Hi all - first time MINI owner with a new 2012 Clubman S. First, LOVE driving this thing, though having to relearn how to drive a manual transmission (it's been 25+ years since I've driven a stick. Seems to me the gearing spacing on 1st to 2nd gear could use a little tweaking...). Now I know and really appreciate the road feel one has with this vehicle. But my Mini seems to pull slightly to the left....

So, I understand road crowning design to allow for proper water drainage. Does everybody's Mini pull slightly to the right because of how precise the steering/suspension is designed? I took it in to the dealer and told them about it and they put it on the 4-wheel alignment system and said it was off. However, I do not notice any change and it still seems to slightly pull to the right even when I get to what looks like flat road sections or drive in left lane on dual lane stretches.

A number of years ago I had a new SUV that had a pull and they dealer found one of the tires was defective. I'm thinking this may be the issue now, but before I start rotating tires or go back to the dealer and insist they examine/replace my tires I wanted to get feedback from the Mini owner community on typical steering behavior.

Thanks!

 

Mine seems to track pretty straight; doesn't pull to either side until I really put the spurs to it. But then that's just the torque steer...

 

I seem to remember the Clubman I test drove also tracked very true. If others come back with the same response then I'll have to bring Hammie back in - and hopefully it won't turn into a battle!

 

My 07 tracks pretty true as well.

 

Mine tracks well, I would check your tire pressure.

 

Could be the not-so-great runflat tires, as well. My experience is that they tend to follow the road's subtle oddities more. Grooved roads were a nightmare.

 

My 11 clubman still has the runflats and they track straight unless I get on a bad section of road. - good luck & keep us posted

 

my '12 clubbie tracks straight unless you get on it and then get some torque steer

 

Same here: still got the run-flat tires, and about the only time I get any deviations is when I'm on a particularly 'lumpy' section of Pennsylvania road...

 

In my area, there are a number of roads that have grooves cut in them along the line of travel. My non-runflat tires tend to track those grooves, sometimes giving the car a "wiggly" feel. If I drove on those grooved roads regularly, I would probably drop the tire pressure back down closer to the recommended pressures.

 

That must be "most" of the time from the roads i have driven in PA

But seriously a low tire or stuck brake can cause that type of pulling to one side or the other.

 

Unfortunately ... yes... The roads in Pennsylvania are among the worst in the nation -- at least so far as I've driven. And I've driven in most states...

Still, they're not currently as bad as they were when I was first learning to drive (c. 1979). Back then, we used to joke that it caused less damage to drive within the potholes and avoid the chunks of road...

 

I have run-flats and mine tracks straight as well. It will also follow grooves in the road, but that is true of every car/truck I have ever owned, regardless of tire type.