Today, I was driving out of town on a short business trip (radar detector on for sure) on some twisty roads at high speed and I tried to imagine how 4WD would improve its handling.

Just dreaming........

 

wouldn't worry too much. awd would improve corner exit grip, but as far as handling dynamic, the mini is pretty great. car wouldn't appreciate the added weight and could possibly hurt it -- this coming from a guy who owns a mini and an '06 evo 9 mr

 

I don't know what is an Evo. I am sorry.

But you are right, more weight would be a problem unless the engine get more power.

 

evo:

 

Japanese performance iron.......... I understand.

My son's best friend had one 5 years ago. From what I remember, the engine was boosted to 500HP and the pluming was impressive.

Your car looks nice............ not surprising they are the best in the world in rally and racing.

I am wondering why you have a Mini.

 

not MY evo, but AN evo yes. just wanted to get a pic of one in the snow, but yea it was just to bolster my point that the mini doesn't need awd, since someone with awd was saying it.. lol

mini is my auto-x car. evo's more of a project/fun car

 

Autocross........did you braced the cabin for less flex?

I am asking because I drove a HT for 2 weeks back in July. It was a 2014 S with 20 miles on the odometer. The car was a real washboard and flexing from the top and doors just cornering in daily driving.

You should have drive a Coupe. It is so much better.

 

The non-S doesn't need awd but the JCW and S built after March 2010 do in order to compete with the WRX.

 

no bracing, haven't noticed anything regarding flex though.. chassis seems fairly stiff

 

R56 cabin is very stiff... and I've driven some flexy cars.

 

If the plastic side panels are "noisy" every time you push the car a bit harder through a corner, something is wrong. It is not my understanding and standard definition as "very stiff".

 

dube53,
R56 hardtop was produced from 2007 until 2013. A 2014 hardtop is F56. R56 with lsd is king of stock autocrossing MINIs. You will have trouble getting the power down out of slow corners with your car.

 

Yea when it isn't in the shop keeping the damn thing going