I have never owned a manual car, though my parents always had one when I was growing up. They recently started buying automatic cars because my dad got sick of driving in stop-and-go traffic on I-95 with a manual transmission; his life, he feels, is much easier now that he drives an automatic. My mom secretly still yearns for manual, though.

So when I told my dad that I intended to trade my Subaru for a MINI, and a manual MINI at that, he was stern and told me I'd regret it.

I really want a manual car (as my sig file suggests), but, having never previously owned one, I'm not sure if I will indeed get sick and tired of all the shifting involved. I'd be interested for the very friendly & awesome members of this forum to weigh in on the long-term benefits/drawbacks of stick shift.

FYI: I'll have 2 major driving tasks with this car. On an everyday basis, I'll be driving 16 minutes from home to work (1 way) in mixed rural/urban conditions. Because I will be driving to a large university, a lot of my driving will be on campus, which will be slow, careful driving indeed. And then, 4 times/year, I'll be driving approximately 1,000 miles to go from my midwestern university to the east coast, where I'll spend most of my holidays and part of each summer. So I don't know if that figures into the manual/automatic debate, but I figured it would.

 

If an automobile or truck does not have a manual transmission, neither my wife or I will buy it. It's been this way since we were teenagers. We've had scores of automobiles and motorcycles. The only two that had automatic transmissions were gifts from deceased parents. We gave them away. I've driven bumper to bumper commutes for more than 15 years. In addition to commuting, I drive to many meetings weekly with clients, subcontractors, work sites, and so on. My wife has been doing it for 3 and did it previously for 6. This occurs/occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Get the automobile you want and enjoy it.

 

Go with manual is that is what you want. Unless traffic is LA type traffic a manual should be fine. I have owned a manual in Chicago, LA and now Denver. I would only consider getting an automatic if I were to live in LA again.

 

You can go either way.
The stick 'may' give you 2mpg difference.
I started driving a stick @ 16 and haven't owned an automatic since.
A stick is easy to learn, but...
It's preference for you. There's nothing wrong with an Auto!

 

A lot of complaints about manual point out "how much of a pain" driving stick is in bumper to bumper traffic, but let's not forget the benefits of manual - better fuel efficiency, direct feel, and of course it's cheaper. Plus you'll be able to drive any type of car, you're not restricted by rentals, or situations where you wish you knew how - a couple of my friends (yes, two) had to learn stick the hard way (on the spot designated driver taking home their inebriated buddies ).

Furthermore you become a better driver overall. You stop tailgaiting people because you want to anticipate the traffic ahead of you and be more economical in shifting, be more aware of changing traffic lights, the flow of traffic ahead of you, etc. You become much more aware of proper driving overall for the same reason - as a former auto driver I used to speed with impunity, because all I needed to do was stomp on a pedal. You simply can't do that with a stick. Overall you have a much more direct connection with your car, what it likes/dislikes, it's tendencies, and you become much more aware of your surroundings. I can honestly say I am much less reckless now that I drive manual.

If constant shifting in bumper to bumper traffic is your main reason not to get a stick, then no worries. You should still get a manual, mainly because you'll be in that situation, what, 5-10% of your time driving? On top of that it really isn't too horrible once you get a hang of it. City driving, btw, is not the same as bumper to bumper. Easy peasy - shift out of 1st into 2nd, then maybe 3rd, and cruise. Rural/suburban driving is a non-factor driving stick.

As others have said, the only reason IMO you would choose auto over manual is if you're constantly in stop and go traffic. You're not reaping any benefits from a manual in that case, might as well make it easier for yourself.

 

I really like manual, however practical considerations have resulted in my cars being auto for quite some time. These reasons are: (1) I have chronic achilles tendonitis on both feet and (2) my wife doesn't know how to use a manual. Some may argue that this second reason alone is enough to warrant getting a manual, however I'm a nice guy.

If not for these two reasons, I'd have stayed with manual, regardless of traffic. In your case, your drives don't seem all that demanding in terms of stop and go traffic, so I'd go for it.

Enjoy it! (while you can). You can always get an automatic later if your needs change or you tire of shifting but, as others have mentioned, it becomes "automatic" to you; you don't even think much about it, you just do it. That stage will come after a few hundred miles of driving, then you never look back. Good luck!

 

It really sounds like manual is fine for your needs.

If only heavy traffic urban areas with many hills and short trips with higher resale value and multiple drivers in mind then automatic might do better.

For less cost up front, more fun to drive, more control. better performance and better mpg then manual is good plus you can do a Whalen shift **** and it's really cool. (look it up).

My first car was an automatic, then next three were manual, then for 12 years had only automatics. In 2003 I test drove an MCS with manual for the first time back to shifting in 12 years and it came back to me in about 5 seconds.

My wife knows how to drive manual but refuses to drive my MINI. My kids drive the MINI with pleasure.

 

Hey There,
The last truck I owned was a 13 speed, I had wanted an 18. Every car I have owned in the last 37 years has been a manual, I can't imagine driving anything but.......But what you want may be completly diffrent, remember the Mini does have paddle shifters, for what its worth.

Good luck on your choice,

Larry

 

Hi there.... I had an 02 yellow cooper. I had an automatic... It was a steptronic. I could push the shift to the right... and shift up and down and not use a clutch... I could downshift into corners and slow down with the lower gears. I liked it... but it was very bucky at very low speeds. I sold it in 06. I ordered a new cooper... this time I got a manual transmission. I am 65 and had never driven a stick shift before.... As my son said.. "you will hate it for 3 weeks and then you will love it" Well, I had it...and decided it was time to drive it. My son took me to a parking lot and I tried to do what he said..... twas awful... Taking orders on how to drive was NOT fun. So one day I took it out of town and drove on flat roads to a town about 2 hours away.... no hils (Thank God!).
Okay...now I am used to it... Those who said that you are more in tune with the road are correct! You cannot talk on the phone ... but it is really fun. I do not think I could go back to an automatic.... I still sometimes kill the engine... but not very often. I can even do hills...... Go for it... If I at 65 can learn new tricks... you can too...
Linda H
artmamayellowmini...now it's blue...

 

When I was younger I always had a manual. It really is more fun to drive a manual but I'm way past liking one now. You'll probably reach an age where you'll want an automatic too but that time will come soon enough. I say go for the manual and have a blast!!

 

I know I'm right to get the manual version. But I've always gone to my dad for car advice; I've always trusted him to tell me what to do because I know so little about cars and he knows so much. So it's difficult to go against his wisdom now... but I know that I really do want manual.

We should start a whole new thread about how hard it can be to go against what your dad says is right.

 

Are you buying the car? If so it is your decision. If you want the manual get the manual. Otherwise you will regret it. It's not like he is telling you not to buy a certain car because of problems, it is only a transmission. Hard to give good advice about personal preference.

 

The manual transmission "is like butter."
It's smoother than any I've driven.
You'll be a pro with it in a few hours.
Besides, when you drive a stick, you are "One with the Clubman."

Were you thinking Clubman or Clubman S."
Drive both engine sizes at the dealer, even if it's the Cooper and Cooper S.
That should give a reasonable picture of the acceleration.

 

I've never owned a manual before. I've always driven whatever automatic my parents had parked in the drive way. Never learned stick until I had a to drive a drunk friend home. I finally decided to purchase my very own car and decided on a MCS 2008 manual transmission!!! I would still say I am learning to drive stick. But it is fun. When I test drove the MCS in auto and stick I new I wanted stick.

I commute everyday through downtown LA!!! Bumper to Bumper traffic. I have had my car for 2 weeks. The manual transmission is the only reason I can stay awake in the car in the morning. I enjoy it. It makes the drive more fun. I am still getting use to it but the cooper stick is easier to drive then a honda that's for sure. My main problem right now is the concern I have for what will happen to my car when it is parked on the streets of LA. I've never own a car let a lone a brand new red MCS!!! I stress about getting keyed and people side swiping my mirrors or something more than how the drive is in a manual transmission.

 

Hey, have you posted any photos yet? Congrats on your new MINI Cooper S, even if you are posting on the Clubman forum - it's great to read the excitement in your "voice"! Perhaps you might want to consider invisishield or a "clearbra" for your front bumper and hood, as well as, at least, the back bumper? Are you parked in a bad section of LA? I know it's always a bit scary parking a brand new beautiful MINI...try to pick a place next to some other really nice cars.

P.S. There's nothing quite like a really good standard shift - you're right.

 

Manual all they way, I was going to get a auto, but after driving it , it was boring....The car is best in manual

 

Great post, lots of good points made here.

One thing to note regarding bumper-to-bumper traffic: you don't always have to be creeping forward every 10-15 seconds and then stopping like everyone else. It's okay to let a little gap build in front of you (okay, some people may see that as an opening and hop into it, but whatever) and then get going really slowly and keep rolling for a bit. I find it makes the traffic much more bearable.

I can't see buying a car without a stickshift for quite some time. It makes driving so much more FUN!

 

I drive in bad traffic everyday, but I've never regretted getting a manual. They make driving fun.

 

I'm in a similar situation. Never drove manual, but want one. I drove an auto clubman and liked it, but after driving my dad's little civic in manual, I think the manual is going to be the way to go on my clubman (hopefully being ordered very soon). I live in West LA and deal with plenty of traffic. Leaving Dodger stadium will be a pain, but otherwise I think I will enjoy the manual more and have decided to go for it.

 

If the only reason not to get one is traffic, dont let that stop you. Its all about taking it easy in traffic get to second and just keep a slow constant speed. And plus once you get used to manual you dont even think about it too much

 

Here's my 2cents worth. Until recently I drove 48 miles roundtrip to work, in Phoenix on Highway 60 and I-10 and this is ALL stop and go driving. I did it with a Datsun 260Z with a manual, no big deal, and I now have a MCCs manual on order. An auto would of been easier however you are not as "involved" with the vehicle with an auto.
It boils down to what do you like?

 

I have had both manuals and automatics. My wife has a manual miata that's quite fun, but gets old or makes me drive faster......
My last car was a Acura TSX with sport shift and I used it all the time. Great to be able to shift without the clutch.
I liked it so much that it pushed me to sell my latest (Honda Accord Hybrid) for the MCS automatic. It's fun and very responsive.
You get the best of both worlds!

 

Some new manual transmission drivers might have trouble starting smoothly after being stopped on inclines, but keep in mind that the new MINI has a "hill hold" feature, where the brake remains holding for a couple of seconds after you release it on a hill, gives you time to smoothly work the gas/clutch combination. My 2008 MCS is the first car I've had with the "hill hold" feature and it's a neat feature.

 

I don't get the hill hold thing. Is it because I have been driving for 14 years without having a feature like this? I tried to use it today making myself take my foot off the brake, and I didn't like it. I am almost instant switching on a hill start anyway. Maybe I'm just the Chuck Norris of hill start, I dunno. I tried it once and I doubt I will ever use it again.