hey members,

this is my first post on this forum and would like to say hello. I have a question, i am thinking about purchasing a mini cooper and would like to be able to track and eventually race it. the problem is my other family members will also drive it so the six speed is probably out of the question, so can the automatic handle what i would use it for? also could you help guide me which models that have had issues to stay clear from

Thanks!

 

I don't see why you couldn't. Avoid the early years that had the CVT and 2007-2010 models with the N14 engine. Am sure you'll get plenty of opinions given your question..

 

As long as you're not going too over the top with mods and adding a lot of speed to the car it wasn't designed to handle you should be fine at the track.

 

Yes, Aisin 6-speed slushbox is very durable in the MINIs. Even later JCW's had one, and it handled the extra torque just fine.

The primary downside to the slushbox is that it can not be paired with a limited slip differential, a must for putting the power down during track/autoX events. Note, even recent manual MINI's don't come with a proper LSD, so you would either have to get an early R56 with that option, or retrofit a Quaife on your own.

Good luck,
a

 

If you're talking about road course work I've found that increasing the size/stiffness of the rear antisway bar can make up for the lack of a limited slip - not 100%, but for the casual or occasional track event it makes all the difference.


If you're talking about a dedicated track car that gets raced a lot, I'd point you back to a manual transmission - the automatic is not specced for race duty.


My car used to smoke the inside front tire coming out of slow speed corners (30 mph or so) but going to a 21mm rear bar set to it's stiffest setting pretty much cured it - that and changing my line out of the corner a tiny bit.


At the very least you should plan to change the fluid once a season.


There is nothing "slushy" about the automatic box, it works beautifully in concert with the paddle shifters, in fact even MINI quotes the 0-60 time for the auto as quicker than the stick.

 

note


as I recall, Ferrari no longer offers a manual shift ...


all auto with paddles ....


and I've heard they are pretty quick and strong . . .

 

At least some of the Ferrari boxes are closer to manual transmissions with automated clutches than they are to a conventional automatic. The wear and such is quite different between those two types of gearbox.

 

Not auto - dual clutch trannies (DCT).
Different from auto as it doesn't have a parasitic torque converter.
A very cool, crazy fast shifting manual that is actuated via gear stick and/or paddles.

The only down-sides to DCT are price, and weight.

a