Red Bull --- or anyone. If you figure out a way to cure the torque steer, please post. That's my biggest complaint (my last two cars were 911 Porsches). For those of you who say you don't have torque steer with your MINI, I envy you...and can't help but wonder how the "same" car can be so different. I also think the ride is harsh, probably due to a combination of run flats and sports suspension.... but I anticipate that will be cured when I replace the tires with non-runflats.

 

I have the same complaint with the TS...the TS was greatly reduced when I added a 22mm rear sway bar. I posted a write up on the install and there were others as well who agreed the TS was reduced. In my case I can honestly say it is now almost a non issue.....before I made any changes it was a major issue for me. I am replacing the struts and end links next week I am hoping the more I tighten up the suspension the less TS I will have.

 

I guess I'm a bit bewildered that people are surprised that the FWD MINI has torque steer? Every FWD car I've owned had/has torque steer, the more powerful the car the more there is. Certainly suspension and driveline tweaks can alter it somewhat but it's just inherent in FWD design period. Doesn't bother me at all, I just consider it part of the challenge of mastering the car, much like 911 owners pride themselves on mastering the slow in/fast out cornering attitude of their rear-engined cars. I've had plenty of RWD (and AWD) cars so I got my new JCW with eyes wide open. My latest car was a Cayman S, touted by many sources as one of if not the best handling car currently on the market (and it was), but that doesn't diminish my love for the MINI, it's my third one now.

 

Not surprised it has TS...I am surprised it was so severe....I always had RWD high HP cars so it is something that you need to get used to. But I will never like it or look at it as a challenge....it is part of the FWD DNA but its not a good trait to have. I track and SCCA and when you add severe TS it's unpredictable, and not something that acts the same way each time....you can predicte other negative traits and learn how to deal with the challenge...I do not see TS in that manner, its an annoyance to me and I will do everything I can to reduce this condition.

 

I've got an 07 Cooper S. I do not have torque steer. I will offer anyone who would like to come to Florida and drive my car to do so. You will see there is no torque steer. I have LSD and I've put a 22mm sway bar in the rear, the car has been lowered 1.2 inches. I don't recall very much torque steer before the mods. But I"ve driven a lot of FWD cars, all of which had torque steer except for my Mini. I can take my hands off the wheel at a dead stop and accelerate normally and the wheels will stay straight.

 

After 6500 miles on mine I got some new tires. Get yourself some new tires and it will kill the road noise and help with the harsh ride. It will make a huge difference.

 

I love everything about it. Its quirky enough to keep me interested, but still gets good economy for MPG. 6th gear cruising and still has power to not floor it and pass someone.

 

Coming from a modified 2006 Ford Mustang GT and finding a replacement was going to be tough.But when gas prices spiked it was a no brainer for me and knowing a few friends who own Mini Coopers who just rave about it I went that route.Plus another friend is waiting for his ordered 2009 JCW Clubman.

Technically this is my second MCSa (trade assisted 1st one).There are quite a few dislikes but to name just two:Missing important standard engine gauges and no option to order any from the factory plus the radio controls are now incorporated into the speedometer housing along with a poorly placed volume **** but overall a great handling,fuel efficient and a very fun car to drive.

 

Oh yeah, the ONLY thing I can really complain about (thank goodness I have the multi function wheel for the volume). Is mine is a 2009 and I just got it about 2 weeks ago.

I did notice where the piano black trim is on my door panel, it seems to randomly rattle sometimes? Not even from Bass on the stereo, but if I turn it off, it still will make some noise sometimes....

 

Long time admirer, first time owner. My only complaint is that I have to work eight hours a day while I only get to motor for about one ....but I make the most of it!

 

I'm quite happy with mine. I want a little more power and will do the Stage 1 kit sometime, but only after a driving course, new tires, and a strut brace/thicker rear sway bar. I've driven it hard enough to notice a little torque steer but nothing crazy, and much better than other FWD cars I've driven.

Regrets:
Not getting the bluetooth phone package, rain sensing wipers, xenon headlights.

Dislikes:
Once again the standard wiper system, and the OEM blades, are substandard.
Runflat tires, I would have preferred a mobility kit option.
Windows: tricky to open just a notch, but otherwise fine.
Slight hesitation from start in "non Sport" mode; this may just be me not liking the difference in pedal response between modes.
Upgraded stereo system sounds like other brand's standard stereo.

Likes:
I love the handling, the power is excellent if you keep it in the powerband.
The automatic transmission is the best I've ever driven, better than 3-class.
I love the controls and they are ergonomic for me. Some are a little unintuitive like the wipers, but you get used to it.
The customizability of the electronics. I love being able to turn off running lights, decide what doors unlock, etc.
The overall design and look of the exterior and interior is excellent.

Improvements:
Power seats.
Bring back the Harman-Kardan stereo!
Two-touch sunroof. Keep one-touch to crack it open, but I'd like a method for it to go all the way back without holding it. While driving.
Gauges. C'mon, even electronic ones.

I know a lot of things are made as options to keep the base price down, but the premium package should include more for the price.

 

Keep accelerating through the gears, redline it in fourth, shift to fifth and see if you can do that with your hands off the steering wheel. (No assumption of liability.)

Let us know.

 

 

Please list the cars you have driven that you can do this with.

 

Quite frankly it would be irresponsible of anyone to take their hands off the wheel in excess of 80MPH and almost irresponsible of someone to suggest that. I am certainly not stupid enough to do that. However, again, you are welcome to drive my car in order to see that there is no torque steer.

 

My JCW has torque steer but it is very controlable. I had a Ford Probe GT once that would actually scare you with it's jump to the left Torque steer. I also once had a 3000GT that had torque steer but not as bad as that Probe had.
The Torque steer in this Mini is so slight that it is not a problem at all. I think all front wheel drive cars have Torque steer at full power but this JCW seems to have the least and what it does have is very slight and easy to get used to. It is just part of owning a FWD car.
I like FWD because of the pull feel it has coming out of a curve at full power. Of course they do not handle like a rear wheel drive car so the learning curve is what needs to be takin seriously. Both FWD & RWD cars have their handling charistics and need to be learned and practiced.
My last car was a 1998 Corvette with ZO6 sway-bars and shocks. It handled great after I got used to the overstear going into a curve and giveing it perfect balance using the throttle.
I'm getting used to my Mini now and can't wait to really track it.

Ronnie948

 

 

Nice looking JCW Ronnie. Since you live in Miami doesn't the black roof make the inside hotter? I'm in Bradenton about 50 miles south of Tampa. I opted out of the black roof. Thanks for commenting about torque steer. Seems no one wants to believe guys like you and me. I've been to Sebring with my '07 S and am doing an autocross on Sunday. The car is a blast to drive.

 

coming straight from an R53 to an R56 yes the TS is that much more intense, but then the R56 has a lot more grunt in the lower end than that iron-block R53 lump. at first it was hard to get used to, but once I *learned* the car and had my JCW mods installed, it's still there but now it's more easily controlled, ergo more fun.

 

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuok...think he was just trying to make a point. You have a FWD and under normal accel you may not feel anything...but under full RPM's going into 2nd gear ( FLOORED) is when you will feel it. I also noticed that some experience more than others, and I also assume that people who have been driving FWD cars are used to it. Never owing one until now until I changed the rear sway bar it was down right dangerous under full throttle. Unexpected hard pulls to the left or right almost unexpectantly......now I know what to expect I am very careful. RWD....never happen like that...you can get a pull from the tourque of a high power engine but it is way controlable.

 

Hm... I do not feel any torque steer. May be we should clarify at very detailed level what everybody implies when says "i feel torquesteer"?

Wikipedia: "during full acceleration the steering may pull to one side, which may be disturbing to the driver".

Now, this kind of behavior would not be acceptable to me. I would not buy a car that behaves like this on regular basis - pulling to the side during acceleration. So after reading of TS at this forum way before I ordered 2009 MCS (LSD, Manual) for my wife I testdrove similarly equipped MCS at the dealership hard - felt no TS. I did not feel any TS at the MCS we have now either. I think TS may be felt at some old cars with unequal length axles in front.

I also own Honda Prelude and I can take my hands off the steering wheel while accelerating - it goes straight and does not try to change direction (before and after it was upgraded with LSD), so MCS does the same way - does not pull to the side.

I occasionally drive my Prelude at autocross events and there, when my wheels spin going out of turns that causes
LSD (torsen type) to transfer torque from one wheel to another and _sometimes_ (not always) I can feel something at the steering wheel, but again - that is not "pull to one side" - this might feel like sort of short slight pushes in different directions - depending where the torque travels. And this is absolutely Ok with me as I understand the nature of the process and how benefitial it is to have the LSD. It takes care of understeer big big time, allows to accelerate early, the car is just much more planted to the road and etc etc. But man, I never drive like this at streets - it's just crazy. Well, almost never. And before I had LSD installed - I haven't felt even these short pushes.

So I can hopefully tell - MCS does not have torque steer in my understanding of this term. Or, at least, it is lower than the level of my tolerance. Also, you may feel something on your steering wheel just because road surface is not even. But I felt that in RWD cars as well.

Also, even RWD might pull to the side in case front tires are not equally inflated or there's something wrong with tires. So check if everything is ok with tire pressure and tires.

Next - Understeer. It really depends HOW you drive at the limit. Two persons could try the same car at the same course the same day. One will tell wow - it understeers! Another will respond, hm... I felt like it oversteered like crazy all the time...

Now, back to topic...
1. Build quality could be better.

2. Do not like the fact the car is driven by computer software rather than driver. I feel a little disconnected. A lot of complains here at the forum make me feel this is not a car but rather operating system software and as such it always has something to fix. And when you fix existing bugs you introduce new ones for sure. Endless process.

3. Sport button must be ON by default from factory for manual transmissions.

4. Exterior design is so much better in 1st gens. I wish we owned 1st gen when think of exterior.

5. I like 2nd gen interior better than 1st gen (I know, I know most like 1st gen more ).

6. I like 2nd gen engines more than 1st.

7. I think 2nd gen reliability is better than 1st gen. Still want it to be even more reliable.

8. Why no spare in MCS??? Do not provide it if you need to cut cost and due to RF, but why not just redesign the exhaust so I could have one like Mini just a Cooper for extra money?

Because of #2 I'd probably not have the car for myself at least with manual transmission. AT is probably ok. But my wife is happy and always wanted to have a Mini.

 

Hi Investigater,
I live in Port Orange which is just South of Daytona Beach.
I don't really feel the black roof is any hotter then any other color as long as the air conditioning is on and the car is moving. It probably will be hotter when parked in the sun. A white top would definitly be cooler because white reflects the heat while black will absorb more heat.
I just like the looks of my black top/ red car with the black sport stripes. It just looks "COOL" to me.
Ronnie948

 

TS is normal in FWD cars...Road & Track did a test on the MCS and JCW and both test drivers complained about the TS...trust me its not just the people here who feel it...its not in their head. Its one of the biggest complaints on a FWD under hard accel, nothing new.

 

Man, all this talk makes me want the rain to go away so I feel some torque steer again.

 

First time Mini owner, and I'm loving it.

Major likes:
Quick, but still fuel-efficient.
Handles like a go-cart.
Comfortable, supportive seats.
All around most fun car I've ever owned without any mods. A few mods will make it even more fun.
Wife gets all excited when I bang through the gears.

Major dislikes:
Stereo is one of the worst I've ever heard, even after upgrading speakers.
Driver's side windshield washer misses right in front of my face.
Can't keep the back side clean to save my life.


I don't mind the torque steer ... scared the peepee out of me the first time, but now that I know what to expect, it ain't no biggie.