My wife and I just purchased a 07 mini convertable last week and we love it. In fact I'm thinking about getting one as well. I'm seeing a few for sale in our area and the one I like the looks of is a cooper hard top with moon roof. However it's an auto and my wife's is a 5 speed manual. Plenty of power and I think an S would be too much for us power wise. How does the auto compare power wise. Are they doggy after driving the manual?the one I like is 120 miles away.

 

I prefer manuals but the auto's seem to do just fine - just beware the autos in the 1st gen coopers (cvt automatics ) they can be very expensive to replace when they break. The autos in the 2nd gen coopers ( 6 speed auto's ) seem to be solid little units with very little problems.

The manuals do give you more zip and pop ( in my opinion ) and are more fun to drive ( again - my opinion ). But, if you commute in heavy traffic then I would at least look at an automatic - the 2nd gen cars did have a paddle shifter option ( which is on my wifes new-to-us clubman S ).

If possible drive both before you buy - I know the one is over 100 miles away but driving it is the only way to know for sure.

Good Luck

 

I drove a Cooper hardtop automatic loaner car for a couple of weeks, and I was impressed with its get up and go; not at all the dog I expected it to be. Give it a test drive - you'll probably like it!

 

I had a "Justa Cooper" with an automatic for a loaner car recently. It had plenty of power for everyday driving and worked great in traffic. You really need to test drive for yourself, everybody drives differantly.

 

Thanks I do appreciate the input.

 

Justa + manual = A-OK!

 

Just bought a 2008 Clubman S with auto and love it!

 

Drive it and see! The auto gearbox isn't for me, but there's nothing actually wrong with it. If you don't like it, keep looking. If you like it...

 

I think it is a personal choice. I don't drive manuals. Never had a reason to learn. The Justa is powerful with an auto. It maybe a little slower off the line and 0 to 60 but it has power. Avoid CVT according to my MA.

Anyway, I suggest you take the time to drive an MCa and see. Best of luck and enjoy.

 

The auto in the current gen MINI is awesome! I have one with all JCW options except the brakes and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I agree that manual is awesome as well, but the difference is statistically trivial. It's like choosing between regular screwdrivers and phillips-head, they are equal tools, it just depends which one fits the task at hand.

Go with the transmission that fits your driving style, they are pretty much dead equal.

j

 

Agree with the others. Transmission is totally a personal thing. Personally, I wouldn't consider an automatic MINI, but that's just me. I'm sure there are people who would say they'd never consider a stick shift MINI, and that's just as valid an answer as mine.

 

I have an '09 auto Clubman S. Having never bought an automatic car before and driving stick my whole life, the decision was really tough. I actually never test drove a manual MINI intentionally because I knew it would make me more disappointed I was buying an auto. My wife wanted an auto so she could drive the car if needed. I conceded. Honestly, the auto in an S is pretty good. I have the paddle shifters which I use with some frequency. They can be really convenient for a quick downshift heading into a corner. Also, the auto gear selection while in "sport" mode is almost too aggressive in my opinion. It will stay in a lower gear way longer than I'd like it to in most cases. In the end, I think the auto in an S with paddle shifters and driving in sport mode is just about the best thing I could ever ask for next to a manual. I've been surprisingly happy with the transmission.

 

I'm heavily biased towards buying manuals (6 of my last 7 cars were manual). Test drove both manual and auto mini (S) and ended up buying an auto. Partially because I found the auto to be just as competent as the manual, partially because I found the clutch to be too soft in the manual (though I'd likely get used to that), and partially because I do get caught in bad traffic from time to time.

 

I agree with Gitmoe, and would add - I switch between my 09 MCCS manual and my wife's 07 Justa automatic and the automatic in non-sport mode seems sluggish to me -almost like there is a turbo lag, especially when it has to downshift. Sport mode shifting is too aggressive (but the steering and throttle are way better), and using the paddles in non-sport mode is an acceptable compromise.

 

Good points made in this thread! I'm looking at a new Justa soon and still undecided on transmission choice. I have preferred manual transmissions in the past, but also concede that a manual can be a drag in stop and go traffic.

Everything I have read points to the MINI's AT being a good one though.

 

Well we now have 2 minis! I chose after searching high and low a 08 hatch back with moon roof. I thought her 5 speed reved to high in 5th cruising on the turn pike. Mine is the 6 speed manual. Rpm's at 70 are about 3 to 400 lower. Only has 29 k on it and still under warranty for 3 more months. I got all the service records and the "li'l fellar" drives great. Thanks for all your help! Glad I found this forum. Oh, and I found the secret hidy-hole.

 

Sweet!!! Hope you enjoy it !!!

 

Hahaha, the "Secret hidey hole".... that's awesome! I've never heard it called that. My boyfriend calls mine the "James Bond compartment". We have 3 MINIs, all of which are different styles. All manual. Was gonna put my input in and say that the autos don't feel 'right' to me, but I see you've already made your decision. Congrats on being a multi-MINI family!

Hope you enjoy it!! :D

 

I just had a 2012 MCS auto as a dealer loaner for a day as my R58 JCW

was at the dealer for some minor warranty work. It was the first auto I

have driven in close to twenty five years. I told the SA when I came to

pick up my car that if that car was the only car I could purchase from

MINI then I would be driving something else. It was plain horrible, no

fun what so ever. I understand that some people need an auto but they

really don't know what they are missing. It is not that hard to learn.