Hi I am new to this forum.

I m looking to get my wife a MINI Cooper and she can not drive a manual trans. I was wondering how good is the CVT automatic? Is is worth getting or should I try to teach my wife how to drive a stick.

Thanks

Get the automatic...save your marriage.

Welcome to the site!
I personally have a CVT and I think it's fantastic. I chose the CVT because it would be easier for me to drive in the city (which it DEFINITELY is....pretty much ALL the motoring I do during the week is in rush hour traffic). And the steptronic is fun for when I actually have some open roads.
My 2¢....

I have heard very good reviews of the cvt transmission, and I don't think that you would be disappointed. However, I would encourage everybody to become basically proficient driving a car with a manual gearbox. You never know when that skill might come in handy e.g. in foreign countries, or in situations when a primary driver becomes injured. In the U.S., 80 - 90% of vehicles are automatic, -that proportion is often reversed overseas.
This could always be the opportunity to buy a manual and learn to drive it!

-uu

Get the CVT. I drive in traffic, as I have for 20 or so years in a lot of different vehicles, and shifting is no fun in those situations. I've shifted for years, as well, and altho it's more fun when you're wringing it out in the twisties, the CVT can closely approximate this as well. My wife learned to shift on my old Mini Cooper, and it's been a big help to overall, she still prefers an automatic. CVT is fun!

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

I like my CVT, it performs well except for two situations. In very slow traffic, it tends to shudder a bit, mainly because the MINI wants to go-go-go! Also, when going from a standaing stop, there's always a split-second lag from when you push down the gas to when it starts to go. It rapidly makes up for this, but I wouldn't want to use it in a drag race! I checked around with some other CVT owners to make sure it wasn't just mine, and they all reported the same two problems. The steptronic can be used to overcome the lag problem somehwat, but not completely.

I am very happy with the CVT. A good thing, too, because in high school a friend of mine tried to teach me to drive a stick one day and I never even got the thing backed out of the parking space without it going dead. Now, at 34, I just didn't have the inclination to learn. Besides, most of my driving is in Atlanta traffic. To echo what another poster said, the CVT does hesitate a little at first. . . I read something about it not fully engaging until it hits 2500 RPM? But I'm a mechanical idiot so I don't really know. But after that first second or two, it goes!

It's the best...
Like the soap...."she likes it, ahhh, but I like it too..."

You won't be disappointed

_________________

CVT - got it. Love it. Push it. Shift @ 6000 rpm and it will go forever.

1. The wife was a huge factor. I would probably have gone with the 5-speed if not for her.

2. CVT may not be up to manual speed, but the convenience of an automatic combined with at least some of the fun and responsiveness of a manual makes it really cool!

3. CVT has exceeded my expectations - I never thought an automatic could be so fun!

I say go for it... and like 2minis says... save your marriage!

I just wanted to get away from post 666! :???: .

Well, I think you got away from it!

Next stop, message #1313!!

I LOVE my CVT! It gives you the ease of an automatic with the option of switching gears like a standard. I love nothing more than driving on the highway and shifting her to sport drive, feeling the extra RPMs kick and zooming past a sports car! Believe me, it's the feel of a stick shift in an automatic. You won't be disappointed! Why not visit your MINI dealer and test drive them both?

"In very slow traffic, it tends to shudder a bit, mainly because the MINI wants to go-go-go!"

Hey PittsburghMark,
would you (or anybody else for that matter), mind elaborating on the above? I'm curious about the shudder. How severe is it, how often it happens, etc. From a technical standpoint, I really like the idea of a Constantly Variable Transmission and am curious if anyone has any theories on what causes this low speed shudder.
Does anybody know if the mini's CVT has a torque converter, similar to traditional automatics? That is what typically gives the second or so "lag" off the line with an automatic, which is why some people (manual tranny snobs ) refer to them as "slush boxes".

Thanks in advance!

I was just brought back to this thread from a post in this (newer) thread and wanted to add a few comments here.

2minis: you are approaching post #1313 as I mentioned above... Hmmm... will it be on Friday, the 13th? Doubtful. - At your rate, it will be tomorrow!

I just realized that there are 3 of us Pittsburghers with CVT's that posted here. It made me curious if the prevalence of CVT v. manual varies by region? Dunno how to figure that out. a poll?

> 3 of us Pittsburghers with CVT's

I'll bet you'd find that to be the case in other hilly cities, like maybe San Francisco. I live in the flatlands of SoCal, so it isn't such an issue here.

Cheers,

Leslie

Hey Mini2Go, do you motor in Shadyside? Thats just about the only other place I see MINIs. I saw a nice silver/black roof one outside whole foods there just yesterday.

I say teach her (or better yet, have SOMEONE ELSE teach her) to drive a manual. My hubby taught me how to drive a manual about 15 years ago and I refuse to drive an automatic. Once you get the skills down and a feel for the vehicle, it is soooooo much more fun! Especially in a MINI!

>>> 3 of us Pittsburghers with CVT's
>>
>>I'll bet you'd find that to be the case in other hilly cities, like maybe San Francisco. I live in the flatlands of SoCal, so it isn't such an issue here.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Leslie

YUP!! I live in SF and just picked up my CVT yesterday!! It's cool, I love it so far!

>>Hey Mini2Go, do you motor in Shadyside? Thats just about the only other place I see MINIs. I saw a nice silver/black roof one outside whole foods there just yesterday.

Not too often. I live in Zelienople and generally trek to the east side of the city either on the turnpike or by going 279/579/parkway.

My friend's boss is the owner of a nightclub down there (can't remember the name) and he owns one. I think it's yellow.

It's funny. I've only just started seeing them around. I went for months hardly seeing any. Now, I have seen like 6 in two weeks! I Saw two out near Murrysville/Monroeville. two weeks ago. One was the first PW/PW I ever saw - interesting!

I also was riding along with two on the Blvd. of the Allies up by Duquesne U. - but I happened to be in the work van. BUMMER! I SO wished I was in Molly so that there had been 3 of us on the road together - simply by CHANCE!

Then the other day in Cranberry I came right up behind another PS/B Cooper at a light. How cool that was. I think I posted about that experience somewhere here before.


Sorry to get off-topic so far....

Here's something I posted elsewhere, but feel it is worth repeating here: