I confess that I actually find I use sport mode very little for normal driving. In fact, driving back to back, steering/throttle response between my R50 Cooper and R56 Cooper is very similar. Steering may be the barest hair tighter on the R50...but only slightly. No, the thought if hitting sport mode (certainly the need to) seldom even crosses my mind. I thought I'd for sure engage it for some nice weekend motoring, but so far it's been easier to forget the mode existed. Oh, I'm sure I'll use it now and again...and I'm very glad it's there...but the car is not unpleasant to drive without it engaged, imo.

 

I find myself turning it on all the time, well except for going on long distance trips (one so far) where its not really needed IMO

 

Actually, the shifting is smoother, at least out of first gear, on my car when in sport mode (My clutch, when not in sport mode, isn't nearly as smooth as what I experienced on my demo test drives). That said, my self discipline, in sport mode, is often not sufficient to keep me from over-enjoying the thrill of rapid acceleration in certain circumstances.

 

Ive used mine a few times ( for a couple of seconds ) during engine break-in, just to vary the RPMs , without breaking the speed limit.( I have an automatic)

 

I push it every time I start the car. I find myself close to stalling without it. My previous car's sweet spot was much lower than the MCS w/o sport mode. I turn it off on the highway

 

I thought it would be almost always on for me. But, I hardly ever use it. When I do, it's just for the thrill factor, as I certainly don't need it. With it off, I usually see the cars at the traffic light fading into the background. As for which mode provides the smoothest shifting, I think that is more dependent on what you were used to before the MINI than the button itself.

 

Every time ,for me it's easyer to drive ,you dont have to drive like a maniac just because the sport button's on.

 

I hardly ever use it (have an automatic). The only time I do is in heavy traffic where if I punch it, the car doesn't need to downshift to accelerate.

 

I use it 100% of the time.

 

I have used it several times, but I find I have just as much fun with it off.

 

Eh, I used it once. Though I have an automatic, and I'm still early in my break-in period and trying not to kill it. We'll see, maybe I'll give it another shot on my next drive.

It does lower your mpg though, right?

 

Sport button always. I see no reason to ever drive the car without it.

 

Rarely use it in normal driving. Lots of fun when I'm on a mtn road and push it.

BTW, I think the button is undersized. I think it should be a bit bigger, and the button light more noticable.

 

It IS fantastic...I just find myself motoring around having a blast and then looking down and realizing I don't even have the sport mode button engaged!!! What the heck!?!? The car is always "better" with it in (especially w/ a manual tranny...no manipulation of shift points), but I'm surprised (pleasantly) that I enjoy the car without, especially after early reports led me to expect I might not.

 

Do you suspect your tires may last less long than desired due to chirping? Often, in sport mode, when turning onto another street from a full stop I find my wheels briefly spinning faster than is required to make the car go. This is probably the sole reason I don't just stay in that mode. Expensive tires!

 

Only have 160 miles on it right now, but put the sport button on as I was getting on the freeway and the merge....quite fun, good lunch time entertainement. I did barely keep it under the 4500 rpm I think

Like others have said I'm still having fun w/o it one all the time.

 

Hit start button, hit sport button, drive off happily.

 

If you are gentle with the throttle even in sport mode you should be able to not chirp the tires. I just like the responsiveness. Without sport enabled I always feel like I'm going to kill it.

 

that is probably due to the fact that you are used to putting your foot to the position you normally would w/o the sport mode. because of the different throttle response you dont need to push your foot as far. and I wouldnt worry about an occassional chirp

 

You are Correct

 

Everytime. Push the start button,and push the sport button. Throttle response is much better,and I like the steering feel.

 

I dont notice a difference in steering response...

 

I love the Sport Button, but I blame it for getting me a speeding ticket. I hadn't used it in a few days so I decided to turn it on, and I was having some fun, nothing drastic, and sure enough about 5 min. after I take off w/ the button on there is a cop hidden behind the bushes w/ a radar. Got a ticket for going 10 miles over the speed limit :( He stopped so many people that morning...the city must've made a fortune off of us. My first ticket after 4 years of having a clean record

Anyway...since then...I barely use it!!! I'm sure it will take me a little bit before I decide to venture out that way in fear of seeing history repeat itself

In all seriousness though, I find that the car is more fun with the button on and at first I thought my shifting was so much smoother since the car almost stalled when I was getting it into first w/out the button on. Now, after driving w/ the button off for some time...I think I've gotten a better feel for the car and have no trouble. Also, since break-in was over, I feel like the car runs sooo much better. The shifting is way smoother, but I also wonder if it's just me

 

Every time for me, regardless of trip length or style. I'm still waiting for Vishu or someone else to hopefully integrate that into an ECU mod.

 

I do not use the sport button when vehicle is parked in my garage...