Just wanted to see how many people usually take their MCS on the highway for a long stretch and what they think. I've seen several posts of people saying it can be pretty painful at times and since my driving is about 80% highway at least I am a bit concerned.

I've been thinking of buying an R53 for a while (and have one lined up) but just want to make sure that I won't be getting a sore back and b*** after 4 hours on the road...

I am also thinking of switching to regular tires (205/55/16) and maybe getting the Koni's... so if anyone has any experience with the latter and know how it might affect the warranty, also chime in!

 

I have an R53 with my run flats still on, and highway driving isnt that bad. but it really depends on how the road is

 

The ride isnt bad, and I have runflats, and I live in South Carolina, I believe we have some of the worst Highways in the nation

 

I'll tell you what I tell everyone If you're that worried about the ride don't get the MINI. If you want a kick *** little car that will out handel anything on the road today but doesn't feel like your sitting on a pillow then get the MINI.

 

I want a kick *** little car but not a sore b***... where does that leave me?

 

If you get an MCS-JCW, then yes, the ride can be a little rough at times. Depends on the road surface of course.

 

I think it depends on what you're used to. It's certainly not a Lincoln Town Car or anything, but it's not like you're in a go-kart with no springs, either. I've driven for several hours at a stretch, I'm 6'1", 210lbs with long legs and I wasn't any more uncomfortable in my MINI than I was in my old Honda or Mazda.

If you have special requirements or are very sensitive about a certain kind of ride, I'd see if you can find a car rental place that offers MINIs. Rent one for a weekend and take a 400-mile road trip - that should tell you more about the car then any number of subjective forum postings.

PS - I've run both Run-Flats and All-Season standard tires on my MCS, and I've not noticed any apreciable difference in road noise or comfort. I hear, though, that Run-Flats tend to get noisier when they get below 50% tread, so perhaps I've just not put enough miles on them. That or some people are just more **** about their tires than me (shrug)...

 

I find that 8 hour stints with the sport seats are comfy. The lack of softness all around is made up for by good support in my opinion. And my other vehcile is a Full on convrsion van with huge leather overstuffed captains chairs. Those are soft and cushy, and comfy, but I'm much more tired in them after 8 hours than the MINI seats.

Truth told I have a S but ditched the run flats, that helps a LOT.

 

I have an MCS cabrio with sport suspension and runflats - and have driven 700-800 miles on roughish roads in two days several times. No comfort issues at all for me... i DO have the leather seats - which some have said are more comfortable due to the way they are designed (nothing really to do with the leather).

 

I think I'll try to do the rental and see. I drove a GTI and the Mini back to back and the difference is pretty big... at least to me. I still preferred the Mini though, because you feel much more connected to the road.

I am coming from an old VW Cabrio and the ride is not really cushy... but a bit more so than the Mini...

 

I had a 2003 MC with leather seats---the lumbar support was fantastic and my first drive was 5500 miles in 10 days--bringing my MINI home from across the country.

My second MINI is a 2005 MCS with cloth seats--no lumbar support, but the heated seats compensate partially for it.

It depends on what you consider "rough".

One of the best "confort" mods for the MINI is replacing the struts with Koni FSDs, around $600, and that will make even your runflats feel comfortable. Then you could go with non runflats. I've got 17" low profile ultra high performance tires (non runflats) and with the FSD's, the ride is comfortable even over the worst bumps.

The highway closest to me is one of the worst in Los Angeles (405 Freeway).

But one thing that hasn't been mentioned aside from comfort is the PURE FUN factor of being in a MINI. Having had 2 MINIs in 3 years, I wouldn't want to be driving anything else.

 

Also you should understand the specs on the MINI you are driving. Does it have sport seats? Are they leather or leatherette (no lumbar support). What size wheels are on the MINI? 15, 16, 17, 18 inch??? What kind of tires? Runflats? All of these factors can greatly affect your comparison of a MINI to a GTI.

 

I have a bad back and am awaiting back surgery to fix. However, I still took my car on a 5 hour drive from Vancouver to Penticton last year and it wasn't a problem. I'm also doing the 22 hour drive to AMVIV in a few weeks and don't anticipate any issues. My car has runflats on it.

Like I've told others, those who complain that the MINI's ride is harsh have probably never been in modded muscle cars of the 60's and 70's with bias ply tires.

 

I haven't... I wasn't born at the time...
Right now the car has 16" runflats.
The seats are the leatherette sports (standard MCS).

The GTI has noisy tires... but I think the suspension is a bit more cushy...

 

The ride of the MCSC is not uncomfortable except for an occational rough bump in the road. The thing I find the most uncomfortable is the hard sidebolsters on the seats. Sure they hold you in place just great, but they are just flat BMW hard. I would like to mod them with softer foam, and bend the bolsters out just a little wider. I'm 6' 190 lb so it is a seat issue, not a broad butt issue as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure being 60 yo has a little to do with it.

 

The only roads that ever bother me in my MC are the concrete ones with closely spaced expansion joints. Sets up an annoying and uncomfortable resonance....but 98% of the time the ride is just fine, and I like the fact that it isn't soft.

 

That's why I got the standard seats in my MC. They're hard, but I least I'm not setting on the side bolsters.

 

I have an '05 S with Hotchkiss springs, Koni yellows and Nokian performance tires. The ride is firm and you certainly feel the expansion joints. I drive 100 miles a day, 80 are highway.

This is by far the best long distance highway car I've ever had. I can drive for hours with no discomfort. I've never ended a long drive feeling more refreshed in any other vehicle. I have been delighted with the fact that it is such a pleasure to travel in. I've driven 67,000 miles in almost 27 months of ownership.

 

Hmmm... maybe I should just run and get the car! I do get backaches from my current ride which is not as firm, and I am starting to think maybe firm is actually better for the long rides...

BTW, the MC has a softer ride than the MCS...

 

That's not necessarily true. The MC with SS+ suspension and 17" performance run flat tires will give you just as jarring a ride as the MCS. However the MC has the option for 15" tires and SS suspension which will offer a significantly softer ride over the above mentioned configuration. And I'm purposely trying to state stock configurations--not aftermarket wheels, tires, suspension.

 

I was referring to the base MC... with the 15" and standard suspension.

 

You do not say what year car you are getting. The 2002s and 2003s had the stiffest suspension.

I had a 2002 MCS with the Sport Suspension Plus, fabric Sport Seats without lumbar support, the 16" runflat tires, and did many, over 12, 5 plus hour drives in excellant comfort. I am 6'2" and after finding the right seat location I was very comfortable on all of the drives.

I currently have a 2006 MCS with the same specs and the suspension has been changed. It has mostly to do with the shocks as the springs and anti-sway bars are supposed to be the same as the '02s and '03s. The ride is noticably smoother over small irregulatities, such as joints in the pavement, and small holes. The handling is still very gokart like just like my first one.

Last weekend I did an 8.5 hours motor and had no problems at all. Felt find the following day also.

So I would say that leaves you sitting in a MINI comfortably.

 

Agreed, I drove a 2005 MC with runflats in otherwise the same configuration as my 2003 MC and the ride was so much cushier. My '03 was FIRM!

 

The larger the wheels the rougher the ride. I have occasional back issues and even with 17" wheels, I have no problem driving for several hours uninterrupted. The main problem I have is with the sport seat bottoms. They are so high at the front that the leading edge of the seat presses against the underside of my left thigh. If the foot rest were closer, I'd be much more comfy...and if my car had a manual tranny it likely wouldn't matter as much. Aside from that, there are no issues as far as comfort is concerned. It may largely depend on what you are used to.

 

2006 mcs w/16" wheels... sorry

I guess I shouldn't worry then... it is probably a question of getting used to it

I drive a VW cabrio 98...