Hey, so quick question about the clutch in mini's. Now I just learned to drive stick on an Audi for preperation on picking up my manual mini. I was debating on whether to get the auto but decided minis are made to be manual, and ive always wanted to learn, so take a chance, and i ordered a manual!!! I am super excited to pick it up sometime in March but getting on to my question.....

In the Audi the clutch is HIGH, it has a full range of motion and doesnt actually switch gears untill youve let up on it about 90% and then your leg needs to go even higher! This gave me problems when going from stop-start/1st gear. I eventually got it but it was very trouble some! How deep is the clutch in the mini, is it a short distance, just as long as the audi?

Thanks, Dave

 

Each individual clutch's disengage/engage point is different based on how it was assembled, who drives the car the most and a myriad of other factors. Most brand new cars engage about an inch off of the floor. Wear changes the engagement point. Typically on a hydraulic clutch the slave cylinder compensates for that, much the same way that brakes (drum or disk) do. As the clutch wears, the slave cylinder holds a little bit more fluid and the engagement point remains about the same. Most cars have an adjustment rod from the clutch pedal to the clutch's master cylinder for fine tuning the adjustment. Some also have the capability to adjust the clutch at the slave cylinder. It sounds to me like your friend's Audi needs to be adjusted. Manual transmission cars should have about 2 inches of free play at the top of the clutch pedal's travel.

I wouldn't sweat it really, once you drive 1 mile, you'll have it. Just don't try to be a hotrod until you've logged some miles on it. Hell, I stalled the 2006 MCS I test drove this past weekend several times because I wasn't used to the car and I had the radio on so I couldn't hear the engine and I drove trucks professionally for 15 years. If you stall it, just throw the clutch down, restart the car and try again.

 

Great tips! The MINI clutch is very easy and not a heavy. You will be an expert in no time....

 

I have actually been learning in a MINI 06.. Thanks to the dealership for helping out on that.. Feels like the engadgement point is about 2-3 inches out from the clutch being on the floor.. Doesnt seem nearly as high as you had on your audi!

my friend found the MINI a bit heavy though compared to his WRX. But nothing too bad.

 

Thanks for all your support! I talked to a couple of people and they said thats just in general how audis are. How true this is, i dont know haha My goal is to get it down well enough to drive it home from the dealership without stalling it in the parking lot right when i get in!

 

I found that when I was first learning to drive a manual, and when I've taught others since, the usual first "problem area" is too much gas. I guess I'm just so used to being able to raise the RPMs in my car by miniscule amounts with slight application of pressure on the pedal, that when i tell people to "give it a little gas," they think I mean "Rev it up to 3500 or so." NOT necessary! Getting going from a stop in a manual tranny is more about driving with your left foot than it is the right. Best of luck...

 

thlaxx
Don't sweat it! Stall it out don't worry about it, and just let it happen--You will be very excited when you pick it up so don't put extra pressure on yourself.
My first stick I bought after only driving a stick a couple of times. I drove around the lot a few times and headed off home. I stalled on many local streets along the way and rolled back a few times too. I took the attitude -- the **ll with the impatient people behind me calling me all kinds of things -- "I got a new great car and you don't!" Na, NAA NANA NA!
Just think of it as you are giving those people behind you an opportunity to practice patience. Hey, your doing them a favor!

 

ahhh all of these are making me so much better knowing im not the only one who wasnt born driving a stick haha!

 

Not sure whether I was "born" to drive a stick, but after a couple of times of practice, I had it down pretty well. Now I prefer to drive a stick over auto any day.

Audi's stick on my brother's first car is quite a bit lighter -- personally, it's kind of like having a overly boosted power steering, it's so light that it doesn't give you much feedback about what the clutch is doing.

Mini's stick is a bit heavier -- but not to the point that you'd have to exert a lot of strength to disengage the clutch, unlike my brother's Porsche -- its clutch is SOOOOO heavy. I have to step on the clutch hard to make the clutch pedal move.

But in any case, once you get used to the shifting action, there's only a small adjustment period till you get the hang of it.

 

Clutch life might be an issue you might want to consider down the road. My first manual I had to replace the cluch far too early because I was mostly city driving and was probably a little lazy about riding it too much. Not something you have to worry about now but just a heads-up. Don't be paranoid about it but at the same time don't get into bad habits like I did -- you'll have to pay for it later.

 

Had the same problem with my '85 Mustang GT. Bought it new, and had the clutch replaced after about 4 years. Not bad, really. Of course it had a heavy clutch with a huge throw that encouraged riding.

I'm looking forward to trying the hill-assist with the LSD -- my technique before was to use the hand brake to keep from rolling, and maybe start off in 2nd gear so I wouldn't have to shift too quickly after getting going.

We'll see how this one goes.