I just ordered a Mini Cooper S a few weeks ago, and this will be my first Mini. I'm having second thoughts on what I ordered. Most people have said to go with a manual transmission, so that's what I ordered. I'm having second thoughts because I don't know how to drive manual, so I'll be learning on the Mini. Has anyone done the same thing and how easy is it to learn manual on the Mini? How long did it take you to be comfortable driving manual?

Thanks

 

I learned how to drive a manual on a 1972 VW Bug. Then I drove a manual Civic for about 9 years. The manual transmission on the MINI is soooooo much more forgiving than either of my two previous cars. Sometimes it feels like it just drives itself. It shouldn't be very hard to learn in my opinion, and it will be a lot more fun (also IMO) once you're adept at it versus driving an auto. Nothing against auto drivers mind you, there's a reason for everything. But I just find it more fun to go through the gears myself.

Also, if this is a new car, you get the 3 years of maintenance so you don't have to worry about wearing out your clutch.

 

I learned on the MINI. It really wasn't hard to get the hang of at all. I killed it a lot at first, and felt a little uneasy on hills but it didn't take long to get used to it. I'm very happy I went with the manual, it really makes it even more of a fun driving experience!

 

Oh yeah, blinkboy brought up a good point. The hill-assist feature on the MINIs are really useful if you drive around areas like San Francisco. When I had my Civic I pretty much had to adjust my hand brake every year because I used it so often. But on the MINI, I actually look forward to stopping on an uphill just so I can feel the hill-assist kick in.

 

Any car with the features of a Mini like hydraulic clutch and hill-assist really help make it easier to drive a manual. If you want to learn how to drive a standard transmission car, the Mini is a great choice. It's easy and very forgiving. After you have driven it for a while, you'll have to drive an older pickup truck with "3-on-the-tree" for the full manual experience!

Enjoy that new Mini

 

Find an empty parking lot, or back street with no traffic, and practice starting until you are comfortable with it. Taking time with it, before you have to face traffic, makes it much easier.

 

"Stick" with it Amy . When you finally feel comfortable with it you'll look back at this thread and wonder why you made the fuss in the first place. Treat yourself with some of that money you saved, too.

BTW you made the right choice in making a MINI your first manual. Very easy to learn on it.

 

I have driven stick nearly my entire driving life (and we will not say how long that has been). The MINI has the smoothest manual transmission that I have ever driven. If your MINI has the sport button, try driving with it both on and off. My sister's MINI has the sport button (mine does not) and I find that for me I shift smoother with the sport button on. I guess I am just more use to the stiffer feel. I would not know what to do with my right hand and my left foot if I did not have the manual transmission. You will find that before long, it is second nature and you don't even think about it. Take your time, avoid busy rush hour traffic, take less traveled routes until you get use to it and just relax and enjoy. Before long, you will be "one" with the MINI! Oh and Congratulations!

 

You can also find someone you know with a junky daily driver that can teach you so you can save your MINI's clutch. Once you drive a stick, you'll never want to drive an automatic again. Good luck!!

 

+1 on your stick-shifting emoticon Kikimowse, that is awesome!

 

+1

 

My wife drives a 330i bmw automatic.She learned to drive a manual in a shelby daytona.Now every time I mention servicing her car she gets all excitted and can't wait to trade cars for the day with me so she can drive the manual mini.She caught on quick and I'm sure you will to she just loves the manual I'm sure her next bmw will be manual.anyway enjoy the new mini and welcome.

 

Just watch the tach as you slowly let your foot off the clutch. (eat popcorn while you watch where the tach starts to take a dip) If you're slow and careful enough, and it's a level ground, you'll be able to get your mini to roll without ever touching the gas. It's OK if the tach goes down to about 600-800rpm as you try this, stall is about 500 from my experience.
Once you get the hang of figuring out the stall point of the clutch, try giving it just enough gas to compensate for about 500rpm, and let the clutch out to the mid point (approximately, all clutches are slightly different), hold it there until you're going about 5mph, and remove your foot completely from the clutch.

if you ever have to start quickly for some reason as you're learning, it's the same procedure as a hill start: more gas, about 2000rpm, and you want to snap the clutch to roughly 75% engaged. (not 75% off the floor, because again all clutches are different)

Once you get the hang of rolling, proceed to step on it until the tach is in the red, quickly let your foot off the gas just as you depress the clutch to the floor as quickly as you can, throw it in 2nd, dump your foot off the clutch as you put your right foot back down, and enjoy the quick shift sounds of a stick shift

 

Don't think you will have any trouble learning the manual on the MINI, it's pretty easy. I have automatic because of my wife insisting on it ( she has only driven the MINI ONE time!). I don't really regret it because you can drive the auto like a manual but if you get lazy you can just let the electric devil do the shifting.

 

It takes no more than a day to learn, and depending on how quickly your skills develop, perhaps a bit longer to perfect your technique. But it really is that simple. Read up on technique as you wait for the car. If you know the concept before you start, you're already ahead of the game.

As pointed out, the hill assist function is really nice if you live in a hilly area, and/or are a beginner. It keeps the car from rolling backwards for 3 seconds after lifting your foot off the brake. But it doesn't impede with forward progress as you accelerate away. Don't sweat your decision, I think you'll be very happy.

 

There's some very good advice in here Amy, you'll be fine.

My first manual was a Celica (many moons ago) and I had no idea how to drive it. I understood how a manual worked, I just never had the chance to drive one before. Once the salesman handed me the keys and I "had" to drive it, I learned real quick. Within an hour I was driving it just fine (the first 5 minutes leaving the dealership were a bit embarrassing though). The thing was, that once I knew it was my car and not someone elses, I relaxed and that made all the difference in the world. The dealership was about 5 minutes from the highway, so that's where I headed and just practiced for an hour, pushing in the clutch, shifting etc, until I felt comfortable. Then I drove it home and have been driving manuals ever since.

Just my opinion..... 2 things will make it easy for you
1) If you already understand the basics of pushing in the clutch and changing gears
2) The fact that it is your car will help you relax and make it much easier to learn

 

amy,go for it when you learn to drive a manual, you can drive any thing..

 

Not with my MINI, but I learned to drive a stick after buying a new vehicle with a manual transmission (1990 Geo Tracker). My boyfriend at the time test drove it for me, I bought it, and learned how to drive a 5 speed within a few days. I had to learn how if I wanted to go anywhere (work!) and so I was very motivated to learn. I didn't ruin my clutch (the Tracker was sold after I owned it for 13 years with the original clutch) while learning to drive it, and like others have said, the MINIs are very easy to shift.

Congrats on the new car! You'll love it!

 

only other things you might take a bit to get the hang of is finding 3rd from 2nd or 5th to 4th, and the occasional "damn thing won't dog leg to R". just remember it's spring loaded to the middle, i.e. between 3 and 4. don't force the shifter, it should pop into gear if done right.

 

Hi Amy - It's normal to have cold feet when contemplating learning to drive a manual gearbox, but it really is an easy skill. You'll have it down in a couple of hours and within a couple of days won't be able to endure the boredom of driving an automatic! And the reward you will get from driving manual, especially in a small sporting car like the MINI... let's just say you'll be very glad you stuck with the stickshift order!

 

 

I'm guessing Dodge Shelby Daytona. Yes....the Shelby we all forget about.

 

Yes, the dodge shelby daytona turbo 2 car with intercooler.It was a great car lots of fun to drive.Very quick for it's day at approx. 174 hp.Of course it does not hold a candle to the jcw mini.

 

I used to drive standard ages ago and about three years ago we got a Miata standard. It was ok but it made me feel like my skills were really rusty. We only had it 2 weeks when it got totaled, replaced it with a different model so I didn't get a chance to improve. Anyhow I was a little gun shy on standard for the MINI, but really wanted standard because I remembered how much fun standard was. On my first test drive I slowly eased out of the parking space and the next thing I knew, I was zipping around curves and headed to the highway. We've had it 2 weeks and it shifts like a dream.

 

Thanks for all of your replies. I feel much better about the manual.