Automatic Owners (feel no shame in entering)

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Jul 6, 2007 | 01:17 PM

#26

leek

2nd Gear

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 70

Likes: 0

From: Portland, OR

I got the auto because I have a bum knee. I can drive a stick, but in stop-and-go my knee stops working. It gets stuck. Clutching is the exact wrong motion for it.

Jul 6, 2007 | 01:19 PM

#27

SimpsonGI

Coordinator :: Emerald MINI Car Club

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 1,790

Likes: 0

From: Eugene, OR

I ordered my Mini as an automatic as well. I've always driven manual transmission vehicles but my wife has '05 MCSa and I got to say, it is pleasant to drive and you can basically drive it as manual anyway. I went ahead with the automatic. Yes, my wife can drive a manual but not very well. That was another consideration. It has been nice driving hers without having to worry about shifting. I've never driven a manual Mini but I'm actually looking forward to having the automatic.

Jul 6, 2007 | 01:31 PM

#28

I_C_Deadpeople

1st Gear

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 49

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jughead

My experience is that in sport mode the car starts out in first. In manual mode the car wants to start in second. To increase your response time off the line try dropping it into first and turning off the DSC.

My only complaint about manual mode is the automatic downshifts. There have been a couple of times where I go to shift it down to second at the same time the car decides for me. I end up in first and the guy next to me looks at me if I want to drag.

Exactly my feelings. I love the AT and my only complaint is the auto downshifting that occurs. It is not always consistent so sometimes you get stuck in too low a gear with very high revs and sometimes you expect it, it does not come and you get stuck in too high a gear and lag.

Jul 7, 2007 | 12:45 PM

#29

LadyAquila

2nd Gear

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 137

Likes: 0

From: Sacramento, CA

I had three manual trannies before buying automatics in my last two cars (mostly for convenience in stop-and-go traffic). I gave serious consideration to going back to a stick shift when I ordered my MINI. But with the paddle shifters and sport button on the MINI, I felt like that gave me enough control to still have TONS of fun driving. And I can relax and let the auto do the work in nasty traffic. Best of both worlds to me!