I'm pretty sure the artificial leg comment was a joke.

 

I hope so.

 

I was indeed a joke. Come on guys....having some fun

 

I figured you were joking. This is one of the problems with any open Internet board...it's easy to misunderstand people and it's just as easy to inadvertently offend. I know some drivers who are paralyzed from the waste down, and have had their cars retrofitted to so that they can drive their MINIs and chances are they would not be offended...but one never knows when one doesn't truly know the people who are reading and writing...

On another board, years ago there was a big "discussion" about auto/manual - and it did get pretty emotional because of one person's anti-auto "belief system".

Different types of MINIs for different needs.

Today I drive automatics due to having had a completely torn rotator cuff - now repaired but still that arm is not as strong...but I remember my stick shift days with nostalgia...I'm just glad that MINI makes such a great auto!

So we're back to go with your gut!

 

I started driving at age 14 and now I'm 47. I've never owned an auto, never could see the point of one. The MINI is a car that should have a manual.

 

FlyingZ06, no problem and please accept my apologies.

 

Oh no, not again!

 

I actually agree w/those that say the Clubman should have a manual - if for no other reason than the availability of the LSD. That said - if you had to have an automatic due to commute/SO/disability issues (in my case the SO) then this is one of the best automatics you could possibly own.

Putting it another way - I forewent a GTI/A3 with the DSG transmission in favour of a mini BECAUSE the automatic tranny is THAT good.

To sum up - for 95% of drivers in 95% of all situations - I don't think that the automatic detracts from the MOTORING experience. In a lot of cases - SO/grinding commute/disability - the automatic will enhance the motoring experience.

 

Owning 2 MINIs, one manual and one automatic, really helps put things into perspective. They are both extremely fun cars to drive and neither transmission detracts from the experience.

I am so sorry, but I don't subscribe to the extreme ideologies. "A MINI can only be had with a manual!" is as close minded and ignorant as it gets. Sorry.

 

Let me give you another tid bit of history... Did you know that Sir Alec Issigonis, the "Father" of the original Mini, called the manual transmission a "barbaric stick". Did you know that?

Issigonis in the years prior to his death in 1988, stated that the Mini "of the future" would have a gearless automatic transmission (His vision of an automatic CVT transmission).

So that goes to show that the genius behind the Mini concept was not fond of manuals. He also had extreme beliefs that radios and other "comforts" had no place in a Mini or any car.

Oh My!. What would Sir Issigonis said today of all these loaded up new MINIs with every creature comfort available?

 

When I bought my Passat, one of the considerations was that my wife had developed problems with her left leg. That made it necessary for her to sell her manual Miata, and she couldn't drive my car if she needed to in an emergency. She's mostly better now, but it certainly makes the auto an option for us in the Clubman. For fun to drive and MPGs, I'd go with the manual every time. It's different strokes...

 

My first thought was to get the standard. But, when I looked at my daily commute in stop and go highway traffic, the thought of being a shifting maniac was too much to bear. While the standard offers the most control, better gas mileage, etc., it was not enough to overcome the daily commute. Of course, I ordered an S so I'll at least have full power.

 

It looks like the vast majority say "go with your gut", or, "get what YOU want", and only a few people say "do this" or "do that".

That may not be the most helpful advice in the world, and it makes me wonder if the question even has validity (ie, if you can possibly get any meaningful answer that may help you decide). Actually, upon thinking about it, I think it is a valid question because others' prior experience might actually have some relevance. If anyone is saying "I bought an automatic and I regretted it", or, "I bought an automatic with some trepidation but I actually like it as much as a manual" - if those kind of sentiments crop up, it may show a trend. (doesn't mean it will necessarily be the same with you, of course).

Personally, I think the question is a tradeoff between current pain (waiting) and ongoing regret. I like my Accord but I always had a tinge of regret that it was too big and that I was giving up the pleasure of driving a smaller and nimbler car. Are you affected by regrets, or, having made a decision, do you not look back?

The waiting is quite painful, I admit. It has been six weeks for me. Three weeks before my car sailed, then three weeks on the boat (it arrives in port tomorrow) and now 1-2 (probably 2) weeks until I get it. I am obsessed and that makes it worse. But I think the knowledge that I totally customized the car with exactly my own preferences will provide me with much satisfaction.

Actually, there were only four things I absolutely wanted in my MCS but I could not find a car that had them: 1. LiB color, 2. LSD, 3. DSC, and 4. NO SUNROOF. Believe it or not number 4 was the hardest to find. At any rate, now I will have a car that has those 4 options, and a number of other great options as well. Sirius, HD, Carbon black lounge leather, etc: I'm quite excited by all of this.

Do let us know what you choose.

Tony

 

Wow, using "**** like" in your post above is pretty extreme don't you think and sounds like a personal attack when all folks are doing is posting their opinions.

Moderator (if there is one) - I would suggest closing this thread.

 

I don't know much, and I'm among the newest of the noobs here, but I'm thinking ClubmanS has earned a pass, even if an edit is in order. I knew what the intent was, even if it was blessed with hyperbole. The thread is useful for the collective.

 

Why close the thread? No one is issuing personal attacks. I am simply stating that those who say that a MINI can only be had with a manual are truly being close minded.

 

Wow, everyone on this site seems to be pretty sensitive to something that might possibly offend others but really doesn't offend themselves.

Coming from a forum where 9/10 of your responses includes some sort of flaming, expletives, or threats, this is pretty amusing to me

Everyone act polite but being stubborn will elicit disparaging remarks. In real life it works that way too.

 

It might be a more cut and dried answer if the Clubman was saddled w/some horrible slushbox - think slow-shifting, wrong-footed shifting, hunting, incorrectly geared etc. IMHO - the auto in this one is very very good.

The OP should really just do a test drive of both and make up his own mind. Asking a bunch of bench transmission experts may not be the most effective way to choose this particular option

 

Okay, so I don't have my Clubbie yet, and I ordered a manual. I LOVE driving a stick. My current car is an Audi TT and I learned on it. Previous cars all had automatics. And with that said, I'm second guessing it (in a sorta-kinda not really sort of way). One of the reasons I bought the Mini was becuase it was a fun car for me, and still somewhat pratical for the family of 4 (2 small kids). Lets just say that the Audi TT is NOT a family car (but a REALLY great car otherwise).

My wife's sport ute sucks the gas, and we can now use the Mini to go around town and weekend jaunts to the inlaws. But, my wife does not drive a stick. And WILL not learn to drive a stick. So, anytime she goes to the inlaws without me, she will have to take her car, even though she could take mine and save us $15 bucks in gas. I guess even at $15 per trip, it would take an awful lot of trips to the inlaws to save the $1250 option. And I don't want to go to the inlaws enough to drive her and save $15.

But with that said, I have read only good things about the Mini's automatic. But if I got the automatic, then I would have needed other upgrades to keep me entertained inside without the ability to shift myself. I kinda forgot about the paddles - that could have been fun. I just got bored driving automatics. Never once got tired of driving a manual, but I also am not sitting in interestate traffic everyday.

So what was my point again? Oh yeah - you need to consider if anyone else may be driving your car and what their preference or limitations are too. This is one of those options that you really can't change latter. People say good things about both, so get what makes most sense (and cents) to you. $1250 can buy some other cool options too. I wouldn't have been able to get the sport package if I had gotten the automatic. I wanted more toys, I just needed to keep the price down.

Jon W.

 

If waiting 'til October is possible get a JCW. If not wait 9 weeks for a stick S (but get the LSD). Do not settle for an auto. You will tire of it in 3 days (or less).

I only use the auto or sport auto programs while drinking a coffee. It's not a bad auto because it has enough gears but I always just tell the car what gear I want 98% of the time. I just wouldn't drink coffee during the other 2% if I had a manual.

The auto has a real delay. You have to anticipate shifts. It may be faster than manual but it is too slow. I won't buy another auto until I can get a double clutch (in the car I want).

You sound like you want to wait for a stick either way.

 

Really? Kind of a tasteless way to have fun when there are so many coming back from Iraq with such injuries.

 

This might not be the best thread to post this reply but it certainly isn't off-topic. I learned driving on a manual (couldn't really find automatics in India when I learned driving). When I was getting a MINI, it was a real hard decision to get an automatic over a manual but everytime I run into stop and go traffic, I don't regret my decision (yes, yes I know there are some of you schumachers who relish stop and go traffic even with those manuals out there).

I know that this is a car forum and hence or otherwise, these two examples are gonna sound more ridiculous than I intend them to but that's OK.

First analogy:
I am an amateur photographer (have a 35mm film SLR and a DSLR) and I shoot in Program Mode (automatic) a good amount of the time but I love having the ability to shoot in fully manual mode (where I play with shutter-speed and aperture settings) or shutter priority mode. I also have a compact point and shoot to go along with my two SLRs. I am not a great photographer but I enjoy shooting with my cameras and I *appreciate* good photos regardless of which camera they come from. Some of my best shots have come from an ancient Kodak P&S (DX3700 3.1MP). I don't go around running screaming "Your photos are fake and you aren't a real photographer unless you use a professional SLR in fully manual mode". Also, in my opinion photography is light falling on film (chemical reaction) and how ridiculous does this sound "Your photos aren't real because you use a digital camera - you aren't a real photographer unless you use a 35mm and in manual mode at that". Sounds really dumb doesn't it?

Second Analogy:
This is a bit more technical but everyone in here can use a computer to read a forum online (unless you are reading this through a phone or some of those hybrid devices I cannot afford but you get my drift). I assume most people here use a Windows OS. How does this sound for stupid: "You aren't using a real operating system unless you compile your operating system - everything from the kernel to the User Interface to the applications from source code". That rules out all of you Windows and Mac users and most of you Linux users who do not compile their OS. The more computer literate among you will realise how stupid this sounds.

It's time sticks for brains got off their supposedly elite ground. I know shifting is more fun but that doesn't mean automatics aren't real cars and people who prefer to drive automatics are automatically (excuse the pun) lesser drivers. This post isn't necessarily directed at the tone in this thread; it's really a response to all those dozens of posts on NAM where sticks for brains deride automatic transmissions and the drivers who prefer automatic transmissions.

 

A applaud and appreciate your analogies, very much.

 

unless you drive 2455 miles a month (thats an average of 80+ miles a day) in stop and go traffic, then you will see the light of the automatic!

 

Changing the clutch in the MINI is a 9-10 hour job.