I have always driven automatic transmissions but as I'm getting a new Mini I am considering going with the manual. My main concern is how difficult will it be to adapt to drivinga manual? I have practiced a few time on my brother's car and plan to practice a lot more before taking delivery of the car. I also ride a motorcycle daily so I'm used to shifting with that. Can anyone here give me advice on which way to go?
Thanks, much appreciated.

 

You really should consider test driving to make your own mind up on this one. I have the 5 speed, but I did drive the automatic. It comes with a new tranny called CVT( continously variable transmission). This allows you to decide how you would like to drive it. Regular automatic, sports revs, or what VW used to call, semi automatic. You actually shift the stick,but with no clutching. If you live in so.cal like myself, I think this is really something special. No more left leg fatigue while sitting in slow moving traffic. I love my 5 speed, but that car sure was fun to drive. Please go and see for yourself.

 

The main probems you will have learning how to use the gears to slow the car down as you seam to have a bit of knowledge from your motorbike experience. If you practice with your bothers car and get the hang of it all you will find it a much more enjoyable driving experience. I is one of those things that once you have learnt it you never lose it and switching between the 2 after that is no problem at all.

An auto is easy if you spend a lot of time driving and dont really want to think about it but I would go the manual. Heaps more fun ! Especially in the Mini.

 

My wife and I have both a standard and an automatic. They are both great. If you like to
rev the engine high, and like a lot of control, go with the standard. The automatic is the
nicest automatic I've driven (due to the CVT). The auto does like to run a bit calmer as
it red lines at 5500 (the manual red lines at 6500). You do also have the option of
over-riding the auto for clutchless shifting...it is useful for down shifting and for
maintaining power evenly while climbing hill/mountain grades (the CVT isn't great for
climbing since you reach speed, up-shift, lose speed, down-shift, etc.).

BTW - these are great cars! I can't drive them enough, and have already done a trip from
San Francisco to San Diego and back in the automatic. The car handled the trip perfectly.
My only regret is not having cruise control for those long straight stretches.

-JERM :smile:

 

I myself was raised on automatics, with my only stick ecperience being when I was designated driver of a friend's car. So I walked into the MINI dealership with very little manual transmission experience. However, I knew I wanted a manual because it's cheaper, and much more fun (if that's even possible in a MINI). So I test drove a manual MINI, and I must say it was a cinch, even for me. I fell in love with the car.

That was last Thursday, and while I've had a few stalls, they have pretty much gone away less than a week later. So either way you go, you'll be fine. But I personally recommend a manual transmission. As long as it's a MINI though, you can't lose.

Jason

 

I'd go for the manual. I drove a MINI at Classic Mini in Mentor, Ohio this past weekend and ordered one immediately. I have a 1977 Celica, which was notable for its "synchromesh" transmission when it came out, but is sometimes balky, and a 1974 Fiat Spyder, which is sometimes hard to downshift. I can only compare the MINI shifting to that in a BMW 5 series that I drove years ago. It is smooth, has a short travel, and is virtually effortless; it is so quiet that one may not realize how high the engine is revving until you look at the tach. Clear and away, it was the best manual shift I've ever driven. (And by the way, the sales staff at Classic Mini is great!)

David