I thought this might bring out some interesting discussion and is aimed at the folks that are against the slushbox and tend to diss the normally aspirated Cooper. So which would you choose the 5-speed manual Cooper or the new automatic S?

 

Manual Cooper, personally. I find it more fun, but whatever floats your boat!

 

Ditto

 

You are not driving unless it is a manual.

 

manual pour moi.....this topic has been discussed ad nauseum here and elsewhere; each to their own. Peace

 

I once wished I had a slush box,but it lasted about 10 seconds,then I got to shift gears again and never thought about it again

 

I prefer a manual just because I think it's more fun to drive. I'd get an automatic in a minute if I lived in someplace like San Francisco, or if my daily commute involved a lot of time in stop-and-go traffic.

 

Hmmm... I live in San Francisco and my daily commute involves a lot of time in stop and go traffic, but I love my manual transmission and would never consider an automatic. My God, is something wrong with me?

 

While I agree the manual is the way to go I would think that to answer the question directly I may choose the auto.

Now I know you think I am crazy but the question was would you prefer the manual 5-speed (emphasis on 5 meaning not an S model) or the auto S.

That extra power is quite intoxicating and may warrant the wish for the auto over the manual.

Of course asking if you were to choose the manual vs. auto in the same engine it is a no-brainer. The manual wins hands down, but in this case the auto has a pretty fair shot!

Chris

 

Id take the auto S in a second...the Cooper's engine doesnt do it for me.

 

Manual MC, of course!

IMHO Minis lose their driving character with slushboxes, although I can see the need for everyday urban slogs.

regards,
Red

 

an auto MINI??? Is there such thing? My gawd.

 

I guess its a to each his own deal with this one but here is how I see it. On the good side more people buying the cars means more people making parts and prices on parts coming down to the normal level. On the negative side you will get more people who are not "drivers" getting the cars.

On another note just because someone has an S and a 6 speed doesnt make them fast or a worthy driver, my daughter has a cooper with cvt and I cant tell you how many times I have nearly had to push a modded S thru the twisties, they are braking and I am thinking GET OUTA THE WAY !!

But I guess if I had to choose between a 5 speed cooper and an auto S I would maybe go S the power difference is just too great..then again I would have to drive an auto S before I can make that statement. 4 Cylinder cars shouldnt come with an auto.

 

MC or MCS,I want a clutch and a stick to shift

 

There's the reliability aspect as well...

I'm sure that there are some folks that have had good luck with automatics, but two cars in my household have had catastrophic failures in their automatic transmissions with corresponding catastrophic effects on my wallet. It's like paying more money for a (non)feature that reduces performance and driving enjoyment while increasing both the likelyhood and cost of repairs. No thanks.

My mother has rheumatoid arthritis and is no longer able to drive a manual transmission. That is probably a condition that I'll eventually inherit, so I plan to keep shifting my own gears as long as God grants me health.

Rawhyde

PS If you're a big fan of automatic transmissions, get one and be happy. I hope they're more reliable for you than they were for my family.

 

I'm an elitist in this case, and damned proud of it.

There are so many cars I'd not even consider driving because only automatics are offered. I really don't feel in control unless there's a stick I can row.

Plus.... automatics are easier for thieves to steal.

-CW

 

Manual MC

 

Manual Cooper! Playing with a joystick is just too much fun to give up.

 

AT MCS and give it to the wife as a present. :smile:

 

Only a manual will do--But I don't think I would have bought a MINI if I was limited to those two options!

Doris

 

Nice present!

 

The very basis of why i love my mini and most others do.

Its about fun not speed
gimme the manual cooper over auto S

 

Probably, but that would take a whole web site of it's own

Earl

 

I own a Getrag equipped 6-speed manual MCS and a ZF VT-1 CVT equipped Cooper. I love both equally

This is an old debate that is very emotional for most MINI driver's but in my back to back experience with both I personally don't have a problem motoring down the road on a stick shift/CVT/ and now the new Aisin 6-speed automatic slushbox equipped MINI.

There are way too many "Closet Racers" in these forums and that is fine with me. People that are narrow minded and elitist can't help it because every time they type a post their little issues become evident.

The truth of the matter is whether you are a seasoned manual driver or an automatic driver (CVTs are a very different beast for those that have the tendency to lump them together with hydraulically operated slushboxes), you are motoring in one of the finest European motocars in the American road at ANY price.

You are not less of a "Motorer" or an "Enthusiast" or whatever you wanna call it because you pick a Cooper S Auto over a manual version and viceversa.

This is such a divided country in ideologies that even this divisionism is blatant in the choice of one's car transmission.

Motor on and move on!


So let me ask you fellow motorers... If the MINI ONE Diesel model was available in the US, those people opting for a slower but torquier diesel engine would also be less "Enthusiastic" and less of a "Motorer"?? Me thinks not...

 

Really? Hmmmm I don't think so.