Just wondering if anyone out there has had the opportunity to drive a Cooper w/CVT? After talking about the car for days, my wife agreed to go look at it. Needless to say she too fell in love with the car. While I would prefer to drive a 5spd. she can not drive a manual. So after reading up on the CVT it sounds like the solution. I am currently waiting for the CVT to become available in SO. California, but in the mean while I thought you all may have some input as to what I should expect.
Thanks in advanceundefined

Teach your wiefe to drive a 5 speed.

No have not driven the CVT but there is an Edmunds.com review where I believe they drove it.
My wife also did not know how to drive standard but we bought a second car, she took lessons and now drives manual.
Based on the HP of the Cooper, the 5sp is prob the best chioce in terms of accel.

Good Luck!

yes, i own a mini with a cvt.. fun easy to use just by tapping.. shift around 4500 rpm and the car kicks... actually accelerates faster than in auto... the only thing I notice is that @ 80mph, the car runs auto @3000 rpm and manual @4000 rpm... since I know nothing about cars.. would appreciate an explanation from anyone...







arnold
liquid yellow mini

Get a 6 speed

While the CVT is certainly competent, it's also boring. For me, the car loses a lot of its appeal without the manual transmission.

Has you wife tried to learn manual transmission on a modern car? I think they've really become much easier in the last 15 years.

I've had my CVT since April. I live in SoCal and bought it in Santa Ana. It has all the luxuries of both auto and stick, and if you're going to drive in Ca. rush hour traffic, good luck if you want to change gears every 3 seconds. It beats everyone away from the lights.

what is it about girls and not knowing how to drive a sick

Well excuse us for not knowing....that is kind of a sexist comment ....anyway I ordered a CVT. I know how to drive stick but I would rather not have to deal with it because I live in a city and much of my time is spent in traffic. I also can't drive stick all that way and so I was not able to test drive a manual tran.....and I was sure as hell not going to order a car that I didn't know how to drive and then try to learn before I got it.....I wanted something that I would feel comfortable in driving from the get-go....it is not fair for some of you to just say 'teach your wife this' or 'get a 6 speed' or making a comment like (what is it about girls and not knowing how to drive a sick) <-------- that. Total Kaos....I liked the CVT alot and I know how to drive stick. I think it is admirable as well that you are taking your wife's feelings into consideration when purchasing your Mini....cheers!

How 'bout a "Group Hug" ?

*kisses*

I drove the CVT and I really liked it. All I have driven so far is automatics(A Nissan Maxima & a Infiniti QX4) so I will be learning how to drive a stick in my Red/White S I will be picking up tomarrow at Bill Jacobs MINI in Chicago. I have had no time to practice so I hope that I don't damage my new MINI. Does anyone have any tips for a beginner driving a 6-Speed Getrag(In downtown Chicago)?

Go to big empty parking lot and practice your stops and starts. If you can find a quiet street with a hill, practice stopping and starting on an upgrade. The shifting while driving is the easy part. The not rolling backwards into another car, is the bit you want to get good at. :smile:

Hey, I am a girl and I ordered a stick. CVT was too sluggish for me.

I drove both sstems B4 buying - I've shifted for years, and in up & downhill commuting, there's no argument. The auto is the way to go. It has the advantage of going to SIX speeds, not five like a regular Cooper, and it is ssmmmooooth. I've driven in the mountains since I've bought it, and it is is really fun to upshift and downshift without lifting off the gas!

BTW, the reason the revs are higher when you drive in sport mode is the computer uses the next ratio down from standard mode to achieve the same speed, because the power comes on in the MINI at higher revs. Remember, there are technically NO "gears" in the CVT, just different computer settings. The thing does take some practice learning its ins & outs, and doesn't reward clumsy gas pedal use.

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

I have not looked into this so I don't know the answer.

Are the manuals in the MINI have a reverse pattern shifter?

I know that is kind of a german thing since VW likes the reverse pattern shifters. Find a good place to practice starting on an incline that is the hardest thing to do at least for me. I am still not very good at it.

I do have a funny story about a guy that must have not known hot to drive a manual very well. I was at a stoplight in the downtown area near my university. In the left lane was a little ricer honda all slammed to the ground with a massive wing

Right behind it pulled up one of the 3 or so Acura NSX's that we have in the area. I guess this guy got a little distracted by the bad *** NSX behind him and some how put the car in reverse instead of first. I really don't know how he did it in a normal pattern shifter manual. He of course reved the car up pretty high to show off and launch his ricer but since he was in reverse he slammed into the NSX at about 15 or so mph.

He busted both headlights out of the NSX and knocked the front fascia off. No telling what other damage he did to the car.

>> I drove both sstems B4 buying - I've shifted for years, and in up & downhill commuting, there's no argument. The auto is the way to go. It has the advantage of going to SIX speeds, not five like a regular Cooper, and it is ssmmmooooth. I've driven in the mountains since I've bought it, and it is is really fun to upshift and downshift without lifting off the gas!
>>

I've heard the mentioned before, and have to say something, it's NOT 6 SPEEDS. It's 6 pre-set ratios. Not an actual gearing, and one would think (and I've heard this from someone who has a steptronic auto) not that much difference between that and the auto, other than it gives your right hand something to do....

Rocketboy_X

It's been stated clearly that a CVT doesn't have a full gear set, so the six manual-like settings are computer controlled, that is not the issue. The point is that it works very well and gives more performance than a typical auto using D. It holds the setting you select and is therefore more useful in performance driving as it does act like a manual without a clutch. This also helps novice performance drivers that haven't mastered heel-toe shifting. Another point, not mentioned often, is that you can shift the CVT without taking your foot out of the power. It is interesting because it eliminates the e-gas hang up or lag that some manual drivers have reported. Finally the engine braking of the CVT is the best of any non-manual trans. I know of, it is very impressive for slowing down without braking. Of course for heavy traffic you can put it in D and it will still perform decently.