The bypass valve (BPV) is vaccuum operated - when your foot is in it, the BPV snaps shut and you have boost regardless of the RPMs. However, even boosted there's only so much torque you can get from a 1.6L engine... Also, the compression ratio of the S is 8.? vs the Cooper 10.?
They're both fun to drive.

 

You cannot pick one incident (or several ancedotal stories) and draw a conclusion from it.

Just think a bit. Do you think that all Ferrari, Porsche, M Cars, Lambo, Corvette, Lotus, etc. drivers drive at 9/10s all the time and every light is a race?

If not, why would you think whoever bought a MCS would not behave the same way

Its not about getting "on it" to impress someone else nor driving that way all the time ... Rather, having the power in reserve means that, for example ... hypothetically of course, you can easily pass a slower moving vehicle say in Western Texas on the Interstate.

Your question is kind of like ... Why does the US have this HUGE Army and a million nukes and sit around not using it? I would imagine because anytime we want the US can kick butt ...

 

Hey... I'm not saying anyone has to drive any particular way. I'm just surprised. I don't drive like that all the time, either! But I'm really not basing it on that one event. It's just the latest instance that prompted me to write.

Also, I thought my car was a little slow off the line as well. But then I discovered Sport Mode! Sport Mode makes up for that pretty well I think! And my wheels, well, they are just holeys. I don't know if they are light or not?

And Pittsburgh is a great town for MINIs! Although I wish the roads were kept up a little better. Driving through Regent Square is horrible. But Pittsburgh is much better than Cleveland, where I'm from. The roads there are absolutely scandalous!!

 

I thought the compression for the S engine is 8:1 without the blower. Under pressure, it's like 12:1. THat's my understanding.

 

This makes no sesne... Of course its easy to leave everyone at the light if NOBODY else is racing...
The MCS has a 2 second advantage to 60 mph. The LSD would also play a big part in these times

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but LSD does not make your car accelerate in a straight line any faster. LSD helps transfer load to both wheels while turning or when one drive wheel loses traction.

 

This is a torque-sensitive differential that manages torque output under acceleration. If the drive wheel loses traction it will transfer power to the wheel with the most grip.
So instead of sitting and spinning.. the car will accelerate. It works equally as well when exiting corners under power or out of the hole in a straight line.

 

take your car through Schenley Park, if you haven't done so already. You can pretend you're racing in the Vintage Grand Prix...

 

I'm shocked. You "left" another MINI behind without slowing down to wave?? Have we taught you nothing?

 

Unless I'm in the mood to step on it, I typically shift at around 3,000 RPMs... I think that's how I've been averaging (and beating) 30mpg in my S. On the other hand I've turned off the DSC and layed a solid one second squeal in second gear when pulling out onto a dangerous section of RT 9W in northern NJ. On my other hand beating a BMW who's obviously playing with me is quite enjoyable. All depends on the day and my direction to or from work.
:-)
Love, love, LOVE my MINI! Could not be happier with an automobile.

 

OK, I get you. I'll do some more research, and see if I can figure this one out.

 

If you plan on buying a new MCS... Getting a the LSD is a no-brainer... For $500 its the best option bargain out there.. It should be standard with the S.

 

You're confusing the supercharger with a turbocharger. The supercharger is there all the time...

The worst thing I drove was a Cooper CVT--as a loaner. Had it for a day, and although if I couldn't have bought an S for some reason, I would still have bought a manual Cooper--they're both great cars, but in different ways--although I prefer the S, the base Cooper with manual transmission is still a blast. The CVT, however, is awful. If the Cooper just came in CVT, I wouldn't even consider it. It's lack of acceleration is almost dangerous. Thanks god they're getting rid of it.

 

Oh, I went through that debate tirelessly. I decided against it, since it was a performance first, safety second, feature. I do not doubt its ability (my knowledge ends at the cornering enhancement), but I am not planning on many (if any) track days, and I decided on some other options which would make everyday motoring more enjoyable.

Watch, I'll change my tune soon enough, and I'll probably end up getting it in my next MINI.

 

Turn off the DSC and you'll be able to smoke the tires until the rev limiter stops you

 

Its like a friend of mine once said "just because you have a swimming pool in the back yard dosent mean you use it every day - you just know you can".
My thinking is, that I would'nt race most people - get in an accident and you are both guilty regardless of who's fault it is. With the way lawsuits go today, they squeeze the deep pockets regardless if you were just watching. Takes the fun out of having fun.

 

I would like to mention that the CVT is not terribly terribly bad at acceleration. It's really two things - driving it for a while (understanding the pedal), and (most importantly) knowing when and when not to be in SD mode.

I tend to drive conservatively in town where lights tend to drop my mpg to about 28. However, on the giant go-kart track... uh expressway, it's a bit different.

And I've found on some days it is perkier than others.

 

I've driven through once, because of an unexpected detour. It's fun to drive through, but I am not familiar with the park at all, so I am afraid of getting lost!

Well, people don't seem too interested in waving here, although I did have a lady wave at me in an (Electric?) blue MINI today, so that was pretty nice! I just hope she saw me wave back!

I thought of this same analogy, and it clearly applies here. Although you did later insinuate I was racing, which I was not! I was not expecting the other MINI to race me or anything. I was just driving the way I drive and I suppose I was disappointed to see the faster car being driven the most slowly.

I see what cct is saying (with the exception of the "almost dangerous" allegation), but then ururk makes a great point, which is, if the CVT seems a little sluggish, put it into Sport Mode!

 

No racing is involved, I assure you...just a normal, typical, smooth, efficient launch. It is an odd phenomenon that happens with conspicuous frequency. My point is that it may be due driver adjustments to overcoming a slight tendancy in Coopers to bog down at low rpms, at least on my '03 Cooper. Revised gearing in later models may have resolved this.

 

And one point of defense - I've heard this here and there, not from official sources - that the CVT is adaptive, and is based on several hundred miles of "normal" driving.

As far as... "Revised gearing in later models may have resolved this."

Perhaps software gearing, because in reality, we are both driving around with the aid of a Really Large RubberbandTM. I do find the sluggish start at low RPMS on *some* days. Like I mentioned, on some days it is peppy, and others it isn't so. I haven't tried to correlate why (temperature, humidity, etc...).

John

 

I've heard this too. But does it stop trying to learn after that initial period? Is my car still shifting according to the tastes of its previous owner?

 

OctaneGuy -> Any clue?

 

No offense, but I'd never buy a Mini with CVT. Takes all the fun out of it. I seriously doubt the 0-60 times of a CVT are close to those of the manual, even with the CVT optimized. Besides taking the soul out of the car, The CVT just does weird things--and not just at takeoff. But then again, I've yet to drive a CVT I liked--the Audi wasn't so hot either. Supposedly some of the newer CVTs are better; I just wouldn't included the Mini as one of those. I suspect that's one reason why we won't be seeing it on the new Mini's.

Again, I've driven a base mini both manual CVT, and an S (which I bought), and IMHO the Mini manual is much better than the CVT, so much so that they're really not even close. But then again I've never really understood why you'd buy a driver's car like the mini and want an automatic; it's like ordering a cheeseburger without the cheese.

 

The ECUU is what is always "learning" and adapting to the driving style but it doesn't change much, just kinda smoothes things out to be more efficient.

If you're sad to see a faster car driven slowly check out my thread on the lambo I spotted a few months ago.

 

re: "...... It made me wonder, what is the point of paying extra for the S when one drives so meekly?..."

I can think of a couple off the top of my head...

1- still in "break in" period
2- recently got a ticket
3- enjoying the scenery (already mentioned)
4- not paying attention
5- G.I.C. (girlfriend in car)

I'll admit that 30-40% of why I got an MCS to replace my MC, is for its looks (*ducks*). Not to say that once I pass the break in, I won't let loose every now and then... *grin*