Good afternoon,

I'm trying to figure out how to get a MCS after my lease is complete on my corvette this fall (most likely an ordered 04'). I've seen a few MCS's around the Detroit area, but how are well do they handle the roads around the area? I'm a regular tourist of the Lodge, Southfield and Davison freeways and have gone thru 2 alignments on my vette (even tho I try to avoid potholes, maintain proper tire pressures and watch the speed on bad sections), my friends Golf 337 is in the same boat. The H2's and heavy trucks driving around here certainly don't help the concrete either

I am also torn between the sport suspension and non-sport. I hear that the 17" wheels are harsh on cratered roads, I drove the grey MCS (w/16" rims) at Motor City mini and found it ok on my gratiot/696/I-94 tour. Different ride than I'm used to, but different is good :smile:

anyways, feedback appreciated...

thanks in advance :smile:

-Matt

 

DO IT DO IT DO IT !!!!!!
All MCS come standard with sport suspension, The sports pack option (#2?)adds different wheels but no suspension changes

I drive I94 & Southfield as a daily commute
I have killed one tire (not sure if it was road debris or moon crater)I did have to have my alignement reset as the impact was hard enough to jar wheel off angle.

The 17 are harsh with standard run flats (well my Pirelli Eufria were). Latest change to Yoko convenational (front only) seems to have improved matters considerably. The 17 S lites are big heavy bricks but look like they will standard upto pounding the roads.

as an FYI I have a set of 16 for winter driving and these make a big differeance in that car does not bog down as much from a standstill rolling start

If I had my choice I woudl buy lighter aftermarket wheels and tires for summer

 

I've had a loaded MC since last and frequent I-94, the Lodge and Southfield Freeways daily. The sport suspension can be a bit rocky with all the potholes, but I've gotten used to it and rather enjoy feeling at one with the road. Whatever you do, plan to get snow tires if you plan on driving your MCS in the winter. They are an absolute must around here. Good luck!

_________________
2003 Cooper/IndiBlue/AllPackages/Sunroof

 

As you probably noticed, there are a lot of H2's around Detroit :evil: :evil:

The MINI handles any road just great, however it can be a rough ride on our bad road sections. I sometimes think I'm damaging my MINI or my teeth. It's very quiet and smooth on good roads though and it just eats the curves up.

17 inchers are not a problem except for their weight and the tough run flat sidewalls do not help. I think they are just fine, but will upgrade in the future. I agree, you may want to get aftermarket wheels and tyres to make the ride more acceptable to your tastes.

I've got a question for the all season performance tyre owners: do you still need snow tyres or do the all seasons handle the snow pretty good?

I've got the high performance Dunlop's and they were useless in any ice or snow over an inch.

 

I drove the 16 Dunlop run flats through winter and they were great

I know of brave soles that drove Pirelli 17 performance through winter but they like looking out of the side windows. I had this set up on for a week and it was not great - I would imagine the high perforamnce (re summer) dunlop run flats are similarly useless.

Just rember the MINI becomes a really big snow plough in winter - and if the bonnet scoop injests snow it starts puffing like a dragon

 

Thanks everyone for your feedback :smile: Driving a low car (tho I'm used to it now).
OT- but the strangest feeling I had when when I got back from living/driving
in Europe last year into my Vette. I felt like a rid on the really wide big-wheel. I vote we replace the H2's with this:
http://www.dolch.net/downloads/images/fiatmultiplia.jpg :smile:

But on the flipside, I found the folks at MotorCity mini good, I took a tour of the service facility and someone was there to get a windshield crack replaced. No drama, they even gave him a loaner car for the day... Sales folks seem decent enough. Stark contrast to oldsmobile intrigue (2001) I've had three headliners, 1 sunroof switch, all brakes complely replaced (warped), and the
right rear speaker replaced (rattle). 16 trips to the dealer all in all, and only 16,000mi... , plus I want a 04 with the three spoke steering wheel, and the digital speedo in the tachometer. I'm going a bit on the expensive side, but heres what I think I'm getting-
MCS
16" V-Spoke Wheels
Premium Package
Leather
Xenon/Fog/Rear-Fog Lights
Harmon Kardon (will have the dealer install the aux input and then put in XM myself)
Dimming Mirror
Cold Weather Package
Nixing the nav, will use my Garmin Street Pilot III
...and, of course, the requisite Belgium personal plate on the front...

Now color, mmmmmmmmmm, I'll debate this for quite a while!