Looking to buy one. Anyone gone from auto to manual and vice versa?

Can you let me know the difference? I drove a manual, but thinking about an auto so the wife can drive it.

From what I read, the auto is pretty nice, not as fun or engaging, but pretty decent?

 

Quite frankly I love the manual, it just feels more responsive and fixing it is definitely cheaper than having to have an automatic transmission fixed. If your wife is not willing to learn manual then that is a no brainier and definitely go for the automatic, however the manual (especially on a mini jcw) is super fun.

Just recently I saw a video on youtube about an r56 jcw automatic and the guy mentioned that he is all about manual however the jcw automatic responded outstandingly and he didn't miss manual on that particular model.

 

Can you post the YouTube video? Thanks

 

I went from a manual 2007 MCS to an auto 2014 JCW R56 and I don't miss the manual at all. It will downshift in sport mode (is there any other?) real quick using the paddles or the gas pedal. One thing that's different is it wants to be in 4th gear at 40 mph and with the MT I would be in 3rd. But you can move the lever to the left and leave it in 3rd if you want. And my wife can drive it which is a big plus.

 

I consider my wife not driving it a plus!

 

How about a manual for you and an automatic for her?

 

That was going to be my post, but you beat me to it!

If I had a wife she would never drive my Mini unless she was a skilled driver like myself.

 

My lady chose the manual.
Was a short learning curve, she now loves it.
I have driven both and wouldn't trade for an auto.
The manual is just fun and probably the easiest manual i've ever had, including Porsches, and BMW. Clutch is forgiving and throw is tight and short.

 

I looked for it again but couldn't find it, did find one for the F56


JCW is such a freaking sweet car, I want one so bad!!!

 

My very first car was an automatic but I've driven manuals ever since. I doubt that I could go back. My wife keeps bugging me to get an automatic for the next car since she's not willing to learn. It's as you said, fun but not as engaging. With that said, my wife drives a 2016 Macan. Twin turbo, AWD and PDK dual clutch...I still have more fun driving my Cooper S 6-MT.

 

i love the manual, honestly just purrswade your wife to learn. Dont get a auto becuase its for your wife not worth it at all. The auto is extreamly boring the stick just feels so good in sequence with the car, and teccnicly its faster.

 

I know everyone here is going to say get the manual, but I'll offer my experience as a counterpoint.
If you drive in lots of stop and go traffic, get the automatic. I learned that the hard way. The 6-speed steptronic is a blast to drive and you can manually paddle/stick shift in sport mode also.

 

I live in S. CA, West LA. I drive about an hour commute in stop and go traffic on the 405 everyday(an hour is actually very short). I'm okay with that.

 

Manual, especially if the wife has her own car.

 

They make JCW in auto?! What's next, Honda brings back the s2000 with no manual option?

 

I love my manual 2011 MCS. But....when she was in for warranty repairs, I was loaned a 2013 MCS auto. One thing I liked about the auto was no loss of boost on upshifts. Just a steady stream of power. I CAN powershift my manual, and lose just about zero boost, but that seems hard on the trans. Auto is fun to use and abuse, because of the boost staying constant, but I wonder about the longevity when used this way. I figure if I burn the clutch out on my manual, I spend a day or two dropping the trans and replacing the clutch assembly. If an auto fails on me, I am at the mercy of someone else with the tools and knowledge to rebuild it. This is an expense beyond me at this point. The funny thing is that my wife can drive a manual, but after 2 or 3 of her shifts in my MINI, I ask her to step away from the driver's seat, and I take over!

 

Gotta go with the manual, much more fun to drive IMO