My wife can't drive a stick and won't learn..which means I only can drive the Mini...

But if this was available last year we would be driving an auto today. That's just reality for a lot of people.

 

Same story here, I'm trading in the '02 MCS for an '05 MCS Automatic.

 

Oh, well. Yet another great brand dragged down into the mire of mediocrity. It was great while it lasted, though.

 

Look at this as an opportunity. What your wife needs is proper motivation. Convince the fair lady that only manual cars are available in --------(fill in the blank) exotic vacation spot. If and only if she masters the clutch can she get the opportunity to visit. 'course when she finds out that you've been lying through your teeth about actually going to said exotic spot, just so she would be able to drive a stick shift, she may attempt to run you over.

 

Spoken like a true closed mind.

 

Seriously, this is a lame discussion. When it comes down to it, BMW wants to increase sales. It's as simple as that.

 

It got lame the minute people started arguing about the merits producing an auto in the S, instead of talking about the characteristics of this transmission.

This should not be a discussion about the auto vs. the manual. It should be a discussion of the Mini with an auto vs. Other cars with an auto.

Some people are physically limited and can't drive a standard, or don't want to. That's reality. For those who CAN'T (not won't, or can't be bothered to learn), the MCSA is a great alternative to other cars.

I actually read some peanut-brain on another forum write that physically disabled individuals shouldn't be able to buy an S because, in his words, "You are not worthy." What an idiot. I work in the schools and if I told some parent that his kid with a learning disability coulnd't attend school because he wasn't worthy everyone would quite rightly have a major meltdown hissy fit, and I would be fired. Yet for some reason we entertain the same sort of mentality with this situation.

And I might add, that we hear it over and over and over and over again in every thread about the MCSA. You don't like the auto, you think it dilutes the MCS's stature, you would never buy one. We get it. We got it the last time you wrote it, and we got it the time before that. Add something original to the discussion or don't bother clicking on the subject line in the first place. I don't really like the color Gold. But I don't post in every thread that talks about it and tell everyone that it's a terrible color and makes all MINI's look bad. That would be inane, just like the derisive comments about the MCSA are.

</rant>

 

Very well put MrV.

Can't wait to get a real good review on the MCSA

 

Ok peeps, I bet if you test drove the Auto S I am sure you will have as much as a blast as you do so with your current getrag 6. Now stop arguing whether they should have made it or not. I own a MC CVT right now, and I am looking to sell to buy a Gerag 6 S. I am very excited but then again, I think i will take the Auto S for drive and then the getrag 6 for a drive. But I know I will come out of that place with a Getrag 6. It is best for what mods I have planned for it.

 

These manual vs auto threads really drag down the quality of these boards. If the manual drivers are such "purists" for driving a stick they should remove all the syncros from the tranny and have a true manual. In the pure form a syncro just helps a bad stick driver look better.

My STi is a 6-sp. It's fun to drive but I am glad I don't have to drive it every day in traffic. My Lightning is an auto and I am willing to bet that I can eat MCS 6spds for lunch on the track. Been there done that.

Enjoy what you have and quit pi$$ing on other peoples choices. Maybe start a new message board for 6-speeds only. Oh wait better make that manuals only.

 

You don't know my wife!

I have to drive her around in the other car and it's has an automatic! Now, I think she just wants to give up driving all together. Wait, that means I can still keep a stick shift car.

 

Look at it this way...your six speed could be worth more.

 

MrV and MiniMe05 rule this thread. Don't even bother with some lame come-back.

 

If they put much more switches and buttons on those steering wheels it will look like an F1 steering wheel

 

I can't wait, I'm retrofitting it when we get the replacement '05 MCS in.

 

I can't wait to hear a thorough review, one from an owner who has gotten the software to adapt to their driving style and really driven it to the limits.

I have torn up plenty of wonderful backroads in a step BMW and it is just as fun as you make it - in manual mode the car stays in any gear you want it to, shift as you wish, no upshifting or downshifting on its own. With the paddles allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel, eyes on the curves, and no worry of money shifts the MCS auto should be a blast.

The BMW used to have a tiny bit of lag on the shifts but Dinan software took care of it (and raised the rev limits, improved throttle response to boot) with hope the Mini is perfect out of the box, but if not I'm sure there will be some fun software solutions to suit the more aggressive drivers (solutions the manual MCS can use too for improving the responsivness).

 

Now that's what I call a Steering Wheel

 

That's a pretty cool steering wheel. But I like mine better:



It even has paddle shifters so that I can practice !!

 

Whatever. I'm totally open to new ideas. I would argue that the closed mind is the one that assumes all cars must be offered in manual and automatic versions. Actually, they don't. Consider that possibility.

The idea of making the new Cooper S a pure, no compromise performance car actually seemed fresh and somewhat daring to me back in the day. First they de-tuned the suspension for the US market. This was bad enough, but offering an automatic transmission totally compromises that brilliant initial vision, and takes a step towards the bland center of the market.

The Cooper S brand has been badly diluted by this move and I, for one, am in mourning.

 

Gwan. You can't be serious. My old Mini had straight cut gears and my old Alfa (103) had to be double-clutched from 2-3. When Ferry Porsche wrote that he would only drive a clutchless car on public roads I thought he went bonkers (that was in '73).

But if you live in a crowded city with hills, don't have the reflexes of yore (if ever), and just gotta have a MINI (ya can't deny a geeezer this second chance), then maybe the MCSa is the way to go.

But if you have your latte in one hand, your keyboard in the other and are steering with your knees while you are chatting through your headset and Elvis Costello is boogeying on the HKS then maybe the MCSa is the way to go too.

Whenever there is any mention of the MCSa the gearshift gestapo at Motoringfile goes ape. Not everyone is so adept. Give the rest of us some slack. Puhleeeze. Thank you.

 

call me old fashioned but i think a sports car (i.e MCS) should only come standard. i mean you cant have fun driving it if you cant shift. I know its a semi-automatic but its still an auto. if you want an automatic car go get a monte carlo or a mustang (still cant believe these are mostly auto's) i think the word sports car or any car that has been upgraded for performance/handling should only be manual. dont let the fast and furious kids read this and get all hurt...on second thought let them i love pulling up to a stop light and revving my engine while its in gear and they have to put it in neutral LOL!

 

Please, take as much slack as you need. Hey, I have nothing against drivers who choose an automatic transmission. I have a problem with Mini/BMW choosing to produce an automatic version of the Cooper S. The Cooper has been offered with an automatic option from day one, so it's not as if you auto trans folks were ever excluded from owning a Mini. But the fact that the S was only offered with a 6-speed made it special, in my opinion. It's just not as special anymore. In fact, it's now a lot more ordinary. I like special things - not a big fan of ordinary stuff.

 

Are you guys just dying for attention or what? I think it is clear what the thread was about and how people feel (they don't care) what your carping gripes are about the transmission in the context of this thread.

And please - stop getting on your soapbox and calling this MCS "a pure, no compromise performance car" or a "sports car", it is neither no matter how you feel about it. It is a fun, tossable, practical, mass produced, safe, 4 seater, 'hot hatch', front wheel drive sporty car. It does make compromises by being the above (see a Caterham, a Noble or even Exige for no compromise performance), and is not a true sports car IMO for some of the same reasons.

Its super that you have your opinions but try to at least keep in context to the thread and listen to/respect other people's choices. Hey, I love the car and feel kinship with those that do as well, just like I love the M Coupe or other cars I have owned - I hope everyone enjoys it for whatever reason they do.

Cheers

 

It should, huh? Why, exactly?

I mean, that's one option, of course. But, there are other possibilities. The thread could take an infinite number of directions. Maybe even end up in a discussion of something completely unrelated to transmissions. I'd be cool with that.

 

never mind this I am trying to delete this since it is off topic