Does anyone just leave the sport mode on all the time? I like the throttle response and the feel of the steering better with it on. Is there a down side to doing this?

 

haha, I had my mini for almost a year before I discovered the sport button. (In my defense, I never really drove it, I was always on my motorcycle..) But anyway...once I finally discovered it, I couldn't go back to non-sport mode. non-sport mode is INSANELY sluggish...why is there even a non-sport mode! lol, the mini even SOUNDS better in sport mode!

They make 'auto-sport' thingy ma jiggys that make it so the sport button automatically comes on when you turn the car on. Waymotorworks.com has it for I think 50 or so bucks. I'm on the fence about it though...I may be fat and lazy...but I'm not that fat and lazy that I can't pick up my fat arm and push my fat sausage fingers against the tiny sport button. Takes me a couple tries...because I can't really see past my manboobs...kinda gotta feel for the tiny button...so to speak...but it's not a headache or anything.

The only downside I notice is...gas seems to drop a little quicker

 

Just to give the other side of the story: the sport button is there to make slow drivers feel 'sporty'.

It means you get more acceleration from the same throttle movement - but that is a bad thing, as it gives you too much torque increase when you are squeezing the throttle on when cornering in the wet. There's plenty of steering force when driving fast and the sport button doesn't improve the feedback, it just makes the steering heavier.

I've never driven an automatic Mini but I can believe the sport button would be useful for changing the shift points.

Average drivers, who never use more than half throttle or half revs or half cornering grip, will think the sport button makes the car 'faster' but all it does is compensate for their gentle driving.

 

Put it on as you like......

 

I definitely prefer sport mode. Sometimes I forget to push it, but there is no downside.

 

With an auto, it DOES change the shift points. I also like the fact that when I back off the throttle when coming to a traffic light or stop sign, or just slowing down, I can actively feel the car downshift (doesn't feel the same in non-sport mode). It feels (and sounds) similar to downshifting with a manual (my last two MINIs were manuals). It also gives a nice increase in throttle response. My favorite part is that it really tightens up the steering and makes it feel much heavier.

 

I use sport mode all of the time because of the quicker throttle response. My MINI,s automatic in normal mode will shift to a higher gear to early and seem to lug the engine and I think would be a cause of carbon build up.

 

Mini makes automatic transmissions? When the heck did that start?

I wish I could program SPORT mode to be on by default.

Love the firmness of the steering with it engaged.

 

+1 for sport mode - all the time.

 

Mine is modded so the sport button turns on automatically.

 

I honestly never use it on my manual. I keep trying it and then turn it back off. The throttle profile is awful! I like the weightier steering but not the throttle. I had an auto loaner and it was basically a requirement in the auto.

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get in .... start button .... sport button .... go
repeat

 

So as I was expecting, it's pretty much a preference thing. I don't track my car and I have never had any racing instruction (though I would like to). My guess was that those with experience on the track would not like it as much. Though I like the feel of the heavier steering with it on, I think it does reduce road feel and steering precision. I'm still trying to figure out the throttle response. Do you think that it only remaps throttle position? To me if feels like the car produces more power at the same RPM, like the turbo boost is increased? I also have a 2011 S and perceived power difference is much more pronounced on my JCW. Unfortunately I can't get a single burble or pop out of the JCW. The S did it from day one.

 

yes, well, you can thank the "typical" American car buyer for that. Mini tuned the exhaust on the JCW's to eliminate the popping as much as possible for US-bound JCW's.

Why? I saw a post about this on NAM just a few weeks ago. Someone bought an S and asked the forum if there was a problem with their car as they were constantly getting a "backfiring" sound when in sport mode........

I suspect Mini wanted to minimize the number of people bringing their cars in for service due to "backfires", so they tuned it out of the US-bound Mini's(but it still pops/gurgles on European JCW's).

I suspect they may start doing the same with the new F56's coming out-would not surprise me.

 

Did the 11 jcws have the popping in the programming at all? It is still a n14.

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More throttle (from remap) at the same rpm = more torque requested and more boost. It does not change the output of the motor, only the throttle mapping (all r56s), steering (all r56s), and popping (on the n18 s models - not sure about jcws).

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My 2010 MCS is almost undrivable without the sport mode. I practally stall it pulling away from a stop.

So, when it was new, I installed the FES auto sport module. Problem solved.

 

For me, its what I'm used to.

No sport mode= just right from a stop.
Sport mode= revving like a 16 yr old in a Honda

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[QUOTE]yes, well, you can thank the "typical" American car buyer for that. Mini tuned the exhaust on the JCW's to eliminate the popping as much as possible for US-bound JCW's.
/QUOTE]

Not to say that I like it but I can understand show the manufactured would tend to bend to the masses.

[QUOTE]More throttle (from remap) at the same rpm = more torque requested and more boost. It does not change the output of the motor, only the throttle mapping (all r56s), steering (all r56s), and popping (on the n18 s models - not sure about jcws).
/QUOTE]

I understand that the sport button doesn't change the total output from the engine but maybe i'm not understanding how a turbo works? More throttle at the same RPM to my understanding would = same boost. More throttle at higher RPM= more boost.

 

I always have it on, and have difficulty driving the car without it. I can definitely tell when the wife has forgotten to engage it just from the sound.

There are mods to do that, there's a thread about it: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...utton-mod.html

I had the mod in the previous two MINIs, I havn't got around to fitting it in the current two yet. I've just learnt to press the button.

I don't know why you say that, I have plenty of track experience and wouldn't be without it. If you're used to it you can modulate the throttle just as well in sport mode. Really you need to be used to one mode or the other. We're definitely not used to non sport mode, which just sucks all the fun out of a MINI.

There is a theory that it might actually make a difference with newer cars. The theory is that the sport button introduces a delay in the throttle, not just changes the mapping. If that's true then its definitely not something you want for high performance driving. A guy ho autocrossed a MINI reckoned it was worth 1 sec on a run. I've never ran without it so I wouldn't know.

 

It does not give you more "throttle" at a given rpm. All it changes is the position of the gas pedal at any particular rpm.

 

The sport mode button is indeed cool. I use it only when desired.

I have a 2013 Coupe S, Automatic. It is my daily driver, average 70 + miles one way. It's nice to leave the "Sport Button" off and just cruise - very comfortable drive.

If It was my weekend car, then I might consider enabling the sport button every time.

 

Actually it does.The position of the pedal is the same but the throttle % reported to the dme is different.

I'm also saying the same pedal position under the same external load conditions at the same rpm will cause additional acceleration which gives the perception of more power.

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Right, it is just creating a perception of more power. It does not add any additional power or "throttle".

 

I go 'Sport' mode all the time in my new 2013 MCS 6sp manual (unless I forget). FES Auto Sport going in soon (sitting on desk). For me the main reasons are: a) the throttle feels sluggish in standard mode. My reference is my '03 MCS, and the 2013 MCS does not have the same crisp throttle response unless I place it in sport mode. b) I also like the heftier steering, w/o sport it seems over-assisted to me.