... i'm looking at buying a newer car after i get my bachelors and the Mini S is def. in my top 5. It shoots for everything i think a car should be: small, efficent, fun, upgradable, and lightweight. Currently i'm looking at the 2002-2003 model S's just trying to see if the car as a whole will fit my tuner personality. so far i just need to find out if the auto tranny on a mini can take a beating or not. Hopefully BMW made the auto tranny as strong as the S's engine internals. (I asked the question in the performace/drivetrain section) anyway thanks for looking lates!

 

After 8 hours, you would think you would have some replies. You can't go wrong with a MINI from the criteria you list. Some might say the early cars are less reliable. If you got a degree and a job, and can afford payments, why not get a newer (at least 05) one? As for tranny, why auto? If you are in the city, lots of waiting in a long line, I COULD see it, but the clutch is not heavy. The manual is SO much fun. If you haven't driven one, you can learn - millions have, it isn't hard.

 

That, my friend, is the big question...

Challenge is that there are few enough of the auto trannies on the road, and they've been out on the MCS for a relatively short time, and the profile of the "typical" auto buyer is somewhat different than the "typical tuner"... if there really is anything "typical" about MINI buyers, which is debatable...

I've definitely caught the "mod bug" to some degree - so far think I'm going to stick to relatively subtle, conservative stuff (already done some electrical and cosmetic stuff, wish list includes 15% pulley, Dinan intake, Alta hose, Milltek exhaust, Alta air diverter, Hawk HPS pads, paint calipers, maybe injectors and Unichip and Alta intercooler). Even at the max, these things aren't likely to add more than 40-50 bhp, if that much. Definitely way short of twincharging, etc.

I'm reasonably confident that these kinds of things won't cause the stock auto to instantly disintegrate - though I believe that anything that adds torque and anything that tempts me into driving harder WILL wear the tranny faster than if I drove like my dad used to...

It's concerns me a bit that the auto wasn't designed for regular maintenance, and all this "lifetime" business is BS - I'm sure it will last for the lifetime of the warranty, but that's a far cry from lasting for as long as I hope to keep this car (20+ years). I'm investigating some of the options that have been discussed (drop the pan every 15K miles, etc.). But so far no definitive answers here.

Really is going to depend on how far you want to take "tuning" and how hard you drive. If you want to be able to create a UNIQUE car that has that certain "je ne sais quoi" - kinda british, kinda quirky, kinda german, lotsa fun, NOT a porsche, NOT a honda, NOT a corvette, then the MINI is awesome. If you want to win drag races, look elsewhere. If you want to put a lot of neon under it, PLEASE look elsewhere.

 

Get a MINI. I second the question, "Why not a manual"?

If you're really into tuning and modding cars, then I assume you would consider yourself an "enthusiast".

If that is the case, then the manual is the way to go. The auto has been proven by many reviewers to be slower than the manual, which handicaps your tuning goal right from the start.

Also, I am a firm believer that driving a manual involves you as the driver a lot more than any automatic, (even the ones with paddle shifters). You have 100% complete control over which gear you're in. In the automatic, I've read that when you reach redline, it will upshift automatically, even if you're in full manual mode. Big brother is watching.

If you don't know how to drive a manual, do yourself a favor, and learn. I guarantee you won't regret it in the long run!

 

wow thanks for the good replies!

1. Manual vs. Auto: yes i know how to drive stick but i'm amazingly bad at it. Plus if the auto tranny can take it that would mean less upgrade expense (no investing into the clutch/flywheel ect. is money that can be used elsewhere) Plus if i can get into the ECU i can change how that auto shifts, much like i did on my chevy. (yes i know a chev is def. not a mini )

2. Drag races, no. but i'd still like it to be a fast car. basically this will be my "all-out fun/fast" car and my chev. will be my daily driver. One of my goals is to get it as close as possible or lighter than 2,000 lbs and also to bring it close to 300 crank hp. I'm trying to get the power to weight ratio to rival a Lotus. and yes i know its not a lotus, no i wouldnt buy a lotus (repair costs/maintinence costs are unbelivable)

Overall i'd like to have a manual but the economy of a auto is too luring. Plus i dont plan on buying a car until mar/apr so that is why i've joined and started my research. who knows i might end up with a manual!

 

MCS didn't come with an AUTO trans untill 05

 

thanks for the info! didnt know that lol. i was wondering after one of the comments i saw. was about to go looking for the years that it came with.

 

We're always here to help! Welcome, by the way!

As for the manual-auto debate: I bought my 06 Cooper S a little less than 6 months ago and it's a manual. I took delivery of her and my first question was "so what's this third pedal do again?" A couple weeks later, driving my friends around, they honestly thought I was lying when I said that this was my first manual car. It is so easy to learn and I don't think you would regret it at all. Drive both and see for yourself, that's best! Let us know how it goes!!

 

Is maintenance on Elises really that expensive?