For any of you who may be choosing the automatic just because you don't know how to drive a manual...don't do it.

After having no experience driving a manual (other than occasionally moving a car from a parking spot to service bay when I was a kid working in a gas station), My friend who has a Cooper hardtop let me learn on his. I have to say it was sooooo easy. I was on the road driving through busy town traffic within a few minutes with no problems. Yeah I'm not perfect, but no bucking or embarrassing stalls, but I was going through all gears (except 6th)...what fun!
The car is so forgiving, it's kind of hard to not do well in it. Anyways, don't be intimidated!

It was also great to get just a taste of what's currently heading over here which may soon be parked in my driveway.

 

I find the manual transmission on my Cooper S to be one of the easier ones to operate of all the cars I've driven in the past 26 years.

 

Agreed. I am learning on my new Clubman. I haven't been able to practice as much because of busy work and I live in a very crowded bumpy road city but so far it is going well. Highly recommended! I love when I get out onto the highway or down to the less crowded rural areas.

 

Good advice. There are plenty of reasons people prefer and choose auto, but fear or worry shouldn't factor into it. Anyone can learn.

 

I live in LA...Auto is better because you so rarely get to drive. You mainly sit in traffic. Or stop at lights.

 

I live near Seattle and our traffic is nearly as horrible as LA, but we have access to some extremely fun mountain roads less than an hour from the central business district of Seattle.

That's what makes having a clutch worth it! I wish our '12 justacooper had a clutch, but I wasn't the one making that decision...

 

I just got my 2012 MCS and even so I mostly drove manual all my life (German Autobahn etc.), I decided to get automatic for my first Cooper (LA traffic sucks and my clutch foot needs some must needed rest).

I've been testing out the manual mode and gear shifting. It takes a little getting used to, but I think it's the coolest thing to switch gears without having to press down on the clutch. (The 2012 doesn't have the paddle shifters on the steering wheel anymore).

It's the same cool feeling as if I was driving manually. So with the automatic, you get the best of both worlds I think. You can switch back and forth to your liking.

My MA showed me how to use it and when he was speeding down the street, I was pushed back into my seat because he was going so fast.

 

Until MINI brings out a proper sequential manual transmission and ditches the old tech slushbox torque converter, my next MINI will not have an auto box.

 

If I had to spend hours in bumper to bumper traffic in LA each day, I would probably be taking public transit, not sitting in my car with an auto box. But that's just my opinion.

I used to drive in traffic a lot and I still preferred the manual despite the occasional tired leg muscles It was worth it on all the days where I was NOT driving in traffic.

 

I would rather sit in my comfortable temp controlled MINI, not moving in traffic, over a smelly crowded bus any day of the week!

 

Can't say I know what LA public transit is like.

I'm just glad I work from home most days and can drive mostly for enjoyment

 

I wasn't trying to start a debate of manual vs automatic vs paddle shifters. I just wanted to let people on the fence know how easy it was to pick up the manual on these Mini's

 

For sure - completely agree - I test drove a MCS after 3 years of not driving a manual and it was a cinch. Definitely take the plunge and try the manual before putting down a deposit.

 

My next mini will probably be manual...but I LOVE my auto mini! It's an electronic controlled manual....so it is still a 6-speed, and you can manually shift if you choose to...and it engine breaks....so whats not to like!

 

Personally, I wouldn't use a MINI as a first car to learn stick. Too easy to burn the clutch out on these cars and its very expensive to fix.

 

It's free with the maintenance package...No?