I'm leaning toward a CVT with my Mini. How important is it to test drive the CVT,

first? My friend has a MC, manual which I have driven. My dealership is almost two

hours from my house and from what I have read, the CVT is different than most

automatice transmissions. In other words, will driving this possibly change my mind

about the car?

 

The CVT is a different animal, that's for sure. The big question you need to ask yourself is just how do you plan on driving the car? If you do a lot of in town driving and the occasional rally the CVT will probably suit you just fine. If you're a bit more of an aggressive driver I'd opt for the manual.

 

I highly recommend test driving both. It is up to you to find out which one you find more pleasing and better tuned to your daily driving needs.


The CVT has automatic clutchless operation but its similarities with other 4-speed auto slushboxes end right there. This transmission has no gears to begin with, so all gearing ratios are infinite. When you accelerate you don't feel the "shift changes" often experienced on regular automatic cars, instead you get continous smooth acceleration from a standstill.


The CVT has 3 program modes, normal, sport and Steptronic. Steptronic allows you to "shift" the car thru six simulated forward gears but with no clutch pedal...it is mighty fun. The CVT has incredible braking power due to the programming of the downshifts. The CVT uses a lot of engine braking effect, more than on any manual transmission car. You touch the brake and you'll find stuck to the windshield like glue!


A 20 minute test drive will not do justice or reveal all the goodness of the CVT transmission. It is a very different tranny and believe it or not requires skill and knowledge to get the best out of it.


I highly recommend you get in touch with other CVT owners (aside from myself) over at http://www.mini2.com. Go to "Forums" then click on the CVT discussion forum topics.



Our 2002 Cooper CVT has been flawless in 22,000 miles and 18 months of service.


You'll love it!

 

Couldn't have said it better myself....

I would, however, recommend a test drive. The CVT drives *much* differently in certain situations than any automatic you've probably ever driven. Most notably in the "crawl" programming mode when driving ~10mph... it feels very much like a stick shift in a "slipping the clutch back and forth" type situation. It's not quite as mindless as a slushbox, which might turn some folks off to it.

It definitely takes learning some technique to drive effectively, but can be quite rewarding once you do. I was pleasantly surprised with how "involved" one can be driving this wonderful transmission.

 

I've got a '04 with CVT. As everyone says - it is different. I like it, very smooth acceleration and not intrusive with its operation.

Obviously if you get a manual transmission you have more control and more zip for your Cooper. It really depends on that type of driver you are and what type of driving you plan on.

I'm a laid-back ex-hippie so the CVT fits me fine.

 

For me there was no need for a test drive. The idea of $1300 to reduce the performance, gas mileage and fun of my MINI wasn't very appealing. Of course I learned how to drive on a stick shift in the 50s, that might have affected my opinion.

If most of my driving was in heavy city traffic I'd probably give the CVT a test drive.


R.E.

 

I've enjoyed my CVT. We went with it since my wife wanted an automatic. I drove manuals for years and I really don't miss it. You'll get a few snobs telling you the CVT is no fun, mostly people who only know about slushboxes from years gone by. The fact is, very few MINI owners can shift their manual well enough to get even 75% of the performance out of it. I've had no problem keeping up with the 5 and 6 speed MINI's on runs in the last 2 years. Clutchless shifting is the future of cars, just look at Formula 1 and WRC.

 

>>I've enjoyed my CVT. We went with it since my wife wanted an automatic. I drove manuals for years and I really don't miss it. You'll get a few snobs telling you the CVT is no fun, mostly people who only know about slushboxes from years gone by. The fact is, very few MINI owners can shift their manual well enough to get even 75% of the performance out of it. I've had no problem keeping up with the 5 and 6 speed MINI's on runs in the last 2 years. Clutchless shifting is the future of cars, just look at Formula 1 and WRC.


Hope my post didn't make me sond like one of those anti-automatic snobs. I like the stick because I still enjoy shifting gears, this is especially true with MINI which is, to be perfectly honest, a fun toy and not my primary mode of transportation. The main thing is..................it's a MINI.
:smile:

 

I have a CVT as my daily driver, and I couldn't be happier with it. Leave it in auto mode for around-town driving, nudge it into its SMG mode and it feels like you're playing a racing video game...lol

 

Drive both, and you'll appreciate the CVT for what it is - the best small automatic ever. Almost 42,000 miles and it still easily keeps up (or better!) in the twisties, and makes my commute fun as well. Hopefully you'll get a chance to try all the modes. I drove sticks for years, including my old Minis, of course, and while I love to shift, the CVT has won me over. Good luck!

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

Thank your for all of your input about the CVT.

I have a headache trying to decide all of this.

Did you all change your mind over and over? I was thinking Pure Silver because

my B.F. has PW, but I saw some great BRG and the car was beautiful. I live near

Chicago and think BRG will be hard to keep clean. This is maddening. I just went

thru this with my friend and didn't know that I'd be getting a Mini a month later.

 

>>Thank your for all of your input about the CVT.
>>
>>I have a headache trying to decide all of this.
>>
>>Did you all change your mind over and over? I was thinking Pure Silver because
>>
>>my B.F. has PW, but I saw some great BRG and the car was beautiful. I live near
>>
>>Chicago and think BRG will be hard to keep clean. This is maddening. I just went
>>
>>thru this with my friend and didn't know that I'd be getting a Mini a month later.
>>
>> Red with a white or black roof is beautiful. Also Indy Blue (Soon to be dicontinued) is a gorgeous color. Silver? C'mmon...this is a MINI not a VW Jetta. Silver tones down the car too much...MINI is a happy car not a boring sedan..too many silvers in the road.

Silver is a color which is difficult to see at night, so there is a safety concern with gray/silver cars.


BRG is nice, but if you will consider it, go with Jet Black and save the $400 for the metallic paint. BRG looks black from a distance.

If you want o be more adventurous you can get Liquid Yellow, a color that is still not very common.

 

Man O Man! My first car was a 1979 RED Honda Civic 5 speed and I LOVED that car.

I thought of Red.........

 

My '04 MCS is CR/W with lots of chrome...I'll post a pic..it looks fantastic!

 

>>My '04 MCS is CR/W with lots of chrome...I'll post a pic..it looks fantastic!


That would be terrific!!!!!!

 

Get the Chrome Mirror caps!

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

>>Did you all change your mind over and over?

Yes it is easy to second guess yourself. The fact is that the colors and transmission options are all pretty good.

To keep costs down and have a trouble free transmission consider the 5 speed MC.

To have the ease of use of an automatic with the option for manual shifting or Sportsmode (SD) the CVT is really nice. I've had a chance to drive a CVT on several occassions for an extended period and it was very fun and once you know how to drive it, it can be pretty fast. I normally drive an MCS. The option is $1300 and gas mileage in the CVT is about the same as a stock MCS. Still pretty good.

I would think that the CVT has more resale value just because it is more versatile. Anyone can drive it in a family with mixed drivers (some who prefer automatic or those who are autocross enthusiasts).

Take your pick. If I had to do it all over again I might pick a CVT over my MCS. It's a hard call. My wife never drives my MCS and said she would have driven a CVT if I had got one.

 

Fuel consumption of the CVT is much lower of that of an stock MCS. I have both so I can make a fair comparison. Actually, the CVTs fuel consumption is more in line with the 5-speed model than the MCS.



Tomgirl: I will have a couple of pics of my '04 MCS and '02 Cooper CVT later on today.

 

>>Fuel consumption of the CVT is much lower of that of an stock MCS. I have both so I can make a fair comparison. Actually, the CVTs fuel consumption is more in line with the 5-speed model than the MCS.
>>

Yeah... I've been surprised how low my CVT mileage is actually (average around 22-23mpg, almost all city). Of course, that's coming from an old 5-speed Honda Civic which (for an 11 year old car) averaged an unholy 35-ish city and 40 hwy; granted it only had

Having said that, even if it had significantly lower mileage than the whole line I still would have snatched it up; the convenience in the city combined with a surprisingly sporty demeanor make this gear a godsend in the urban jungle.

Now all we need is an MCS w/ a CVT...

 

>>>>Fuel consumption of the CVT is much lower of that of an stock MCS. I have both so I can make a fair comparison. Actually, the CVTs fuel consumption is more in line with the 5-speed model than the MCS.
>>>>
>>
>>Yeah... I've been surprised how low my CVT mileage is actually (average around 22-23mpg, almost all city). Of course, that's coming from an old 5-speed Honda Civic which (for an 11 year old car) averaged an unholy 35-ish city and 40 hwy; granted it only had
>>
>>Having said that, even if it had significantly lower mileage than the whole line I still would have snatched it up; the convenience in the city combined with a surprisingly sporty demeanor make this gear a godsend in the urban jungle.
>>
>>Now all we need is an MCS w/ a CVT...


Your mileage will improve as you rack up miles. The CVT does not use the same amount of fuel as the MCS. I have both so I have made notations and follow ups at the pump.


A MCS automatic is coming for 2005. It was announced here at http://www.motoringfile.com. It is not clear yet if they will use the current ZF CVT or not.

 

My '04 Cooper is Liquid Yellow/White, and it is absolutely beautiful. Something you must see in person to appreciate. Believe me, it gets a LOT of attention. I know it is not a common color, but I have never regretted my decision. I'm in love!! :smile:

 

Here is a pic of my '04 MCS:

 

Thanks for the picture. Your car looks great! :smile:

 

>>
>>Thanks for the picture. Your car looks great! :smile:


Soooo..... Are you picking up that new gorgeous '04 Cooper CVT tonight?

 

Hehe, I wanna show mine too!!!