Thinking of getting an 08 MC with steptronic transmission. Any thoughts?

 

they're fun :D

 

"Any thoughts?"

Sure I have plenty and you will love it.

 

Any know issues with auto transmission in 07/08 MCs? I heard bad things about auto transmission in 05/06 MCs.

 

Can't comment how reliable the auto trannies are, but I'm driving an 07 auto as a loaner today. If it's not in sports mode it's a dog imo, but push that little green button and the tranny behaves completely different. The tranny was always in the power band when I needed it, and it shifted when I actually felt it should shift. Gotta drive it back to the dealer in a bit and looking forward to the drive. Tons better than the older cvt tranny, bmw got this one right imo.

 

The new transmission is manufactured by AISIN which is 60% owned by Toyota. As far as reliability goes, you could do far, far worse. My previous car had an AISIN automatic (though not the same one that is in the MINI) transmission and I drove it for 9 years with absolutely no problems with the transmission over that 9 years. The car is still going strong too.

Take the plunge! Go steptronic!

 

We've got it on our '07 MCS and love it. Go for it!!!!

 

The most fun I have with my MC coupe is using the paddles on the steering wheel to downshift as I hit curves, make turns, or come to a stop light. And it's even more fun when the S button is pushed, higher revs and torque.

CROC 411

 

Also just had the combo as a loaner and also looking for this combo for my wife's 09 convertible. As above, a dog in drive and a hoot in Sport drive. Messing with the paddles is fun, but not needed while in S. My wife's coming from a WRX and is happy with the scoot.

 

Manual is the only way to go IMHO Drive both and feel the difference

 

GO FOR IT!! We don't use the Steptronic option much, but love the Auto since we commute in heavy PDX Traffic.

 

The 1st Gen MCs used a Continuously Variable Transmission, which theoretically is a great idea, but in practice, there were some issues. The 1st Gen MCSs used a traditional transmission (Aisin), which is now what both the 2nd Gen MC and MCSs have. The Aisin transmission does not have the issues the 1st Gen MCs did, and the paddle shifters are quite fun to boot.

Go for it, I'm sure you'll love it.

Edit: For the record, Liz's 06 R50 CVT hasn't had any problems except a poor seal on the compartment where the electronics for the transmission are. It was allowing moisture in and causing the transmission to go into limp home mode. Once they replaced that seal, there hasn't been a single problem since. 32K miles.

 

Unless I had a good medical or religious reason not to drive a manual tranny, I would never buy a automatic car again...... I love my 6spd.

 

JUST got my clubman s and the automatic is way toooooomuch fun to drive and this car has power,,,,,, torque steers when you stab it but I AM getting use to it,,,,, go for it ,,,,much more relaxing to drive,,,, just sit back and cruse........

 

The Aisin auto is a 6spd too.

 

true. every time I shift, I just cannot believe I am operating a driving machine. I feel thru every gear shift.

 

Nenj do you know how to drive a manual car? If you don't the R56 is very easy to learn how to drive manual. (My brother & I both learned how to drive stick on this car)

 

We got the auto mostly for stop and go, gridlock traffic. That being said, we are on our 5th day of ownership now, and I have never had it in "auto" mode. It's always been in manual mode, and my fingers on the paddles. I LOVE the tranny.

cheers,

Verax

 

Yes I know how to drive a manual. Just that driving a manual is hard in traffic. I hate to shift continously.

 

My first three cars were all sports cars with manual trannys. When I started commuting long distance and sitting in traffic the sticks became a pain in the ***. I bought a VW Passat automatic with Tiptronic and loved it. Got my MC with the 6 Speed Steptronic Auto and really love it. Seems to work well with the new engine. Lots of fun because you can use the paddle shifters, move the gearshift over into M/S mode and row through the gears that way, or just drive it normally in non-sport mode or hit the little sport button and get a little extra boost. Well worth the extra $. Tranny is very smooth too.

 

I have the auto - my Mini is destined to spend most of its life as a city/commuter car, so it made sense to get it. The tranny seems pretty crisp compared to other autos I've driven, though I'll grant that those were in less-than-sporty vehicles.

Regular drive likes to cruise around 1500-1800 rpm. In sport mode it cruises at 2500 or so. Obviously the shift points when accelerating are different too.

Sport mode is fun, however day-to-day I keep the Mini in regular drive mode because of the fuel economy (36 mpg in D vs 29-32 in S). I don't think the inherent difference is all that much; it's more of a psychological thing where I end up driving more aggressively with the car in sport mode.

Being able to "hint" the transmission with a paddle rather than waiting for it to shift in the middle of a maneuver is nice. However if you use the paddle in D or S it will revert to automatic control after a short time (maybe 10 or 15 seconds? I haven't timed it). Usually this works well, but sometimes when climbing a moderate hill I'll downshift to 4th or 3rd, only to have the car decide halfway up that it would really rather be in 5th. In this kind of situation you have to remember to grab the shifter and put it in manual mode rather than just hitting the paddle.

 

I always kick the stick over to the right to engage manual mode. After that, when using the paddles, it does not revert back to drive, it stays manual.

cheers,

Verax

 

Yes! I agree.

Yeah I noticed this the first time I went motoring in the hills. I found than full manual in Sport is great for the hills.

 

its really up too you!

 

They're two different animals!

Love my automatic, and would never go back to stick.