I respect those who prefer manual transmissions on their MINIs and I understand the joy.

Born and raised on stick shifts. VW, Volvo, Porsche. My first "new" Toyota Corolla wagon was a stick, as was the Mazda after college.

I ordered the Sport auto tranny for my Clubman, having had several Jags with fine automatics. Do paddle shifters on the glorious 8 speed auto in my Clubman S All4 count as manual shifting?

Don't consider myself lazy. Old and spoiled (self-indulged) yes. There is a season, and a reason, for everything. Don't miss the clutch at all. Just sayin'

 

 

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I want to thank those who posted in this tread. I have been searching for a manual or contemplating ordering wife, but was peppered with comments about the rarity, decreased resale value, and that the 2019 signature level has no price difference between the transmissions.

The comments here helped me return to my roots. I have almost always driven a manual and I think it really makes me a more engaged (and happy) driver.

Found a manual last week. Got a good price. Picking it up next week. And... its a manual 2018 Thunder grey with silver roof clubman S

 

 

The OP asked "Does nobody order a manual anymore?", but he was searching at dealers and he actually meant "Do no dealers order manuals anymore?". Think about how it looks from the other side. Their money is on the line and dealers stock their lot with cars that they think could sell quickly. Bright colors – and manual transmission – are not popular and have a risk of sitting unsold on the lot for a long time. Dealerships have low profit margins and they are risk averse. If you have trouble finding a manual on dealer lots, there is a practical reason behind it. It has become a specialty item where you need to place your own order for one.

 

 

while on a trip, my friend rode in my Mini and has come to the conclusion he wants one. He has visited all the dealers in his area and found autos only. He, as I, will only consider manuals. He ran into all kinds of reasons why they have no manuals in new cars, but no one can prove their statements, nor seemed to care. Just the fact they are having a hard time selling autos, but the newer used manuals are selling like hot cakes at high prices.

I have read it is eaiser for the manufactures to get better mpg's with the electronics in an auto than manuals, and if they can standardize all models, its eaiser to stock parts for and repair employees to train and work with. After all they have to have a balance to meet mileage set by government standards. And the public is slowly getting lazier and expecting the machine to do the work and not the driver.

But the Mini and others like it, has the issue that many who wants their products are still into the belief the driver should control the car and not the car controlling the driver.

My firend is going to Atlanta Georgia since there are two lots that still have some new and year old non prior sold models for sale. He will wait to get what he wants.

 

Thanks & will do.

 

This is exactly what our local MINI dealer's sales person told me. She said that the dealership specs and builds cars that they think will sell. If they bring in a manual, few people will even take it for a test drive. Confirming her comment I found popular press articles that report that less than 20% of US drivers know how to drive a stick and about 5% of the cars sold in 2016 were manuals.

 

If you think about it, a car dealership is just a type of retail store. They keep popular items in stock for immediate sales and offer other items by special order. Like if you walk into a bakery there are cakes ready to buy off the shelf, but if you want one with green color frosting, they can make one but available only through special order. In the same way, sales of manual transmission have dropped low enough that it has become a specialty item and it doesn't make sense for the retailer (dealer) to keep them in stock.

 

Congratulations! Sound just like my car. Thunder Grey with a silver roof and a manual transmission.

 

Actually Mini sales are setting a record this year. I was surprised.

 

because of news they might go all electric? I keep a jcw build handy just in case it comes out that there wont be any more turbo cars

 

 

Absolutely beautiful machine you have there. Back in 2006, I traded in my 5 speed Golf 1.8t for a F150 pickup and the young salesperson had to ask another salesperson to drive my car to get it appraised..true story lol. Enjoy your true Mini.

 

Took my car in last week for scheduled maintenance (Mini of Allentown, PA). They had a 2019 Cooper on display front and center in the show room, and it had a manual! Some dealers still stock them. They had several other models in stock with manuals too, which made me smile.

While there, I overheard a 20 something woman ask her salesperson about some interior treatment. The salesperson said, "Let's go over to this car. It has what you're looking for." They walked over to the Cooper, the buyer sat in the driver's seat, noticed it had three pedals, and said, "What's that?" The sales person said, "You've never driven a manual transmission have you?" She stared at the extra pedal silently for about 5 seconds and said, "Mine won't have that will it?" He just smiled and said, "no."

I cringed and shook my head...

 

You should have asked the 20 something if she knew that Paul McCartney was in band before Wings....

 

"Who's Paul McCartney and who are Wings, are you referring to Red Bull"? Oh I kinda thought so..lol.

 

Working at a dealership, I can verify that manuals flat out do not sell. We stock a few of them at any given time, but most people come in and want an automatic anymore, and the manuals tend to sit. Performance wise, on sheer numbers the Cooper S sport auto is better, but it's more about the feel and experience. Most people who come in looking for a stick end up ordering one anyway. It's kind of a shame as I more recently learned to drive stick and absolutely love it (my F56 is an auto as I bought it prior to learning properly and I commute everyday in traffic in it, but R53 is a 6spd). But, I guess most people just don't see the merit in it or something for whatever reason. For a daily driver, I guess I can get both sides of it, but since MINI is a fun car, it makes sense to offer it, so I am glad they still do.