Which represents your order?

Auto
Auto w/Paddles
Manual

Base or
S

Age?
Might be nice to see the age correlation

 

Still debating between a MCS and the new BMW 235i.


If I get the MINI, it will be manual Cooper S. And that is my favored route right now.

 

MCS, auto with paddles.

Have had a manual R56 for over 7 years it's time to give my left leg a rest during the commute.

Picked the paddles as a compromise of sorts.

 

I went MCS with auto & paddles also got the everything package and most of the other check boxes lol

 

I would pick whatever suits your taste on this. I have a manual and the automatic with paddles. Love them both! I ordered a 2013 and that is the one I went with the paddle shifters. Its all preference.. Good luck!

 

Same here. Slightly faster acceleration, my wife could drive in an emergency, paddle shifting is probably cool, and I prefer to brake w/ my left foot.

I have only had manual transmission cars for myself since the '70s, and I don't find shifting a lot in traffic to be a problem, but...

 

Looks like most here went with the auto + paddles.


I ordered the manual MCS, as the shift speed (up, and especially down) on the auto, even in sport mode, was much too slow for my liking. I'm sure the new auto transmission to be released next year will address that issue.

 

Just something to point out also about the automatic with the paddle shifters is that when you test drive a car that a lot of others have you wont get the true potential/performance of what that transmission is capable to have. Because of the wide range of every ones driving styles it doesn't learn your driving style. There is a module that the transmission has and it learns your driving style. You will notice in time the transmission will become more responsive and aggressive all because its learning your driving style. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!

 

Great point.

 

I thought it was me at first. It seems the more I use manual mode, the more auto sport adapts to my style. (Cave foot)

 

Imo, the automatics are so good now, both in manual and auto mode (why deal with a clutch). I recently went from a manual short shift kit to auto with paddles and would not go back, I feel the auto is quicker in a lot of ways because the turbo doesn't drop boost between shifts.

With regards to none S or S, both are turbo so if your focus is fun economy car get the non S, if your focus is performance do the S auto with paddles.

I drove the f56 S auto with paddles this week and think it is a more dynamic and fun car to drive than the BMW 1, 2 or 3 series with much nicer seats, tunes and nav system.

That's my take...hope it's helpful.

 

MCS with the manual. 65 years young. I just prefer to shift a car like this with a manual. And the manual (and clutch) are so easy and smooth.

I thought about the auto with paddles but when I test drove it I found that unless you left it in the Sport mode, the shifting was noticeably slow. Leaving it in Sport mode made a big (and satisfying) difference, but at the sacrifice of lower fuel mileage.

 

Marcussoori - A new automatic transmission for next year?? Do we know anything more about that? Is it already fitted to some BMW models so we can get some feedback now?

Makes me think I might regret getting a new 2014 Mini with the "old" automatic.

 

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/bm...015-68623.html

 

Hmm...I had opposite impressions when I drove the 135i and 335i with the DCT trans. I actually thought the '11 and '12 E82 was a lot better than the F56. Just curious, what made you think it was more dynamic than those other BMWs?

 

But then we'll likely read that there w/ be a 12 speed in 2016 and a 15 speed in 2017.

 

235i...a powerful N55 engine and looks fantastic compared to the F56 MCS. Now if only you can get the F56 JCW aero kit on there.

 

I thought about waiting for the 9 speed auto but the current auto is fairly bullet proof. Maybe in a couple of years I will upgrade.

 

Rob,

No debate on the DCT’s, they are absolutely great and really closes the gap between auto and manual transmissions. With regard to F56S vs 2, and 3 series, the F56 has a more seat of the pants, nimble and connected as one feeling to me that I find more fun to drive, I felt the same way in 2011 with the R56SM vs 1 series manual. The only thing that has changed for me is I personally like the body of the 2 series better than the F56, and in 2011 l like the R56 body better than the 1 series.

 

A car like a MINI should have a manual transmission.

Camrys come with nice automatic transmissions.

I'm 62 years old.

 

To add my comments on BMW DCT trans. I have owned a DCT twice. First time in an E90 M3. I found that I had to drive that car into license-losing territory to have fun with it, part of that problem was having a DCT rather than a manual trans. Second time was my first E82 had DCT. Guess I didn't learn my lesson from the M3..!! Anyway, swapped the E82 for a similar one with the manual trans. Much more involved, fun and connected to the car. For me, DCT becomes boring, and really is just an auto for "most" driving. Yes, it is faster on the track, where I go never. Around town, manual is way more fun (as long as not a very conjested city, like, say, Vancouver).


I am now trying to decide between the new M235i with 6MT, and the new F56S with 6MT - and I am starting to think the F56S is a better answer for me than the 235, to say nothing about being about $20K cheaper to buy.

 

The F56S should feel more nimble and connected because it is 2800 lbs. and shorter wheel base compared to 3300 lbs. for the BMW 235i.

 

Actually, the 235i is about 3500 lbs. Not exactly a lightweight.

 

Deleted duplicate post.

 

The bottom line (IMO) is lighter smaller fast cars are more fun, another car that's a blast to drive are the Lotus's but would make a horrible daily driver.