So I went by Hollywood Mini yesterday and asked if they had a Cooper S with a manual to test drive. The guy said no, which wasn't a huge surprise. I know the cars are just starting to trickle in. So I asked if he knew when they WOULD be getting one in and I could pop in then. He looked on his computer and told me not only do they not have any manuals now...they don't have a singe one on order for the dealership! I asked how that could be be and he told me it's because no one buys them.

In addition, I've been emailing with Bob Smith Mini to schedule a test drive with manual S, and they still don't have one either.

I get that it's LA so the auto would be popular, but not a single manual in either store plus none even on the way for at least one major dealership?! That's crazy to me.

 

Does seem crazy considering how many dealers are in the LA area. My local dealer is showing one Manual non-s in it's inventory.

 

I found this interesting when looking at inventories the other day too. Pretty much the same in central Florida with only one manual that I saw. My MA said manuals will mostly be reserved for special orders because (like Joakester said) not many people buy them.

 

One great thing about having a manual gear box is that the modern day morons that go around boosting cars can't operate them.

 

They are currently only 9 Cooper S manuals that are on ground at dealers in the entire LA/OC region...

 

Funny i had the exact opposite problem here in the UK

 

Same exact thread was started a couple of weeks ago.....
Basicly consensus was dealers wanted preorder cars to be good for anybody... Aka, a "Jane"... So they could be an impluse buy....
And sticks were typically sold to enthuists that would be willing to wait for a perfect custom car they " built" online to be delivered.....

 

You are correct. I bought mine at Universal City Mini (the one in N. Hollywood you mentioned) and they didn't have a single manual then either. They did have one that a customer ordered in Volcanic Orange but it was pre-sold and couldn't be test driven.

I basically either had to wait for a long time or go with the auto. Because of LA traffic and because the auto is pretty aggressive in sport mode, I decided to go auto. Plus it'll be better for resale in LA.

Had their been a manual though, I'm sure I would have taken it.

 

What amazes me is that they don't even have one to test drive. I mean, it's an enthusiast's car! I get that Auto's are popular, but it's not like it's a mini-van and therefore unthinkable that someone (aka, me) might want to buy a manual version. But there's no way I'm placing an order without test driving one.

 

Yeah it's crazy. When I first went and asked for a manual, they looked at me like I was insane.

It was an inventory situation too...they basically only have 2-3 cars on the lot so they just have the easiest selling units.

 

Over the life of the MINI marque, manuals haven't been as popular as they'd seem. It's just that this board skews towards the enthusiast. As of 2011, less than 25% of MINIs ever sold were manuals and I'd bet it's way less at this point.

 

As mini has gone mainstream, they have been selling more auto's....
Remember... An the auto S was not even MADE till 2005+.......

 

Hi guys- first post! I drove a manual S yesterday at Nick Alexander. David was my guy (the internet guy), and he was very cool. The car was red I think.

 

Well at least you can test drive an auto to see if you like car. It's not like the manual is gonna be a different car power wise or different other than tranny.

 

That's a fair point- here's my little review of the manual trans, if that helps. I'm coming from a 2005 Acura RSX. I recently drove a Nismo Juke RS, and the shifter was the main reason I didn't buy the car- it was vague and rubbery. Could barely tell what gear you're going into. So I'm pretty picky about it, and the MINI passed my test.

Clutch is very light. Almost too light, but just enough. Engagement is really smooth. Easy to drive even the first time. Probably would be great in traffic.

Shifter is good. I expected the throw to be a little shorter. It's about the same as my RSX, which I always thought is pretty good. Nice solid clicks into gear. No rubbery feeling- you know easily what gear you're going into. I will probably get a short shift kit once they come out (assuming I get this car!).

Oh and the rev-match thing was really pretty cool, I have to admit!

So if you can't actually drive a manual- I would have no reservations on the transmission. It's good.

 

This is a really interesting topic. At our dealer they had 3 manuals and 2 auto's. I wanted an auto so I test drove that. I am suprised they would not even have one for you to test drive at all.

 

Just goes to show how the demographics of MINI buyers has changed.

 

The auto is a $1250-$1750 dollar option.
Read dealer profit.
Sorry we don't have any manuals, but the autos are ......
Also appears the autos had fewer problems in R series.
Fewer warranty issues = more profit.

 

Easy selling point for them is the mileage is better on the automatic which is hard to believe

 

With the new 8/9 speed auto that is forthcoming,
we may see the complete demise of the manual.


Transmissions will soon be variable torque.
There will be no gears, as we currently know them, involved.

So you wanna shift, buy a Triumph, a 2 wheel Triumph.

 

Great write up! Thanks for the review and the info on Nick Alexander. Of course the ONE dealership in LA I don't go to...


It's good to know it was passable in your opinion, particularly given your attention to such a thing. As I will be buying the F55 (gots kids), I am beginning to realize that I may need to order it without the ability to actually test drive one.


For me though, nothing spells the demise of the manual more than the lack of people buying them in the Mini. I understood (though was saddened) when Ferrari stopped using them, along with Porsche in the GT3. Those are sports cars designed with one goal: go fast. And autos can be faster. But Mini has never been as much of a "sports" car as it is a "fun" car. And let's be honest, we can all talk about how "big" a Mini feels, but I think we can also admit that we give up something in terms of space and utility in the name of fun. To me, though, fun requires a connection to the car. Otherwise (to paraphrase Adam Corolla), we'd all brag about going 600mph in an airplane. I'm not saying an auto gives up that connection, but I also don't think it bests it.


I also want to say this isn't an "anti-auto" rant. I get why people would buy one in a Mini, and from what I understand, they're a damn good transmission. My point isn't why anyone would by one, but rather why no one buys a manual in a car like this.

 

It's already that way in some examples. The Italia does not have a manual option. The new 911 GT3 also no manual available. Those are super high end, but it shows that the performance is better with the twin-clutch style granny's. I know the Mini does not have this style trans, but as the efficiency and performance increases the demand for the manual decreases.

Damn, I would have NEVER thought I'd buy an automatic Mini, but it worked so well and the thought of LA traffic changed my mind.

 

Well somebody beat me to the Ferrari and GT3 reference! I like how you think Joakester!!

 

We ordered our MCS
MANUAL
w/o a test drive of a manual
There are/were none around when we ordered mid April.

Albeit we are mature adults and know how to shift.
However if I were sitting in L A traffic 4 hours a day
I wouldn't be sitting in a Mini.
If I had to sit in L A traffic 4 hours a day,
I'd be leaving So Cal !!
They still make VW buses in Mexico w/ Manual trannies

 

Interesting thread. Mini Of Baltimore had two "S" and two "justa's in manual, which surprised me. Currently in an R-56 justa and test drove the F-56 "S" in manual. Loved it. Took a few minutes to figure out the sequence of clutch to throttle, because it is so much smoother then in my R-56. Shift lever is effortless to move and clutch releases close to the top, so you can get on and off very quickly. I rev match, but still miss it by a tad sometimes. The new rev match feature never missed a beat once, even going quickly from fifth to forth to third to second. I really like the new tranny a lot.