Hello I am a newbie with MCO. We just ordered our MC PW/B, Premium and Sport Package yesterday. My husband and I went round and round on the what was necessary to have and what was fun to have. This car will be our second vehicle which will be used for weekend and vacation tooling around. My two questions are:

1. Is the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) all that my Mini salesperson claims it is?

2. Are the 16" alloy wheels and run flat performance tires preferable over the stock 15 " tires?

I am sure these questions have been asked before but, when I performed a search I could not locate any specific answers. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

on your mc the 15s are perfect. thats my opinion

and i dont think hte DSC is necessary :smile:

 

My decision on the 16" was for the wider, more performace-oriented tires.

 

If you're into doing some spirited driving on the twisties during your weekend drives you might be happier with 16" wheels than the 15's.

I had a boyfriend with a Jetta that came with 15" wheels. He later upgraded to 16's and there was a very nice improvement in the handling. Granted it was no MINI but relatively speaking the change made a nice difference.

Can't say anything about the DSC because I have no experience with it.

 

There are those that prefer the spirited driving of a car with the DSC off, as they have the experience to handle whatever the car or conditions may throw at you. If you want to motor on the safe side, use the DSC. If you want a pure performance ride, leave it off, but be prepared to drive the car and not let it drive you.

 

I think you'll be happier with the 16's. As for the DSC here is my take on it:

The DSC is an added safety feature to the vehicle so it has it's uses. I recently read an article in Car magazine (which is a British mag.) and a high-up person in Mercedes who was instrumental in designing their traction control system said that stats show that stability control options in cars have reduced accidents by 10%. It has made that much of a difference.

I'm a big fan of turning the DSC off when I am needing to get up and moving fast from a stand still. It will rob you of power off the line because of what it does. But, when I'm on the freeway, in heavy traffic that is moving fast, or I have someone in my car and I'm more casual about my driving (and less aware of my surroundings) I leave it on. It's when you least expect it it that you will need it. It has it's uses as well as it's non-uses (if that makes sense).

But just so you know, the car is very stable and controllable without it on.

 

I agree with all of the above. 16s are definitely the thing to get: stiffer handling than the 15s, less of a goofy "Safari" look, but not as uncomfortable/heavy as the 17s.

DSC will make you safer. It works. It has saved my *** on at least two occasions. However, I turn it off an awful lot to have a much sportier ride.

 

I have the 16" run-flats and drive around w/ the DSC on all the time. I like the tires fine: they hold the road extremely well and the DSC only kicks in if I'm actually losing traction, which is very rare. I find it does nothing to dampen my driving experience, especially out on the seriously challenging roads, where if I pick the right line, etc. on curves, the DSC leaves me alone. My passengers will testify that the quality of excitement in these situations is plenty high enough, believe me! I've never felt that the DSC interfered w/ me driving the car, but these are my experiences, I know other MINI drivers feel quite differently. At any rate, it's a safety feature I'm glad to have.

 

Yes, I'd too get the 16's. They look nice and offer the runflat tires. I like those tires b/c they seem safe. Also, as mentioned, there are performance benefits.

As for the DSC, I think it's a great program. It saved me in snowy conditions, on slick rainy roads, and it helps you out in the curves if you turn in too fast. I only turn it off if I'm at a busy intersection where I have to move fast. It will cut out acceleration if there is gravel/rocks when you pull out. So, the simple solution is to turn it off. The light then stays on to remind you to turn DSC on again once you to a safe speed.

 

I like the way the 16's look and perform.

The DSC can save you in bad conditions, and you can shut it off if you like. Note most very high end cars have this sort of sytem.

Good luck with your MINI!

Regards,
Red

 

Switching off between our cars, the 16" wheels with performance run flats have a higher cornering limit, but the 15" wheels are a little smoother, and feel less bothered by bumps in the corner. It could be that I am just going slower..

I have never driven a MINI with DSC, but I had a rental in Toronto with the 15" wheels and ASC. ASC was fine in the rain. I wish we could get it here. Looking at the front wheels, I was not the first to push the car. With only 18,000 km (11,000mi) the front tires were on their last legs.