So my R56 is down and out and despite test driving every blessed thing that I think compares with the Mini here I am looking and buying in again!!


My question is this Im looking at the 2 door S and looking at transmission options
I have normally been an manual guy but driving around in a 3 series with automatic has got me thinking. Is the difference between the 6 speed steptronic and 6 speed steptronic with paddles limited only to the paddles on the wheel or are there other variations between the two?

 

The manual is fantastic. Lots of fun and very easy even in traffic.

 

The sport/paddle shift auto seems to have a more aggressive shift than the standard auto. Crisper and faster, even though both use the same tranny- more a program/mapping variance between the two. Paddle also gets red stitching and leather shift boot.

 

To complicate the decision a little further, the newly introduced Clubman model comes with the 8-speed auto rather than the 6-speed. This might mean that 2016 is the last year for the 6-speed and that the F56 will move to the 8-speed for 2017.

Not sure exactly why, but I think I'd prefer the 8-speed, assuming that Mini has decided it's "better". I'm curious though as to how they'll deal with paddles and sport mode.

Actually, I bought the manual 6-speed just because it's a little more fun to drive and to save some $$ - and am surprisingly pleased now with that decision.

 

I am betting that the 8 speed will not become standard until the mid cycle refresh in the 2019 time frame for the F56/F55. The new convertible, still uses the 6 speed in its specs and it is not due out until next year. The clubman got it first to keep the mileage numbers up due to it being a bigger and heavier model.

 

Love my manual. When I test drove my eBlue, I hadn't driven a manual for 5 years or so. There was no "getting used to it," It was like I had been driving it for years already. The rev matching on downshifts is awesome, and the anti-roll feature is fantastic in hilly/mountainous SoCal. No hate on the auto tho, I just think the manual is more fun, and it's truly no big D in traffic.

 

I wouldn't be in a rush to get a new 8 speed tranny. Let others do the testing.

 

I have had so many manual transmissions, but I went with the sport-auto. The combo of just lazy driving along with the fast up and downshifting of the sport -auto was a no brainer for me.

 

Just picked mine up yesterday and also went with the auto sport transmission. I'm still learning with it but after owning a manual cooper s so far I'm really pleased with it.

 

Drove a dealer loaner that was an auto, when my manual was in for service....The loaner has 2500 mi. and the damn thing buzzed like a saw. My car is so quiet, you really can't hear it run. MA said that the manual is a much quiter car.

 

Are your talking transmission buzz , engine noise, or what? The only noise I'm hearing is that sweet exhaust growl when paddle shifting and the popping and crackling when downshifting. I never thought of a sports car as quiet I guess...

 

USA-RET has it right:
- Manual 6-Speed
- Auto 6-Speed
- Sport Auto 6-Speed - faster shifting profile, paddle shifters, and of course, Launch Control

 

I love the sport auto on my 2015 MCS. You really have the best of both worlds IMHO, full manual shifting with the paddles or the shifter along with full auto shifting. It' nice to have options.

My neighbor who has a 2008 mini cooper 2 dr. manual said he would never own a mini with an automatic tranny, untill he drove mine...

 

I just bought my 2015 MCS friday. Never even considered the auto. For me, this car had to be a manual.

 

The LCI is scheduled for fall 2017. By 2019 we will be one year away from the G56.