If you feel the MCS with automatic and paddle shifters is boring, I kind of feel sorry for you.

Got a pulse ?

 

+1

 

I don't have an "S" just a plain old Cooper. I must say, Now, MINI public, don't take this as an insult, but if it were an automatic, I doubt I'd have bought it.
The 6-speed is the only thing that makes me feel like I can run with common traffic, and I drive it like a wuss so I can still get my 40 MPG.
I know everybody here is in Love with the car. And I really like mine, but I too doubt I'd appreciate it's other qualities near as much without the stick. But I do drive a lot on the highway and on back country roads, I don't sit in traffic. If I did, I would have bought a Prius. (boy, talk about a boring transmission! CVT's SUK!)

 

Well I guess if I don't have a pulse, the "paddles" could be used to get it going again. ugh?

 

Yeah, you could give it a shot.

 

let's go through a list of some cars that utilize paddles (forget about whether or not they're SMG)

BMW M3/4/6 <smg> and the rest of their cars can be optioned with paddles
Ferrari (various) I've seen more paddled Ferrari's than manuals over the past year..
maserati (various)
ur typical F1 race car

Now that I think of it... Porsche is the only manufacture not offering it in the 997 as an option....

Even the new Evo has the DSG (paddles)

the auto trannys they put in these cars are very responsive....DEFINITELY worth checking out

good luck

 

took the words right out of my mouth.

 

i think those cars have paddles cuz they go through the gears like nothing. it would get really annoying to be driving a ferrari and switching gears every 1/4 of a second.

i personally couldnt afford it and always wanted to learn stick. two birds with one stone.

 

"My problem is my wife wants an automatic"

Dude, sorry to hear it. You know, my wife will only drive a standard. She abhors automatics.

 

+1!! That is EXACTLY how it went for me "It's your car hon...get what you want".

She can't drive a stick and said she wouldn't worry about it..she'd drive her Maxima and I could rest easy knowing that she wouldn't be off with the MINI at the mall getting it door dinged.

I hope you can work something out.

 

How 'bout your wife...does she have a sister???????

 

Solve your problem, two new MINIs, one to your specifications, on to hers.

Looks reasonable to me, my wife wants an a MY/MCS but will not give up her Jeep Grand, so I said ok but her Jeep has to park in the driveway.

Solution worked for me, now I have to see if the 09 Cabrios will come in MY. Which is my way of getting something with her MY/MCSc.

 

Get stick and let her pick the color. I don't even care about the color anymore I smile at all Mini Coopers I see.

 

When i ordered my 05 i it was with an automatic.Couple of weeks later on this forum someone had did the same,and a response was ,you should shoot your wife.I asked my wife to look at the response and she said"order the manual if you want like".I did order the manual and last June ordered a 07 automatic which i enjoy.By the, way she will not drive either car,so the 05 is going to be sold.Q

 

uhmmmm.... wasn't OJ was it?

 

nice and simple... the new MCS has the rear brake holding mechanism for hills, if she's a lil scared about manual at all, that'll save her on hills... and i have two friends i talked into mini's and my wife's all about my mini (she asks to drive it more than her altima and i'm usually stuck with her altima :/ ) but i just bought her a cooper S cuz of our BUNDLE OF JOY ON THE WAY!!! :D

anyway, it's totally worth it for the regular mini, no matter what you choose you'll love it! tho if i had to throw my vote in i'd say still go for manual trans, hell my wife's doin it and she's already 3 months in hahahaha

good luck in your choice!

 

Try putting the $1500 cost of the Auto into perspective for her. See if maybe she'd rather spend that on a vacation or something really nice for herself.

 

I personally can't imagine driving a Mini with an automatic. That's just me.

 

I can definately imagine it...everyday when I'm sitting in rush hour and thinking to myself..."just had to have that stick didn't you".

I'd love my Mini either way

 

6 speed owner here, let me just say that the auto is really not that bad if you had to "settle". The clutch release high, throw are long, so it's not like you will missing out on a top notch gearbox (ie s2000).

 

I thought the same thing, past tense.
(That I would hate it)

My wife refuses to drive the manual.

I got the non-S, with sport package, auto.

I can say it all worked out great. It's auto
when you have stop and roll city traffic, but
the paddle shifters are hilarious to drive
as a manual.

You should go test drive one before buying
a civic-like *** box.

 

You burn more calories driving the stick!
It helps you keep the weight off!

The Wife and I both enjoy driving stick. I do agree that an Auto makes sense if you drive in stop and go traffic (freeway) every day and are stuck in jams.

 

Those paddle shifters are just moving automatic gears. I can do that from a any auto transmission. Even the VW automatic clutch is a wet clutch so you have all that fluid inertia to deal with in terms of response and fuel penalty.

Dry clutch or go home. Manual +1

If she is a understanding person you will get a manual and you will buy her 1500 worth of lessons.

 

My Ex-wife said that if I got a Manual transmission on the MINI that she would leave me, I then turned to my right and told the salesman to make sure it was a stick shift.

I don't know if the resale is as easy or as much on an automatic so you might want to check into that.

 

the manual comes with a hill holder if that helps