Hello All,

I am writing this brief introduction as I get ready to head out the door and take my youngest son (16) to a 2 hour training session in a manual transmission Mini Cooper. Based on those results we will decide to purchase a 6 speed or Automatic Mini. I am looking forward to learning more about the Mini and how to best care and feed them. More to come as things progress!

 

Buy the manual!

I learned how to drive a manual transmission after I bought a car with a MT. I feel like you'll never really learn and be comfortable just practicing a few times. And when I bought the car that I learned manual on, I thought I made a HUGE mistake for about a week. Then I realized how much more enjoyment MTs are. So I won't want to get a AT (for myself) anymore.

 

My recommendation is manual if you arent strickly all city driving. A manual will also train the driver to more in tune with their car and they might actually pay more attention to the road because they are driving a manual.

I live in tampa florida and there are a million cars on the road everywhere i go so i frequently regret buying a manual...

 

well. How did it turn out?

 

Definitely the manual. I was super nervous the first time I tried it, but you learn pretty quickly and I believe it makes you a much better driver in general, much more aware and much less distracted. Mini's are very forgiving, I learned on an 06 R53, was my first manual car, and it was the perfect car to learn on IMO. 2 out of my 3 Mini's have been manual (I daily an auto F56 S 2dr as I literally am in stop and go traffic every day) but my R55 is a 6speed and there's nothing like taking it out on some backroads, it's very relaxing.