Information please. . . Does the automatic transmission get as good of gas mileage as the manual when used as a manual.

 

nope

 

Cooper shows 28/37mpg with manual, 26/34mpg with automatic on miniusa.com

 

Maybe because people with manuals are just more in tune with their car? I drive a manual and I get about 23 in city

 

As good as the automatics are getting, a clutch is just more efficient at power transfer, and usually geared slightly better, which is why they get better mileage.

 

The automatic is still a conventional slush box auto.......with the advantage that you have "manual" mode to shift gears yourself.

 

There is more friction loss in an automatic transmission wether you tell it when to shift or not.

The lower friction losses in a manual transmission generally lead to better fuel economy than an automatic transmission. Also, an automatic transmission is heavier than a manual transmission.

 

Depends what type of driving you are tuned to. I love my MCa for its ease of use and comfort. I get 32-34mpg mixed driving.

 

+1 (for the general case -- I've not driven a MC vs. a MCa to compare). The way *I* drive manual vehicles, I seriously doubt that I get improved mileage vs. other less-enthusiastic automatic drivers.

But the numbers quoted by BMW indicate that there is an expectation for about 5-10% better mileage in the manual vs. the automatic.

~Neal

 

I'm getting 27.4 mostly in-town driving with my MCSa. Very pleased with that

My former '05 MCS manual gave me around 29.

 

I feel the need to point out that 'I' drive rather 'spirited', thus my bad gas millage.

 

You're also comparing apples to oranges--you have the first gen engine, and we in this forum have the second, more efficient Prince engine. I get 33 in my S, both city and highway also "spirited"...

 

Yes,
manual or auto, it depends largely on your driving habits. If you are not constantly stuck in traffic, manual is more fun. However, some hardcore enthusiasts here say manual no matter what.

 

I agonized over the order on my MC, manual or automatic. Actually ordered automatic, then when I had to reorder (MFSW problem) I switched to manual. What drove me to the manual was the 3 mpg difference (almost 10%) efficiency increase with the manual. When I placed the first order mpg figures were not out, but when they came out and i had to reorder, I switched. Glad I did, the fun factor with the manual is much better, and I feel more in control. On my CR-V, an automatic is fine, but not on the mini. Also the mpg penalty for an automatic doesn't seem to exist in mpg figures for Honda.

 

Assuming that you drive in the same fashion with both (i.e. same take off speed, same cruising speed, same cornering speed, etc.), you will always get better mileage with a manual as opposed to an automatic.

Less weight and better energy transfer are the two biggest contributors.

As a side benefit, you not only get better mileage, but you also get better performance, and if something does go wrong down the road, cheaper repair bills!

 

One disadvantage of the manual transmission is that if you're in stop and go you could get a sore ball of your clutch foot. That's why I got an automatic. I love the manual shift function, it's just as good for me.

 

Sorry i use the 'new posts' and don't always realise i'm in the second gen forums.

 

keep in mind that you cant compare different driving styles to get the mileage numbers... as topgunner said, you have to hold driving style constant to see the difference between manual and auto. The biggest factor autos get worse mileage is because of the way it transfers the power from the engine to the wheels... with an auto, the power transfer is via a torque converter, which although works well, is not as efficient as the standard mechanical clutch.

 

I got the MCSa because 1. I've never driven a manual full-time before (I'd learned, but never owned a manual) and 2. the winters around here are pretty nasty and a fellow MCSm owner told me she had a hard time going on the snow & ice because she couldn't really "ease" onto the gas the way she can an automatic.
Whether it effects gas mileage that much doesn't bother me because I figure anything over 30 mpg is pretty good compared to 95% of the vehicles around. My overall average after 4100+ miles is 32/33 mpg. Not bad, really.

 

I'm a little surprised at your comments about automatics handling snow. It's been my experience (from St. Louis living) that a manual transmission gives you more control--you can "work" the snow better. Just like on a skid pad. Have you ever tried one?

 

S auto at 29-32 mpg city driving, lower number means more spirited driving...

Highway mileage will be higher...

 

I don't know from personal experience, no. Like I said, these were comments of a fellow owner here in town.
I felt more comfortable getting something that I was familiar with (not to mention, even after driving a manual--as much fun as they are--I prefer to just drive and not have to really "pay attention" to the car itself, if that makes sense) rather than buying something that didn't do mountain winters well and end up not liking it.

 

I've always thought that overall a manual in snow was much better and easier to control. In really bad icing conditions you can even start in 2nd and get moving where an automatic would be spinning away!!

 

I've never driven a manual in the snow but must say I was QUITE impressed with how well my MCSa handled our first major snow (+3 inches) today. Except for when you're in sport mode it starts off in 2nd gear as well. Also it's really good with engine braking which helps quite a lot.

 

I, too, have been very happy with how the MINI has handled in the snow. We got studded tires put on and even with the sloppy roads around here I feel very comfortable driving among the big SUV's and 4x4 trucks.