Yup, just opinions. There are options available to us for a reason. Pick one and enjoy the car.

 

Amen!

 

I just picked up a Cooper S with an Auto after driving manual for 6 years. I'm enjoying the Auto. The Mini's transmission is doing the job well and seems to pick the right shift points. When I want to down shift I just pull on the paddle or knock the lever to the left. It's also pretty nice in traffic (which I'm in a lot)

 

We just purchased a 2011 MCS W/6-Sp. Auto and it is {Totally-Awesome}.

Seriously I had driven the manuals before but this auto is just the right thing for those especially that live in heavy traffic areas.

Push the (Sport) Btn. and this thing just "Rocks"

I don't see anyway you would be disappointed at all.

I highly recommend one after driving this one.

We just purchased this on Tuesday of this week.
So have not gotten to drive it a lot of miles yet.
But it will fly merging on the interstate with ease.

In fact the (Hardest) thing to do is not get a ticket/citation for speeding.

 

Ha Ha isn't that the honest truth.. I agree!!!!!!!

 

I'd be thrilled if I only had to spend $400 in 40K miles on the transmission. The clutch (manual) on my R52 lasts less than 40K miles and has been replaced twice at over $2000 each time.

 

And why do you say MINIs automatics are bad?? This I have to hear

 

Only 40k?

I'm going to assume you know how to drive a manual perfectly well.

But dang, idk if I could keep a car knowing that!

 

I have owned only manuals for over 25 years. My wife and I last cars before MINI were Honda and VW. They both went over 100K miles on their original clutch and still going strong when they were sold.

However, since moving to San Francisco our driving has been in the worst possible conditions for a clutch. 80% stop and go driving in gridlocked congested city streets, often on hills. Combine that with MINI's weak clutch.

 

That changes everything lol. I feel for you, absolute hell for a clutch in those conditions. I lived there for a few years so I know exactly what you're talking about.

 

Go drive a GTI with the dsg and then tell us how it compares with the MINI's slushbox.

 

I thought the same thing about manuals potentially being safer, but if you look up collision numbers, they're pretty much for same for manual/auto. Like someone else posted, idiots will be idiots.

A lot of the new technology coming out requires an automatic transmission to get the full benefit. Things like adaptive cruise control and automatic braking when a collision is detected. I was reading about a "traffic-jam" mode that was coming soon that you just turn on in low-speed traffic and the car will maintain distance with the car in front of you (a lot like the adaptive cruise control, but at low speed). Lots of cool new gadgets, but they work much better with an auto.

I'm still a manual driver for now, but I'll probably give the auto more consideration next time I'm in the market for a new car.

 

This is just a "Wild-***-guess" but I take it you are not one of the promoters of the Mini with the 6-Sp. Auto Tranny.

I read you on what and where you are coming from but ......

Given I had the same decision to make over I would for sure go with what I have.
The MCS with Auto.
It is by far the easier machine in traffic and super easy to go FAST in.

Just so you know I have had all sorts of Real High-Performance cars with manuals.

I'm not apposed to a manual tranny at all and will add this comment.
IMHO the manual is more Fun to drive and play around with.

But .......

I'll stick with the Auto for my application with the MCS and my Extreme Modified 08 Bullitt Mustang with 700 Crank HP.
It has a TCI Super Street Fighter tranny now.
Was a manual as all Bullitt Mustangs come from Ford with 5-Sp. Manuals

Note* This is actually my wife's MCS but I would still get the Auto even for just me.

 

alexs3d2 wrote: if they could fix the clutch engagement issues on the Multitronic, that would be my choice. I know a lot of you are against CVTs, but bear in mind the Audi is the only one with a steel-chain vs. rubber band. This makes a huge difference.

Just an FYI, I don't know of any manufactuer who uses a "rubber" belt in their CVT, including Audi, MINI, Nissan or Honda - they're all metal multi link belts.

Way, way way back in the day, the first CVT's (used by DAF) did use a rubber belt, but that was in the 50's and 60's, and those were very low Hp applications

 

Left to their own devices, they're not any worse than the liquid-coupled torque converters in any econobox: fine in most circumstances, but prone to not being in the gear you want it in during more complex or spirited driving.

Which is where the flappy paddles come in, right? Except that, in a MINI, the flappy paddles are pretty unpredictable. Sometimes it will shift quickly, others there will be a significant delay -- much like the delay between pushing the accelerator hard to force a downshift, in non-flappy paddle automatics -- before the tranny drops down.

For comparison, look to the dual-clutch automatics coming out of the VAG. From the PDK systems in high dollar Porsches, down to what they're putting in the Beetle, that company has demonstrated that they can do automatics right. There's a weight penalty for going DCT, for sure, but imo it's well worth it for what you get.