I broke down and ordered an F56S with the sport automatic. After 2 manual Minis, I decided to go to the other side. My daughter had an Audi with the dsg tranny and I really it. And my Audi A7 has the ZF 8-speed and its' shifting is fast. I will miss the manual, but the new autos are just better in every way for me.

 

I got the manual as well. I also got the paddle shifters....I never use them....the car pretty well knows when to shift on its own. Its a good little auto. Funny thing though...I actually like normal mode better than sport. Green mode is like driving a 2 cylinder yugo. I find sport mode to be a little "twitchy" and it revs a bit too high.

 

Yeah I was a manual guy for years but I picked up the auto for my commute here in LA. Needed to give my left leg a break in all that stop-and-go madness.

I'm still trying to figure out when is the optimal time to use green mode. I used it on the highway cruising at 75 and pulled in 47mpg at one point. For the majority of my commute, the green is too anemic though, and I'm not noticing a difference between green and mid in the city mileage wise.

 

When I switch over to Auto it took awhile for my left leg to stop shifting.

 

Welcome to the right (correct) side.

 

I really like the auto in the F56. It shifts fast and with authority. Well done!
Just wish I would have ordered it. :-(