After trying to go through this thread and clean up all the bashing of who's right and wrong I decided that I would delete the whole thing so that we can start over with a more constructive discussion. Keep in mind that the site is for exchanging information...not to convince someone into your way of thinking. People buy different models of the MINI with different options to match their particular needs. Leave the personal attacks off of the forums, speak constructively, and take the opinions of others and use it to form your own.

Mark

 

I have a 5-speed MINI Cooper and I like it.
The clutch is the best I have ever had in any car I have owned.
I can stay in first-gear forever it seems.
Using engine-breaking is fun when someone is tailgating in stop-and-go traffic.

I drove the CVT and I didn't like it.
It seemed like driving a snowmobile, and the engine
revs all over the place.

That's it.

 

I've always driven manual transmissions & I must say the MINI Cooper's clutch & shifting ease is the best I've ever had. Once I realized you had to give a little more gas in 1st gear,it's been a great experience. I do know some MINI owners with the CVT & they really like it especially the fact that you can "shift" if you want. Also, after much reading on MCO I have learned that the CVT is not really your typical "automatic transmission" but actually a very unique & efficient concept that is fairly new to cars in the US.
Happy Motoring
Lois

 

I enjoy driving a manual most of the time. I got the MINI with CVT for my wife's benefit and I have not regretted it. In stop and go city traffic it's great. Pop it in sport mode and it gets quite aggressive. I can shift manually when I feel like it. I've had no trouble at all keeping up with the 5 and 6 speed MINI's on the dozen or so meets and drives I've attended.

All I can say is, if you are considering the CVT, don't let memories of a GM 'slushbox' or impressions of people who have only test driven one sway you too much. It's a whole different beast and you can't really get a grip on it unless you've used it a few thousand miles.

If my MINI had a manual transmission, I'd be just as happy, except when stuck in a crawling traffic jam for a few hours.

 

^ ^ I agree with everything he said.

 

Vive le censor!!
And I'm still not sure why you'd get a car like a MINI with an automatic transmission...but vive le difference!

_________________
http://www.axisofjustice.org

 

Mark,
I applaud you for finally not allowing the CVT bashings to stay on the forum!

I'm sorry I had to go to extremes to get this accomplished.

 

I didn't jump into the earlier discussion 'cause I couldn't follow the complexities. But since we're starting over.....
I have a 5-speed and its really interesting hearing from you all that like it so much having driven lots of other manual transmissions. Makes me feel even better about my MINI. (...as if I need any more encouragement!) Also, for the CVT owners...I'd REALLY like to try driving one...it does sound like fun. I love the idea of different driving modes that you can select based on the type of driving you're doing. Sounds like there are several real strong benefits. I would never have known this...thanks for explaining. Other potential CVT owners will benefit, too. Sounds like you even get to spend more time with that MFSW, too!

 

It's a common misconception that the MINI CVT is strictly automatic. It's not an automatic. It can be if it wants to, or you can shift if you want to....almost exactly like a manual, except without a clutch through 6 gears. The definition of MANUAL is "worked by hand"...which is what you have to do with the steptronic. You must physically shift it in order to change gears if it's in steptronic mode. Just like a 5 speed Cooper or 6 speed S. There is just no clutch.

Automatic is something that does the work for you. Hence there is no such thing as a true MINI automatic. MINI has used a transmission that can BE automatic if you want. Or it has a sport drive. Or it can be manual. We all have manual transmissions if you look at it that way.

I hope this helps clear some stuff up for the people that don't really know what a CVT is or how it works. Sure it's not for everyone, but alot of people love it, too! Myself included. :smile:

 

Re: "There is just no clutch. "

L.Mini

That is exactly how my guy described it! It's not a true automatic. It's not a true manual.

It's the best of both worlds! Ever so clever, eh?

 

Thank you Mark......

I have to say that the CVT is really fun to drive.

I like the Sport mode and the ability to shift. But the thing I really like is when driving in the automode or normal and not really getting on it hard, you do not feel the shifts in the transmission. You are doing 70 before you you know it and you never felt it shift.

It is smooth. I am glad I got the CVT.

 

Can anyone point me to a technical description of the CVT used in the Mini?
A CVT stands for "Constantly Variable Transmission". This means instead of having three, four or five distinct gears ratios, the transmission has the ability to constantly vary the gearing depending on load. In theory the engine should rev to it's optimal rpm for a particular load and stay there throughout acceleration. However, everyone is talking about "shifting" with a CVT and I am curious as to how (and why) this is accomplished.

I am somewhat familiar with the CVT used in Subaru's (late 80's) and Honda's (mid 90's) that were tested as ways to improve fuel efficiency. Evidently they did increase fuel efficiency but few people wanted to buy them because it was odd for the driver not to feel gears shifting...

I'm really interested in this transmission, any info or links would be greatly appreciated!

 

>>Can anyone point me to a technical description of the CVT used in the Mini?
>>A CVT stands for "Constantly Variable Transmission". This means instead of having three, four or five distinct gears ratios, the transmission has the ability to constantly vary the gearing depending on load. In theory the engine should rev to it's optimal rpm for a particular load and stay there throughout acceleration. However, everyone is talking about "shifting" with a CVT and I am curious as to how (and why) this is accomplished.
>>
>>I am somewhat familiar with the CVT used in Subaru's (late 80's) and Honda's (mid 90's) that were tested as ways to improve fuel efficiency. Evidently they did increase fuel efficiency but few people wanted to buy them because it was odd for the driver not to feel gears shifting...
>>
>>I'm really interested in this transmission, any info or links would be greatly appreciated!


It is an interesting trans. It does not really shift in steptronic mode, but simulates shifting I believe google how things work should get you more details. I have driven it, It is deffinatly a step above an auto box. But for me it does not compare to Sports car shifting, even the old 4 speeds give better feel

 

>>It's a common misconception that the MINI CVT is strictly automatic. It's not an automatic. It can be if it wants to, or you can shift if you want to....almost exactly like a manual, except without a clutch through 6 gears. The definition of MANUAL is "worked by hand"...which is what you have to do with the steptronic. You must physically shift it in order to change gears if it's in steptronic mode. Just like a 5 speed Cooper or 6 speed S. There is just no clutch.
>>
>>Automatic is something that does the work for you. Hence there is no such thing as a true MINI automatic. MINI has used a transmission that can BE automatic if you want. Or it has a sport drive. Or it can be manual. We all have manual transmissions if you look at it that way.
>>

L and astro - thanks for the explanations. I had no idea what CVT was all about or what it even stood for. As much as I like my manual, I'd really like to try CVT. Sounds like the CVT has a brain!

 

This whole topic off manual vs automatic definitely gets people emotional sometime almost like Apple computers vs Windows, new MINI vs old Mini, seat up or seat down etc. When we got our MINI my wife did everything she could do in a nice way to get me to purchase the CVT because she could not drive a stick. I insisted that we get the manual because I like to shift the gears it makes you feel more involved in the driving.

She learned to drive the manual in a week and has never looked back, a matter of fact she has told me how glad she is that I insisted because she is having a blast. We just got a 61 MK1 Austin seven with the old magic wand 4 speed and she is driving that like a champ also and was happy she learned on the silky smooth MINI before she tried the vintage trany.

As far as this whole CVT vs manual debate bottom line is this is America where we have freedom of religion and I am sure that freedom extends to choosing the transmission you like best regardless of what other folks think.

 

Csasso is right. In fact, the little-known 28th ammendment states: "Citizens shall have the right to drive the transmission of their choice, even if their choice is wrong."
So it is written...

 

Re: "As far as this whole CVT vs manual debate bottom line is this is America where we have freedom of religion and I am sure that freedom extends to choosing the transmission you like best regardless of what other folks think. "

Cassaeo,

LOL! We worship our MINIs and "worshipping" comes under the Freedom of Religion laws. Indeed, we can all worship what we please!

 

well thank you to all who replied to my post- i test drove the cvt and the 5 speed, and though the 5 speed was a pleasure to shift- quite a difference form my 15 year old toyota- I have opted out of being "one with the road" and ordered the cvt. As someone posted earlier, I too would rather put on lipstick, drink a coffee and drive all at the same time, than have to shift gears in local traffic on my 3 mile ride to work!! :smile:

 

Enjoy the CVT and the comfort of knowing you can multi-task while driving. :smile:

Mahalo,

 

Speedy 57- I support a caffeine habit, and looking good is important, so properly applied lipstick important. But to work on either while one is motoring?? Of course, I don't have any stop-and-go traffic to worry about where I am. If I detect this kind of behavior in anyone around me while they're driving a MINI, I'll know that they have a CVT. How fast is too fast to be going to effectively apply lipstick? Sure hope I don't see any cell phone activity at the same time-talking on the phone while putting on lipstick might be tough- might get lipstick on the phone

 

>>Speedy 57- I support a caffeine habit, and looking good is important, so properly applied lipstick important. But to work on either while one is motoring?? Of course, I don't have any stop-and-go traffic to worry about where I am. If I detect this kind of behavior in anyone around me while they're driving a MINI, I'll know that they have a CVT. How fast is too fast to be going to effectively apply lipstick? Sure hope I don't see any cell phone activity at the same time-talking on the phone while putting on lipstick might be tough- might get lipstick on the phone

 

>>I also manage to comb my hair when stopped at red lights, however I only use a handsfree set while talking on the phone. I have become very adept at not having to look in the rearview while applying lipstick- and maintaining a speed not above 40 is what I recommended for lipstick application :smile:

 

 

>>>>I also manage to comb my hair when stopped at red lights, however I only use a handsfree set while talking on the phone. I have become very adept at not having to look in the rearview while applying lipstick- and maintaining a speed not above 40 is what I recommended for lipstick application :smile:

Thanks for a really good laugh- !!!!!!!

 

Congratulations Speedy!!!! Excellent choice.

Enjoy that CVT and pics are required once you take it home!.