I am planning on leasing an MC with the manual transmission. After reading a bunch of threads on here, there seems to be a bit of a mix as to how to drive the Mini. I have driven a stick for 26 years so I know how to shift. My question is to find out if this car is designed to be driven at higher revs like Hondas or does one have to treat it more gently and shift at say at 3500 rpm. Of course I will be easy on it during break in and being as I do a lot of city/semi-suburb driving, it may not get on the freeway but once a week. Hoping that won't be a problem over time. Is there anything in the owner's manual that covers this?

Thanks

 

Thanks to the six speed gear box and computer engine management, you can drive it either way, and with the sport button engaged or not. I go for fuel efficiency on the street and quickness on the autocross course. It does both admirably.

 

I have an older supercharged MINI, and I rarely go over 3K RPM unless I'm showing off. MINI engines including the standard engine produce pretty good mid-range power/torque, so I don't think you'll have to peg the tach unless you need passing power on the hiway.

 

Having previously owned an S2000 and an SI, my MCS doesn't have to be wring out to feel that you're driving something special. The SI in particular, i drive it lazily and it's nothing but a base engine civic. Not so with my MCS.

 

On an interesting aside....I am friends with the GM of the newest MINI shop in town. They've only been open a few months, but he told me they've already had a few low mileage R56's come in with the dreaded carbon buildup in the head area. Anecdotal opinion of their dealer techs and MINI is that A. the direct injection engines are just more prone to this than the older ones....and B. most of the cars coming in with this issue are never driven hard (i.e. the proverbial little old lady who does her 4 mile commute and never revs it over 3K). Just sayin.

 

Redline it everywhere and roast the tires off in the turns!

 

It's your car, drive it the way you want too - it will take it just fine.

 

Do keep in mind, though, that you will not be using the kind of RPM that is typically used in Honda SI or S2000 motors -- I'd really hate to see 8000 rpm from a Mini motor on too many occasions. But the Mini's little computer will remind you of its rev limits and will try its best to keep the motor from grenading. The Minis torque comes on much lower than the typical Honda, so you may find yourself just naturally not using up as many rpm.

Just my thoughts, YMMV.

 

Drive the snot out of it

 

You can't overrev the Mini's engine unless you downshift to a too low gear. If I am accelerating and don't shift mine quits running at 6500 rpm and takes several seconds to reset.

 

I've always believed it's good to rev the car to near max RPM every now and then to blow out carbon and crap from the engine.

 

S2ki? i had an s2 for almost 10 yrs, boosted for 5.

 

A redline a day keeps the carbon away!

 

Hell YEAH!!!! Now that's how you drive a MINI!!

 

+ any one who wants some gets someeee!

 

I'm suprised nobody has said "Drive it like ya stole it"

 

In va that'll get you time and lots of $

 

You can drive a MINI S around all the time in 'traffic mode' under 3500rpm and it will have plenty of torque... The MINI S really starts to make power at around 4800rpm and pulls hard from there up to red line, so you can have some fun too... With a few mods, you can turn a MINI S into a really, really fun car to drive...

 

Peak torque is at 1,600 RPM and holds it well from there - Same as my 2008 GMC Duramax diesel.

 

YUP! s2ki . I wasn't boosted though. Had the typical bolt ons. Invidia exhaust for those cars are deafeningly loud. 50/50 i say you're going back .

 

You know, now that someone had mention it, it seems that phrase had died here. Someone should start a thread with that title.

 

I definitely will, just got tired of having a loud car... even with the double muffled exhaust the car is loud. i had an 01 so no sound deadening material the trans was loud clutch rattle loud all loud! Loved it though. I did tons of write ups on there, if you search "us2bwrx" youll see my clutch diy's and more .

 

I think that once you've spent some time with your MCS, you'll just get a feel for how it should be driven. The engine setup is really flexible - it's perfectly happy around town, and perfectly happy carving up the twisties as well.

You'll notice that with the six-speed gearbox, the ratios are close enough that with the turbo engine's torque, you won't find yourself having to climb back up into the power band with each shift. The power is just THERE.

Whether or not you use the SPORT button around town is up to you. Personally, I never drive without it. But it's all subjective, and you may find that Sport Mode is a little too high-strung for the city.

At any rate, just take the time to get to know your MINI, and if you're like me, it will surprise you with every drive.

PS: I just re-read your original post, and noticed that you might not be talking about a Cooper S. So some of the above may not apply...

Spridget

 

Nope, drive it like you stole it.


Mark