This is the main reason I dislike automatics. I've never met an automatic transmission that was where it should be, when it should be. CVTs are even worse.


Seeing as new cars are monstrously bloated with unnecessary features and silly price tags, I'm not really worried about it. I certainly won't be buying any new cars anytime soon.

 

I traded in my Audi S3 for a Cooper S for the gas mileage and the fact I can have a manual again. Like others here I’ve pretty much always had a manual and taught my now wife how to drive one. Now that she has one she will hate to back once we replace her older 335.

The dual clutch was pretty good too, but not being able to truly go into neutral or coast with the clutch engaged was hard to get used too.

Happy to be be in the Mini club!

 

I didn’t see anyone mention how complicated automatic transmissions are today! Sure they are great in lot of ways, but heaven help you if you have one & it breaks! You will be helpless on the side of the road! The manual is easy to fix, but it needs to break first which is highly unlikely! 😊

 

I'll be honest here, I'm not surprised. Not only our automatics so much better in terms of shifting, acceleration, and fuel economy compared to manuals these days (I'm disregarding the fun factor right now), it only makes sense. Not to mention that as I've heard over the years, I fully expect Mini to go fully electric, which I think falls in line with the philosophy of Mini in the first place (small, and simple city car).

I'll still enjoy my R53 for years to come, but I think folks who think MINI will always be manuals, and ICE are fooling themselves. MINI will become EV, and it'll happen sooner rather than later. That being said, I'd be curious how fun it'd be to toss around an electric MINI with that instant torque. It could possibly even make the car more "mini" in terms of size like it used to be back during the 1st Gen days.

 

Just to add to this friendly discussion... I would politely argue that this may just be a preference, rather than an actual problem.
IME, I've never had a problem driving an automatic in the snow and this is wayyyyy back... 20-30 years ago with many less gears and no fancy electronics. Buffalo, Rochester, Toronto areas.
It's also very rare that an auto tranny isn't in the gear I need, and with today's dual clutch and other fancy autos, tapping the paddle shifter takes care of that right quick.

Even rock climbing in my wrangler, auto tends to beat the manual transmission in most instances. And in instances where you may PREFER to have the manual, it's still not an actual problem for the auto.

So i really think that 99.9% of the time, it really comes down to personal preference and just what you are used to driving.

 

I had manual 2007 MCS it was fine. Now auto 2014 JCW it's great. I bet that 300 HP engine with the new 8 speed AT will be awesome. I don't blame them for no manual, the clutch might wear prematurely or something. But if I had a Gen3 Justa I'd have a manual I bet it's a gas to drive the little 3 cylinder turbo. Right?

 

I wouldn't say "frequent," but this happens several times per year according to the police blotter/local news around here. High-profile incident in the Loop here recently, someone tried to jack an Audi & the cops caught the guy as he sat in the drivers' seat for a minute or two trying to figure out how to drive it but couldn't.

I like to tell people (with full knowledge it's not true, I'm mostly joking) that I *do* have a theft-deterrent system. It's called: Manual Transmission

 

I knew of a pizza delivery driver who someone tried to carjack. He had left his car running in a bad neighborhood and some junkie tried to make off with it. They failed because they had no idea how to operate a manual transmission. Myself, I own 5 vehicles and 2 are manual. However, I am in the process of getting rid of the automatics so I can have an all manual fleet. Once I get rid of the autos, I have me heart set of the last decent Jeep: The TJ Wrangler! Every Wrangler since is just large and disgusting to look at. 4 doors on a Wrangler is 2 too many! Plus, I know I shouldn't fat shame people's cars, but they are just too wide.

 

Just saw this thread. I drove a 2014 Cooper S before buying a 2012. IMO, the 3rd gen car lost the MINI feel so who cares what transmission it has...

 

The amount of city driving I do (suburban, not downtown) made me go to an automatic. I'd be clutching and shifting constantly, which I just decided against. I use the paddle shifter 95% of the time and I like it My old hometowm was more country driving and that would be a different story.

 

Hell, you can't buy any supercar that has a manual anymore.

 

Ahem

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...-f1-successor/

 

I keep hearing the same thing about keeping up with the times buying sport automatics....yada yada yada! Ok they can be great yes but nothing, nothing matches the feel and control of a great manual transmission! You maintain control of shifting when you want to with a manual transmission! Even formula one cars have problems with their fancy yancy automatics! Not my thing and the fewer electronics the better for me!!

 

Ya in 3 years you can get one (or even longer if they run into difficulties), I was mainly talking about the supercars you can lay your money down today and drive within weeks or even the same day.

But that will be a beautiful car.

 

On my R52.

 

This song almost fits perfectly with it: