R56 “Sport Mode” button in automatic transmission compared to driving S model

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Jan 14, 2019 | 10:27 AM

redrumxmini

Thread Starter

1st Gear

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 11

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From: Trenton, NJ

“Sport Mode” button in automatic transmission compared to driving S model

Hi there! I’m not sure if this is in the correct thread, so forgive me if this isn’t the board I should be posting to. I have owned my 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman (automatic transmission, base model) for about 5 years now. I’m on the hunt for a new MINI but now I’m going to be purchasing (hopefully) an R56. My question is; I want to have the peppier feel over the base model that I’ve been driving. I love putting it in sport button mode. But is there a difference in the way the Cooper S feels and just pressing the “Sport” mode button in a base model? I’m weighing out whether I should go for the S, and if I could just make sure that the sport button feels identical or somewhat similar to that in a Sport model, it would help a lot.
Thanks in advance for any help!

Jan 14, 2019 | 05:19 PM

AZdsrt

6th Gear

Joined: Jun 2013

Posts: 1,567

Likes: 57

From: Scottsdale, AZ

We have a 2012 R56 S with auto. When in sport mode, the only thing I notice is the shift points change. I don't bother to use it much..

Jan 14, 2019 | 05:25 PM

DneprDave

6th Gear

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 3,260

Likes: 87

From: Pacific NW

On my 2010 Clubman S, the throttle becomes more responsive, the automatic transmission shifts sooner and stays in a lower gear than it would in non-sport mode.
They say the steering is more responsive in sport mode, but it must be subtle, because I don't notice it.

Jan 14, 2019 | 06:00 PM

Minidogger

4th Gear

Joined: Mar 2018

Posts: 418

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From: Iowa

Never driven an S but I would guess that the large difference in HP & torque of an S goes way beyond the shift points in the base.

But you don't get that HP for free.

Jan 17, 2019 | 10:28 AM

miniCPA

5th Gear

Joined: Dec 2017

Posts: 971

Likes: 145

From: York PA

You need to drive an S to decide if it is right for you. It sounds like you will love it.

I have never been a fan of sport buttons. I have had them on most of my cars for the last several years and have seldom used them, however, I would suspect they would function similarly on an S as a non-S, with the much sportier starting point.

Drive both and let us know what you think.