How to drive your S - Is this true?
How to drive your S - Is this true?
I was reading on Yelp regarding Irvine MINI in California and came across this:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/irvine-mini-irvine
I've driven manuals before, but never thought this was how you're supposed to drive it. My first reaction is the dealer must be smoking something, but i'm not entirely sure if this is true or not?
http://www.yelp.com/biz/irvine-mini-irvine
MINI Corporate refused to fix the clutch ($3700) however the dealership did replace it for free. Irvine MINI agreed with me that it was unfair that they did not warn me about their unique manual transmission. They replaced the clutch and taught me how to drive a Cooper S manual transmission: When you are shifting, do not step on the gas as you release the clutch. The turbo engine was designed to drive as a race car and the clutch flywheel will burn up if you apply gas as you release the clutch. Engage the clutch, shift, release the clutch THEN hit the gas. The only time you hit the gas as you are shifting is in first gear. Press on the gas slightly (1000 RPM or less) as you shift into first gear. All the rest of the gears do not require gas as you release the clutch. It is weird at first however it totally works. Their service department told me that they will now advise customers how to use a clutch in the Cooper S model. I was glad the service department ultimately helped me out however their sales department still sucks. Three stars.
I've driven manuals before, but never thought this was how you're supposed to drive it. My first reaction is the dealer must be smoking something, but i'm not entirely sure if this is true or not?
You CAN do it that way, but that's not the only way or the best way in my opinion. The clutch is going to wear less if you can match revs, which takes a little throttle sometimes. You definitely want to be fully off the clutch pedal before you stomp down on it. If the car surges forward a little after a shift, you gave it too much gas.
That said, matching revs is tricky so for most people, letting the clutch pedal out a little, letting it engage, then letting it fully out before touching the throttle should save the clutch some wear. It's not particularly sporty to drive like that, though, since your shifts will take longer.
That said, matching revs is tricky so for most people, letting the clutch pedal out a little, letting it engage, then letting it fully out before touching the throttle should save the clutch some wear. It's not particularly sporty to drive like that, though, since your shifts will take longer.
I'm definitely off the clutch before going WOT. For normal driving, i'm usually letting the clutch engage, then lightly on the gas to match revs, then off the clutch while i'm giving more gas.
That's how i drove my G35c before i traded it in for the MINI. Also how i was taught to drive stick in a 95 Nissan Altima 5 spd.
That's how i drove my G35c before i traded it in for the MINI. Also how i was taught to drive stick in a 95 Nissan Altima 5 spd.
There may be some nuances being lost in the re-telling.
However: the whole "press the gas as you release the clutch" thing sounds like the person had formed the habit of 'slipping' the clutch on each shift, as if you were leaving from a dead stop? That'd be weird to constantly do on any car, not just a MINI. You wouldn't *bang* the clutch out either, at least normally, just let it 'softly' engage, then apply throttle. (I'll pay more attention on the drive home at night...many years of manual use, it's habitual at this point. What does "softly engage" mean, exactly? Am I slipping the clutch, particularly into 2nd, perhaps, without realizing it?)
My MINI doesn't seem/feel/act any different from any other stick-shift I've owned. (Other than it's much more fun to drive).
I could see this quickly spinning into some urban legend, "MINIs have special clutches, you'll burn it out unless you know the secret handshake" or somesuch.
However: the whole "press the gas as you release the clutch" thing sounds like the person had formed the habit of 'slipping' the clutch on each shift, as if you were leaving from a dead stop? That'd be weird to constantly do on any car, not just a MINI. You wouldn't *bang* the clutch out either, at least normally, just let it 'softly' engage, then apply throttle. (I'll pay more attention on the drive home at night...many years of manual use, it's habitual at this point. What does "softly engage" mean, exactly? Am I slipping the clutch, particularly into 2nd, perhaps, without realizing it?)
My MINI doesn't seem/feel/act any different from any other stick-shift I've owned. (Other than it's much more fun to drive).
I could see this quickly spinning into some urban legend, "MINIs have special clutches, you'll burn it out unless you know the secret handshake" or somesuch.
Last edited by ljmattox; Oct 1, 2012 at 12:32 PM. Reason: spelling
Agreed with the urban legend comment. This is why i decided to post this thread topic to make sure i'm not smoking something.
I haven't noticed anything wrong with my MINI, but i've only put a little over 1,000 miles on it since i bought it a month ago. Just want to make sure i'm not doing something weird.
I haven't noticed anything wrong with my MINI, but i've only put a little over 1,000 miles on it since i bought it a month ago. Just want to make sure i'm not doing something weird.
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: wisconsin, usa
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You CAN do it that way, but that's not the only way or the best way in my opinion. The clutch is going to wear less if you can match revs, which takes a little throttle sometimes. You definitely want to be fully off the clutch pedal before you stomp down on it. If the car surges forward a little after a shift, you gave it too much gas.
That said, matching revs is tricky so for most people, letting the clutch pedal out a little, letting it engage, then letting it fully out before touching the throttle should save the clutch some wear. It's not particularly sporty to drive like that, though, since your shifts will take longer.
That said, matching revs is tricky so for most people, letting the clutch pedal out a little, letting it engage, then letting it fully out before touching the throttle should save the clutch some wear. It's not particularly sporty to drive like that, though, since your shifts will take longer.
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 889
Likes: 105
From: Lodi,CA
dealer's clutch instructions
I was reading on Yelp regarding Irvine MINI in California and came across this:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/irvine-mini-irvine
I've driven manuals before, but never thought this was how you're supposed to drive it. My first reaction is the dealer must be smoking something, but i'm not entirely sure if this is true or not?
http://www.yelp.com/biz/irvine-mini-irvine
I've driven manuals before, but never thought this was how you're supposed to drive it. My first reaction is the dealer must be smoking something, but i'm not entirely sure if this is true or not?
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
Sounds like a good way to learn the clutch engagement point IMO, if someone is constantly slipping the clutch and revving the **** out of it, destroying their clutches.
I shift like that most of the time, except I also rev match every downshift.
I shift like that most of the time, except I also rev match every downshift.
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