Hi,

Quick Question.

How many of you with Auto Transmissions drive in "DS" or "S" mode all of the time?

I prefer it over "D"

My dad keeps harping that driving in this mode will damage the engine/tranny if done for an extended period of time.

I, on the other hand am pretty sure that the car isnt really gonna do anything that would allow it to cause damage to itself.

Please, some input, i dont wanna potentially cause damage to my new (to me) car.

 

I always drive in SD (sport drive) or M (manual) to maximize the mods I have. No problems so far since getting the car in 2005.

 

The only harm might be to your gas mileage.

 

It will not damage anything using sd or manual mode. But i do have a question about mine if someone is willing to answer it. How is the shifter action on your automatic manual mode? Mine is really, really stiff and hard to use. Almost to the point of me not liking to use it. I drove a newer 09 s auto and it was smooth as silk with the shifter motion and very easy to use but never drove another first gen auto s. can someone tell me what theirs is like? thank you.

 

May I ask how many miles you have on your MINI?

Ive only driven my car maybe 3 times since i got it, but AFAIK the shifting was pretty smooth.

But i have an R53.

 

[quote=Curious George;2743889]May I ask how many miles you have on your MINI?
Around 26K. Never liked the sluggish feeling of driving the car in full auto. With the tune, the shift points were raised in the SD mode.
Haven't had any problems with the shifter being stiff when up or down shifting. But again, I mainly use the paddle shifters except when coming out of a turn.

 

I'm ready to turn over 30K on my '06 MCSa and I honestly cannot remember EVER using the straight up automatic mode. I have always put it in the manual mode and I LOOOOOVE IT!!!!!

 

If you like driving in the auto manual all the time, why not jsut have gotten a manual?

 

I have a 26-mile commute each way. One of the top 5 reasons I bought the MINI was the MPGs. My speed limit tops out at 50 mph on my commute... it's a secondary road.

Woudln't make sense for me to leave it in Sport mode or Manual mode for extended periods.

However, I do spend a fair amt of time out of "D" when I "need" to.

 

i wanted a manual, but my wife is just learning to drive. She's from Laos and spent all her life driving scooters and such. I traded my lancer evolution for a mini that she can drive and i can enjoy.
It's not bad in auto manual no regrets buying one, just it seems mine is a pain to use the stick . It takes alot of force to move it and upshift. I guess i'll get them to look at it when i go in for service.

 

Im on the same boat as all the other members here. Never had any problems with the tranny!
and. the reason i went with the auto.. is because it was the best deal on the lot.
but it turns out that i really really love it!

 

Yeah mine was the best deal too. 05 MCSa w/ 18k miles for 17k.

So i guess i have nothing to worry about when it comes to the tranny.