Hi, I was wondering if driving an automatic MINI is as fun as a stick? I don't know how to drive stick but am wondering if it's worth it to learN?

 

Very much worth it to learn.....

 

...and welcome to MCO, BTW.

 

Most people are gunna say stick, but I LOVE my CVT. It actually runs on a computer that controls the gear ratios..so you have a few different modes you can run it in. There is the standard drive mode, then from there you can do "sport drive" which changes your gear ratios and makes your car move faster. From that mode you can then do steptronic mode which you can do a clutchless shifting with. The computer wont let you stall in this mode and it simulates a real shifter. For instance, if you down shift your RPMS increase. If you put the "pedal to the floor" it kicks you back two gears to let you "upshift" and get more power. Not your conventional automatic, and very fun to drive. They are starting to use CVTs in Ferraris now also. Good luck with your decision.

 

With a CVT, you can have the best of both worlds. I got tired of driving a stick everyday in bumber to bumper traffic. So I like the ease of an automatic. But, when I want to get around someone in a hurry, I can use the steptronic mode to get qucik pickup. Or, when I'm not in traffic I like to play with the steptronic because it's like a stick shift without the clutch.

 

I never drove one either,and I've ordered a '04 S,all manual,but I went to a test drive with my salesman,and man!...I tell you,he was having so much fun shifting this thing,that I was like WOW!!...it looks like so much fun to be in such control of your car...Let's see how the learning process goes.He told my within 2 weeks I should be OK driving it...Let's see THank God I have another car just in case I panic!!!

 

I've driven both and IMO the stick is funner then the CVT. The CVT is fun also becuase your driving a MINI but its nothing like driving a manual. I think it also depends on where you live. In the city a CVT would be more practical I think.

 

Another consideration is the CVT limits you to the Cooper
and not the S. I don't know which you prefer. I have had both
and prefer the S....you'll get lots of feedback on this topic though.

 

NoMo started out with a CVT and sold it and bought an "S" didn't she? if she found it fun enough to burn cluthes to learn, I think that sez it all. 'no?

 

Welcome to the MCO!!

Funny story. My wife hadn't driven a stick before she went on a test drive back in 1996 of a cheap Geo Metro manual. The look on the salesperson's face was great! But, anyhow, she's a very good stick driver now.

Just takes about 2 days worth of practice. The first day you'll make plenty of mistakes. Overnight the mind and body get together and make a pact to not grind any more gears or try to start out in third gear. Then the next day, things become much easier.

 

>>Welcome to the MCO!!
>>
>>Funny story. My wife hadn't driven a stick before she went on a test drive back in 1996 of a cheap Geo Metro manual. The look on the salesperson's face was great! But, anyhow, she's a very good stick driver now.
>>
>>Just takes about 2 days worth of practice. The first day you'll make plenty of mistakes. Overnight the mind and body get together and make a pact to not grind any more gears or try to start out in third gear.

 

>>NoMo started out with a CVT and sold it and bought an "S" didn't she? if she found it fun enough to burn cluthes to learn, I think that sez it all. 'no?

 

Buy the car you'll feel happy driving.

If you've always wanted to learn how to drive a stick, then use this as a great opportunity to do it! You couldn't learn on a funner car! However, if you are happy with automatic, then get the CVT and MOTOR ON !!!!

Keep in mind that when you go blasting past the other cars, they won't be able to tell if you have CVT or Stick! ! !

 

I find the CVT to be the best of both worlds. I use it in manual mode about 90% of the time and it really does behave like a 6 peed manual ( acually you have 7 speeds in manual mode ). Then there are times when you just want a nice relaxing drive to the opera (?) and you just stick it in auto and drive away. The real factor to consider is if you want an S then you have to go manual. But lets face it, these cars are not fast by any means so an MC is just fine and I would recomend the CVT.

Bye. Jim

 

>>>>NoMo started out with a CVT and sold it and bought an "S" didn't she? if she found it fun enough to burn cluthes to learn, I think that sez it all. 'no?

 

Just got my MINI CVT last week- after driving stick for 16 years in local traffic I had had enough! I test drove both the CVT and stick- and the stick was fun, but I love my CVT and not having to think about shifting in around town traffic. I really think it's a personal choice- some people don't mind shifting in local traffic- I did. Whatever you choose you will love it! Everytime I look in the driveway and see my Mini I still can't believe it's mine! Happy Motoring!

 

I learned to drive a stick on the demo cars before my MINi came. For me it was very liberating to learn to drive stick...now nobody can stop me!

 

Stick if you want more control. CVT if it's more convinient for you.

 

>>>>>>NoMo started out with a CVT and sold it and bought an "S" didn't she? if she found it fun enough to burn cluthes to learn, I think that sez it all. 'no?

thats me!

 

>>>>>>>>NoMo started out with a CVT and sold it and bought an "S" didn't she? if she found it fun enough to burn cluthes to learn, I think that sez it all. 'no?
>>
>>

 

It's definitely worth it to learn manual. Take it from a guy who learned well into his 20's and plans on having manual transmission cars the rest of his life..

 

Well a different opinion here. If the CVT is what you like and want, get it...it is a FUN, FUN car once you learn and master all the nuts and bolts this technological masterpiece of transmission has to offer. We have had our '02 Cooper CVT for nearly 11 months and have ZERO regrets! The most fun "Automatic" car we have ever owned PERIOD.

I have also been driving stick shift for nearly 20 years abd I think it is fun and it is a good idea to learn it regardless of what car you end up getting. But I highly recommend the CVT, it is the jewel of the line-up but most often the most misunderstood and unfailrly attacked model in the MINI line-up.

The CVT affords a level of performance and flexibility that the standard 5-speed Cooper model can't hardly match. You still get the "Steptronic" model with VERY WELL SIMULATED 6 forward speeds minus the clutch pedal or "Sport Mode" that allows you to maintain RPM's higher in the powerband at all times for increased performance and the best part you can change between all 3 CVT program modes on the fly while you driving.


Mucho fun and highly recommended. The CVT deserves a second look!

 

>>Hi, I was wondering if driving an automatic MINI is as fun as a stick? I don't know how to drive stick but am wondering if it's worth it to learN?


Welcome!

I'd be very nervous about learning a stick on a brand new car!

 

>>>> I don't know how to drive stick but am wondering if it's worth it to learN?

>>I'd be very nervous about learning a stick on a brand new car!
>>

Life is a continual learning experience. When you stop learning you begin dying. Just do it, to quote the Nike ad. The price of a new clutch (if it should go that far) is worth the price of admission to the "I can shift" club. Think about it, you could then go anywhere in the world: Europe, Latin America, Africa, etc. and drive. I say this because Automatics are a rarity outside North America.

 

Stick, stick, stick. It keeps you involved in the driving. Yeah it's a pain in traffic sometimes, but you learn to pace the car in front of you, plus you tend to "space out" less, making you a better, more focused driver in all traffic situations.