I wasn't able to test drive them on a MINI, but I did think paddle shifters were a great idea, (F1 Ferrari, and all that) until I test drove a VW GTI. I found them to be boring, on the verge of annoying.

I highly recommend you test drive a MINI with paddle shifters before deciding.

I don't know how the Park system works on MINI auto trans. A very longtime ago this issue was discussed in a high school auto shop class I took. At that time the park mechanism consisted of a pin that dropped into a slot. The danger was, if you parallel parked, and another car bumped your car (the "park by feel" technique) it could sheer off the pin. You might not notice it on the bumper, but you'd be in for expensive transmission work. Slamming it into Park while rolling down a hill could also sheer the pin.

I'd be somewhat surprised if contemporary transmissions still used this primitive a mechanism, but I've been surprised before. It may be that transmissions have overcome the problems listed above, and the warnings you've heard are left over from old technology. Even so, I would think it would still be best to apply the parking break before putting it in Park.

Hopefully, someone with intimate knowledge of the MINI auto trans can clarify the inner worksing of Park.

I find the clutch in my 2007 MCS to be smoother and easier to control than in my 1990 Acura Integra. So, not sure what the Judge doesn't like about it. My previous experience was with a VW Rabbit, and an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. They were not noticeably better than the MCS, although nothing has ever beat the feel of the Alfa shifter.

I could see where long miles of stop-and-go traffic might get tedious with a manual transmission. If it is crawl speed with lots of dead stops for a significant part of the trip, I might choose an auto. If it is just slow speed, but few stops, I'd prefer a manual trans. I commute on the Internet so it wasn't an issue.

I learned to drive on a manual transmission. There was a private dead-end street with speed bumps near us. My Dad took me there and let me learn the clutch before I had a license. My recommendation is to find a very quiet street, or empty parking lot, and just practice starting from stopped with the clutch over and over until it is second nature.

 

I love my automatic. It takes a bit of time to learn how to use its FULL potential, but it is GREAT FUN on any twisty mountain roads.

 

The best part about the Cooper S JCW kit is that you can add it in whenever you want after purchasing. If you decide in a couple of years that you have $2,000 burning a hole in your pocket you can add the JCW kit on.

I am with you - I settled on a 26k build and I'm very happy. Do I wish I got some other options (ipod integration perhaps)? Yeah sometimes I do, but most of the time I just really like the car.

 

I have the automatic. The 6 speed auto is very smooth with what to me is perfect shifting for an automatic. The automatic is made in Japan. As far as the paddles/manual shifting mode goes, I still have my 98' Honda Prelude auto w/selectric manual shifting. Comparing the manual mode to other automatics with manual shifitng - The Volvo C30 shifting is not very responsive. The manual mode does not act fast enough from one gear to another. The MINI paddles and manual stick shift mode are faster but not as precise as the Prelude. Kind of surprising but my 11 year old Prelude has a better manual mode responsiveness. I would rate the 6 speed automatic on the MINI superior to the Volvo and Prelude automatic in the automatic regular driving mode with speeding up or slowing down and it hunting/pecking thru the gears. I do use the paddles when I am approaching a stop light or a turn. If in bumper to bumper, I will sometimes use the stick shift manual mode. I would have bought the manual transmission MINI but my wife does not drive a manual and I gave up trying to teach her many years ago.

 

The clutch is very very vague. My last two MT cars were a 2002 WRX and a 1993 Corrado, and in comparison the MT on the MCS I test drove felt weak and as I said the clutch felt very vague. I really wanted to like it, but as trannys go, I was totally turned off. I'm not the first to complain about this BTW, do a search. Yes the MT has its fans, but most are just MT fans (purists) that have gotten use to the crappy clutch on the cooper, and will sell you on an MT over an AT every time, which is fine, thats one opinon.

My observations are simple, or at least I can make it simple on scales of 1-10 I give the MT on the MCS a 4-5 compared to other MTs I've driven, I give the AT a 9 compared to other ATs I've driven. Obviously if you prefer MTs over AT this shouldn't matter to you, and you cant directly compare the two, but if your equally considering both take it FWIW.

The best advice is to test drive it yourself.

 

I thought the Paddles were unavailable on a JustaCooper..

 

I disagree JudgeS. Clutch feels/operates fine (in my experience). Must've been the car you were test driving. If anything, the throttle at first "feels" vague in non-Sport mode, but it only takes multiple drives to get used to it.

The Aisin is a nice transmission, love the different modes you can put it in, and the paddles make shifting fun. Would recommend in a heartbeat.

Yes, hopefully the OP is getting an S.

 

As you can see below in my signature, I have an '09 JustaCooper with an Automatic transmission. I don't have paddles on my auto. They discontinued them for 2009 on the base cooper, which btw is a little irritating, but I still wouldn't get a manual. I've driven my dad's '05 MCSm and I'm just not confident enough for a manual transmission. I can drive it but I'm more concerned with everyone else's safety than with having a manual transmission. I love my Auto, but I find that it lags in 1st gear a little too much. Once it's out of 1st, it's off like a bottle rocket Test drive it, see what you think, and then decide.

 

You made the right choice for yourself, don't let the MT purists tell you anything different.

If anything, seeing as that a) I'm not tracking my Mini, b) apparently manuals are going the way of the dinosaur and c) I'm not some rich guy who can buy multiple (or a single) exotic cars, maybe I've made the wrong choice in buying a manual.

But ultimately if given the choice there is no way I would voluntarily give up my stick shifter for any automatic. The feel of direct engagement and connectedness to the car is irreplaceable.

 

Did the JCW Stage I kit become available for the MCSa (auto transmission)? Last I heard, it was only available for the manual transmission MCS.

The JCW kit is not the same as the JCW car. The kit is Stage I, and the car is Stage II. Stage II has more power, and quite a few things the kit does not. Some of them are: Different pistons to handle more boost, larger turbo, heavy-duty clutch and transmission, different ECU, different brakes...

You cannot add Stage II to an MCS without pretty much rebuilding the car.

 

I agree. In fact having the Auto in Sport mode and manually shifting is so much better on hills that just the normal Auto. A completely different driving experience.

 

Yes, it's now available for automatics.

 

Auto in the S is really nice especially in traffic...in JustaCooper or JustaClubman...you need 6 speed.

 

They're a $100 option on JustaCoopers in Canada.


BTW - my 2 cents - - OP is a new driver in NYC with a 45 minute commute... Auto trans all the way. I have a manual JustaCooper, I'm a long-time MT driver - but they're not for everyone. Auto is a great alternative in the MINI, it all depends on your driving environment/experience/preference. Get the auto trans, and no regrets.


__________________________________________________ ____

 

My first Mini was a 6 speed and regretted it every time I was stuck in traffic on the way to work and home during the week. I ended up trading it in just to get the auto and I love it! It's fun in its own way with the option to manually shift gears or let do all the work.

 

If a car doesn't have bench seats, there's no point to an automatic because she can't sit close enough to entangle your right arm.

 

I hear ya Beni, I'm stuck in the same traffic as you although I'm not in it during the absolute worst times. I live Mililani and work in town. I catch the morning traffic inbound 8ish and 5:30ish home bound.

Some days my left leg really gets a workout. It's more cardio than mass building . However, I still prefer to have a stick. It's just so much more fun to me to be able to row through the gears using clutch. While it can be really junk while in stop and go traffic every few feet the rest of the time makes it up for it. In moderate traffic I get to shift more without it becoming grueling and it's still fun. At other times like driving around town or the neighborhood I love the shift stick.

The auto has some very real advantages but the physical interaction with the machine trumps them all to me.

 

And where have U been, polishing *****? Pretty near close to a year now (for the 07-08 hatch) and about 7 months for the 09 hatch. Clubman and Cabrio Im not sure about.

Ditto on what Blimey and other auto supporters have said, I love mine. It absolutely wails with tune kit attached, in M, D, whatever.

And the popular use of Stage I/II to delineate JCW mods is a misnomer. You either have a MCS/MCSa with a tune kit (see sig), or a JCW (factory) car.

 

That, and turning wine bottle stoppers, but mostly working on an iPhone app.

There was a post that seemed to be confusing the two, so I thought I'd try to clarify. Stage II is what my dealer was calling it. I think the term originally came from MINI, but yes, it is the factory JCW car, as I said.

 

While the two terms may not be official they work wonders in letting people know you have a JCW and which version. The kit qualifies the car for the JCW name and badge.

Since your sig says nothing about a "kit" your rules would make it seem that you have a factory built JCW (stage 2!).

The only thing that gives it away that you have the kit is the little "a" at the end of MCSa.


heck, maybe someone doesn't know which version I have when they look at my sig. They could easily mistake it since the pic in my sig is of my old S model with 16" rims.

 

MCSa JCW = Mini Cooper S automatic w/JCW Tune Kit. And other little extras.

 

it was a test drive car.. it might have been abused many a times before u rode in it..

the clutch is easy to adjust or even replaced.

the actual TRANSMISSION is very good on the R56 MCS

it's like a swiss clock very precise and yet snicky and feels mechanical


u obviously haven't seen what else is out there

i've driven american cars, that gear changes felt like i was using a wooden spoon in porridge

or requires forarms of popeye to operate (read T-56)

and some cars with hard horrible engagement, finicky syncro's and high rpm shifts always equate to grinding or even miss shifts..


my Mini has a better Tranny than my E39 M5 did...

at least I don't have to warm the tranny oil before 2nd gear becomes engagement friendly

 

dude U used this same MINI-automatic-as-PT Cruiser schtick months ago in another automatic forum. I dont care if y're going to poke fun, my auto JCW regularly bests manuals at the track so I usually get the last laugh, but PLEASE find a new angle, OK? Thank you.

 

You'll love it no matter which transmission you get. I do think an auto might be best for what you're driving in though.

I personally prefer the manual to the auto in MINIs. My 2009 Cooper is a 6-speed, my first manual car, and although I'm not confident enough to drive it around often... I feel a lot more 'in control' of the car than I do with an auto, if that makes sense. The lagging in gear shifting in the auto MINI bothers me, but I guess it's just because I've gotten used to my manual now.

Enjoy~!

 

Hey Bud - same here, the only reason I decided to opt for an Auto is my commute to work. (Sunset blvd can be a pain.) But to tell you the truth (not being biased cause I also have an 07 S manual), I enjoy using the paddles and response isnt too shabby either.

Besides the "fun factor" of owning a manual...i feel i could have gotten more bang for the buck after installing all the performance mods. I'm pushing about 202whp right now on my auto (with Jans Tune)....but think it could have been at least 235 with a manual.

cheers!