So I've gotten the go ahead from my wife and have the money saved for my first Mini I will order in the next month or so (I'm trying to time it so delivery will occur when the threat of snow is gone). My first two vehicles were stick shift, a 1987 Chevy S10 pickup all manual where you needed Arnold Schwarzeneggar legs to push in the clutch and my next car was a Toyota Tercel also with a hard clutch. I went to my local Mini dealer (Patrick Mini in Schaumburg Illinois) but they did not have a manual available for a test drive at the time. I once drove a Mercedez where the clutch was very smooth and almost feather light. So my questions are these

1. Is the clutch on the Mini relatively easy/smooth to use while shifting?

2. Is there much difference in the feel of the vehicle between driving a manual just a cooper / cooper s / and clubman?

I appreciate any suggestions/comments.

 

I can only address the first question, and my answer is subjective. I feel the MINI clutch is quite smooth/easy, but that would be something you would almost have to try for yourself to see if YOU think it's smooth.

 

Only manual MINI's I've driven have been S's (and one had an aftermarket clutch). In my experience with other cars/clutches though I think you'll find the MINI is a happy medium, once you get used to it and the clutch gets broken in that is.

After 15k miles I've just now gotten used to my MINI's clutch. Initially there is hardly any resistance but once the clutch actually begins to engage there is a light but definite pressure. It engages for me probably about a quarter of the way down.

Good luck and congrats on getting a new MINI.

 

A smooth and easy process and I have a bum left leg

 

cool, I figure there will be some resistance but on my chevy pickup it was almost insane where you felt like you were at the gym while using the clutch, same with the Toyota and I'm big guy so I know it wasn't just wimpy legs.

If anyone knows if there is any difference in feel between driving a manual cooper and clubman I would love to know because I'm still debating whether to order a Pepper white with redwood red just a cooper or chocolate brown with brown leather interior clubman.... Doh!!! the curse of so many options to choose from (Not complaining)

The wife (Warden) wants me to get an automatic because she can't drive stick but I explained to her that she can always learn to drive stick and she has only driven my car once in eight years so that's just looney toons. Besides when I surprise her with her new mini this summer it will be automatic.

 

I've driven nothing but a Tercel for the last 17 years. I just got my 09 MC and found the transition rather smooth. Didn't test drive anything else because only the MC was in my price range. It was a bit hard getting used to at first until it got broken in (about 300-400 miles). The clutch is much nicer than the Tercel. I really don't think you'll have a problem. I'm loving it.

 

I have always had almost exclusively manual transmission cars, and I think the MINI's have one of the easiest clutch/shifter combos on the market. Great for a newcomer or someone who's a bit rusty. Being that the drivetrains are the same in S's and Clubmans, I would speculate that there should be no difference in their clutch "feels."

 

Thanks, I switched to automatic when I bought my Honda eight years ago but now I have the manual bug again so I appreciate all your comments

 

I learnt to drive on VW Dasher Station Wagon with 4 speed manual, and been driving manual (except Minivan when my daughter was born ) ever since. I think Mini's manual transmission & clutch are THE easiest I have encountered thus far. Very soft & forgiving but without loosing the "feeling" like Japanese clutches generally do, if you know what I mean.

 

Definitely better than the '63 VW Bug I learned on.

 

I've got a "Justa Cooper" and the manual 6-speed is a breeze. Sorry, but I cannot compare it to a manually-driven Cooper S, as I've never driven one.

The clutch in my MINI is very forgiving and smooth as butter.

I find the hill start assist feature extremely helpful, especially in San Francisco!

 

 

Not a lot of difference between a Cooper and an S of the same generation. There's a lot of difference between an R53 and an R56, I just couldn't get used to that (so we got another R56).
I would assume that's there's hardly any difference between an R56 Cooper and a Clubman, they're basically the same front end. I've never driven a Clubman though.

 

I test drove a Clubman and just took delivery of a justa Cooper, both manuals. There was several weeks in between my driving the two, but I'd say no discernable difference. They are an easy manual to drive.

 

TWO WORDS FOR YOU..."TEST DRIVE: You can't base your decision on what another thinks when its going to be your car. If you haven't noticed everyone will have a diffrent opinion. You really should take a good drive in each car your interested in...cheap insurence later on down the road or you will find yourself say....I should of gotten the ___________. Good luck.

 

I test-drove both an '07 Cooper and a CooperS (also at Patrick MINI -- good dealer) and had nothing but manuals for 35 years: rating them in ascending order, my two Chevys had not-so-smooth clutches, the Mazda truck and the 626 were a little better, then would come the MINIs, and my '03 Subaru Outback probably the smoothest AND shortest-throw shift/clutch combo. My brother's '98 Miata would go just after that list; it's almost a joystick -- not as much arm movement as, well, wrist -- and a very soft clutch.

I felt no memorable diff between the MC and the MCS clutches ... but then I was too busy grinning like an IDIOT once I tried the 6sp --

PS: besides giving you more zip, "sport mode ON" in the MCS makes the clutch-pedal even more forgiving of first-time-manual drivers because they don't have to feather the gas pedal as much ... just a thought

 

very easy car to drive stick in

 

That's a little disappointing for such a nice new dealership. They have dozens of manuals available on their website, and I'm surprised they didn't drop what they were doing to offer a test drive. Were they especially busy?
As others have said, pretty much all MINIs are fairly smooth, the 07+ in particular. If you're looking for lightness and smoothness you'll probably be very happy with the newer cars; they make excellent commuting cars. I always find it amusing when somebody complains about the traffic on their way to work and the feeling their left foot is going to fall off, to which I've never experienced that sensation in my MINi except after visiting the gym. Everybody has their own opinion, but personally I find the clutch feel of the 07+ to be too light and devoid of feeling, which is the main reason I bought an 06 instead of an 07 and is why Ian Cull "returned" the R56 he bought after two months. Compared to Hondas I've driven which tend to be the benchmark of buttery-smoothness, it's not quite as smooth but not far off either. Besides the clutch, the shifting action is also very smooth (and requires a lot less effort than the older pre-07s) and just a bit notchy in the BMW-style.
The transmission in the cooper and clubman with the same engine is essentially the same. It's been a while since I've driven a non-S manual but I can't recall a noticeable difference.

 

Thanks for the input LOVE THE CORNERS, as a quick answer: Patrick Mini does have sticks to test drive but the waiting line to test drive one was 1 hr plus and I had a three year old with me which doesn't equal a calm relaxed mini experience (I should have clarified that one earlier). Also, you'll never hear me complain about traffic on my way to work 'cause i'm one mile from work with zero stoplights (Sweet) and because of that I rarely drive more than 5,000 a year which is why I'm leaning to the Just A Cooper side.

Hey WANNAB DRIVIN do you have any more pics of your car, its the same configuration as the one I plan on buying my wife this summer

 

Dude, I'm totally serious! I've benefited from it on numerous occasions. No frayed nerves or fender benders, thankfully.

I nearly fried the clutch in my '05 Mustang GT on the hills of SF, so I was a little leery about driving the MINI into the city. I thought I might damage the car (clutch and/or brakes), but that hill start feature really laid my fears to rest. It gives you ample time to take your foot off the brake and apply it to the gas while letting up on the clutch. In no time at all, I was LOOKING for hills on which to stop and try it out!

I hear Subaru brought it to market and that others have copied it. I think it's a GREAT feature! Every manually-equipped car should have it.

 

My drivers license having expired while I was drafted, I had to take a Drivers Test in San Francisco in 1967.

(for the previous 16 months, my driving had been limited to jeeps and ambulances through jungle mud and sand)

I had to hire a driving school's auto for this and they brought a Studebaker.

From at least 1947 until the end (mid '60s) all manual transmission Studebakers came with "HILL HOLD"

This was just a simple valve which held brake pressure as long as clutch was depressed.

This feature was much appreciated on that driving test

 

Happy to share! Let me know if you want to see something specific.

 

First...that is amazing. Second...I've driven lots of MINIs (and own two) and they have all been a delight in the shifting department.

 

My EU MCS took some getting used to. It has a very jumpy clutch from what I was used to ie. Skoda Fabia but after I got used to it and it's quite smooth

 

My dealer didn't have a manual for about three weeks, either. I had to keep calling him and check the online inventory for one to show up. They always had at least twenty automatics for sale, though.