Just had a loaner '11 Clubman S for a day. This is the first time I've been inside an '11. I remember when they were in the pipeline - we heard tales of "higher quality materials" in the interior, which had been widely criticized in the earlier years. Also we'd seen pictures showing that the silver bits on the dash and steering wheel were being replaced with black, which was getting a huge thumbs up.

I'd ASSumed that Mini had followed through on the "higher quality materials" promise, but today it became clear they didn't do squat. The Clubman had the same embarrassingly cheesy mouse fur headliner that would be right at home in a mid-90s Ford Escort, the same glossy, cheap hard plastics on places such as the A-pillars and the speedo surround, the same thin, crummy vinyl boots on the shifter and handbrake, the incredibly cheapo plastic sun visors, etc etc etc. There was NO sign that any of it was upgraded. And the new black stuff? Gloss black trim ring on the steering wheel center, matte black (with a rough surface even) around the tach, matte silver around the vents and speakers, and chrome around the climate control ****. WTH? Overall I didn't like all the new black controls - there was no contrast and the entire dash and wheel were just a sea of "dark", especially with dark grey color line trim this car had.

Mini: c'mon, some of this stuff is pure crap. Where's the promised upgraded materials? BMW interiors have gone downhill in recent years too, no doubt not just coincidentally. It's a bad place to cut costs IMHO.

 

And don't even get me started about the auto tranny. It was horrendous. Completely ruins the Mini experience IMHO.

 

Depending on how you spec the interior it can look almost ritzy or bargain-basement. Unfortunately, most are specced poorly, IMO. I'd say you have high expectations due to how your '10 is built (I love your choices BTW).

The '11 interior changes were great but looks like it was hyped a bit much.

 

I guess beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. I really like the interior of my 2011 MCS. It's just the standard no frills kind with genuine imitation leather seats. It's not quite up to the feel and finish on that of my old 2001 330i, but I'm not disappointed.

 

I think the interior upgrades were over hyped but there was an improvement. I like the interior with the chrome line... even better with the JCW Chili Red bits. But that is my opinion.

I guess if the interior is not up to your standards, and if it is a deal breaker, you should not buy another MINI.

The auto tranny is awful IMO - it is in dire needs of an update for a car in this price range. Even worse in a justa Cooper without the sport button.

 

I have a 2012 and can say that after reading this forum for 5 years, that complaints like this are way off base. Aside from the flimsy sun visors, the interior is solid as a rock. The anthracite headliner is gorgeous. And maybe its because of the JCW tuning kit, but the auto tranny exceeds my expectations. Its a shame that the auto is a target for so much nonsensical griping, because those people are simply dead wrong at best.
J

 

+1 on the auto being the target of criticism...actually growing pretty tired of it. The auto has way more to offer than most realize. But, they always seem to be targeted by the manual guys.

Sure, when I first started driving the auto, I didn't see everything there was to offer out of the tranny, thought it was just another auto that blows when in drive. Only after owning it awhile and getting to know the finer details, did I realize how good it really was.

I'll run it against any manual tranny, anywhere they wanna go and do (that's right, I said it).

 

I'm a manual guy, but I drove a Clubbie S auto as a loaner and it was a lot more fun than I anticipated. I was impressed. I also had a Justa auto loaner and it was awful. I think with the S, the auto is a blast but the Justa really needs a stick shift to bring it to life. Just my two cents.

I do agree that the endless auto vs. manual debate needs to die though. It's just personal preference. Drive what you want!

 

Several of you missed my point - that the "upgraded materials" for 2011 were a no-show, and there are several items that are shamefully low-rent - especially the headliner, which I probably complimented by saying it was from a '90s Escort - it's more like an '87 Yugo.

Overall, I like the interiors of these cars. I just don't like to see Mini blowing smoke when promising upgrades that don't materialize, especially when the things we though were getting upgraded - some of the cheap hard plastics for instance - really needed it.

As for the auto tranny, it was just bad, no matter what your preference is of auto vs manual. It hunted for gears when downshifting while decelerating and was lurchy.

 

Totally wrong about the auto. Amazing at my recent MITM event. Put it in manual and worked those paddles! A pickup truck got in the procession and separated another 15 cars from the lead pack. He finally turned off and it was time to haul. Great curvy-hilly road. Could only see one car behind me and we eventually caught up. At the rest stop I asked if I had held up the guy behind me ( stick S vert ). He replied there were several times I flat out left him - he was in the wrong gear. That's the beauty of the paddles, foot on the gas, hands on the wheel and simple finger flinches to change gears. BTW this is an ALL4 Countryman. Around town I stay in the "auto" mode.
Just so you know I have 20 + years of auto-x experience with many class championships & was the 2002 SCCA MID-DIV STX champion with my Integra Type R. So the driving skills are there and think I can determine how good the auto trans is.

 

I'm a bit confused how this makes a logical argument for the Mini's auto trans? You clearly stated that the reason you "flat out left him" was because he was in the wrong gear...that's complete driver error.

My sister had an MCSa a couple years back, and to be honest, it wasn't all that bad. I'm very much a manual guy, to be honest you learn way more about your car that way and have an easier time putting your engine where it really needs to be. I haven't driven an automatic Mini in a couple years, but if it's anything like the new auto trans on the BMW's...it's terrible. It's way too electronic and it holds the gears way too long under full acceleration. It will hold 1st gear at redline for too long and cause the engine to over-rev and lose speed. Manual transmission in the BMW's are way more responsive and you don't have to "ask" the car to accelerate. (what I mean is that there is a long wait time if you put the pedal to the floor until the BMW's actually move any faster...sort of like you're asking permission)

Someone can fill me in about the Auto mini's if they do the same.


Now on topic... regarding the interiors. I was recently in a 2012 Coupe and the interior felt perfectly fitting for a Mini. You're not buying a luxury car (if you think you are....I'm sorry). Mini's are a mix of some luxury, and mostly fun. BMW's...and consequently now Mini's...have never been about the interior of the car. It's all about the engine and the way the car drives. If you can find me one person who is going to complain about the way a Mini drives...I'll find you a liar. The interior is that of a $20,000 car. It fits. The changes they have done I feel DO improve the look and feel of the interior. My aunt has an 09 MCS, and the 2011/2012's I feel look much better inside. You're not going to get a suede headliner in a $20,000 car. Even if you spec yours up into the 30's and maybe even near 40 if you're feeling real frisky...it doesn't change what the interior is going to be. I mean come on, the Mini doesn't even offer power seats, you're really expecting top class materials in the interior?

I know for me I didn't order my mini for the interior...I bought it for the way it drives and the smile it puts on my face every time I'm in one.

 

Kevin, you're right...I don't think "improvements" in the refresh were all that substantial and a bit disappointing. Seems it was more aesthetics than material improvements. Makes me feel appreciative and perfectly fine with my 2010.

And as for that tranny you drove hunting for gears when downshifting while decelerating and was lurchy....that's a bummer you had a tranny like that. The one in my 2010 shows none of that, except that rare occasion when it's just in "regular" auto mode, when the rpm is just at the right place, and there may be a little grade to the road...then it might try to be indecisive as to which gear to be in. But I rarely dive in that mode unless I'm on the interstate just cruising along. I'm usually using the stick flipped to the left without flicking the gears manually (so it still auto shifts up, and downshifts on deceleration/braking), and don't feel any of that indecisiveness (tranny is remapped, but not the throttle or steering...sport button adds in the remap of steering and throttle response).

Either way, manual or auto, these cars are still little badasses and fun to drive. Still, the only thing I wish I had was painted flairs like yours Kevin.

 

You obviously didn't try the auto in "manual" mode. It's a blast and does act a lot like a manual. I admit I don't use the flappers that much. I like using the stick to shift. I really like the option to just leave it in "D" and be lazy when I want to.

 

Actually I did. Didn't remotely resemble a manual in any way, shape or form, IMHO. I'm not an auto hater, but didn't like this one at all.

 

To each his own I guess. I really like this transmission. There is no way I could downshift with a manual as quickly as I can with the auto. And this is the first auto I've driven daily in 20 years.

 

Probably true, but don't undersell the positive delta in aesthetics -- not just the look but the change in instrument layout (e.g., radio controls, etc.) which are now not perfect but much more intuitive...

Pre-LCI (which I didn't much care for and prompted me to hang onto my '05 for several extra years):




...and post-LCI (enough improvement to cajole this enthusiast to plunk down his $32K. I confess that the navigation display adds a lot; and is one of the reasons I ordered it):

 

I totally agree, and I drove a manual for the past 12 years.


As for the interior, I love it, I prefer the black to the silver on the steering wheel, radio, etc. I think it's just a preference thing.

 

i was fortunate that mini changed the silver trims to blacks in the lci model when i decided to buy my mcs. there's enough contrast with silver/chrome rings - not to mention the standard beige headliner, instead of paying extra for anthracite.

the visual improvements may not have reached someone's expectations, but it's what underneath that bmw improved on that makes the lci better mini. there is more hp due to the addition of bmw valvetronic! there's definitely less road noise in 2011 as i compared it to my friend's pre-lci.