Sounds like the OP is either ...

having a problem with the car that requires immediate attention (allignment, stearing, or some loose/broken suspension parts - didn't mention any noises ?)

or

there's a mis-match between the MINI and the OP's expectations

Mine's justacooper. I've driven about 20k in the last eight months, and it's been "like a cat on velcro" in everything from daily commuting to a Dragon run.

In any case, it sounds like a trip to the dealer is in order.
Good luck ...

Peace !
Spearsy

 

Thanks for all of the feedback. I'd put a trip to the dealer service center into the works yesterday, and I have an appointment set up for next week. We'll see what they have to say.

Around town, there's really no issue. 25mph is probably an overstatement. It's not until I hit 45+ that I start to feel unsafe.

The run-flats almost kept me from buying the MINI. I'd read so many negatives about them. I guess I don't understand how MINI can do so many things right, can put all of the obvious thought and planning and engineering into the vehicle... and put tires on them that seem to be almost universally loathed.

We'll see what the service department has to say...

 

I loved my runflats. I am in the minority but I did. There are others who really liked there's too. We have a secret club & all the RF haters are not invited. It's called the secret runcrap lover's society

 

+1 on having the alignment checked Kevin. My wife's car behaved very much like that when she got it, and I insisted the dealer have the alignment checked. Sure enough, all readings but one came out way out of spec. They redid the alignment and now the car drives like it's on rails... no wandering or pulling at highway speeds, and especially no buffeting due to winds (and we live in the Great Pains, where 40mph gusts are called "breezes"). Her car and mine, which is an 05 and has impeccable road manners with the 15" wheels and those skinny non runflat contis, are actually better behaved than the two sebring convertibles we owned before.

Fwiw, I have driven several loaners, most with runflats, and most fairly new cars (less than 7k miles). Almost all of them exhibited this kind of "squirreliness" to some degree, one of them so bad that it would try to take of sideways if I accelerated too hard in a straight line. I have talked to my SA (Kim, wonderful lady) and we both conjectured that since the cars are tied down during the ocean trip and probably bounce around quite a bit, it may affect the original factory alignment. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's the case.

 

mini feels stable 2 me i just dont feel safe if im in the back seat and a big truck is coming up behind me at a red light i feel like im gonna get squished

 

Wind is an issue, but that is because it is a small, light car.

I've never felt in more control for the most part. Sometimes the car does more around a bit on the road but that is due to the fact that it is FWD, which generally sucks on every car. However the MINI handles surprisingly well for a FWD car. Sounds like you need an LSD or something.

 

Where abouts in SoCal are you?

If you're nearish to me, or want to meet and get a 2nd opinion, I'd happily help you out. I'm in Camarillo, a little north of the LA/Ventura county line on the 101.

 

[quote=Spearsy;2313730]Sounds like the OP is either ...


"like a cat on velcro" !

Excellent !! That's the best analogy I've ever heard! We were just commenting about how stable our mini is even in a hard wind or by flying big trucks!----"like a cat on velcro"--she sticks to it!

 

I can feel my MINI drift a bit on certain pavements, but I never feel unsafe. I recently drove the Dragon in Tennessee and didn't have any problems. I have 17 inch RF's

 

I felt the same way when I first got my MCS. I suggest more "seat time" and that you ditch those worthless runflat tires. I mounted a set of Michelin PE2 Exaltos on 16" wheels which run much better.

 

ChiliBomb,

I can recall exactly where I lifted that line. But, I used quotes.
Sure is a good description of the MINI on a Dragon run though ...

Peace !
Spearsy

 

More info on tramlining is here:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=47

Many of the replies may not be from an area where the roads are grooved.

My MC is on order, so I do not know if I will experience the effect, but I have driven other cars where it has happened, and I agree with the original post that it is quite disconcerting and gives one wonder about control of the vehicle.

 

The runflats are not great performing tires and they are rough but they do not make the car undrivable. PLENTY of people drive their MINIs safely for years with runflats. I've had two MINIs and driven loaners and other people's MINIs with and without runflats and it's not like the car is night and day. Better tires improve an already great car, they do not transfer it from a crap car to a fabulous machine. They aren't the worst thing in the world.

I kept my runflats on my 1st MINI for 13K and my second for about 3 or 4K and it wasn't horrible and I certainly did not feel unsafe.

Take it in for service and as other have suggested, have another MINI owner drive it and see if they feel the same thing.
Either something other than the tires is very wrong or you are used to a very different feel behind the wheel that you aren't getting from the MINI and you may need to rethink.

 

Thanks to everyone for all of the feedback. My MINI is in the shop as we speak. Will be interesting to see what they find. If they come back to me with "Sorry, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the condition," I may be looking for a tall building.

 

See my earlier post.....

 

Did you ever get this issue figured out? I just found this thread today and found it really strange that someone would complain about NOT feeling safe with the MINI handling. Maybe its the fact that the car is so 'touchy' ?

 

What were you driving befor the MINI?as some newer drivers to the car are not used to a car with such razor sharp handling characteristics.

 

like said before... try a new wheel/tire combo. maybe you can find one somewhere to test drive

 

The dealer likes to over inflate the tires. I have all seasons and they had them inflated to 36. They're suppose to be at 33. Once I broght the air down to 34 the handling imporoved a great deal and Clown doesn't wonder around the road as much.

I don't know much about the runflats other then even the dealer talked me out of getting them. But check and see if even they are over inflated. It could make all the difference in the world!!!

 

Thats weird

What did you drive before an M1-A1 Abrahms Tank

 

don't know if its to late to throw in my two cents, but in the December 2008 issue of Modern MINI they address this very issue in a 2007 sidewalk Convertible. they recommend installing a top strut brace as well as a lower front and a lower middle brace. I mean it would make sense, when you turn a car into a convertible you take away a lot of the stability and rigidity that a hard top would have. In the article they go as far as saying that with the particular kit they used you get the stability, rigidity, and handiling of hatchback.

 

I love my runflats too. How do I join the club?

There may be quieter, better gripping and/or more forgiving tires out there, but I think these things are great and they give me peace of mind in case of a flat.

I've also never felt more in control of a car. Love the way this thing handles. The only people ever scared in my car are my buddies when I take them to the track. They can not believe how well this thing corners.