In an S Sunday at the dealer while my lady was out on a test drive with the MA, I had permission to start and play with a Sport Auto, 2014 Hardtop as long as I didn't drive it.
The ergonomics were paramount.
Starting the engine and placing it in regular, green and sport were of concern.
Upon accelerator pedal induced engine revs:

Green: non discernible, boringly slow
Regular: ....regular.. inaudible.
Sport: a little burble from the exhaust note but most disconcerting was the hesitation from pedal depression to acceleration/response of engine RPM.
Seemed like a definite flat spot.
A hesitation from depression of the pedal to the response of the engine.

When the MA returned I commented on the hesitation, he acknowledged recognition of same but quickly moved to other topics.

Any comments regarding this hesitation experience from manual or auto real life drivers of an S will be most appreciated.

 

Mrdi. Let me get this straight...you were allowed to start but not drive the car?
Your observations are bases on the sound of the engine? If so, how can the engine rev "boringly slow". Was this car a prepped demo or a new undelivered vehicle? The accelerators on these cars are electric so any lag could be because the engine hadn't been fully set up yet. I have an R56 and when you put on sport mode it does not increase the HP or timing but it increases the response making the peddle more sensitive....this can feel like a lag if it is just idling.
Basically any evaluation should be done while driving IMO.

 

Think it is safe to say reving a car, nonload is generly a bad thing....it is not made to run like that...
Software, etc are not tuned to run that way....
One more fact....
HEAT, like what is made when an engine is underload helps to increase the volume of air a turbo can make....so idling... No load does not tell you much....

 

I have test driven the F56 MCS a few times while awaiting mine on order.

I have driven the car in all three of the drive modes and did not find there to be a lag in S mode at all. Response was sharp and far improved over my current R56. Really no lag in Mid mode either. Things do feel a bit sluggish in green mode but that is what that is designed for (to increase fuel efficiency).

Of course on the flip side of the coin I have not sat in one while parked and simply revved the engine either; so I am not able to comment on the throttle response during this situation.

 

Zippy +1

 

1) correct
2) based on sound and tach response
3) New prepped demo, "boringly slow" = perceived lag = flat spot.
When I mentioned this to the MA he acknowledged the comment as one he had heard before,
but chose not to comment on the cause.

This is not a controversial critique.
It is merely an experiential observation
We have an S on order.
However , I bought a VW 412 (European delivery) it had a flat spot and it was unnerving.
That resulted in the sale of said vehicle w/ only 8k miles on the odometer

 

I've not experienced any flat spots with my MINI S in either Mid or Sport mode. I've yet to drive it in the Green mode.

 

Great to hear Bob .
Thanks

 

Approximately when is your MINI-S due here for delivery?

 

• Quote:

  Originally Posted by CobraBob

  Approximately when is your MINI-S due here for delivery?

End of May beginning of June

 

I think the OP is referring to the dead space in pedal depression...you must depress the accelerator pedal further than in other cars before the engine starts to rev.

In my experience this is normal to BMW cars, and much worse with Mercedes.

There are aftermarket electronic products that may void your warranty, but are designed to eliminate the dead space you refer to.

 

Or use sport mode.

 

The dead spot is still there in sport mode. The OP is not discussing on-throttle throttle response; he is referring to tip-in throttle response from 0 rpm. When you depress the accelerator there is dead space until the car responds to the command after a certain amount of pedal travel. Yes, the travel is reduced with Sport mode engaged, but it is not eliminated.