I love my 16-inch runflats...am on the third set. I drive cross-country alone at least twice a year and like the security of the runflats. Of course, on a nasty, rutted road, it is no fun in the runflats, but it's not fun in other tires, either. You can do what others have suggested and replace with non-runflats, plus I recommend carrying a spare. Dang those rutted roads, though!

 

Koni FSDs are about $620 shipped from TireRack. An non-factor installer (e.g. Central Coast Coopers in Oxnard/L.A.) will probably put them on for $200 or less...

 

thanks again for all of the responses.

so Koni's are essentially a better shock absorber? I guess I can look into this, but it's more than i want to spend on a new car.

I've been driving around on decent roads since my trip and the car is fine. I guess I just have to pick my roads, but it's kinda weird that I might consider not driving back to a place in my MCS because the roads are really rough.

 

I've got the 17" run flats and don't mind the "rough" ride at all (ex-Jeeper here)... the comfort of the ride increases quite a bit when I go to my 15" rims and Blizzak REVO1 snow tires. The cornering, however, is a bit more hair-raising, lol. I didn't realize just how stiff the RFs were until I took the same turn I take every day with RFs at the same speed on the snows... oops! Fortunately I recovered quickly enough.

 

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS??

Thanks!

 

agranger... was just re-reading your post... thanks for the advice on the tires. I will look into these. also, the springs you mentioned... are they listed on the texsspeedwerks site yet? what are they called and how much.

thanks for the comments on grover. changing the speedo ring is kind of an interesting idea that i hadn't thought of. i was thinking of possibly getting red mirror caps, or maybe even a red hood scoop!

 

Couldn't help while reading these post but think about how the 07 MINI is supposed to address these issues. A slightly softer ride with more suspension travel, a suspension that is designed for use with runflats...and, a smaller console to keep your leg from pressing against the downtube.

Can't wait to check out an '07.

 

Non runflat 16's will make the ride softer than runflat 16s. Its worth the money, even though the bozos scraped my wheel.

I still have some roads I won't travel, though.

 

I totally feel your pain!! I was driving on horrible roads.. made me consider the unthinkable... instead, I bought the Koni FSD's. Now, I am sooo happy with the ride. Like Handn told me one day.. best 800 I have spent so far.

 

You guys should feel those fun flats on a cobble stone road!

I myself don't mind the RF's....

 

The Koni's are the way to go. Don't worry about the extra money spent on a new car. The modding bug is going to get you sooner or later, and the FSD's are a great way to start

 

Another thing about run-flats is the noise! Local freeway here has lots of tar strips and each one is echoed and amplified by each tire ! MUCH louder than my old Kumhos on my old car. die runflats die.

 

The Texas Speed Werks (www.texasspeedwerks.com) lowering springs (I think that will be the offical TSW name) are not on their site yet (as on Monday morning). I've been PM-ing w/ another person interested in these springs and I think that the first full production batch are at the power-coaters right now and will be complete on Wednesday, Nov 15. I've heard that the price will be $199.

They are a linear-rate spring (cold-wound, so less chance of sagging) that has a slightly stiffer spring rate. The drop is very slight (5/8 in the front, just short of 1 inch in the back) so it still plays well with the factory dampers. At slow speeds, you still feel the little bumps... just like stock. At speeds above 25-30 MPH, the springs stiffer rate kick in sooner after a bump than stock, catching the car earlier and smoothing out the bounce. The different drop front-back reduces some of the rake of the car (the hopped-up look in the back) and lowers the center of gravity (just a bit). The firmer spring rates make turns noticeably flatter and really reduces brake dive (the drop of the front-end under hard braking).

I can't say that they make a HUGE difference to the softness of the ride, but they provide a noticeable change in performance, a visible change to the stance of the car and still play well w/ the rest of the stock suspension.

PS: I got lucky to be the TSW beta-tester for these new springs... I just stumbled acrossed a discussion thread at the right time. I have no affiliation w/ TSW other than we are members of the same local MINI club