I have started a petition to let MINI of North America know that the opinions in the J.D. Power study do NOT match those of the majority of MINI owners.

You can sign the petition here:
www.petitiononline.com/USMINIS/petition.html

Please encourage all U.S. MINI owners to sign this petition.

(I will also post this on other boards, so you may see it a couple of times.)

Thanks.
-Rob Lewis

 

Rob, I signed the petition and I definitely am of the personal belief that BMW should leave the sport suspension alone (i.e., don't soften it). But, how we really know that the "majority of MINI owners" do not feel otherwise? I mean, I'd like to think that I'm with the majority...but I'd suspect that BMW has more data on this than I. If they feel that the majority would favor a softer suspension, then quite possibly they're right (about the data, not the solution).

 

>>Rob, I signed the petition and I definitely am of the personal belief that BMW should leave the sport suspension alone (i.e., don't soften it). But, how we really know that the "majority of MINI owners" do not feel otherwise? I mean, I'd like to think that I'm with the majority...but I'd suspect that BMW has more data on this than I. If they feel that the majority would favor a softer suspension, then quite possibly they're right (about the data, not the solution).

Agreed, it may be possible that we are in the "minority", but I doubt it. In the few minutes that the petition has been up, there are already a number of signatures. I will bet that we get more signatures than J.D. Powers had survey particpants.

More importantly, MINI shouldn't have made the change without, at least, warning those who have order a car.

Oh, and thanks for signing.

-Rob

 

I agree too, I am signing now.

 

Well I was number 21......

IF they send out notice to bring my MINI for the change it will wind up in the trash. No soft suspension for me........

Dave

MINI-Rolls

 

Thanks, Rob! Hope this one goes far.

 

I just signed, number 27.

I haven't even ordered mine yet, and I'm not happy. :evil:

Keep bumping this thread, so people see it!

 

What I'm wondering is: what happens when your shocks/struts wear out and you replace them with OEM parts? Will the replacement parts be stiffer (like the originals) or softer (like the new ones).

Hmmmm....

 

I signed and left my two cents...

 

What MINIUSA fails to realize is that it is the runflats that make it very stiff and bumpy and that with a quality performance tire you keep the handling of the car with a bit better of a ride.

If they want to make it softer offer some proxies or pole position tires on the car.

 

If ya want a soft ride go buy some american boat if ya want a zippy little sports car dont bit@# about the suspension. KEEP IT STIFF BABY!

 

<---- #48

Casey,

I totally agree. The harsh ride is the result of the run-flats, not the suspension. The handling and ride comfort of my MINI improved after switching over to regular tires. There really isn't anything I'd change in terms of the struts or springs for a stock setting. And the stock struts work great with H&R or H-sport springs too. :smile: Hopefully, MINI leaves well enough alone.

Dave

 

number 54...can i sign using my alias?...lol

 

Number 61. I agree to keep it like it is or atleast make an optional smooth riding suspension.

_________________
home.mchsi.com/~mini/index.html

 

Check out http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...989#post369989 - Paul from MINI2 emailed MINIUSA and Michael McHale responed...with a bit of info.

 

#67.... and I did not do the fog light one.... I did not really care about that but to mess with the wonderfull suspension tuning.... Shame on MINI USA for letting this happen...!!!!

 

Signed with pride. Save the soft ride for the CVT folks, In fact quit offering the cvt in the Cooper and bring the ONE to the US thats where the squishy shocks and CVT belong!

 

>>Signed with pride. Save the soft ride for the CVT folks, In fact quit offering the cvt in the Cooper and bring the ONE to the US thats where the squishy shocks and CVT belong!<<

Let's not dilute this important thread with senseless CVT-bashing, eh? This might be one of those threads that the eerily robotic "MINI Division" MCO member actually reads.

 

signed! I can't believe any mini owner would complain of such a thing. The handling characteristics of the mini is one of the points that sold me.

 

Just got off the phone with Amanda from MINI USA concerning my original email. Apparently, they have gotten quite a few calls today......

She said that the only change that will be made is a change to a higher viscosity oil in the shocks. They will be the same gas charged as before, but the oil with change "slightly". The change should improve the handling over washboard type of roads without affecting performance.

I then asked her why MINI did not, at least, inform the future owners that have ordered cars of the change and she said that manufacturers often make current model changes to improve the product.

I also asked if she could provide me with the sample size number of the J.D. Powers survey (to compare to our petition number) and she could not. She did say, however, that MINI surveys all owners, so she assumed the sample size would be large.

I still don't know if I am happy about this change. We'll see if there is an offical press release regarding it.

-Rob

 

Signed #72. Let's base our decisions on the voice of the majority and not execute knee-jerk reactions to a few cranky survey respondents. US MINI sales have well exceeded all expectations, and without the use of a typical TV campaign which usually accompanies a new auto release. I don’t understand why MINI feels the need to buckle like this.
STAND STRONG BRUTHAS AND SISTAS!

"Undermine their pompous authority, reject their moral standards. Make anarchy and disorder your trademarks. Cause as much chaos and disruption as possible but don't let them take you ALIVE."-SID

 

And to think, I just got a postcard in the mail saying I'm getting a J.D. Power survey to fill out soon....

Oh, I'm #84, asking for a choice.
_________________
)) In Stereo Where Available ((

 

#85

 

#91 let's hope this goes far!

 

>>Signed with pride. Save the soft ride for the CVT folks, In fact quit offering the cvt in the Cooper and bring the ONE to the US thats where the squishy shocks and CVT belong!


Excuse me? What is your vendetta against the Cooper CVT? Have you driven it? Have you owned one? Do you know anything about the engineering marvel this transmission represents?

Gee, some people are really narrow minded!