I have an 06 MC. I live in the county and work in the city but never take the highway but use the back country winding roads. I normally start the car out in standard "d" and stay there pretty much until I hit the hills and the roads start twisiting. That is when I quickly switch over to "SD". Which at least in my mind tightens the suspension and makes the car more powerful and gives more growl but more importantly helps me handle the curves better without excessive braking. My questions are:

1. Am I doing damage to car by driving in "SD"?
2. I am right in my assumption that the car gets more powerful in "SD" and tightens the suspension?
3. Is "SD" used for wet conditions or snow?
4. Can "SD" be used on the highway?

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

 

Frankly, I don't even know why MINI bothered with the "D" when the "SD" is so much more fun! I use my "SD" all the time (city, mountains, rain & snow) just because it has quicker accelerations and better engine braking. I treat the "D" mode as kind of an overdrive concept on the highway. Hills and curves - "SD", straight and flat - "D" for gas mileage.
I don't believe "SD" has anything to do with a change in suspension however.

 

The car can be driven in "D"????

I agree with what MiniMaybee said and I use SD in much the same way. Sometimes in the twisties I use the Steptronic mode, but usually I leave it in SD and concentrate more on the driving.

Mechanically, I don't see how it can be any worse than driving in D (Disclaimer: I am by no means a mechanic. Actually I am quite mechanically challenged ).

 

Driving inthe SD mode will not damage your car. SD stands for Sport Drive and you are using as it was intended to be used. Your gas millage will suffer, though. When the MC is driven in the SD Manual mode the car is a blast to drive! Just shift into SD and bump the shifter forward, 1st gear appears on your Speedo. Hit the gas and off you go. to shift gears leave your foot on the gas pedal and pull the shifter back for each successive gear. The car really gets quick in the 3500-5500rpm range in any gear. Downshift the same way. The owners manual has more details. Another fun thing to do is to put it in 1st gear and floor it. When the engine gets to 6000rpm-redline- it will automatically shift up tho the next gear. The MC is surprisingly Quick in manual mode- Check it out.

 

I actually think the MC CVT is funner to drive than the MCS AT. I am able to get my MC to redline and hold, while I found the MCS would not even approach the redline before shifting even in steptronic mode. The MCS was a loaner so I only had it a short time but that was my limited experience.

 

No you wont hurt the car by putting it in to SD.
Powerful yes because you tell it when to shift, Suspension no.
you can used SD whenever the heck you want.

Franky, I don't know why MINI put an AUTO in the car. Oh thats right for people like my wife who just want to put the car in gear and forget about it.

 

Your wife and me! I hate manual; its so, well manual.

 

My wife has been driving a '02 MC CVT for 4 and a half years. Most fun automatic we have ever driven. And I agree the SD and Steptronic modes in the Cooper CVT and much more risque than the programming shifting patterns of the same SD and Steptronic programs in the 6-speed auto AISIN slushbox found in the Cooper S.

 

i never drive in the sd mode. its so unrealistic compared to a true automatic sd with gears.

 

I was rocking some super fun twisties this weekend in the Pink CVT and it was pretty neat.. sometimes the shifts are funky but for the most part there were three "Ss" in front of me.. and only two of them were faster drivers... (so cal and the man sid) the other one was only faster when not in a turn purely caue of the SC... it was a good time... oh and there were a whole mess of other Ss that couldnt keep up :P

no you are not hurting your car...

SD can be used when ever you see fit...

 

Yeah right Tuls - I'd like to know who those other S's were...I've seen you drive...HaHa JK -

That little pink pony was hangin' hard - sorry I had to leave you behind though. Good times.. gotta do that again~

 

ha ha yeah right... enjoy it while it lasts buddy... on day yer gunnah get spanked by that pink mini.... LOL... :p Just need to get her that 6 speed and the disco potato! OW OW!

and i added credits for you guys!

 

Credit... Ow Ow Ow!!!!

 

Manual transmissions are stone age technology- they date from before the Model T.