Clean slate... yet I drove a mini...

[SKurj]

I currently own a 2004 echo 3dr hb, with tein S springs and GR2's with not much else besides wheels and tires. I am about to purchase a low mile 2008 or 2009 yaris 3dr to replace it.
The problem... well I borrowed a 2003 cooper S for the weekend... that thing with stock suspension and the horrid run flats performed amazing particluarly in the cornering department.
Seeing as I will have a clean slate, and will be starting with an untouched yaris... what's it going to take to try and recreate the way the mini bends around the corners?
Definitely adding RR TRD sway bar, probably even have that installed before i pick up the car, then I don't know if I should be going coil overs... or springs and shocks.. bracing? Is it even achievable? If i was wealthy i would just buy the mini... so keep that in mind!

thanks

[3cyltrbo]

Personally I feel that the handling that I acheived with my Echo was well above what a stock (or even lightly modded) Cooper S can produce.

After 1 week of owning the next generation (a Yaris) I'm certain that its easily achieved with this platform as well.

Personally, I'd recommend coilovers (even inexpensive ones) over springs and shocks. They are alot more adjustable (height / preload / compression damping etc...)

next I'd focus on some bracing and some appropriately sized roll-bars. Some people might tell you to buy the biggest ones possible, and/or to go bigger in the rear than in the front - my personal experience has shown that a well braced car, with stiff suspension than stock and some mildly upsized rollbars is about the perfect combo (+2-5mm in the front and a small bar in the rear like 16-19mm)

keep in mind these cars have a super crude and basic rear suspension set up (like a horse drawn buggy or a ride on mower) , putting a massive antiroll bar in the rear (bigger than the front one) isn't necessarily a wise move.

[Spahrticus]

The Mini not only has amazing suspension setup, it also has the chassis to go a long with it. BMW is not one to slouch when designing a well handling car.

You can certainly make your car feel great, the overall package that the Mini has just can't be achieved with what we have.

[SKurj]

Well I am told coilovers don't deal with our winters very well, so i will have to look at springs and struts instead.

As far as springs go, I like the drop of Teins, but I'd like something abit stiffer, and preferrably not progressive. Probably will look at Tokico blues to go with, can anyone make any recommendations? I'd liek to not have anything that will end up bouncy...

To add, will likely add either the TRD bar, or would i be better off with the 19 or 23 from Cali Yaris?