I am picking up my new (to me) MINI S convertible with nav and steptronic tomorrow. Would love to figure out the nav and the steptronic before I drive the car home.

Also, I currently have an 04 MCS (for sale) and love the non-run flat tires (16 inch) that I replaced the stock wheels and tires with. Does anyone have any recommendations regarding wheels and tires? Since the cabrio weighs 250 pounds more than the coupe, are there any affordable lightweight wheels I should consider? Should I go with 16 inch wheels again? Should I leave the wheels and tires alone?

 

Which wheels/tires will it come with? You have some options if it comes with 17"/runflats and you find the ride harsh. You can keep the wheels and simply switch to non-runflats, or also get smaller wheels. OZ Ultraleggera is fairly light and reasonably priced. You can even go down to 15" for lighter wheels.

The Nav is unintuitive and will take some time to become familiar with. You can read up on the manual before you get the car: http://www.motoringfile.com/files/MI...ion_manual.pdf

 

If I am runnnig all-season non-runflat radials will 16 or 17 inch wheels matter?

 

I can't help with the Nav - but here's Steptronic 101

* "D" - automatic mode that favors fuel economy over performance. Will seem like a super-slushy slushbox to anyone used to driving a MINI with the manual transmission. If you floor the accelerator, it will "kick down" into lower gear for passing, etc. You can use the paddles to "override" the automatically selected gear (push with your thumb = downshift; pull with your fingers = upshift), but the tranny will revert to auto mode after several seconds. I use "D" mode ONLY on the highway where I'm going at a fairly consistent speed and want max fuel economy.

* "SD" - a significantly better performing and more aggressive shifting version of "D". I use this setting when not crusing on the highway. SD on average holds one gear lower than "D" - so it revs higher and feels more powerful as a result. SD doesn't shift into 6th at all (unless you redline 5th, which usually doesn't happen in the US). After you shift ONCE manually (with either the paddles or the stick), SD stays in "manual" mode - doesn't revert to auto like "D" does.

* SD in manual mode - you use the paddles as above, or the stick to shift. The paddles seem a bit more responsive for some reason (though it's all electronic, so I don't understand why). Stick works same direction as the paddles - push forward to downshift, pull back to upshift. When in manual mode, SD will automaticaly shift in a few situations:
* at or near redline, it will upshift
* when you slow to a stop, it will downshift to 2nd
* if you're slow enough that it would stall in the current gear, it will downshift
* if you floor the accelerator, it will kick down into the next lower gear - I THINK - not positive on this one now that I think about it... (edit - confirmed below by MiniTron - thanx!)

I only use manual mode when I'm in the mood to drive "enthusiastically". You can shift under throttle - you don't drop the throttle to shift like with a manual. The engine will automatically back off very quickly to make the shift. Once you master it, the steptronic is FUN - you can keep both hands on the wheel in the twisties, and shift at times that wouldn't be advisable in a manual...

 

A note on the the "manual mode". If, while cruising on the interstate in 5th or 6th gear, at or near the speed limit, you mash the throttle with enough authority it will in fact kick down 2 or 3 gears. It all depends on how fast you are going. I have had it kick down to 3rd on more than one occasion, and it definately has quite a slingshot effect when you are trying to pass someone.

 

I really wanted a manual tranny, but I am so glad I got the auto with triptronic. I had to make this consesion for my wifes enjoyment of the car, as she doesn't drive stick. There are 3 personalities to this transmision. I love how the auto sport mode actually downshifts when you are on a downhill and you apply the brakes. I drove a stick for 15 years and I think the minis manual mode is as effective but quicker. When I was stuck in bumper to bumper the other night for 2 hours I was glad not to have a clutch.

What a blast this car is!

550miles on my 2 day old sidewalk. What a weekend!!

Jim

 

The Steptronic will grow on you even more over time as you get more comfortable with all the intricacies of manual mode. It's definitely not a manual - and there are some things the manual does better - but there are some things you can do with the Steptronic that a manual can't... it's cool.