Hi All,
Test drove a new Mini around the block. It was the base engine in an automatic. Surprisingly nice throttle response for a 3 cylinder engine. The dealership only had two and they said they would not be selling any for another month. The salesman informed me that only automatics would be coming in and that manual's are now considered "Special order". Well, I do live in Los Angeles where traffic is very stop and go. I hope he was misinformed. Still I was really looking forward the checking out the S model in a 6 speed. Though I don't know if I would want a manual in either model. Am I wrong or does Mini have a problem with their manual transmissions? From reading the threads on here, it seems Mini is very quick to blame the customer for any clutch or transmission related problems. Personally, I love driving a stick shift. Never had a Mini before, but I have always thought of them as cars you would want to have a stick shift. Guess I will wait and see which is the more fuel efficient.
Happy Motoring!

 

I'm in SGV and drive towards downtown for work all the time for work in a 6MT. 67k miles and haven't had a single issue with my manual tranny MINI. I'm sure an automatic is great for daily commutes, but even sitting in all that traffic, I still enjoy rowing gears and don't regret getting my MINI in 6MT.

 

Go with the stick. Only way to drive. Also the s.

 

+1
Think the dealer just want to be able to sell any cars they order UNSOLD to a larger number of folks....
Let's face it...
An enthusiast will order a car....and wait 3 months for it....a soccor mom wants to sign a contract and drive away....

 

+1
The Getrag gear box is rock solid. Early clutch/TO bearing wear can only be attributed to careless clutch pedal usage. The below pictured '06 is past 80K and all that's been replaced is the dang thermostat gasket and the pan gasket...oh yea and an O sensor from the wrong kind of fuel by the previous owner...and lots of oil and filters.

 

Don't know which slushbox is on the 3rd gen to vouch for reliability, but the Getrag on previous generation MINIs is pert near bullet proof. The Aisin automatic was another saga. From a pure enjoyment standpoint motoring in a MINI with an automatic is tantamount to riding a Harley with an automatic.

 

When I bought my MCS Clubman a year ago, I was told by the dealership here in the Lost Angeles area that buyers seem to want automatics, so that's what the company brings in. I was told that the best way to get a manual was to order it. So that's just what I did. This turned out to be a terrific way to get exactly the car I wanted, with nothing on it I did not want and everything I did. I've had it since late May and could hardly be more pleased with it. I strongly advise anyone interested to consider following this course of action.

 

The first listing in Alexander's new car inventory is a 2014 hardtop manual.

http://www.alexandermini.com/Vehicle...-CA/2218341173

Go to MINIUSA.COM and select "find a dealer" for many other dealers in the area.

 

29K for a Justa?! I'd rather have a "base" S for 25-26K.

 

 

$29k for an F56?! I'd rather have a nicely optioned CPO R56S for $22k.

 

That said I'd take a F56 base Cooper over an r56 MCS. The build quality ect is light years ahead of an R56. Plus the turbo 3 has lots of torque and sounds like a tiny BMW inline-6. But I do love my R56 MCS for sure

 

The Germans have proven time and time again that they can’t design, spec out, engineer or dream of a FWD automatic transmission that will last outside the warranty period.

I have no idea why it’s so tough for Audi, VW and MINI to make one that lasts. I would have thought by now someone would have grabbed a trans out of a 90-93 Accord and reverse engineered it.

With these cars it’s manual trans or look for a Corolla.

 

I don't disagree with any of what you said (beyond the actually taking an F56 part), but I just can't get past how fugly they are.

 

I have owned the auto and manual transmissions in MINI's and they both perform great. If you get an auto the paddle shifters are a must, with the manual R56SM a short shift kit was a must have for me.

It's simply what you will enjoy the most based on your driving environment and style.

Whatever you decide I'm sure you will enjoy it....

 

I have no idea what you're going on about. MINI's auto is from Aisin, which also supplies auto transmissions to all of the other manufacturers you've mentioned, including Honda and Toyota.

 

Everyone knows that the earlier CVT automatics were problematic, but I havent realy heard anything bad about the newer Aisin automatics.

 

It's outsourced and designed to a price point. Not to mention your partly locked out when it comes to doing basic service i.e changing "lifetime" fluid.

Buying a Yaris with an automatic makes more sense vs. buying a MINI with one.

 

What problems have the current Mini Cooper automatics developed that would warrent calling them problematic?
Simply because you may not like a Mini Cooper in automatic doesn't mean the automatics are problematic.
My toyota Sequoia has a closed system automatic and I had to take it to the dealership to have it flushed and changed at 50K miles, but that doesn't mean theres anything wrong with the transmission.

 

Just like the manual Getrag.

What's your beef with the Aisin automatic? You claimed that they won't last outside of the warranty period, which is obviously not true. On this forum, I actually see more issues with the manual than the Aisin.

 

Actually, the outsourced Getrag used in the R53 was designed for and used in the Ford Focus.

 

My beef is uninformed people thinking the AISIN 6F21WA is a great transmission because it was Japanese built.

The only other vehicles that shared this transmission were all VW, Audi and BMW. If one starts researching deeper the transmission has a less than stellar rep in VW’s and Audis. It’s called the 09G along with a few other model numbers.

http://www.atra.com/gears/2010/2010-01/2010_1_4.pdf

At least with a manual transmission Getrag one has a fighting chance in hell of fixing any issues even if it means swapping out the box for used one. A used automatic could be a momental waste of labor should it turn out bad.

I stand by my statement that a Yaris would be a better choice with an automatic.

 

And still nothing to back up the claim that it is a "problematic" transmission or that it doesn't last beyond the basic warranty period.

 

Agreed, if it was so problematic, we'd hear many more reports of issues, especially since more than 75% of all MINIs are automatics.

 

Nobody said the Aisin in the MINI is great. The responses were all prompted by your claim that it doesn't last beyond the warranty period (which btw is only 4 years/50K miles).