mostly the result of unequal length drive shafts that in turn derive from most transverse engine installations. The R53 does not have any torque steer as it has equal length final drive shafts. The R56 has unequal length shafts, and thus gobs of torque steer.

 

The car doesnt drive strange and everything sounds and feels perfectly fine, car has been for quality check at the dealer etc.

I had an R53 in the beginning hence the forum name. R56 JCW now.

Yeah with the R53 there was no bursts of torque like you get in the 56, felt very flat.

 

Careful about generalizations there. The R52 pulls to the right with aggressive acceleration based on hands on experience. I'd call that torque steer. Only difference between the R52 and R53, I believe, is the hardness of the top and the fuel tank door...oh yea, and rag tops are 10 times more fun.

 

My R53 had 216 hp and it still felt pretty flat to me
It didnt feel like it was going quick until you looked at the speed.