I just passed the break-in period and now can have fun with my MCa. I love shifting through the "gears" and the way it holds back when decelerating even in D. Sure it is no S, but it is no slush-bucket either. And I'm less likely to visit the inside of as many courthouses. While our S bretheren might be faster, I am still having fun. Remember "it's not about being fast, it's about being first".

Are others that have the CVT as happy as I am? Hey, Sagwork, since we were built the same week, are you still pleased with your choice?

What are other's experiences?

 

Sounds like a complete blast!!! I've only driven a friend's once, but it was so cool!

 

15,000 miles and still lovin' my CVT! The more you learn how to drive it the more you'll appreciate it. It just keeps getting better.

 

blasting through the skyscrapers of Manhattan in SD or manual, dodging cabs ...

best Auto tranny I had.

 

I have been repping the CVT group since 2002....and still loving it.

Still havent run into an MCS that can pull away from me in the twisties.

 

I love driving the CVT I am glad we have both...I'll tell ya there is somethign about it that is just so much fun...and as for not being fast...this little baby has seen 130...the CVT has 6 gears unlike it's 5 speed sisters...so it's no sloth
pics by MR. Kewl him self....BlackNBlue

 

I just hit 9000 miles on my MCC CVT and I've got mixed feelings about it. I hate driving it in stop and go traffic, the jerkyness drives me crazy. If I'm moving at speeds its great though.

 

"Hey, Sagwork, since we were built the same week, are you still pleased with your choice?"

The answer is HELL YES!!!!! I am so happy with my choice! I am almost out of the break in, and am excited to learn how to use the CVT properly.I know some people with well broken in CVT's and with the way the drive in Steptronic you would never know it was an auto.

:smile:

 

oddly enough this is what I love about it ... it totally feels like a go cart at Coney Island

 

Just shy of 75,000 on the clock, and still a blast to drive! You know, if you start in 1st and shift all the way to 6th and then pop over to 'D', which acts like an overdrive, you shift seven times! How cool izzat? Went on the twisties last weekend, and she was no slouch there, which is what MINIs are all about anyway. ;-) MINI2 has an excellent CVT forum, BTW. The jerkiness in low-speed traffic situations can be mitigated completely by careful throttle control, I've found. The start is a little slow still, but the 'flick' can give you a quick take-off if you need one. CVTs have the best of both worlds!

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

After 2 1/2 years and 30,000 miles - still love it. Have added a Remus exhaust and Promini intake. Love to hear it honk from 4,000 rpm on up. It's the best sounding Mini I have heard. I've found that I have a whole different personality when manual shifting - should be called "racer mode."

 

hehe ... you have the same exact mods as me. just those two changes, make a big difference in behavour and sound ... and a slight performance change

 

I was driving Mr. Magoo today in SD and shifting through the gears. My wife asked, "If this is an automatic, why are you having to shift?". I replied, "Because I can !!" I love the CVT. Shift when you want, don't shift when you don't want.

 

37,000 miles on my 2003 (May build) CVT and loving it. Glad to know there are a few 75K+ mileage CVTs out there and still going strong. True, they are no match for the MCS and even the manual MC in a straight-line competition, but for some reason (can someone explain?) I've seen several MC CVTs get better times in auto-x courses than an MCS -- and of course this is with the same accomplished driver at the wheel of both cars (at different times of course!)

rock on,

-boognish

 

19 months ago [3/31/04], I bought my used '03 MC CVT with only 2200 miles on it [9/02 build]. What was the original owner thinking? I'll never know, but for me, it was like buying a new car that had already been broken in. In the last year and a half I've added 20k, and I wholeheartedly agree with the others in this thread---WOW, what a fantastic transmission! Fun in the twisties with the shifter, powerful on the Interstate with the S drive, and ohhh so economical in D. It just doesn't get any better than this!

 

I just hit 2460 miles on my CVT, and am totally enthralled with it. I love the easy availability of SD mode, haven't shifted with it yet, though. I''ve learned to wait a few seconds before reversing, and to reverse initially slowly.

I explain to my passengers when it jerks (now down to only jerking when I'm being sloppy) that, "It's not a normal transmission. Imagine a giant rubber band..."

I also do the, "Notice anything different?" test on new passengers. They never really realize that the transmission never "shifts".

My biggest fear is moving to a different car - I don't think, since I've used the CVT, I will EVER be pleased with a regular automatic transmission - never.

 

Yeah - your exhaust tip is even off center - just like mine.
Time for new tires - do you recommend the Toyo Proxes?
Thanks

 

Here is my 2 cents:

I have 37,000 plus on my CVT MINI and it is still going strong. My only problem has been replacing the battery, and both window motors.

Only draw back is being one of the few CVT owners in the club, you don't get any respect.

My only under the bonnet mod and it is a very small one, added a K&N panel filter, but it did make a difference. Other than that I am still dreaming about new exhaust, suspension and lighter wheels.

As for the question regarding TOYO tires, I put 205/50R16 Proxes 4 on my MINI about 8,000 miles ago and I love them. They weigh less (20.5#) than the run flats I had originally (22.6#). If you don't want all-season the Proxes T1s would be worth considering (19.4#).

 

Or you get the dreaded, "Why didn't you get an 'S'"? Or even worse, "Eventually you'll move up to an 'S' right?"

I get the feeling people think, "There's something wrong with that MINI."

I went to two MINI meets, everyone but me and another MINI owner had MC (and I'm so far the only CVT I know of in the club). No one seemed to care (at least verbally), so I'm guessing they don't mind adopting a CVT owner .

 

I tracked my CVT twice this summer in Phil Wicks schools. As far as I know, I was the only MC CVT running...the first one, I was at Beginner status, and there were a few other MCs there but no CVTs; the second, one, Phil moved me to Intermediate and not only was I the only MC there, I was the only MC CVT [everything else was MCS or higher].

 

When we were looking to buy our MINI, I had built it on the MINIUSA website with the 5 speed. We lucked out and found basically the same car I had built at the MINI dealer in Memphis. The big difference was it had the CVT. I wasn't sure if I would be happy with the auto transmission, but decided to give it a try.

Took the car for a spin, and liked having the auto in the stop and go traffic(even though it took a little getting used to), but then hit some twists and turns and moved it to Sport, then the "Manual". WOW!!!

I decided right then I could live with the CVT. Looking back (after a whopping 2700 miles ) I have no regrets and like the CVT, as well as the car, more and more every day.

 

Hey, I just shifted to "2nd Gear" with a reply to the CVT thread!

COOL!

 

I just got an MC CVT as a loaner while my MCS is in for service. It is a nice car for cruising - at 70 mph, the revs are lower than in the newer versions of the MCS in 6th gear. But what is the deal with the button clicky thing that you feel in the pedal at WOT? Also, I didn't realize you could shift it manually. I'll have to try that on the way back to the dealer!

 

You mean when you push the pedal all the way to the floor? That's the "rev it as high as you can" mode.

 

MINI refers to that mode as "Kickdown." It still doesn't give you the fastest starts (flick trick is best), but it sounds damn cool.