Here is my quandary; in about 8 months I’m going to be in the market for a new car. I’ve essential narrowed down my choices to an ’06 civic, ’07 Volvo C30(depending on price and sales dates) or an ’06 or ’07 Mini Cooper S. Naturally I appreciate the civic as a well made reliable vehicle and respect Honda as an awesome innovator as far as fuel economy goes, but even the new generation just doesn’t evoke any desire or passion to drive for me based on what I’ve seen so far. I spend at least 2hrs a day in my car so If I can swing it, I really want something I’ll enjoy driving. The Volvo is just kind of something I’m leaving as an option, but not really considering as I suspect it will be too expensive once it’s loaded with the goodies I’d want.

I’ve always liked small hatchbacks and ever since the new Mini’s came out I’ve been infatuated with them, everytime I see one driving down the road or zipping by me on the hightway it brings a smile to my face. I have driven one, and it was the most fun I’d had driving in along time, or pretty much ever. There is just something there that I feel all the other new cars a missing, the only thing really making me hesitate from committing to the Mini is the CVT. I do spend a good amount of time going stop light to stop light and stuck in morning traffic, so despite my desire to feel the joy of flicking through gears again, stick just isn’t too practical. I’d be riding the clutch all day long. Now from what I’ve read so far the CVT was a little buggy due to software related issues in it’s early days and it seems now to be a perfectly adequate transmission, and I would pair it with paddle shifters, but I have a few questions regarding the CVT and other things I haven’t been able to find answers to, so I’m hoping some knowledgeable enthusiasts will be able to help me out.

1. From what I understand manual mode with the CVT is not just a clutch free full manual, as in you don’t control the shifts, if rpms get high it shifts whether you want to or not. I’m curious as to if anyone has attempted or is attempting to alter the software controlling the whole deal to override this? And also make it shift to first upon stopping? I suspect such proprietary information is kept under lock and key, but it’d be nice to see what an open source or aftermarket community could do for tuning the tranny to an individual’s desire.

2. What kind of lag are we looking at when manually forcing a downshift? I don’t want to feel like I’m looking for a gear when I’m trying to pass. I currently have a ’96 chevy lumina(that I affectionately refer to as my GM junk heap), so that’s pretty much my comparison, as long as it does better I’m happy.

3. I’m in Florida, how much power sapping can I expect from running the A/C? I currently have no power sapping effects since the A/C doesn’t work, a junk heap and sauna in one convenient package, only 3 easy payments of $15.99, if you order now I'll also include a slotted spoon and our amazing grout cleaner.

4. This is really a matter of personal opinion and speculation, but should I wait for ’07 or go for an ’06? I like what I’ve heard about advances under the hood and move to a turbo, but I’m not too big on them making it bigger, or changing that face, I like the current styling A LOT, and I’m afraid they’ll go all metallic paints, chili red please, although I could happily do hyper blue. Any word on advancements in the automatic transmission department or is the plan to stick with the current CVT for the '07's? An advancement here would probably be the only reason I would hold out for an ’07.

5. Anyone wanna give me a Mini for free?....can't blame a guy for trying and can you?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide.

 

I think this part alone puts you squarely in the MINI camp!


Let's make sure we're all on the same page here:
The Cooper gets a CVT automatic and no paddle shifters. The Cooper S gets a geared automatic and paddle shifters.

Well, here's one person's experience and opinions...

Yes and no. It isn't nearly as invasive and controlling as you seem to think. As for upshifting, it only shifts at the extreme - aka redline. The automatic downshift is a little less straightforward. If you are holding a gear at relatively high rpm - say down a grade - it will let you hold it. But if you are trying to hold say 3rd in traffic, it will downshift when you slow or stop. When you stop it will shift to 1st if you haven't.

Only a little lag on downshifts. It seems to me to be no more lag than with a lazy manual shift - roughly the same time it would take to leave out the clutch after you've moved the stick. Here I'm referring specifically to the "Manual Mode." From the "Auto" mode, there are a few little tricks with the "Sport Mode" that can help reduce the lag.

You can expect some noticeable loss - but when you mash the accelerator past the "detent" point, you can still wind it up pretty quick. You just have to be willing to let her rev! It isn't going to win a drag race, but it will let you merge onto a busy highway. Even on a 2 hour (each way) highway trip with four adults and the a/c running, I was comfortable merging and passing.

If you are more concerned about gas mileage, then you might want to wait. We expect to see some noticeable gains with the '07 engine. However, there is also rumor that it will no longer have a CVT transmission, but the same geared transmission currently in the Cooper S.

OTOH, if you are concerned about having the possible "buggy" reliability issues of a first model year engine - you may be more comfortable getting the '06.

...If only I could man, really, I might!

These are good questions. I hope my answers are at least somewhat helpful.

 

Ahh, right you are, and I didn't do the build our own with a non S model on the website, and all the information I found everyone was talking about the CVT so I just assumed, that's what I get. I think that seals the deal for me, thank you.

 

Carefully shopping and comparing is the right thing to do.

However,

When I bought my MC two years ago I bought it 95% because of the way it looked. Civic, Focus, and whatever else I could have gotten in the same price range, (or maybe a little cheaper), were pushed out of the way like empty soda cans. I wanted a MINI!

Called Roadshow and ordered my car on the phone. Picked it up six weeks later.

The good news is. I bought it because of the way it looks and it has exceeded my expectations in every other way. It wouldn't have mattered at that time if I had driven a something else and the MINI and decided the something else had more power, handled better or whatever.......It was MINI for me and it was a great decision.

Perhaps because the MINI has been out for a few years reactions like mine or not as common?

 

While maybe a little less common - I still think it happens quite regularly!

Compared to most other vehicles there are still relatively few MINIs on the road - I'm guesstimating in the 120,000 range of total MINIs driving around on American roads - and many of those are "weekend" toys. So, there really still is a lot of the population that hasn't ever experienced them besides in an ad or article.

In comparison, VW sold over 83,000 New Beetles in 1999 alone (down to over 40,000 in 2004) which probably averages to somewhere around 65,000 units/year since 1998 = almost 500,000 units.

The PT cruiser has averaged over 119,000 units per year (with a peak over 140,000 in 2001) totalling somewhere over 600,000 units on the road...

My basic point being that even with all the media coverage and the seeming popularity, these cars are still new and unique to many Americans.

 

....and to take that comparison to another level....

Ford sold 939,511 F-series trucks in 2004 alone.

 

I'm probably gonna get slapped around for this, being a current MINI owner with another one on the boat on it's way over, but I think it's only fair to mention one of his other initial choices: The all-new Honda Civic Si.

Granted, it's not a MINI, but it's got some nice features going for it, according to the new issue of Car and Driver - good handling, 197 hp, great interior, and typical Honda reliability.

If you're not 100% sold on a MINI right now, wait for the new Civic Si to hit the showroom, then drive a MINI and the Civic back-to-back and see what fits you best.

(Me, I'd STILL go with the MINI, but it's nice to check all yer options)

 

Good Lord, now THAT'S scary. . .especially when you consider an average curb weight of 4,788 lbs, that's 4,498,378,668 pounds of future rust rolling down our highways. . .just in that one year. . .egads!!!

 

I beg to differ. In Canada anyways, my neighbor has a 05 MC with CVT and it has paddle shifters....great fun!

 

Ok, you've got me - I suppose I was a bit too general with my "all."

Darn Canucks ...wait, you're in BC... er, Canadians - they get all the nifty bits!

 

The CVT is a Continuously Variable Transmission isn't it? What is there to shift?

 

I'm assuming that this is a legitimate question and not a wisecrack, and as such, will answer....

While the CVT is indeed a Continuously Variable Transmission - it has 6 pre-programmed ratios or "virtual gears" that allows you to simulate a geared transmission. It adds quite a bit of fun to the whole experience!

I personally really liked the CVT and impressed more than a few people at both autoXs and on the street.