About to place order, and the one option I have not selected is the "Sport Suspension". I have just about every other option possible:

07 MCS w/ Premium Pkg, Sport Pkg with 17" spoke wheels, Convenience Pkg, Cold Weather Pkg.

But I have not spec'd the Sport suspension. Should I?? I am NOT a fast or sporty driver, kinda whimpy driver really. Most of my driving is around town and commuting to work about 30 miles, most of which is doing about 65mph on a straight highway.

I would prefer a comfortable ride over a stiffer ride which is what I think the Sport Suspension is, stiffer. Right?

OR, should I be ordering the Sport Suspension for other reasons.....???

 

If you never plan on spirited driving and/or auto-crossing, I'd say keep the $500 in your wallet and stick with the regular suspension. I've test driven MINIs with both suspension options and after much debate, opted for the sport one simply because I'm a pretty aggresive driver and plan on driving to the Dragon almost every fortnight. That said, I'd suggest checking out this article and then test driving MINIs with both flavors:
http://motoringfile.com/2007/03/19/a...n-for-the-r56/

 

+1 But my reason is a little different. I plan on lowering the car and adding a larger rear swaybar. However, the stock susp is no slouch.

 

Birdman,
Skip the sport suspension which I do have since it can be rather firm especially over bumps and such. If you prefer the comfortable ride, you might not enjoy the car as much with the stiffer suspension.

 

The valving on the shocks is also different. I've now driven cars with the same H&R lowing springs both with sport suspension and without. It's a noticable difference. The SS is stiffer all around. The standard shocks and struts seem to bottom (compress) a hair quicker and rebound different (not better or worse, just different). Still no slouch, though.

But I would agree: No autocrossing or spirited driving=no sport suspension.

 

I plan to take the car to track. But it's the driver that matters...not the suspension. A better setup will hide the mistakes but won't improve your skills.

 

you've answered your own question pretty well. Don't get it.

 

Oh and that too!

 

Good info msh441.

 

Thanks all! Placed final order last night. No Sport Suspension.

 

Currently I have a rental MC and it doesn't have the SS and its got 16's to boot and I can tell you this, the two cars are from different planets , get the SS, you will not be sorry! The response alone is well worth it and for $500.00, you can't beat it!

 

The wheel size and tires make a big difference.

 

yep, and the OP wants planet comfort.

 

Before I ordered my rather basic 07 MCS, I was very torn about the sport suspension option. I read all this stuff in this group where people said it was too stiff, rattled your fillings, etc. Well, I ordered it and I'm driving it and it's just FINE. With 16" wheels and sport suspension, an MCS is still a very civilized car, but it WILL get up and go, and burn through turns with ease. Even the lady of the house says it rides just fine (she's passenger status only).
I'd just suggest you go with 16's rather than those bigger wheels if you're going with SS. A friend drove a demo car with SS and larger wheels, and he didn't have any issues with it. He's a performance car guy.
Bottom line: I believe all the hollering about the SS being so harsh and tough is misguided. Buy it, you'll like it. IF however, you're going to throw a pile of cash into mods, including lowering etc., you might want to just save that paltry $500 for the bigger projects. But people who say the MCS with SS is harsh... you guys must have been driving some pretty "cushy" cars previously.

 

I was too late to switch my order to the Sport Suspension so I ended up with standard. You can still have a lot of fun with the standard suspension. My friend was quite impressed with its handling. He owns an $85K Porsche, has gone through racing school, raced in the small Formula Dodge Series at Laguna Seca, and Formula Russell Series at Infineon Raceway. The Sport Suspension might improve handling a bit, but the standard suspension is no slouch. It isn't that cushy either. If you are expecting a floater, you will be disappointed in the MINI.