I have noticed a weird character about my MCS's clutch. In order to make a smooth launch, you have to let it out earlier than usual, or way-way later than usual (aka slip it alot!) This gives you the choice of; A: major bog, and snoozy acceleration, or B: insane clutch slip while launching, and causing premature wear.

I have always owned a manual tranny car, and have driven just about everything under the sun. From front drive clutches that need pinkie-finger effort to monster american muscle that you have to stand on with two feet! From clutches with totally numb feel, to perfectly actuated clutches with awesome feedback.

The Cooper S's clutch is medium weight, and has relatively good feel and feedback. It's just that last tiny bit of engagement that is very sensitive!

Cheers,
Ryan

 

The MCS is the EASIEST car to drive stick in, barenone (that I'm aware of). I think anyone could learn in an hour tops in this car!

HOWEVER, the MCS IS a bit hesitant when starting from a standstill so I could see your difficulty in starting up a hill. Turn the DSC or traction control off and give it more gas than usual and let off the clutch slowly. Do a bunch of hills over and over until you get the hang of it - then it will no longer be a problem. However, if you're only doing a sttep hill once or twice a week, you'll never get better. Go out there one day and practice and you'll get comfortable with it.

It reminds me of when I first drove stick many years ago. I used to be afraid to stop on a steep hill if there were cars behind me and I used to use the handbrake sometimes. But now even with my MCS I can be on the steepest hill and not roll more than an inch. Practice makes perfect.

 

>>So use the hand break. It's what it's there for! If you had learned to drive in the UK you would have been taught that this is how you set off when facing up a hill!

i believe you fail your driving test if you don't use the hand brake on a up hill in the UK, right??

 

There are a couple of methods to heel/toe. I usually rock between the brake and gas using my toes - but I do sometimes use my toe on the brake and my heel on the gas. I haven't tried the heel on brake method, but after doing it the way I have for the last 15 years or so, it wouldn't feel comfortable at all to me. If it works for you, that's really all that matters.

Hope that helps!

Randy

 

Cal,

Having driven manuals for over a quarter century, I find the MCS to be only slightly more "tricky" than average. While the clutch take up and required leg pressure are smooth and easy, its lack of low end torque, combined with the "foreignness" of the fly-by-wire accelerator do present some challenge. I found that good practice to adjust myself to the MCS was to momentarily hold my position at stop signs with the clutch, rather than the brake. This way you can get the correct feel for launch without riding the clutch too long such as at a traffic light. While holding the car steady without a foot on the brake, I can dedicate more attention to the accelerator, as the revs must be up a bit to compensate for the lack of torque off the line.

Try that technique, it might help.

 

>>So use the hand break. It's what it's there for! If you had learned to drive in the UK you would have been taught that this is how you set off when facing up a hill!
>>
>>I tend to put the hand break on by habit when I come to a stop. And I live in Florida, i'm not going to roll anywhere
>>
>>
>>

I hope your hand gets better.

 

>>>>So use the hand break. It's what it's there for! If you had learned to drive in the UK you would have been taught that this is how you set off when facing up a hill! :smile:

Sirron, I dont get it! :???:

I agree that is is a different feel to all the other stick shifts I have driven.

 

>>I agree, this car is impossible to get up a steep hill (over 20%) smoothly. I've driven a lot of manual transmissions both here and in Europe where the hills were a lot steeper with no problems, but so far, no matter what technique I use, the outcome is always in doubt ( not a comfortable feeling, with some idiot in an SUV 6 inches away from your rear end). I also see the lag that was mentioned in first on level surfaces. Since I haven't reached 1,200 miles yet I'm hoping some of the posts about the situation improving with more miles are correct, but for now I'm avoiding major hills. Anyone in places like San Francisco have comments ? Thanks, Brian


I have just reached 1200 miles today, and just back to driving a manual with my mini after 5 years with an automatic. I'm certainly not as confident with San Francisco hill start offs as I had gotten to be. I try to be at the top of the hill, not hanging back (of course with someone on my tail) but have no control over that. My concern at this point is not the rocky start off, but avoiding rolling back into the SUV bumper!

 

Start-up lag w/ the run-flats?! Hadn't heard that before. Re: using the handbrake- I practice this occasionally just as another skill to have. I used to live in San Francisco where you can have head on collisions w/ some of the hills.
There's nothing worse than being in front of some folks while trying to start up on a steep hill, and being embarrassed by killing the engine. For new clutch users, it can be downright terrifying. Learning how to use any and all techniques for hill starts seems like a very good idea to me. Re: heel and toe- I'm w/ Randy. I've never even heard of heel on the brake, toe on the gas. I'll have to try it to see how it feels.

 

>>So use the hand break. It's what it's there for! If you had learned to drive in the UK you would have been taught that this is how you set off when facing up a hill!

I love my MCS and I drive it like it’s a classic.

 

I drive using the handbrake very often in the wintertime! Not so much on hot sticky pavement, as my tire budget is in competition with other bills

 

I am used to driving a 5000 lbs VW with 87 hp and a 4 speed in SF. When I picked up my Mini in SF last week, I found the car to be a breath of fresh air compared to the VW. Learn to use the e-brake. Learn what rpm you need to go to before releasing the clutch and learn how mutch throttle to give while releasing the clutch.

My first hill in the Mini was a steep one, and I was surprised at how smooth it was. after starting, 2nd gear pulled the whole hill nicely. Spent the afternoon touring SF.

Bottom line.

Practice
Practice
Practice

It can be done.

Andy

 

>>Pebble.

>>Sirron, I dont get it!

You would if you knew how hand-brake was spelled. I thought you must have a break in your hand.

Besides that, I'm the spelling police.

You brake to slow or stop cars or bikes. You break things to make them into little pieces.

Now all you free thinkers, don't get mad, I'm just doodlin'.

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