https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...26#post1307426

Do not mean to cross-post; but, hoping to gain additional visibility from local forum members. We are looking for a cooper S automatic. We went to sterling mini --

But, someone correct me if I am mistaken -- they are asking $27,500 for one that has about 13K on it. A brand new one -- the 2007 model which is a turbo vs. SC and has a better shifting transmission (supposedly), would only cost us about $700 more. That seems a bit excessive.

I know the mini cooper S holds it's value well -- but, the new mini has a better engine, better transmission, and other enhancements over the current mini. Shouldn't the 2006 ones, especially used ones, be around the $24-25K range? We thought we could get one around the $20-22K range fairly easily for an '05-06 ... ESPECIALLY automatics since they appear to be much harder to resell and less desirable. I was factoring in that most people would NOT want an automatic mini cooper S ... and thus based my prices on such feelings -- are we sadly living in a pipe dream?

Thanks,

James

 

I don't know if you're dreaming..... but-

The new convertible (with the new engine) won't be out for a few years. So if you buy a 2007 MCSC, you're getting the same engine that is in the 2006.

I don't know if your assumptions about the undesirability of the automatic are based on fact.

I have one; I know a lot of people who own one; MINI sells a lot of them; and there are a whole bunch of people who drive in city traffic who like the performance of the MINI, but don't want to be shifting all the time.

It helps to look at the fact that more used MINI's are on the market now because the first models sold are coming off leases and people are trading them in as their warranties are up.

The automatic MCS is only two years old. That's why there are not a lot of them on the secondary market yet.

Sounds like you're trying to talk yourself out of buying one.

 

I've been considering selling GBMINI but I don't fancy the selling hassle ... don't know if you consider Boston "local" but if you did ... let me know ...

GBMINI:
http://www.gbmini.net/wp/category/gbmini3/

 

MDSBrain traded his MCSa for a Lexus recently, but I am not sure where or if you want a used one.

 

Thanks all. Actually, a used one is a bit more preferable. All of my cars are manual and she cannot drive a manual. I tried to teach her on my M3 -- but, she fried the clutch -- and then tried it out on my jeep wrangler and blew the rear end out. Granted -- the M3 had 50K on the clutch with a good number of autocross/HPDE events ... and the wrangler had a 4.5" lift -- so, that could be factors.

A lot of my supposed 'facts' are 'hearsay.' I was told from various people (not necessarily authoritatively either), that an automatic is a bit harder to sell. That many of the mini's -- if you ever decide to resell it -- are easier to resell if a manual vs. an automatic. Caveat -- it may completely be untrue. I just know when I did a nationwide search for cooper S in automatic -- 204 came up, 41 came up within 300 miles of my zip code, and less than 1/2 were cooper S's. The salesperson also told us that for every 10 cooper s's ordered, 9 out of 10 will be manual.

This car is more for daily driving. We are not looking for a new one. I personally do not like buying new especially when a newer model comes out. With most cars, the prices of the older models go down about 3-4K. I was looking for either a used 2004-2006 cooper S model. The reason I want to stay in that range is because of the maintenance/warranty still being in effect. This assuages some of the fears of buying a used vehicle.

I see a lot of 2004-2005 models for sale; but, hardly any 2002-2003 models, and most 2006's have like 4-13K and seem to be more numerous than 2004-2005 models combined. Kind of puzzling why so many 2006's are available so quickly. But, 2006's are almost full price. I know 2007 auto's will not be made until march and probably not received until april-may timeframe; perhaps that is why 2006's cost almost full list price, even used. Plus, some other people comment that they do not think the 2007's are a huge leap ... some even argue not as good-looking as current gen.

gbmini - got your email/pm. Forwarding pictures to her for her review. Boston is not overly far -- but, still would probably ship it.

 

Hey I just wanted to let you know that I bought my '05 MCSa at Tate for a little over 20 thousand and it had about 18k miles on it. I bought it back in November and they had another auto up there at the time. So you might want to check them out. (I think they were asking like 17,500 or 18,000 for it, not sure though).

 

It left that Lexus dealer 3 days later to who knows where. But its out there.

 

Just a quick note.
The MCSa wasn't put into production until January 2005. So if you're looking for a car any older than that you aren't going to find one.

 

Ahh ... that makes sense now. Thanks commander or commodore vimes

Did a bit more research on the automatic transmission and it appears not all 05-06's came with the CVT transmission -- is this true?

If it did not come with the CVT -- what did it come with?

What new transmission is being put in the '07's? Current MCSa owners -- are you happy with the automatic in your car?

 

I love my MCSa, its a blast to drive. I got the auto because I liked the paddle shifters on the wheel and you can't get the manual with paddle shifters. I also got the auto because I don't like driving a manual unless I am racing and I can't be racing the MINI everywhere (unfortunately ).

Overall I am glad I got the MCSa but thats just my opinion. There are good sides and bad sides to both the auto and manual. It's just whatever you are more comfortable with.

 

The MINI Cooper S Auto transmission (MCSa) is a normal Auto transmission. The MINI Cooper Auto Transmissions (MCa) is a CVT transmission which is a totally different transmission.

Motoringfile has posted that the MCSa will have a normal Auto trans.

I just traded my MCSa with 21k+ miles and 18months use on it and its shifting stunk. Unless I was driving the hell out of it the shifts were sticky and rough from day 1.

 

On the other hand, I'm very happy with the shifting on my '05 MCSa (GBMINI) ... and no disrespect to Mark but he had a pile of issues with his car, maybe related to aftermarket mods, which might have been a factor in his issues.

The MCSa auto transmission is an interesting beast, wearing lots of hats - in normal drive mode you can just ignore it, it shifts and does the normal auto stuff. OK and smooth for daily driving (for example when my wife is in the car).
Shove it over to sports drive and it's personality changes significantly - it shifts more quickly/aggressively, holds higher revs, downshifts as the car slow, etc.
Or start clicking the paddle shifters and you're in manual mode - your clicks determine the shifts (but note that it will still shift up/down to prevent stalling or over-revving).


Originally the only MINI auto transmission was the CVT on the non-S; in 2005 they released the auto for the MCS - it's a "normal" automatic and not a CVT.
Now as mentioned for the '07+ the CVT is gone - the "normal" auto will be available in both the MC and MCS ... but of course year one of a new model :(

 

Sorry guys, I am a bit confused.

So, for 2005 -- the MCSa has a 'normal' transmission and the non-S's have the CVT transmission?

All of the MCSa's 2005-2006 will have the normal transmission and not the CVT transmission?

The primary reason for me to purchase an 'automatic' is because my fiance cannot drive it. I had bought her an SMG M3 -- but, she did not like the modifications I did. It was technically 'her' car -- but, to make it more enjoyable for me, I did a 'few' minor modifications ... ... Also, she was worried about the S54 engine going ka-boom and the fact that the SMG hydraulic pump is EXTREMELY expensive to replace, and, you still have to replace the clutch and flywheel like a normal manual vehicle.

I've done some research on MCS's and it appears that 2005-2006 -- they ironed out the problems associated with earlier models.

 

Correct, all MCSa (2005 & 2006) have a "normal" automatic transmission. The auto was new to MINI in Jan 2005 - but it's basically the same Aisin box that's used on (if I remember correctly) the Audi TT.

Before Jan 2005 there was no automatic for the MCS.


There was a raft of improvements on all MINIs with the '05 model year, including the redesigned "star trek" Xenon headlights, a three piece dash instead of five piece (less chance of rattles), different taillight setup, etc, etc.

 

OK let me clarify.Not just for 2005. All first-gen automatic MCSs (i.e. MCSa) have a traditional automatic (6-speed, in fact). ALL first-gen automatic MCs (i.e. MCa or MCcvt) have a CVT transmission. The key point here is that the automatic in the MCS was only introduced in January 2005 models onwards, so you won't find one that is older than that. Prior to January 2005 models, the only way to buy an automatic MINI was to buy a CVT MC.YESYes, the 2005 model was a "tech refresh" update, where they fixed a lot of smaller problems and made some other refinements. Some of the changes were not too popular (such as moving the clock from the middle of the headliner to the tach), but most of them have been well received. I myself prefer (and have) an updated model.