R56 Fess Up: Sport Mode Use
#1
Fess Up: Sport Mode Use
I confess that I actually find I use sport mode very little for normal driving. In fact, driving back to back, steering/throttle response between my R50 Cooper and R56 Cooper is very similar. Steering may be the barest hair tighter on the R50...but only slightly. No, the thought if hitting sport mode (certainly the need to) seldom even crosses my mind. I thought I'd for sure engage it for some nice weekend motoring, but so far it's been easier to forget the mode existed. Oh, I'm sure I'll use it now and again...and I'm very glad it's there...but the car is not unpleasant to drive without it engaged, imo.
#3
Actually, the shifting is smoother, at least out of first gear, on my car when in sport mode (My clutch, when not in sport mode, isn't nearly as smooth as what I experienced on my demo test drives). That said, my self discipline, in sport mode, is often not sufficient to keep me from over-enjoying the thrill of rapid acceleration in certain circumstances.
#5
#6
I thought it would be almost always on for me. But, I hardly ever use it. When I do, it's just for the thrill factor, as I certainly don't need it. With it off, I usually see the cars at the traffic light fading into the background. As for which mode provides the smoothest shifting, I think that is more dependent on what you were used to before the MINI than the button itself.
#7
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#14
It IS fantastic...I just find myself motoring around having a blast and then looking down and realizing I don't even have the sport mode button engaged!!! What the heck!?!? The car is always "better" with it in (especially w/ a manual tranny...no manipulation of shift points), but I'm surprised (pleasantly) that I enjoy the car without, especially after early reports led me to expect I might not.
#15
Do you suspect your tires may last less long than desired due to chirping? Often, in sport mode, when turning onto another street from a full stop I find my wheels briefly spinning faster than is required to make the car go. This is probably the sole reason I don't just stay in that mode. Expensive tires!
#16
Just used mine...
Only have 160 miles on it right now, but put the sport button on as I was getting on the freeway and the merge....quite fun, good lunch time entertainement. I did barely keep it under the 4500 rpm I think
Like others have said I'm still having fun w/o it one all the time.
Like others have said I'm still having fun w/o it one all the time.
#18
Do you suspect your tires may last less long than desired due to chirping? Often, in sport mode, when turning onto another street from a full stop I find my wheels briefly spinning faster than is required to make the car go. This is probably the sole reason I don't just stay in that mode. Expensive tires!
#19
Do you suspect your tires may last less long than desired due to chirping? Often, in sport mode, when turning onto another street from a full stop I find my wheels briefly spinning faster than is required to make the car go. This is probably the sole reason I don't just stay in that mode. Expensive tires!
#23
I love the Sport Button, but I blame it for getting me a speeding ticket. I hadn't used it in a few days so I decided to turn it on, and I was having some fun, nothing drastic, and sure enough about 5 min. after I take off w/ the button on there is a cop hidden behind the bushes w/ a radar. Got a ticket for going 10 miles over the speed limit :( He stopped so many people that morning...the city must've made a fortune off of us. My first ticket after 4 years of having a clean record
Anyway...since then...I barely use it!!! I'm sure it will take me a little bit before I decide to venture out that way in fear of seeing history repeat itself
In all seriousness though, I find that the car is more fun with the button on and at first I thought my shifting was so much smoother since the car almost stalled when I was getting it into first w/out the button on. Now, after driving w/ the button off for some time...I think I've gotten a better feel for the car and have no trouble. Also, since break-in was over, I feel like the car runs sooo much better. The shifting is way smoother, but I also wonder if it's just me
Anyway...since then...I barely use it!!! I'm sure it will take me a little bit before I decide to venture out that way in fear of seeing history repeat itself
In all seriousness though, I find that the car is more fun with the button on and at first I thought my shifting was so much smoother since the car almost stalled when I was getting it into first w/out the button on. Now, after driving w/ the button off for some time...I think I've gotten a better feel for the car and have no trouble. Also, since break-in was over, I feel like the car runs sooo much better. The shifting is way smoother, but I also wonder if it's just me