Well.. went on a nice drive after work today. I have to seriously say this is a very special car. It is very unique and now that I'm starting to learn it's personality I'm starting to learn how to control the car better. Now I have about 700mi. I noticed the car is definitely the fastest car I've ever had in the really tight stuff. It changes direction effortlessly. No complaints, no plowing, just tucks in and goes.

A couple of times trying to drop the car into second gear proved to be a bit of a chore. It seems like I'll sometimes get caught in the notch for reverse which causes me to miss the shift. After learning this fact I can pretty much avoid it, but I still knick it a bit when I'm in the middle or turning/braking/downshifting.

What is really strange to me is how the car tucks in to corners under acceleration. I"ve never had such a rwd feeling fwd car before. (If that's what it is) The rwd cars I've had in the past seemed to have this characteristic. The awd and fwd cars I had definitely just felt different.

Tire pressure is KEY.. Duh right? well I checked the pressure this morning, and pumped the tires from 35psi to 38. The car actually feels LESS choppy than it did before. Which I thought was interesting. I guess with more tire pressure the suspension does it's job better. Maybe someone with better suspension experience would understand.

At higher speeds the car does feel a little floaty. So did the R53 in my opinion. I think this is the thing I miss most about my old heavy quattro audi. That thing felt like a tank. Never floaty at any speed, but it always plowed because the engine sat mostly before the front axle.

The mini is a great car. In my opinion the R56 is just awesome. I'm completely happy with my purchase. How is everyone else doing with theirs? (btw.. I'm still lagging on full interior and exterior photos it needs a bath now because of all the brake dust )

One other thing: I've been averaging about 27.6 MPG with the sport button on. Only on my second new tank of gas. This car is definitely the best balance for fuel efficiency and fun in my opinion.

 

I've got about 2,000 miles on my R56 now. I've got the sport suspension upgrade - it seems to stiffen everything up slightly - I like it as it's not too aggressive yet it's a bit more than stock which is perfect for me. I am missing my 22.5mm rear sway bar off my R53 - I may have to do an upgrade - but I want to drive someone's R56 with the bar installed w/ the Sports Suspension.

I've set my pressures to the factory pressures - I may try and bump mine up a little bit to see how it feels. I've got the 16" cookie cutter wheels and I'm feeling slightly undertired - that said - I do like that the wheels only weigh 16 lbs apiece. :-)

 

I guess I should specify that I got the 17" wheels. Cool stuff. I'm anxious to buy a set of tires and get this thing out on the autox course.

 

Hmm.
The sport suspension (according to the parts CD) gives you stiffer shocks and larger (by 1 mm) Sway bars. It looks like stock sway bars are 22.5mm and sport ones are 23.5mm. I will have to verify this.

I think the R56 sits a bit high, and would like to lower mine... just a little, maybe half an inch to an inch. Not sure whoose springs will work with the factory shocks. H&R and Eibach both have spring kits, but they may be too aggressive for the stock shocks.