It's been interesting reading through theses posts as my Mini that just got built will have the auto. It will be strange after 30 years not to have my left leg doing anything while driving. For those who have driven a lot in manual mode did you have the tendency at first to want to ease up on the throttle when shifting?

 

Here is my $.02. We had an '07 LY MCa as a loaner for a day and I did not like it. From a stand, it shifted from 1st to 2nd WAY EARLY and just didn't want to move. Through the rest of the gears, it was ok. We did not try the paddles though. Oh, the Sport button was on.

Am I an automatic kind of guy..... No, but I figured I would say a little something.

 

Compared to the manual, LAUNCH is the worst part of the auto, to be sure... there's a lot more "stuff" to get moving, and it tends to show worst there - but doing it 1000 times in 2 hours while sitting in bumper-to-bumper makes me appreciate it a little more vs. 2000+ clutchings... but the manual will definitely feel more like it wants to "go" in 1st and 2nd - no argument there.

In my experience, it took me a couple of weeks to really get used to the nuances of the different modes and effect of throttle, RPM, incline, etc. on how it shifts in the auto modes. The paddles took a little getting used to, also - but running it in auto mode with the paddles is SUBLIME, IMHO...

 

Motoringfile posted a review of the MCS automatic today by Autoweek. Autoweek's review is not complementary. Use the link below and read it for yourself. I do not agree with Autoweek's opinion. I found the automatic to be quite good and subsequently purchased a 2007 MCSa.

http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/08/...cooper-s-auto/

 

That wasn't even a review, don't know what that was... pretty lame.

 

I adore my auto-manual, and am really REALLY enjoying learning how to use the shifters as well as the stick itself. My next MINI will likely have a clutch, but this is a great in-between while I still drive almost exclusively in traffic-filled cities.

 

Agreed, Autoweek's blurb hardly qualifies as even a decent NAM post, much less a review. This: says a lot about where the reviewer's head is.

 

It sure does.. right up his ****.. (putting it in proper British terminology).

 

Heh, heh... some guys will just never give up their buggy whips in favor of technology... even though an auto with a GOOD manual mode is the best of both worlds, and WAY more flexible (and practical) than an old fashioned manual for a street car... even a "sporty" one that's driven "enthusiastically"...