Tested an All4 automantic the other day and liked it, but did not have a chance to drive a manual. I noticed the auto gearing gave a relaxed cruising RPM at 60 mph of about 1850-1900 RPM. Anyone with a manual know what the RPM at 60 mph in 6th gear is?

I can't find specs on gear ratios on any of these cars in the dealer brochures. Any source for gear ratios?

Thanks!

 

I ordered the manual. The fact that the CM All4 was available with a manual transmission and with higher end options like xenon lights, heated seats, and sunroof was a big decision factor.

 

To return to the original discussion: this is one of the biggest reasons I came to MINI. You can have nearly any high end option you want, independent of the other ones. You can have leatherette if you prefer it (as we do, with the dogs), but still keep your heated seats, upgraded headliner, upgraded interior trim (which you can do piecemeal to suit yourself), upgraded engine, xenons, etc., all with whichever transmission floats your boat.

With Jeep and Subaru, I kept running into the problem that some premium trim options I wanted (sunroof, upgraded interior, etc.) made the manual and/or engine I wanted go away. MINI appears to have figured out that a lot of us want a small, capable car that we can order customized right from the factory and that a small car doesn't mean a teeny budget.

And stripes. Stripes look good on MINIs, not so much on some other brands. The design language on the current Jeeps does not seem compatible with stripes.

 

We ordered our CM-S with a automatic. Most of our cars have been manuals, but for the "Highway Cruiser", we opted for the automatic. My only complaint is that the gearing at the top end favors MPG so I find the CM-S tends to downshift a bit more than I am used to, especially compared to the 328i's steptronic unit.

I taught my wife to drive a manual transmission on a brand new 71 Triumph Spitfire when we were in college. From that point on, she has favored a manual for every car purchase we have made. A number of years ago, we were facing our mid-fifties and the various ailments that seem to crop up from earlier years in sports (ankles, shoulders, knees: all the things NOT covered by the divine "warranty"). It was then that we both decided that we should have at least one automatic to allow us feeble-bodied folks a chance to be mobile should an injury arise.

I'm impressed with the MINI's steptronic, downshifting not withstanding. I like to use the paddles and, of course, there is always the "Sport" button! And make no mistake, we BOTH still tussle over driving the MCS JCW 6-speed! I guess that make us BOTH kinda' "butch", huh?

 

Hate to break this to you Kiwi, but you don't need to be a brain surgeon to drive a manual. It's not exactly a high level skill. Now, stop posting and go work on your guzzinta's.

 

OK, back on the subject of gearing, auto vs. manual, I did find manual gear ratios for the All4 listed on Road & Track's site. They are:

1st Gear 3.31, 2nd Gear 2.13, 3rd Gear 1.48, 4rth Gear 1.14, 5th Gear 0.95, 6th Gear 0.82, Final drive: 3.71

For tire diameter of 25.9" this gives 25.33 mph/1000 RPM in 6th. So RPM's at various cruising speeds are:
60 MPH: 2369 RPM
70 MPH: 2764 RPM

Can anyone with a manual All4 confirm that these are about right?

The auto All4 RPM in top gear at 60 mph is about 1900 RPM, but as mentioned in a post above, it has a tendency to shift swiftly to 5th on minor grades. I expect the manual can handle these grades in top gear easily.

 

My wife took the automatic. She likes rowing her own gears, but if I'm going to drive it, it has to be a slushbox. Not that I don't know how to drive a stick, but with my extra long legs, just getting into a Mini at all is an accomplishment. Handling a third pedal is not going to work as an every day thing.

 

I'm with you. This is the first automatic, I've ever owned. It has made the morning commute/stop-and-go parking lot much more enjoyable.

 

Using my GPS to set the speed, the tachometer on my manual ALL4 with 17" wheels and standard A/S tires reads:
60 MPH: 2300 RPM
70 MPH: 2800 RPM

So the estimates above seem right on the money.

 

Probably need to compare the above values to an automatic checked to a GPS signal. The 60 mph the OP saw was on the Mini speedo, which usually reads 3-4 MPH high.

Mark

 

I regret the manual. I have been driving stick since I learned to drive 25 years ago, and this is the first vehicle that I wish was an auto. The hill assist only works in first gear, which means if you park in a steep driveway and try to back out, you have to use the parking brake. Then you have to use higher RPM's to get the pig of a vehicle moving. I have yet to back out without smoking the clutch; I think I may just give up and park on the street (which is also a hill, though not as steep and I don't have to back up). It seems nearly impossible to back up the steep driveway in a nicely controlled fashion. Even my ancient VW bus did better than the CM4 here.

 

I checked on my way to work this morning and estimated 2200-2300rpm at 60mph on the speedo. Those numbers should be close.

 

I'm pretty sure I've had the hill assist hold the car in reverse.

 

My VW bus had an unbelievably low first gear - and the CM4 certainly has a tall one.

 

Me too...

 

Maybe there is an option buried somewhere. I am 100% sure that it is NOT holding in reverse. I have tested it multiple times. My buddy told me I was crazy until he drove the vehicle and tested it.

It holds in 1st gear.
It holds in neutral.
It does not hold in reverse.

 

I wasn't clear; I was referring to reverse. My driveway is very steep, and backing out requires some care.... Maybe I'm just a crap driver.

 

Love my 6 Speed but understand why some people need auto's. I just had a Countryman with an auto for a loaner and I was impressed. Sport button is a bit much in normal driving. It just hung in gear way to long but was sporty. You feel like you are giving up to much mileage in sport. With a 6 Speed Sport is on all the time and you just up shift. Had a 7 speed auto SLK for a few years and this is getting pretty close. One of the best I have driven to date. I was impressed and could live with it if the wife demanded an auto. She currently drives Jetta TDI with a stick.

 

took delivery of my R60 CMSa and just like my R56, I'm loving the auto with paddles combination.... I've even learned how to do left foot braking and feathering the go pedal so that I'm in the sweet spot in the RPM range.... as far as manuals are concerned, that's what I have my other car for......

 

Mines a MCS not a Countryman but I also have to back out of a steep driveway and hill assist does work in reverse.

 

If your hill assist isn't working in reverse, there's something wrong with it, because it's supposed to. Or, you're not braking hard enough before letting the clutch out, so it doesn't know to engage.

Having burned a little clutch backing out of a windy, uphill driveway, I feel your pain. You have to rev fairly high to move the car, but the gear seems pretty tall, so it's tricky.

 

I tested my car at lunch today and it definitely holds in reverse. And I've never had it hold in neutral, which makes me think yours may not be functioning correctly.

 

I got a loner with manual, the torque did not feel that noticeable as it does in auto. It was a blast to drive it. But the parking lot driving into NYC I rather have the auto.

 

Yeah, that figures. Thanks for checking. I'll call the dealer and see if they have any clue.

 

Don't tell me tell it to the 65% of Americans who can't drive a car with a manual transmission. The number goes up for those under 30 and increases to over 80% of females. So I feel pretty confident that most buy autos because they can't drive stick. The vast majority US driving schools don't teach people how to drive in manual cars, they use autos.