General MINI Talk Shared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Ready to buy a MINI have Questions

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 12:06 PM
  #1  
Ricky Camacho's Avatar
Ricky Camacho
Thread Starter
|
Neutral
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Ready to buy a MINI have Questions

Would like to know if any one that has an automatic would reccommend that or to get the manual. I do need to use this as an everyday driver. any response will be greatly aprectiated thank you
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 12:21 PM
  #2  
Gromit801's Avatar
Gromit801
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 11,600
Likes: 1
From: West French Camp, CA
I have a stick. Even if I had heavy traffic (and I sometimes do), I would still have a stick. Autocrossing and twisty roads just aren't the fun for me with an automatic.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 12:27 PM
  #3  
Oakland Raiders Mini's Avatar
Oakland Raiders Mini
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 632
Likes: 1
From: Oakland
I have a 6spd in terrible Los Angeles traffic. Ranked #1(worst) in the US and I have never for 1 second regretted it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 12:42 PM
  #4  
Eds not-so-red MINI's Avatar
Eds not-so-red MINI
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: RI
The manual is just a whole lot more fun. This is my every-day driver, and I wouldn't want anything else.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 12:51 PM
  #5  
DixonL2's Avatar
DixonL2
6th Gear
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,173
Likes: 2
From: Pgh, PA
What are your driving needs and what do you enjoy? I've had a couple GREAT cars with automatics and regretted it, I had a stick on a sales car once a ways back and regretted that for a different reason. Imagine yourself on our daily drives putting up with each and make your mind up that way.

You're likely to get more responses here from us "stick" guys since we're perhaps more adamant about driving stick, but I may be mistaken. Maybe it's shared misery
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 01:21 PM
  #6  
Modshack's Avatar
Modshack
3rd Gear
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 159
Likes: 1
From: Greenville NC
I just picked up an '06 Automatic....it's really quite good. I'm pretty impressed with the paddle shifters and response... If I wanna shift I have an '08 6 spd. corvette I can go play with. This met the family needs and I haven't been disappointed..The 6 spd Aisin transmission is well mated to the SC motor..
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 01:30 PM
  #7  
MiniEsq's Avatar
MiniEsq
4th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Huntington, West Virginia
I have automatic....it's still very fun!
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 10:48 PM
  #8  
Oakland Raiders Mini's Avatar
Oakland Raiders Mini
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 632
Likes: 1
From: Oakland
My thing is if you know how to drive stick it won't bother you in traffic. It is second nature.
 
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2008 | 04:19 AM
  #9  
muladesigns1's Avatar
muladesigns1
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
To me, if you are driving a small nimble "sports car" then an automatic just dosent fit in the equation. I would never even think of owning a car like the mini with an auto. it just dosent "feel" rite. a manual trans gives you much more feel and control of the car. I drive mine in rush hour traffic every day and also have a cup of coffee for the ride as well.
Go manual! its the "DRIVERS" choice of transmissions!
 
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2008 | 01:49 PM
  #10  
Msteadman's Avatar
Msteadman
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,980
Likes: 1
From: PA
I have the automatic in my '07 MCS and love it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2008 | 02:16 PM
  #11  
freeland's Avatar
freeland
4th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
Check them both out at a dealership! You've got them side-by-side. Let every driver in your family try them out and see which they prefer. Even if you're looking at a used car, use the dealership to see what you prefer. When you get ready to buy, check out our Marketplace, there are a lot of nice cars coming through there right now, including some R56's.

 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2008 | 07:52 AM
  #12  
eager2own's Avatar
eager2own
6th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,374
Likes: 0
From: Southlake, TX
Another thing to consider is the $ difference -- money spent on the auto is money that could've gone into an LSD and other option/mod
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2008 | 08:55 AM
  #13  
muladesigns1's Avatar
muladesigns1
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Gear Jammin is just the "rite way" to go!
 
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2008 | 11:22 AM
  #14  
d3899's Avatar
d3899
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Love driving a stick, but not in stop & go traffic, hence I got the 07 MSC Automatic! Maybe when I retire....
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 09:55 AM
  #15  
fms's Avatar
fms
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
Stirring them yourself prevents overuse of cupholders/drinks while driving as well as handheld cellphone use, both great reasons to get a shift
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 01:10 PM
  #16  
homerwest's Avatar
homerwest
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: South Orange County, CA
I have a 6 speed, but don't get stuck in traffic much. The few times I have been doing the gas brake honk routine, I think that if this were a regular part of my routine, I might think about trading in for an automatic. But then I get back to driving, and the thought evaporates! I love going through the gears, even just doing errands in the 'burbs....
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 01:13 PM
  #17  
Claymore's Avatar
Claymore
Caffeine Junkie
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery Village, MD
The clutch is fairly light and the gearbox shifts very smoothly, so I personally don't see any reason to go with the slush box.
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 02:07 PM
  #18  
eager2own's Avatar
eager2own
6th Gear
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,374
Likes: 0
From: Southlake, TX
Stirring them yourself prevents overuse of cupholders/drinks while driving as well as handheld cellphone use
That's silly . . . you can still do all that stuff with your left hand while shifting with your right
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 03:19 PM
  #19  
muladesigns1's Avatar
muladesigns1
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Ive got the cell phone tucked on the shoulder while driving real good,
also got the hold coffee in the right hand, knee on the steering wheel , shift across with left hand down real well. its amazing the things you can learn in "rush hour" traffic!
 
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2008 | 03:25 PM
  #20  
corin.mcblide's Avatar
corin.mcblide
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: seattle, wa
no matter which you choose you are no matter what going to have a great driving experience. i have an 07 MC automatic and i love it to death. even though i wish i got the manual (parents needed to be able to drive it) the paddle shifters are great.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
arf88
General MINI Talk
22
May 31, 2016 03:07 PM
kitty90034
Navigation and Audio
1
Aug 25, 2015 12:47 PM
nomar116
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
6
Aug 10, 2015 11:24 PM
marendt428
MINIs & Minis for Sale
0
Aug 8, 2015 04:44 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:05 AM.