Hi All. I am a New MINI owner. I just purchased my MINI about a week ago. I got a 2012 MINI Hardtop in Red with a White Top. I spotted my first Mini in 2001 and it has been the only car I wanted ever since. It just took me that long to finally get one. It was also my first new car ever!! So far I absolutely love it. My only concern is that I got the Manual transmission and have never driven one before, so now I feel like I am learning to drive all over again.

Cheers,
Dusty

 

Dusty learning to drive a manual is not that bad and once you get the hang of it, the fun will begin. Welcome to NAM and congrats on the NEW car

 

Welcome! Driving a manual is definitely the best. Once you get the hang of it, you'll never go back to auto. My very first car was an auto...and I have only owned manuals since!

 

Congrats on having the guts to go manual. Best decision you made, after choosing a MINI. Now you need to bring that puppy up to the Dragon with us.

 

Congrats Dusty. I can't get Hobbes off my mind so I know the feeling. On the manual thing, I hope you get a chance to practice a lot. I'm sure your competent and coordinated but I'm just reminded of teaching two of my kids how to drive stick and it took time driving around empty parking lots. It took a while for them to get used to it. The nice thing about the new MINIs is the hill assist break so you don't roll back immediately coming off a stop on a hill.

Good luck. And, oh btw, pics please!

 

I agree with the posts above, you made a great decision to buy a mini, especially a manual tranny. If you do need to practice the "clutch" touch, find yourself a deserted parking lot, hopefully one with a few ups/downs and start and stop until you get the feel of the clutch. As they say--practice, practice, practice!!

 

congrats on the purchase! IMO this is one of the easier manuels out there so you should pick it up quick. I went to an auto for a year, so boring now I'm back to rowing my own gears. Enjoy the new car, I know I am!!

 

Congrats on your new car! driving a manual is def fun and will become second nature. I am going to an auto for various reasons, but I will miss sliding through the gears!

 

Thanks for all of the encouragement. It really hasn't been that bad. I had actually driven a manual one time before, when my husband and I where dating. He had an old Honda Accord and he insisted it was something someone couldn't just pickup and do, that they had to learn, with hours of embarrassing instructions (I think he was picturing me stalling the car over and over). I met that challenge, just got in the car and did it, without instruction, made his jaw drop. With my MINI though, I am a little more apprehensive. But, so far I have needed very little instruction. I haven't quite figured out the hill assist yet. I find it is more work, than just giving it a bit more gas to prevent rolling. But, we are not in a very hilly city anyway.

 

It was a great feeling when signing the papers and he told us the mileage was at 5. This was after our little test drive (as if I needed to test drive it). So we literally put every mile on our MINI!