So here goes.
I've had my MCSCa for about a month now, and I love it. My husband is disappointed I just couldn't go for the manual, but while I know it would be an even more fun driving experience, I just couldn't bring myself to deal with learning right now. Maybe my next one. I am a teacher and I have been known to grade papers at traffic lights so I really don't need to add more tasks to my multi-tasking.
I find it is the odd little things that make me love my car the most. The Ireland flag badge, the driving lights, the mfsw.
Going from 14 years of voyager minivans (the last one being that ubiquitous cranberry colored one), I am having a bit of trouble with all of the attention. No one noticed my minivans!
Getting about 70% waves back, but still trying!

 

Welcome to NAM, Cranky...make yourself at home!! An auto tranny is fine if it suits your needs...no problem. Enjoy your new-found celebrity and happy motoring!!

PS...try to post some pics of your MINI when you can.

 

yeah the auto mcsa is a fast car still. nothing wrong with it. I couldnt get the hang of it at the showroom. I couldnt afford to buy something I couldnt figure out. more power to you. more chilling on the road with the auto. you have a nice car comming thats for sure.

 

I have always owned and driven performance oriented cars, and the MINI is a real treat for me. I imagine you're experiencing something akin to utter and complete shock after 14 years of minivans.

You say that you grade papers at redlights? I bet those days will be over soon. You won't need reading materials or work to keep you awake in the MINI. MINIs are about driving, or more properly, driving enjoyment. A minivan is just an appliance that transports you and your cargo from the famous Point A to the equally famous Point B.

You've already said that your next MINI may be a manual, and I strongly suspect that you're well on your way to learning that cool cars are a whole lot of fun. If you think this one is fun, imagine the experience squared! (It's not PC on NAM to disparage automatics, but I swapped my MCS/JCW for a MCSa with an old college buddy for 2 weeks so I have a basis for comparison.)

Enjoy the MINI, and keep us up to date with all the new cool experiences it brings you. Most of us have already been there, but hearing it from a newbie helps the veterans to re-live the experience.

Rawhyde

 

Welcome to NAM Cranky

After owning my Mini for almost 2 years it still amazes me how much attention the little sucker gets. You get used to it. It still sometimes irritates friends when we constantly have to stop & answer strangers Mini questions but they are kind of getting used to it to

 

Congrats on the new mini! I just ordered one myself and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I also got an automatic...someone just taught me how to drive a manual and while I think it will be easy enough to pick up...I didn't want to put my new mini through that. I want to get some experience first. I test drove an automatic at the dealership and fell in love with it so wasn't too bummed on not getting a manual yet. Maybe next time around!

 

My wife is a teacher and she has been working all day today, yuck. Also we have both a child and a dog who are still having incidents of a wet variety. She drives an automatic minivan; I get the Mini. When she does drive it, she loves it and we talked about how cool it would be to have two. Anyway, anything a teacher needs to do to survive makes sense, it is a very demanding job.

 

Welcome to NAM, I can certainly say that the MCS has the best auto tranny out there, and I've driven quite a few (had a loaner from the dealer for a while, but never considered owning one).

 

Being a long-time motorcycle rider, I was not pleased to read that you 'grade papers at traffic lights.' Just another car-driver-distraction for me to wonder about while I'm riding.

But congrats on the new MINI, anyway.

 

Never fear. Only at full stops and with a son in the car who alerts me when the light is about to turn. Never when I am alone or moving at all. I tend to be one of those overly cautious types! I live in a very congested area so I spend a lot of time stopped at lights.

 

No worries on the automatic. What works for you is what works for you.

I have a 2003 MCS with manual, my wife has a 2006 Cooper with CVT auto. Both are great cars. She tried learning to drive mine and just did not like the stress of it. And truth be told, I really enjoy driving her car when I get the chance.

 

"Ubiquitous"--you must be an English teacher. Nice word. Not seen too often on here.

 

[quote=Crankybroad] My husband is disappointed I just couldn't go for the manual, but while I know it would be an even more fun driving experience, I just couldn't bring myself to deal with learning right now. Maybe my next one.

I know EXACTLY how you feel! My husband wanted a manual, but, techinically the MINI is MY car, so he said, get what makes you happy. I'm sure I would be able to master the manual, but with the amount of money we paid (for the next 5 years), I wanted to be comfortable from the very beginning! And I'm very, very happy with my MINI, and my husband also enjoys driving it (on the rare occasions he gets to!)

Congratulations on your new car!

 

How can you concentrate on grading papers while revving the enging tow-heel at stop lights? (OK, so maybe with the automatic you have to use a little extra effort and put in neutral first, but stop lights are the best place to listen to the burble!)

 

Having just survived a major motorcycle accident, this gives me the cold sweats, too. The streets of Los Angeles are not in any way motorcycle friendly. Enjoy your MINI, I know that it is about as close as I am going to get to a two-wheeler for a long time or possibly ever. Love the sunroof!