So it's been a week so far with my R53 MCSa and i have a few questions,
ill appreciate if someone can help with my curiosities..

1st problem is that automatic acts funny when going down hill. It sometimes downshifts abruptly and pointless to the point where it hits 4-4500 rpm when i'm just slightly applying the brakes. is there a software upgrade?

2nd is that my car has quite a bit of body roll.. much more so than I expected.. But i really don't wanna go with coilover route. Would lowering the car using springs (such as H&R sport) by half to one inch result in less body roll? Or do I have to get chassis stiffing bars up front and rear?

3rd is that it's been raining for a few days and I think my car accelerate faster when it rains :impatient am i crazy?

 

1- no idea, mine is a MT.
2- rear swaybar, try an adjustable one. im running 22mm.
3- hahaha! i think people around you are driving slower.

 

It is normal for the transmission to downshift in order to apply engine braking going downhill, if you touch the brakes.

Wouldn't you downshift if you had a stick?

 

I have never heard this before. Of all the cars I've ever driven, rental, my friends and my previous cars. Automatic transmission cars, as far as when braking, it only downshifts when it's near idling level like 800-1400 rpm-ish(such as coming to a stop). It will put the car in tallest gear possible when going downhill when you are just applying the brakes.

Engine braking, it all depends on my mood. If i'm enthusiastically driving, then of course I'll utilize engine braking. but what i meant by "abruptly" is when i'm just going down the hill in a peaceful ( ) manner along with other cars at, let say 40mph.

What I meant by abruptly is that it's downshifting so enthusiastically that, it causes me and my passenger to violently shock forward, and i am not doing anything but controlling my brakes.

 

While I think most people on this site are too "PC" to say it, I believe the automatic transmission on any small car is weak to say the least. I haven't even earned a right to comment on Minis because I don't own one yet. However, from what I've read the auto transmission is nothing but trouble. I think at least 90% of the membership here would agree. Weather anyone else will come out and say it is yet to be seen.

 

Automatics in general are weak, IMO.

(I just hate the loss of control)

If someone likes them, that's great for them... but as long as I have a say in it (future availability or future wife's opinion notwithstanding), I'll probably never own an automatic.

hoonpv, I'm sorry my post isn't helping you - and I hope you find the answer(s) you need.

 

Trust me, I never wanted to get an automatic as well, but my girlfriend wants to drive the car occasionally and she hates stick hence my MCSa

 

Why not get the manual anyway and offer to teach her how to drive it? Or... does she know how to, but still hates it?

My view - ignorance is no excuse. For me, opinions should be based upon personal experience, or they lose credibility.

After all, whose car is it, anyway?

 

I used to say that, too. I hope your joints don't give you the problems mine give me or you'll be eating those words in another 10 years or so, Edge.

And by the way, Auto transmissions are not what you may be used to if you drove one years ago. They're really very responsive these days. In fact, in the right hands, an auto transmission is likely going to dust you in your manual.

 

I drive an auto every time I get a loaner car, or drive a friend's car. It's not as though I don't have recent experience with them.

If you're referring to newer technologies such as SMG or DSG, that may well be true, for straight line acceleration. Yes, technology for shift speeds will indeed solve many of the issues with automatic... but those technologies are still relatively rare, relegated to very specific vehicles.

As for "dusting" me... with all of the traditional "slushbox" automatics also come with their inherent drivetrain power loss, much more so than a manual transmission. Not to mention - slower shift speeds (than a competent manual driver)! And seeing as though both models of the cars I own (Mustang & MINI) are still only available with those same slushbox autos, I see your statement as quite ridiculous.

At any drag strip, I'd be happy to take on ANY driver with a far and comparable modern factory car (slushbox vs manual). With the same engine, same options otherwise, etc. For example - 2005 MCSa vs 2005 MCS, both stock, no mods... put me in the manual, and I will be the first one at the 1/4 mile line.

The slushbox autos just sap too much power, and shift too slow!

 

One of these times we have a MINI event, we'll have to time our cars in the quarter mile.

You do have a fully OEM base Cooper, right ?

 

being auto is not the problem, it's the sloppy torque converters.
the disconnect you have in the drivetrain is wat most people
dont like about "AT."

MINI needs to make a SMG type.

 

LOL no, but I'll be happy to drive one in the test, if you can find one. Same model year, no mods. Or are you suggesting that the CVT is an exception to the rule?I believe I covered that in my previous post.

 

I'll bring my MCSC with Auto instead. You have JCW... not really a fair fight, but we'll call it one.

 

who cares about your times on a stock MC.

 

Someone who wants to call the auto tranny a "slushbox" might.

MC or MCS... I'll put my auto up against a un-modded manual any day.

 

Is your MCSa stock? If so, I'll wish my MCS was stock for just one day.

If you aren't running the exact same car with the exact same mods (except the tranny itself), the test is worthless.

So it stands at armchair racing, which is quite pointless. Not to mention we'd need to find a legal venue.

Tell me then - why do the 0-60 and 1/4 mile numbers on every published model (with the same engine, and traditional auto) also say the same thing?

 

torque converters are fine as long as there is positive energy on it.

 

I also have an 06 MCSa, and in D, it will utilize engine braking just as you said when going down hill. With time, you will be able to learn how the auto reacts to pedal response to make it do what you want. I can keep it from downshifting and engine braking when going downhill now. You can also switch to manual mode.

 

Good to hear you are enjoying your newly acquired MINI.

1. No there isn't really good software to ease your automatic transmission wanderings. That's mostly normal for that transmission. One approach is to see what setting might work for the automatic to allow it only limited range for shifts. Instead of leaving it in drive you can put it into 2 for a really steep hill or maybe 3 which would limit shifts to those gears. It's been done to good effect in autocross driving- limits upshifting.

2. MCSa suspension and handling can be vastly improved. Check out the forums on suspension to see what works. Basic is to either add upgraded shocks like Koni FSD and leave ride height alone. Or you can upgrade to lowering springs- many to choose from but you do get somewhat stiffer ride along with better handling in corners. Rear adjustable swaybar can help to reduce understeer when cornering, usually a 19mm three hole bar will work for street use. No real need for tower strut bar or other upgrades yet. Tires are also very important, if you have runflats those can be changed when ready to non runflats and that will improve handling and comfort.

H-sport usually results in a 1" drop front and rear for the MCS. It can work but you may wear out your stock shocks in about a year. One option is to add Koni yellow adjustable shocks with stock springs or with lowering springs.

If you do lower your MINI you will have less clearance for future tires or wheel upgrades. Just be aware. Most times stock wheels and tires will work with lowering springs.

3. No, you are not accelerating any faster in the rain. You can prove it by timing yourself under wet or dry conditions.

 

On the suspension, also consider the JCW suspension - it might be just the right balance you are looking for... it's a fantastic street-oriented setup, and one of the most underrated options in the JCW catalog (not to mention one of the best priced).

As for the rain question, the only thing I can think of that might help is if the air is cooler when it rains... cooler air results in more power, so it might feel that way.

 

not really, it's more humid when it rains resulting in less oxygen...

 

Are you sure? I can remember 3 without even thinking that pull faster times with an auto over a manual - Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Chrysler Crossfire. I am sure others are out there - with today's technology auto transmissions have changed such that you will see more and more autos with better 1/4 times than manuals.

 

Good point. I was just trying to think of a conceivable explanation. With the exact same engine? Also... are those auto trannies using any of the newer SMG/DSG or other fancy multi-clutch setups?

Just curious. My criticism for autos stems from the traditional auto (hence the commonly used term "slushbox" - I didn't make that term up!) and the inherently limiting behavior of it.

 

The same engine with no fancy multi-clutches! In fact, Car and Driver (January 2007) wrote: " Despite the same 260 ponies, when equipped with a manual transmission the Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line are almost a half-second slower to 60 mph than their automatic counterparts".

But I do agree - in the past it was a fact the autos were indeed slower.