Title says it all. I already know there is a strong bias among most car enthusiasts (not just Mini owners) against automatic transmissions, and I fall into that camp. I really want to hear from folks who actually own the -new- '07 agitronic, coming from previously all-manual experience.

Thanks,
Pasta

 

I haven't had mine for long, but am loving it so far. The manual was not an option for me because of the wife, but had I driven the auto before deciding (I had only test drove manuals), I would have went with it anyway. It's unlike any auto I've ever driven. THREE options for shifting (full auto, stick, or flippers)!!! My only gripe is that one of flippers should be downshift and one upshift, as opposed to both doing both. It's very smooth, seems to shift at the right times... I just really like it. Hope that helps!

 

Here is my take--40 yr gear rower incl currently owing a 6 speed stick high perf sports car. If I had my choice, my MCS would be stick shift BUT I did not have a choice. My wife wanted to use the car and she has put up with a ton of car BS with me. I got HER the auto.

That said..this is the best automatic I have yet encountered shy of a test ride in a VW with DSG.

I have no problem with the auto MINI at all. Its quick..shifts instantaneously
and is smooth. I prefer it in full manual mode where I can make the decisions. I mostly shift with the gear lever (again old habits) but am starting to use the steering wheel buttons more and more.
Some of the full auto mode decisions are not smooth and can upset the chassis balance for cornering.

Ps I also think it has a different software setup than the pre R56 cars---I did not care for that auto as much. However, it was a short test drive and it took me a few days to find my rhythm with the R56 Agitronic.

 

Pasta-

Let me take a stab at it. I come from manual transmitions from my first 1992 Honda Civic followed by Audi A4's...

Although I do miss the Manual when I am feeling like opening it up, the auto is a nice compromise. I told myself that 10 years plus of driving manuals was enough in the city; it was no longer a pleasure but a burden.

Automatic Transmitons have really come a long way, and this Autobox in the Mini is one of the best I have used. Not only can you pick shift points, but I can press the sport button, and leave it in sport mode. Most importantly, my wife can drive it; the reason why I even have it.

If I lived in the mountains, maybe I would have negotiated for it. But now that I am settled in city, a little older (35 yr) , I can say that I am glad I had my fun with my previous manuals, but these new Auto boxes are fantastic.

 

My MCS is the first car-for-my-personal use that I purposely bought in an automatic in 30 years. And I came out of my 528 sport / 5 speed to do so.

I absolutely love this autobox. It's adds tons more fun to what is already a fun car to drive.

You really need to drive one yourself and see what some of us are talking about.

 

Its surpising me. Its WAAAY better than the CVT but I am actually liking it alot. Still like the control of a clutch but this trans changes gears quickly. I have read reports that the auto is quicker in the 1/4 mile. No chance to test those comments yet. Hopefully I can try my friend's cars soon and see what the butt dyno thinks. From my past experiences, its pretty rare for any version for the same car with a stick shift to not feel faster than its automatic counterpart.

Not sure on the difference in gas mileage vs. the stick. My 2 friends with stick shift MCSs get the same mileage I am getting ( 27.5). My car has a few more miles so that may have something to do with the lack of difference.

 

Thanks all. I think I just might get it, but will confirm with a test-drive tonight. Yes, the MPG hit was a concern - good to hear the effect may be negligible. The specs say 2 MPG less than manual (27 city, 34 hwy).

 

make sure you use the sport button and/or m/s position of the gear shift( tap toward driver) for the auto. To equalize things, use the sport button on the manual even if it does not effect shift points.

 

The sticker on my MCSa was 26/33. I've only really driven it intown so far with the exception of my trip home from picking it up but i'm getting about 27 in the city with about 550 miles total on it.

I too got the MCSa for the sake of my wife. I don't regret it at all. It is kind of nice not to have to worry about shifting anymore, yet still retain the option for shifting manually. This is the first automatic I've had in 25 years, I'm not disappointed at all.

 

I got the MCSa for me. And I generally hate autos in sporty cars. We own 3 MGs with four speeds, a Corvette with a manual 6, and a Jag E-type with a 4. The only other auto tranny in the fleet until now is a 3/4 ton diesel pickup.

The MCSa is my commute-to-work car. I'd rather it be a manual, but I'd shoot myself if I had to drive a manual shift car through Houston traffic on a daily basis. So a compromise was necessary.

I orginally pined for a VW GTI with DSG (though wife thought them ugly). Then I test drove the MCSa and the GTI DSG back-to-back one day. The VW transmission was marginally better than the MCSa, but not appreciably so. I was quite impressed with the ability of the torque-drive MCSa's Aisin tranny to compete with the much-ballyhooed DSG. I settled on the MSCa because the transmission wasn't that much different and I thought the MSCa to be more fun and certainly a better handling car than the VW. It also fits in well with the other British machinery in the garage (the Corvette was my wife's idea and her primary transport).

Now that I've driven the car for a few weeks I can say I'm very happy with the auto. It isn't a manual shift and there is no getting around the manual shift experience, especially on the track. But the car is still plenty fun to drive and you have lots of options for playing around. I haven't used the Sport mode much, yet, as it is still breaking in, but I think the Sport mode is what made the MCSa for me vs. the GTI DSG in the test drive. The standard mode is OK for the commute and responds pretty well, but the Sport mode really brings the car alive.

The only complaint I have is the golf cart takeoff in standard mode from a dead stop. You put your foot down and the car hesitates and then squirts forward. Like some golf carts. I think this is because the car takes off from second gear and it bogs a bit, much like it would if you were to try to take off in a higher gear with a manual shift car. This aspect goes away if I downshift manually to first or if the car is in Sport.

 

Not an R56 owner - but a very happy 2006 owner with the Aisin auto. LOVE it. Mine is a daily driver, and while the stick would be fun in a weekend car, it's wonderful to be able to let the car worry about shifting when in traffic or on a long highway trip... on the mountain twisties (read: Dragon) I personally believe using the auto in manual mode with the paddles is an advantage over the manual tranny cars - lets you shift effortlessly in all kinds of twisty situations while keeping two hands on the wheel...

If I were going to track it, I'd want the manual. But as a fun street car, the auto rocks.

 

What he said.. No issues for me as well. I have two bad knees, and commuting with a stick is a no-go. I'm really liking the auto - more each time I drive it.

If I were young, and had good sticks, I'd probably opt for the manual.

Or maybe not..

 

We got the auto for my wife (it's her car). This is by far the best auto I have driven next to the Audi A3 DSG tranny (think its same as GTI mentioned above). It's also way better than the auto in my BMW, but it's not a SMG. I like to row the gears, I also have an S2000. But the wife doesn't drive stick and I didn't want to teach her.

In full auto mode it's pretty lame, starts in 2nd, normal shift points, need to gas quite a bit to get it to downshift. Slide the shifter over and the shift points are quicker. Slap the sport button and now we're talking. The shifts are fast, at the right rpm, downshifts are quick. It's a ton of fun. Wife? She never gets out of full auto mode...

 

I'm really liking my new car with the AT.
Related reading:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=96638
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=110579
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=105153
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=106704
http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-f...on-agreed.html

 

The current fleet has 4 versions of "Auto" tranny's, and the MCSa is the best with a torque converter.

* It's better at selecting and shifting than our 07 911 tippy.
* Its smoother than the Cayenne TT tippy and doesn't hunt for gears, and the downshifts are quicker and do not require full throttle "kick-downs"
* The paddle shifts are better than either of the Porsche's. More intuitive, and better placed, better function in slow corners (such as 1st to 2nd shifts)
* In sport mode when combined with full auto mode, it seems a bit confused, I think it tries too hard to know what you're thinking.
* In manual Sport mode, it is a delight, and I use the paddles all the time. (My fav mode)
* Much better than the M3 SMG I had last year ( (true clutch with an electro-hydraulic activation)
* Still a very distant 2nd to the Ferrari 360 F1 which is simply a pleasure to drive with the paddles. (also a 6 speed dry clutch with electro-hydraulic activation) Ferrari's method of right-paddle-up and left-paddle-down works so well because the paddles stay in one position relative to the steering column. All others rotate with the wheel which adds confusion and difficulty to normal driving. (The F-car sucks in Auto mode it always is lugging the engine and seems perpetually in one or two gears too high) That said it is never driven in auto mode.

Overall the best "full automatic" ive ever driven. And the wifey likes it too!

 

So how many of us have the AT because of significant others? Are there any ladies out there who got the AT because their hubbies wanted it?!?

 

Put me in the compromise with SO group BUT I still like this auto.

At heart--I am a gear rower. Can't always get your way.

 

I've since taken two test drives, and decided to just take a leap of faith that I will get used to the full manual mode. It's really hard to shed 30 years of muscle memory during a short drive, espcecially when not yet acclimated to everything else in the car. But even in that short time, I felt myself starting to adapt. I have no doubt it will take at least a few weeks to become one with the agitronic. I'm actually looking forward to learning something new, and being able to skip manual shifting after a long day at work, sitting in traffic. And yes, my wife will love me just a wee bit more.

Thanks everyone!
Pasta

ps I just put down the deposit for a 2007 MCSa. (hold me)

 

TRUST ME---you will learn to adapt to full manual and can use full auto when needed. I have been driving stick for 42 years and still DO on my other car which I use about 40% of the time during the summer. You will be FINE...congrats...

final specs???

 

You did good.

I love my agitronic in the MINI, I use both the paddles (most of the time) and the floor shift when it's needed on a hard right/left turn and the paddle is not within reach. It is a pleasure and boy was it fun at MITM this past 4 days in the mountains. Can you say snick, snick, snick at 11000 feet and 6K rpm. What a blast.

 

You name it, I pretty much got it. Main things I did not get were the sport suspension, 17" wheels (will be replacing wheels with black ones), alarm, HDRadio & Sirius. Aesthetics: Mellow Yellow, black top, black lounge leather, interior chrome line (but not exterior chrome), wood + cream color line, JCW Aero Kit (to be installed in port).

Got a serious case of the 'omg, what did i just do' ******* though, mostly because of the ungodly price all that adds up to. Motivates me more to sell my current ride for best price possible. The MA said I have a day or so before it's too late to make changes.

 

awesome...leave it as is...first guess, best guess. Don't suffer from paralyis by analysis...

 

++1 on emtrey's comment. Nice set of specifications, the MY looks great with black wheels. See Andyde's gallery for a picture of his MINI.

 

[QUOTE=pastabatman;1692512]You name it, I pretty much got it. Main things I did not get were the sport suspension, 17" wheels (will be replacing wheels with black ones), alarm, HDRadio & Sirius. Aesthetics: Mellow Yellow, black top, black lounge leather, interior chrome line (but not exterior chrome), wood + cream color line, JCW Aero Kit (to be installed in port).

Great package! I was a little skeptical about the black wheels before I ordered them but I'm glad I did... it really completes me.

Don, I sent you a PM back on the wheel info you wanted.

 

Actually he didn't want it but needed for medical reasons. And I decided that even though it was my car it would save (or delay) another 30k investment since we just missed the 2-4-1 sale at the dealership It did feel strange on the test drive without the clutch (hence my thread RE use of left foot https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=109869 )

I am really happy to learn that my concession wont be that painful (but don't tell hubby ) Now if we could only get that car !!:impatient :impatient :impatient