ButI be the saved a lot on car insurance... rimshot please

 

LOL. I must be slow this morning.. didn't even think of that.

 

Not true.

I've experience the same feel in the GP.

It's a simple equation. More torque = More torque effect felt through the wheel.

The older cars just didn't have it down low out of the box. Get a JCW, GP, or another car modded for power and you'll start feeling it there, too. Its unavoidable with a front drive car.

 

Will be done, hopefully next week - Astro Black/Redwood Red/English Oak Dash/Chrome Exterior/Chrome Interior/Antrazid (never know how to spell that) headliner/Sports Package)

 

Anthracite.

 

Thats a good question. Did you not read what MINI claims for the acceleration ... or not believe them? So how can you be disappointed?

 

people can dream. Im still waiting for the 12 second stock Mini's :impatient

 

They better be RWD or AWD then or you'll torque-steer yourself into a ditch!

 

Exactlly, however if the OP's comparison is based on is a RWD car, well, apples to oranges. Sure my 06 JCW has torque steer, but it's very controllable and I'm burning up the front GY F1s tires in 5k miles, so I'm not babying her. Now the FWD Acuras and Hondas I've driven, they are textbook torque steering cars. The torque steer from those cars is infinately worse than Minis, modded or not. Mini should be applauded for their lack of torque steer and I'd really doubt the R56 would be worse than the R53. Try pushing some other FWD cars and you'll see what I mean.

 

but it is, my friend, it is.... drive one, you will see

 

Yea, I currently drive a '90 Acura Integra (MCS on order). When I test drove the MCS I punched it turning right out of the dealership. Reading this thread I'm scratching my head and wondering what people are talking about. Torque steer? Drive my Integra.

 

My Japanese vehicle is a RWD truck so I have no current reference point re FWD hot Japanese cars. My only FWD car is a stock 2005 S with an iron block, low-tech Tritec SC engine that lacks low-end pull that lessens the TS even more. This is my only reference to comparing the new R56.

The amount of TS in the R56, BOTH times I've demo'd, is MUCH more pronounced than in my 05 bone stock S; I mean compared to my 05 I have to pay attention! But then R56 has an aluminum-block, high tech, direct-injected TC engine with good low-end pull, so it's like something you'd find in your uh, hot FWD Japanese car, thus the similar amount of TS evident.

Oh wait, now I remember where I felt this TS before--the old Civic CRX But that was years ago, and I thought to myself while driving "boy this torque steer sure annoys me..."

Hmm. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. those who drive FWD rice rockets or modded/JCW'd R53s will notice no diff--or even less TS in R56--while a good chance that those of us who drive an un-modded or un-JCW'd R53 will notice more. Well duh, campers!

With me, the jury is still out on this new car, and I welcomed it with open mind.

 

It is not necessarily the number of seconds that is disappointing, it is the seemingly hard efford of the car to get there - howling engine, steering wheel with a life of its own etc. Without a doubt it is fast, but when you read here at NAM how 'incredibly' fast the car is, I expected something more impressive in the effort to get there...

 

Hmm. sounds like every hot nippon or german FWD car I've ever demo'd: RSX Type S, GTI, etc etc. Maybe an AWD version is the future solution that MINI should investigate.

 

MINI does have them for Europe, but they are not DOT approved for the US. See this: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...5&btnr=51_6425. MINI also have them for the 1st generation, and I obtained one through special order from UK vendor NewMiniStuff (mikeythemini, now a NAM sponser).

 

Great links - tks a lot ...

 

The torque steer problem is definitely more pronounced in my Cooper S. What seems to help is to turn off ASC and turn on Sport Mode. I suspect that using great tires would help as well. What are people using for tires? There aren't many choices in the 195-55-16 size.

 

Another option is available from MossMINI.

 

Torque steer on a FWD car only gets worse with more torque and, therefore, more power. The torque steer is due to one of the halfshafts that run from the transmission to the two front wheels being shorter than the other. Since one shaft is shorter it is lighter and easier to spin up to speed. This means that one wheel gets accelerated slightly faster than the other causing the "steering" effect. There are some manufacturers that almost eliminate this problem by making the halfshafts the same length, but it takes quite a bit of effort and engineering.

I've always driven FWD cars so I'm used to compensating for it but as C4 said, the best way to elminate it is a RWD or AWD car.

 

Yes... and MINI would be one of those manufacturers.

 

Or, order the S and disconnect one of the sparkplugs.

The LSD solves the problem on the R53 (and the JCW as well). Should solve most of it on the R56 too.

 

Concerning the USA spec rear view mirrors and blind spots. Are the Euro - split mirrors available (in any country) for the R56? I have, in the past, replaced USA spec rear view mirrors with the Euro - split mirrors for a great improvement. I got the Euro spec. mirrors from Canada. If the Euro spec mirrors are available for the R56 all one has to do is connect with someone willing to buy and ship for you. Or find a dealer near the Canada border who services both countries. Just a thought. ajm

 

LSD is a bad idea when driving. Actually, it is a bad idea anytime.

 

Robin,

What century are we talking about...............

 

Why is that?