About to buy a new Cooper, should I get DSC?
Discussion
I am going to order a new Mini Cooper automatic for my wife in the next few weeks. I have a few questions.
The sales person advised ASC + T not DSC. This is because it may be a disadvantage in snow. We live at the top of a big hill and a lot of cars get stuck whenever it snows.
Apparently DSC may cut power to the wheels or put brakes on so much you don't move.
Now my wife's driving would make full autopilot and no steering wheel a good idea. I don't want her stranded in snow. On the other hand, I don't want her skidding off on a bend (again)
I can’t test drive it in the snow to find out, so does anyone have experience of DSC in snow?
What would you recommend, DSC or ASC&T?
Also I hear discounts are unobtainable. Is that still true or can I get anything?
What’s after sales service like with dealers SE London/ NW Kent? Any recommended one's (PM me if there's anyone to avoid)
Thanks
Fester
The sales person advised ASC + T not DSC. This is because it may be a disadvantage in snow. We live at the top of a big hill and a lot of cars get stuck whenever it snows.
Apparently DSC may cut power to the wheels or put brakes on so much you don't move.
Now my wife's driving would make full autopilot and no steering wheel a good idea. I don't want her stranded in snow. On the other hand, I don't want her skidding off on a bend (again)
I can’t test drive it in the snow to find out, so does anyone have experience of DSC in snow?
What would you recommend, DSC or ASC&T?
Also I hear discounts are unobtainable. Is that still true or can I get anything?
What’s after sales service like with dealers SE London/ NW Kent? Any recommended one's (PM me if there's anyone to avoid)
Thanks
Fester
dunno - on the r53 mcs it got upgraded to an lsd if you had dsc.
in the wet on low tread tyres mine felt much better than without a slippery diff. no idea about snow i am afraid.
on the cooper rather than s i'd probably be more inclined to get another similarly priced option to be honest like the electric mirrors/heated windscreen or multi function wheel (if that isn't standard). i doubt the (non S) cooper has enough oopmh to really justify it and as a result you'll get better resale getting a some different options (which you'll also find more useful).
in the wet on low tread tyres mine felt much better than without a slippery diff. no idea about snow i am afraid.
on the cooper rather than s i'd probably be more inclined to get another similarly priced option to be honest like the electric mirrors/heated windscreen or multi function wheel (if that isn't standard). i doubt the (non S) cooper has enough oopmh to really justify it and as a result you'll get better resale getting a some different options (which you'll also find more useful).
I had DSC on my BMW330...and had it out in snow, and it creeped forwards with it on. Without it I could not get it to move at all. I would definitely still spec it, I know I have on my MCS. I also added LSD which should help in snow, but that is not an option on Auto's...
Discounts...nope, but you can generally get the TLC package chucked in for free..and some discount for dealer fit options (I know I did).
Discounts...nope, but you can generally get the TLC package chucked in for free..and some discount for dealer fit options (I know I did).
Edited by fergy on Tuesday 2nd October 12:47
Apologies in advance for the acronyms but I had an MC with ASC and then a MCS with DSC.
ASC in the Cooper tended to cut the power quite abruptly whist the DSC in the CooperS seemed to ease off the power gently. Now bearing in mind the extra power of a Cooper S, I was always quite impressed with the DSC, it seemed to me to be a much more advanced bit of kit/programming than ASC.
For resale I don't thing it adds anything and you maybe better off spending the cash elsewhere but the DSC was specified in the second MINI after the missus trashed the first one in a way that I believe would have been prevented in a DSC equipped car.
Didn't get to try either in the snow but I do have DSC in my BMW and it was fantastic last time it snowed (mind you, with a bit space and plenty of power through the rear wheels it tended to get switched off!)
ASC in the Cooper tended to cut the power quite abruptly whist the DSC in the CooperS seemed to ease off the power gently. Now bearing in mind the extra power of a Cooper S, I was always quite impressed with the DSC, it seemed to me to be a much more advanced bit of kit/programming than ASC.
For resale I don't thing it adds anything and you maybe better off spending the cash elsewhere but the DSC was specified in the second MINI after the missus trashed the first one in a way that I believe would have been prevented in a DSC equipped car.
Didn't get to try either in the snow but I do have DSC in my BMW and it was fantastic last time it snowed (mind you, with a bit space and plenty of power through the rear wheels it tended to get switched off!)
Fester,
We have a cooper abeit an 02 reg with dsc. In the snow back in January going up a hill I turned the dsc off and the front of the car slid all over the road. I felt like it was uncontrollable even at slow speed. Turning it back on and the car went back in a straight line again. I was quite impressed and glad that our car has dsc.
Feel better knowing that when wifey is driving she has this excellent safety feature to fall back on if things get a little tricky.
I would deff spec it if I were ever to buy a brand new MINI.
Mark
We have a cooper abeit an 02 reg with dsc. In the snow back in January going up a hill I turned the dsc off and the front of the car slid all over the road. I felt like it was uncontrollable even at slow speed. Turning it back on and the car went back in a straight line again. I was quite impressed and glad that our car has dsc.
Feel better knowing that when wifey is driving she has this excellent safety feature to fall back on if things get a little tricky.
I would deff spec it if I were ever to buy a brand new MINI.
Mark
The car is now on order with DSC.
The saleswoman had told me that when you turn off DSC the ASC+T stays active. This was a problem in snow she said.
Well so much for her product knowledge, I emailed Mini and they confirmed that the DSC button totaly deactivates the system. Their opinion is that DSC on in snow is better.
Several people have misunderstood and said get it without, enjoy driving it. If I wanted to drive it like that I would just turn the DSC off.
But then if I was buying it for my fast driving pleasure it wouldn't be a Mini. I think the Mini is the best car of it's type, but I wasn't looking to replace one of my cars. The Mini isn't in that performance league.
Its the wifes xmas present. She isn't a petrolhead, or a fast driver, she's not even a good driver. Performance isn't an issue with this car. Hence the need for DSC to keep her safe.
The saleswoman had told me that when you turn off DSC the ASC+T stays active. This was a problem in snow she said.
Well so much for her product knowledge, I emailed Mini and they confirmed that the DSC button totaly deactivates the system. Their opinion is that DSC on in snow is better.
Several people have misunderstood and said get it without, enjoy driving it. If I wanted to drive it like that I would just turn the DSC off.
But then if I was buying it for my fast driving pleasure it wouldn't be a Mini. I think the Mini is the best car of it's type, but I wasn't looking to replace one of my cars. The Mini isn't in that performance league.
Its the wifes xmas present. She isn't a petrolhead, or a fast driver, she's not even a good driver. Performance isn't an issue with this car. Hence the need for DSC to keep her safe.
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