My 2007 MCS had a 19mm rear AWB and my current JCW Coupe has the SS which is mainly sway bar(s) so I haven't driven a Mini with standard suspension for about 7 years. Over the weekend I drove my friend's F56 MCS with standard suspension on some twisties for about 30 miles. Wow is all I can say. The body roll and understeer are dramatically more pronounced than my current and prior car. It was like night and day. I realize the Couple has a much stiffer frame than the F56 but my 2007 car didn't. I told my friend to get one, he said "No, I don't drive it like that". But just the understeer correction alone I felt in every turn. Otherwise the car was great, definitely a more isolating ride, quieter. Great power, great seats and I liked the HK stereo. But it needs a sway bar to handle well.

 

I did sway and springs. One of our techs has highly modded coupe. I can not only hang but out do...he was very surprised.

 

Yeah but without it you've got a Countryman IMO. Higher seating position is another difference. I wouldn't want stiffer lowering springs no way. It would shake my wallet out of my back pocket and I've gotta be careful not to scrape the front splitter as it is.

 

Even with the springs it rides better than a stock r56 so not bad at all. I am a older guy so I can't handle a harsh ride.

 

Source?

Suspension wheel rates are much softer than any modern car chassis flex. You're feeling the bushings, tires, sway bars, springs, and bumpstops WAY before you're likely discerning any fractional percentage of body flex.

But as for the rear sway bar, I agree, the F56 could use a stiffer rear sway bar to obtain more neutral handling.

Also, tires always make a massive difference. I'm seeing a higher percentage of all-seasons on the F56 than in previous generations, and that'll of course bring out the understeer versus a sticky summer tire.

 

MotoringFile. It's the same frame as the Roadster convertible, but also has a top of course. They said the weight saved from the smaller lighter top went into strengthening the convertable's frame, which lowers the COG too. Whatever it is it feels different from my R56 with the aftermarket sway bar. I so have Dunlap summer tires, my friend has some Pirrelli don't know what type.

 

Source

They say it's "even higher", but not by how much, or even which MINI. Could be 0.1%, could be 1,000,000x, could be versus the Cabrio, we just don't know.

Point being, the delta in torsional rigidity is most probably [and typically] in the noise versus the squishier things like springs, tires, dampers, and bushings.

 

I am sure my sticky 225 tires help

 

That's why they make buicks, I want a MINI to ride and handle like a go cart.

 

Mine handles like one just more sophisticated. The if ya don't like the f56 stick to the old car section.

 

Maybe so, all I know is when you tug the steering wheel left-right-left-right going straight ahead in my car and in my friend's F56 MCS it's a different animal. She's an executive, has had a bunch of Beemers, a 911 Porsche back in the day. She loves the Mini as a DD and has no desire to change the suspension. That type of customer is one that Mini wants and with the F56 they have a more refined car that appeals to them. For that I give them credit. For me, I'd definitely opt for the sport suspension, or at least a sway bar like I had before. The stock car's definitely floaty.

 

Well all those squishy bits are tuned differently, so it had better feel different. You have to keep in mind your R58 Coupe was intended for the couple hundred most hardcore of MINI buyers [apart from the GP's], whereas the F56 as a whole is intended to be a "zero series" [IMO] BMW, which is a different sort of demographic.

 

Does anyone have a specific suggestion on what sway bar is best for a 2015 MCS Hardtop with stock suspension (no dampers)?

 

Here you go: http://www.nm-eng.com/276/0/0/3224/n...-bar-25mm.html

Have fun.