Looking to buy a 2006 and I am not sure what route I should go.

Live in South West Florida and my wife would be happiest with an automatic.
I would prefer the Cooper with 5 speed. Need some good input on the CVT transmission. Is it reliable and if so how long do they normally last? It is my understanding that they are very expensive to replace. Performace - I am not looking for a race car just one that we can enjoy as we have a bit of age on us.

Realize that I might have to go the route of the "S" with auto, but I would rather not spend the extra.

Thanks for every one input.

Pkat

 

My advice would be test drive 'em and see what you both like. The CVT and the S Auto are entirely diffefent beasts, I went with the MCSa, a bum knee and LA traffic ruled out a stick and the MC with CVT felt a wee under powered for me. But many have them and love them.
So it comes down to what driving experience spins your wheels. Good luck.

 

Sticks are really easy to drive, I don't know why anyone would shy away from them, but I drove motorcycles and VW's for 25 years, so it doesn't even cross my mind why I wouldn't have a stick in my car. Wife's car is another question, she decides there.

 

If you want an 06 you might have to wait quite a while for an auto.

I ordered a CVT a month ago. I later found out that they are out of CVT's until Nov./Dec. I switched to stick.

If timing is an issue, you will want to go stick. If you don't mind waiting you can go CVT.

 

Half the fun of driving a mini is going up and down the gears ,well it is in my car , I would never even think about having the auto box ..(had 4 minis ) and thinking about the GP ,what a waste of a car it would be with auto transmition !!....take a shower man and pull yourself together

 

This decision was the one thing I agonized over when I ordered my car. I just picked up my new 2006 Cooper with 5-speed this past Friday, coming from only ever having an auto. I knew the basics of driving a manual before I bought the car, but had never really done any real-world driving before the test drive. The MINI transmission is super smooth and easy to drive, and I think it would be a really good one to introduce to someone who may not be keen on driving a manual. It is worlds apart from the experience I had with the gearbox I learned on initially, which kind of scared me away from driving a manual.

So far I love it! I came from driving an auto with more hp than my MC, but the Cooper actually feels a bit peppier, believe it or not. I attribute that to being able to control the engine's power with the manual.

I say test drive both and see which fits your needs the best (remember, the CVT does have a manual mode that you can shift yourself) - but I'd say go manual if you can!

 

As others have said , drive them both if you can. The 5 speed will have alot more pep then the MC with the cvt. The CVT will really suck the power from the engine.

 

Well, I can say that if you want to chill and creampuff around town, the CVT is not bad. I did not buy it as I wanted full sport. the MCSa is a beast of a car, it's just difficult to downshift on turns for agressive sorts of movements. Well, some find it easy but I didnt.

CVT sux out the power off the line. The MC stick is awesome off the line. 1st gear rox in the MC. The MC has quite a bit of real power. The hp numbers do not do it justice. It loses its power to the supercharger in the above 40mph range, making you lean on the gears more to higher rpms to get sport satisfaction. Normally, most cars do not have their torque numbers and their horse numbers the same, but the MC does. a civic si has 200 hp but only 130 torque. to think you are close to that in an mc! CVT is fine after first gear.

the mc stick is a getrag in year 2006. It is a very strong part of the car.

 

I've got the CVT and here is my observation. Off the line it is a dog, even in SportDrive or manual modes. However once you hit about 10 mph it really takes off. SportDrive is really fun for peppy driving and if you want nearly complete control, with shifts at redline or to ride the line - manual mode is great. Also if you space out or are otherwise distracted and don't shift at redline it will for you. Plus it will not let you do stupid, transmission threatening moves like down shifting at redline.
I drove both the stick and CVT before purchase. I have had manuals and autos. I chose to get the CVT primarily for the convenience in city driving. I think I would still make the same choice. I do sometimes find myself with a little stick envy at times and at times I do wish I had the S, but when I purchased this car as my daily driver I had only the slightest idea about how much fun I would have in it. Still, since it is my daily driver and I do live in a city, I really think I made the right selections for me.
That said - your selection and reasons for doing so are your own irregardless of any MINI community peer pressure, snide comments or down the nose looks. Do what feels best for you.

 

i have the CVT and find it to be fine for the driving i do. it is, as said, a bit doggish off the line, but if you put it in sport or manual mode you can get a bit better performance. I test drove the cooper and the S with and without manual transmission when i bought mine, and frankly since i was using this mostly for a commuter i went with Cooper with the CVT...Had i been going more for a autocross/sunday twisty rider, i would have definitely gone for the S - manual. Ask your dealer if you can get an extended test drive so you can see how it handles on your morning commute. that might make the decision easier.

 

Ordered one today with the CVT. Not a speedster, but decent off the line.
I would not of minded the "Super Charger" in it, but I knew that run flats and I would never agree. Cost, cost, cost, in replacement and no spare for back-up.
Should be in sometime November.

 

Congrats PKAT! From everything I've read the current CVT is very dependable and mechanically sound. It is a different transmission than the S auto.
So I bet you'll be tracking that boat and counting down the days until your MINI arrives. Again congratulations on your purchase.

 

Did your MA say anything about the CVT shortage?

I had ordered mine in August and they said that CVT's would not be available until week 45 or later, which means delivery Dec.

Just curious if things have changed?

 

Production is scheduled for the 2d week in Oct.
He mentioned that there had been a problem with the supply of CVT's. They will give me the production number etc.... sometime today.

Will let you know.

 

Ordered my Cabrio with CVT on Sept. 2 and got a report that it is in the paint shop today. No shortage for me. YeeHaa

 

Have my Production number now.

My wife just gave me the bad news that I will be driving it the majority of the time. I'll just have to suffer. Such is life.......

 

Congratulations on getting your production number...enjoy the wait.

 

get the extended warranty. if the cvt does blow, it's 7k, no ifs ands or buts

 

I had a production number for some time. It was just that I wasn't going to be made until week 45. Just check with you MA to make sure. I am glad I did otherwise I would not be seeing one until Dec. I switched to stick so I could get one in 06.

Hope you guys had better luck than I did. Let me know what you find out.