My wife and I were out test driving a Cooper S (for her). She walked in to the dealership thinking manual, but the clutch effort was too stiff. She liked the auto, but there was an interesting phenomenon when starting from a dead stop. The engine seemed to rev (slightly higher) disproportionately to the vehicle's speed from 0-3 mph - almost like a slipping clutch would behave on a stick - and then things would be linear. Is this normal? Slipping torqur converter? It was a fresh demo with less than a few hundred miles.

 

Mini's don't have your conventional transmission in them. It's a CVT - Continuous Variable Transmission.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continu...e_transmission

What you felt was normal.


Just a thought, take it or leave it... look at the resale value of an automatic Mini in your area....

 

Only 02-06 MC's and all MC convertibles automatics are CVT's. The MCS and 07 MC hardtops are conventional six speed automatics.

 

Go back to the manual. Believe me, you'll get used to it quickly.

 

I asked about resale on an auto. The dealer said sales are approaching 50/50 on transmission preference. Was he blowing sunshine up my...?

 

I would think so. Just do a little research on AutoTrader or something local. Around here it's an automatic discount of significant proportion. (no pun intended)

 

It seems MINI has dropped the CVT transmission for 2nd generation. '07s have 6 speed auto w/manu mode. Just make sure dealer isn't trying to sell leftover '06.

 

My 06 MCS (late model year build) has the 6-speed automatic with manual mode. It's like having the best of both worlds.

As far as the higher revs at start off from a dead stand still, that is normal with my car. When in the full auto mode, from a dead stand still, in most cases (level ground) the car actually starts of in 2nd gear. But if the car is eqipped with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, you can make it start off in 1st gear with no high revs.

 

Was the seat adjusted the way she wants it?I know when your test driving sometimes you don't have time to get everything set. It took me a couple days to get the seat just the way I like it and have noticed that if the seat is off it can effect how the clutch feels.

 

Try driving a different 6 spd. I drove a 07 in Littleton and I really didn't like it. Then I tried another in Milwaukee. It had a TOTALLY different feel, it was fun. I don't know if you drove the same manual 07 MCS as me at Schomp. If so, it is worth it to try again! A different car. I know I'd want to drive the exact car I'm buying rather than placing an order after driving those two 07s! I also believe resale is better for manual. Just guessing.

 

MINI came out with the 6 speed auto in the MCS for year '05 - my wife's '05 MCSa has this transmission in it and she loves it. If your wife prefers the auto, who cares what (if any) difference in resale there is?

 

Actually that would not surprise me.

 

It did suprise me though. I would have thought that the majority of MINI owners would want a stick, but I read somewhere that it is around 50/50, possibly even more in the favor of autos. I'd say go with the stick.

 

I find it odd that the clutch was stiff. Both my MINIs had the easiest clutches I have used. Maybe try another one to see if just happened to be that particular car. Since your wife went in wanting the manual, I don't think she'd be happy with an auto, unless a lot of rush hour commuting is involved.

 

the 07 auto's are way better then the cvt's

 

I know that the dealership I bought my '06 MCSA Cabrio can barely keep automatics on the lot, but they are also in a suburb of Boston (MINI of Peabody). I really like my Auto. That being said I would rather have the manual, but my wife can't drive a stick, and we wanted for her to be able to drive the car.

I second (or thrid or fourth) the idea of trying to drive a different Manual. Also taking some extra time to make sure the seat is just right might be a good idea. I know that if the seat in my '03 MC wasn't in the right place it made the clutch difficult to live with.