I'm sure most have a clutch. But how's the AT for those who opted for it? I noticed that the sticky from the guy who drove them in AZ early on posted a faster time with the AT over at the Bondurant track there (I drove there once). I'd just like comments on how the AT responds. Thanks.

 

Are you looking into the AT beacuse of those times, or beacuse of the paddle shifters, or bc you dont like stick....just wondering.

 

Because of the paddle shifter mainly, not the times. But the time did alert me to the possibility that the AT may be pretty sweet. It's the most important option to consider after all. How it responds to foot pressure is the key, at least for the MCS.

 

Yea, i have a manual, but i was at the dealership today and felt out an automatic for the first time. The gear changer stick feels a little dinky, very skinny, if youve seen a smart car's, its a little bigger than that, but still very skinny. The paddle shifter just felt clunky to me, now i havent driven a lambo, but ive seen them with very sleek little paddle coming out, in the mini its kind of big with a part to push your thumbs down from the front side of the stearing wheel and it goes even lower on the back side do you can down shift with your other fingers.
I am not a fan, but i did not drive it. This is all from visual and touching opinion haha. Just my two cents.

 

I have an 05 Auto S. Paddles are nice, I use them 100% of the time, but honestly, if I order another MINI, I am getting a stick for sure.

 

I drove an AT at the dealership. The shifting is very quick with and without the paddles. I didn't like how the paddles worked. You would pull toward you to upshift and you had to flick out away from you to downshift. Both sides were the same. I would have preferrred that one side was for up shift and the other for down. I felt the flicking out with ny fingers was a little awkward.

 

Paddle shifters are the equal to a strap on while making love.

Ya it will work, but do you really need help???

 

If it hadn't been for Formula 1 use of paddle shifters, they would probably be considered in the same league as the push-button automatic transmissions of the 1060's.

I was quite interested in trying them, but none were available on an MCS at the time. So, I drove a GTI. They worked quite well, but it wasn't much fun.

 

The Dark Ages, indeed.

I test-drove an MC with the paddles a couple of months ago, and it drove me nuts. It was just fine in "full auto" mode...shifted just as smooth as my mom's new Acura TL or my wife's Solara, but the paddle operation sucked.

The gear changes were quick enough, but I couldn't get used to the "Front = Up, Back = Down, both paddles do the same thing" bit. Totally different from every paddle-operated car I've driven.

Also, unless the Sport button is on, the tranny goes back into full-auto mode after a few seconds. Not cool.

 

I found the paddles counterintuitive as well. I like manual transmissions, though, since I feel more in tune with the car.

 

I have an '06 S with AT. I got the AT because I drive A LOT. I am a self-employed computer tech and ONE rush hour traffic jam with a manual would not be pretty. :impatient

I feel the Agitronic paddles OR the manual shift option (at the 'stick') are a GREAT alternative. Yeah...it seems a 'shame' to get a sporty, fun, performance car with an AT but it depends on how, how long, when...you drive your car...or motor in your MINI.

Anyway, I love driving with either the stick or paddles option. The best part is being able to downshift (at any time) and get the rpm/torque boost you would with a MT.

I have a 15% pulley, Alta CAI and a Larini Club Sport cat-back...that plus the shift option makes it SWEET for me.

Btw, I drove an '07 MCS AT, an '06 Cabrio MT and my MINI all in one day. The most 'kick' and ZIP came from the '07 with Sport Button ON. Wahhh-hooo...FUN! Second was mine. I thought FOR SURE the MT Cabrio would feel zippier, sportier, more responsive...NOT!

The AT has its place in the MINI world for some motorers. For the purist sport/performance drivers, I think an AT is OUT OF THE QUESTION.

It comes down to what YOU like and what YOU want. Best of luck on deciding!

 

In the past I've worked with car dealers who would allow you to take the car out for a couple of days, or at least for overnight. The point being, I think you'd have to drive the car for several hours (preferably days) before the paddles settled in to where they didn't feel so awkward.

The MCS I bought with 6 speed manual has the reverse gear in the same place as my Audi A4 had first gear. It took at least a day of driving before the transmission started feeling somewhat natural. I had tried the auto with paddles but using them felt awkward. I think though that after driving the car using only the paddles for a good number of hours they'd start taking on more of a natural feeling. Only then would you be able to answer the question of whether or not you want to buy an MC or MCS having auto w/paddles.

 

I was a AT driver until last year... After owning a MT car, I am never going back to AT car until I get really really old and my knees are sore.

 

So what I get is the AT shifts great by itself, smoothly through the gears, and downshifts well with the pedal, but the paddles are not really easy to use until you get used to them. I'd really want to have a prolonged test drive to compare them.

 

I drove the auto and it shifted great. I'd probably never use the paddles, but would use the manual mode on the stick instead. I wish they delivered it without the paddles and just with the manual stick mode. (Push to left and bump up and down, that is more intuitive.)

 

Don't forget you don't HAVE to use the paddles. When you're in the semi-auto (or semi-manual) mode you can use the shifter to change gears. Not sure if you ALWAYS get the paddles or if you have to have a specific package. And yes, the paddles DO take some getting used to, but once you do...it's FUN! There's nifty way to up/down shift with your fingers (hands at 3 and 9) from behind the wheel. You don't have to use the paddle portion at the top.

 

Of course our 2006 Cooper CVT is a completey different car and transmission, but I can offer this:

A MINI with an auto transmission is still a TON of fun to drive. If an auto transmission is best for your needs, you won't hear me telling you that only a real car has a stick shift. I've got both a 2003 MCS and the CVT Cooper and love them both.

 

I have the paddles on my '06 MCSa, too. If there was one thing I'd change, that would be it. They are really inconvenient and do not have the right feel at the HPDE tracks at all, so I never use them. I'd MUCH rather have my old buttons-on-the-back multi-function steering wheel back instead of those freakin' paddles.

 

Good point, Ken Cooper!

 

I was really lucky--my reverse is EXACTLY the same--location and effort required--as my BMW. I just have an extra gear!

 

My present car has reverse down to the right. At least I won't be punching people in the leg when I go into reverse, when I get my MINI.

 

There are a ton of posts from owners etc of the 05/06 MCSa if you search if you want to see how they are liking it. Of course, the 07 MCSa has not been out long in the USA so any relevant opinions on that specific set up will be therefore limited/not long term. IMHO the best thing you can do is take several test drives and really feel out the full manual mode (not the same as the drive modes when the manual gear changes are only temporary and it reverts back to auto), wring out the gears a bit and feel the handling paddle shifting with hands on the wheel (and both hands on the wheel will probably feel good to you when you hit that torque steer ). Fwiw our test drives of the 05 MCSa were actually not as good as it was after owning the car awhile, probably a combination of the software adapting to the way we drive, us getting accustomed to the dynamics and learning to maximize them/the car, along with it all breaking in.

Of course, only you will know if you like it and if it suits your lifestyle so some long test drives are your best bet. Good luck!