I have an auto 08 MCS with the sports package so I have the paddle shifters. I do not regret going auto vs manual at all. My last 2 cars were 6 speed manuals. I had a 350z and a Audi TT Quattro prior to the MCS.

Having a stick really gets old in stop and go traffic. I lived in the Chicago up until a few months ago and my commute to work really started to suck with a manual. Another plus with having an auto is now if the wife and I take long trips with it, I am not stuck driving it the whole way!

The auto in sports mode and using the paddles you can redline just like a manual if you want. You can go from 1st up redlining if you really want. 98% of the time when I drove my 350z and TT I wasn't doing this anyways it was just a higher RPM range then a normal auto would go making it more fun to drive. The paddles and sport mode let me do this on the auto so there is still plenty of fun to be had. I am not longer a believer of a "real enthusiast must have a manual." A lot of cars these days with their paddles can shift quicker then most of the "enthusiasts" can with their manuals. Just adding my 2 pennies.

 

+ 1 on this.... I, too, ordered my CMS as an auto.... It just gives you more options in my opinion for a daily driver. I have a 6 speed E92 M3 for the weekends which I thoroughly enjoy but would probably dread if I had to take it on the 405 fwy during rush hour traffic. Having the paddle shifters on the CMSa really gives me the best of both worlds. In fact, I did a shakedown run of my CMSa on my favorite twisties this weekend and had a blast with the paddles and left foot braking... makes me feel like I'm part of the Mini WRC team anyway, to each his own and hope all enjoy what they have.... Cheers....

 

It seems like a lot of people who would (or have had) stick on a 2 door mini didn't like the feel of the stick as much on the countryman and opted for auto. Interesting.

 

I drive a Mini JCW and have test driven the manual and automatic CMS.
To me,JCW manual >CMS manual >CMS auto.

 

I chose auto, and I do know how to drive a stick, quite well, thank you. An I do enjoy driving as much as the next guy, but it's 2012, and this ain't a Model T, so I drive an auto with no regrets.

 

I'd rather drive the Model T than any Mini with an automatic. Chacon a son gout!

 

I love manual, but got an auto so that my partner can also drive it. In the end, the All4 isn't a sports car. It does 0-60 in like 8 seconds, right?

I'll leave the fun stick driving to a faster car (maybe when I get the Mini JCW Roadster , and leave the daily commuting All4 to its comfortable automatic.

 

Have you ever driven a MINI with an Automatic? I have driven both the manual and the automatic.

There is the same feeling of control and sportiness with the Auto in manual mode as with the manual transmission. The paddle shifters are wonderful and there is no clutch to wear out.

Dave

 

If we stick the auto into Manual Paddle shift mode (Push gear lever to the m/s mode) it automatically enables sport mode right?

If we go full throttle, reach the redline, don't upshift. Would it over- rev? or it will upshift for you, or would it cut fuel?

thanks

 

If you know how to drive a manual you aren't going to wear out the clutch.

I've never driven anything but a manual for the last 25 years, I've yet to wear out a clutch.

My MINI hardtop had well over a 100,000 miles on it before I traded it in for my CMS. The clutch was just fine.

Look to each his own, manual or automatic. But there is a difference between driving a stick and an automatic and you are not getting the "same degree of sportiness" with an automatic.

 

On my 08 MCS putting the shifter into the +/- area turns on DS mode. I assume that means direct shifting or something like that. Same with if use the paddles.

This does not put it in Sports mode on my car. Sports mode changes yours steering tightness and DS does not. I would assume if it did the sports button light would come on and it wouldn't let me turn it on/off while in DS.

Some things I notice is that if you use your paddles and the shifter is not in +/- that if you downshift and then say pass a car at a higher RPM then keep then let off and the RPM is about the same it will shift back to automatic from M4 or M5 gear automatically.

If you put the shifter over into the + / - then it will only shift when you tell it to shift with one exception. When you slow down if you get to a slow speed like under 10 MPH it will go into M2. So at least in this mode you can sit at 4-5k RPM range if you wanted to like you can in a manual. I drove my car around all day yesterday like this and had a lot of fun with it. Was just like my 6 speed minus a clutch. There is only one thing that I guess I could say the manual has over the auto is that you can shift from say 5th to 2nd when slowing down really fast without going 5th-4th-3rd-2nd.

I have redlined, but not over revved so I am not sure what really happens. I am sure it will just cut the gas temporarily if you hit the limit.

 

It will upshift. The computer also won't let you downshift if it would result in over-revving.

 

@Runningman ... shhhhhhh! It is very important for the automatics to bellieve their Minis are just as sporty as the manuals. Don't ruin their fantasy!

 

Us auto drivers need to stop telling the manual drivers we can redline and shift manually just like them, so we don't ruin their fantasy that their car is better and it makes them more of a car enthusiast! Don't ruin their fantasy...

 

Shhh... Don't tell them we auto owners have a choice, they might get shifter envy!

 

I test drove both manual and automatic versions of the CM All4. The automatic was quite good and made the CM feel zippier off the line than the manual version which is hard to launch.

There are three reasons why I did not get the automatic for the CM:
1. My first and only automatic vehicle was an 02 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8. The silly thing would downshift on the highway at the slightest hint of a hill and then not upshift when it really could / should have. It was annoying for the drive through the Sierras which I do frequently.
2. BMW automatics are typically not maintained and fail between 80 to 120k according to forums and my independent repairer. MINI does not have a great track record with automatics either and I know from experience that the manuals will last 200k miles and above when maintained.
3. Price of the automatic option.

All four of our current cars are manuals and there are no regrets.

 

If anyone has ever driven Audi's DSG, those "automatics" are amazing with their dual-clutch systems. Faster than any manual transmission. I loved my Audi A3 DSG, and would never get a manual Audi after experiencing the DSG and those paddle shifters.

The MINI automatic is nothing like that experience, unfortunately.

 

Agree 100%

 

Well there's a conundrum ... which group of owners are fantasizing? Oh, I know, maybe the group that suggested driving a Mini Cooper with a manual transmission was in any way the equivalent of driving a Model-T?? Clearly delusional.

 

Fellas... this is a debate that has no solution or correct answer. It will continue for the next 500 years...

 

+1 it will never be resolved

 

I don't care which transmission people choose, I think both are fun and sporty. I chose an automatic, because I think it gave me more flexibility and, in my case, it didn't cost me any more than a manual.

It's just the look down their nose, condescending attitude of just a very few people with manual transmission cars that rankles me. I am embarrassed for them when I read their drivel.

Dave

 

I didn't mean to suggest driving a manual Mini was like driving a model T. I'm sure it's much different ; ) .....What I meant was that there isn't really a need to drive a manual when the new auto's are just as sporty as anything else, or can be if you know how to drive it.

 

You know, extracting my own personal bias from this argument, it seems like the logical theorem as pertains to the auto/manual argument goes a bit like this:

Whichever transmission is able to achieve velocity with more rapidity should be the choice of the true enthusiast. Whichever transmission is able to achieve maximum efficiency should be the choice of the environmentalist. The multitaskers should have automatics for everyone's safety, and the traditionalists should have manuals and stay off the phone!

I love my manuals, but would gladly take an auto (such as Porsche's double clutch setup) if it gets me there faster.

Cheers,
Tad

 

I test drove All4's with both and found the same thing as well. I was very disappointed with the feel of the manual in the CM; it just didn't want to go as well as the auto. I have a MCS 6 sp manual and have no problem launching it and throwing it through the gears in any situation. Although my wife has a MCCS auto, and it is still surprisingly fun to drive too. I think the wife's next one will be the CM, so the tranny choice is already made there anyway.