does anyone know if they are considering an automatic?pauloberman@attbi.com

 

There has been nothing confirmed as far as I know... But there is talk of an SMG for the Cooper. If so, and given that an M3 also has an SMG, I see no reason why they wouldn't offer that in the S as well. Like I said, nothing confirmed - just my thoughts.

 

It wouldn't surprise me. It would increase their sales. Not that they are high enough already.

 

If they do I'm at the head of the line.
Only reason I bought the MC and not the MCS was the availalbity of the CVT on the MC.

 

I hope not

 

Paul and I discussed this earlier, but I'll post what my thoughts were for the rest of the world (not that I'm that important).

The SMG is a very complicated and expensive piece of technology. I really can't see BMW rationalizing the use of it in a $25000 car. That's a totally different box than the CVT for example.

Just my $.02 :smile:

 

Stick is better anyways...

 

I dont think it would too expensive. toyota does it in the mr2 spyder and its only a $1200 option ( i think if not its close to it). It may not shift as fast as the bmws but im sure if they did it in the mini it would be the same way.

 

Plus it's a top-of-the-line option. I don't see an incentive to offer it on an economy car

Yeah, I think the BMW gearbox is much more advanced than the MR2 version. And the S gearbox is so good that I don't really see a need for the SMG.
_________________
Only 4 more months until I get my S!

 

wat is SMG?? it that the function that tells you which gear you are in?

 

Rumors are of SMG in the MC

 

>>Rumors are of SMG in the MC

what is SMG?

 

It is the BMW steptronic...they use it in the M3...don't know how it performs...i like stick better.

 

The BMW SMG is a Sequential Manual Gearbox, a true clutch-less manual. ops:

 

BORING...

 

A decent article explaining the SMG in the M3.

BTW, it is listed as a $4,900 option on an M3 - which doesn't mean it costs that much, but it sounds pricey...

 

If you've ever watched the WRC or CART or F1 or anything like that, the gearboxes they use are a black **** that can only be moved forward or backward, signaling an upshift or a downshift electronically. It moves away from the mechanical motion found in most gearboxes that moves the actual gears to an electronic signal that tells something else to change gears. BMW's is called a "Sequential ///M Gearbox" which is why I don't expect to see it in a MINI until a ///MINI comes out. 2006 maybe?

 

I can tell you that if they offer it on a MCS I'll be driving two Minis. The one I have now and the MCS.....Contact me BMW Mini if you need a buyer for the first one (heh).

Don't knock it till you've tried it. It ain't the slush box automatic of the days of yore.

 

>>Contact me BMW Mini if you need a buyer for the first one (heh).<<

At the risk of divorce, I told the wife a short while back that I would immediately buy a new S if they released it with an SMG!

 

I don't mean to offend anyone, but quite frankly, it would be sacreligious to put an automatic in a MCS.

And no, i am not a manual snob, but the whole spirit of the S goes against anything automatic. I mean heck, the idea "let's motor" means that YOU are driving and it inspires an enthusiast confidence in the "experience" of driving.

Quite frankly, an automatic type tranny in a MCS is a big thumbs down in my book. This is coming from someone who has driven a stick in NYC traffic for the last 4 years. The CVT is hitting its demographic and I think they should keep it that way.


As far as the SMG, it is put to shame by the Volkswagen DSG.(do a search on google if you don't know anything about it)

In general on the track the SMG outperforms a manual 6 speed in almost every category. SMG shines the most on actual laps, but the biggest complaint is that it takes away the spirit and fun of driving. Go figure.

I can understand the show before go or the go before show mentalities, but I can't understand taking the fun away from driving unless my goal was to win a competative professional race. I don't know about you, but I am going from A to B in something other than an appliance. I'm not trying to break any records.

 

In the words of New Balance: "Victories are personal". Flame me all you want, but I'm proud of my 70 minute mini-cannonball-run from Santa Barbara to USC. I'm not saying a SMG will make that any different, but you know what I'm saying. An SMG on the twisties would definately make me feel like a racecar driver. The VW one probably would too. It's a matter of opinion if you see it as better than a manual or not, plain and simple. I like it though

 

Well.... I do enjoy manually rowing through the gears myself, but less and less on a daily driver. (...say what you will....) If my MINI were purely a pleasure vehicle, then I would unquestionably have the manual. So, if I can get the performance of a manual with the everyday ease of an automatic, and some of the "fun motion" thrown in - then I'm all for it! ...Not that there's anything wrong with that! As RCristiano alluded to above, it isn't so much a question of what's better - it would simply be nice to have the option. Considering that other high-end sports cars have SMGs (or equivalent), I don't think that it would be at all sacrilegious - unless they did use an traditional automatic transmission!

 

Heh, i never said better. Only you can decide better ultimately.
I was just throwing in my less than 2 cents.

I just said less fun and going against the "spirit" of the whole car.

You are driving a car that makes you want to go Raarrrrrr like a kid with a dinosaur toy every time you rev the engine. Why would you want to take that fun away?

Screw practical. You don't buy a Mini to be practical, you buy a Minivan.

 

I don't know why people assume that driving the CVT is not fun. I gotta tell you guys, with 3 tranny modes, there are more options in driving than with any six speed. With my CVT, I have two driving styles. The first is what I call parade mode. This is what I use in 25mph zones. I just hang back and enjoy the precision my car accelerates/decelerates at low speeds. This is when I practice my
cruising techniques and check out all the expressions on faces when people see my MINI. Lotsa smiles.
The second mode is what I call spirited. I'm constantly making adjustments, fiddling with the shifter, in and out of all three tranny modes. This is what I do to test the limits of my car, to improve my skills as a CVT driver, and to have a blast.

Some times you feel like a nut, some times you don't.

If they ever do make an SMG MCS, I would trade up. I love my HARMINI.
She is such a pretty MINI. I just wish she would go a little faster.

 

I need to experience the CVT. Want to take me for a ride HARMINI?