Looking at purchasing an 07'/'08 R56 MCS, I'm now debating whether or not to get the new 6spd man. or the 6spd auto??? I would like to know how the current MCS handles the rigors of L.A. traffic.??? I'm not sure if I feel like shifting my legs round a whole bunch (6'5" here) and would like some opinons on experiences??? Thanks!!!

 

I've driven the auto & have a manual... I prefer the manual transmission. Even in traffic...

 

Clutch must be pretty light then....?

 

started with an MCa and now have MCSm and I really don't mind it. Daily driver on 110 and 405 fwys and love every minute of it. I really like when I have to pass semi trucks etc. merging and changing lanes. Not nearly as bad as I imagined, although left leg got tired leaving the Rose Bowl after a game. 1st gear for 45 mins!

 

Well, I don't have an "S" but I do drive my Cooper in downtown every day. Actually, on LA streets, you won't really get to use the 6th gear anyway, so there won't be much of a difference.
My last car was a Volvo 270. Didn't ever have any trouble driving it because of the auto. The Cooper can be a little for frustrating, but not really challenging.
The 6 speed auto would deffinately be easier for you when you Consider that the 110 rarely breaks 7mph in the morning. Still, I recomend the manual. You won't regret it on those weekend trips to Ventura or San Diego. So, I guess the question is; do you live for the week, or the weekend?

 

When it comes to driving, I'm on 24/7.

 

I drive the 405 daily with the 6 speed manuel and no issues at all. You will find the MINI an excellent LA car due to its ability to be quick and nimble.






Florida by birth, Gator by the grace of God...

 

We have some bad traffic here... does not compare to LA, but worth the manual transmission when you're not in traffic.

 

Another issue effecting my decision is cost, it's not that I don't have the money, I just can't justify spending $28k on this size car. At that point I feel as if I should be looking at something else, even though I really like the Mini. So it's auto or sunroof at this point.

 

sun roof!

 

Hmmm.
Well, the Lotus and 911 are also small cars. If size is a factor, this may not be the car for you. Measuring it's value by volume may not get you your money's worth.

 

You're mixing apples, oranges, and windex buddy... those are all different extremes of automobile, despite the fact that they're all great handlers. That is the only thing they have in common. The current Mini is more than enough for me as far as space goes, it comes down to my value system and how much I'm willing to spend on what...

 

Here is my honest opinion and I have been driving the 10 to the 405 to the 22 several times a week for 3wks in my MCSm. I have driven both auto and stick in LA. I like the manuel because it allows me more control when driving the car. In town the car is simple. Quick, easy to manuever. Heck, I did a flip around in the middle of 6th st(SM) almost right into a parallel parking spot. What I found, and you may find it as well if you are in your car a lot, is that the RF tires and stock shocks suck! Driving the torn up highway for an hr each way beat the heck out of me. Today I had the Koni FSD's installed. It's like night and day. I will run the RF tires until I need new ones, and then I will go with regular tires. As for Auto for manuel? No brainer, I go with stick, keeps you on your toes when you are in traffic.

 

Sorry O.T. but was your car a Steve's Auto Clinic today. I was there getting a 61mm TB put on. I was just wondering.
Mario

 

I was refering the the sizes. They're obviously very different cars in most other respects.

 

The clutch felt very light and with a short throw to me when I test drove one.

 

I moved to SoCal in 2000... have always driven a manual car so I bought a Honda Civic stick shift...for 5 years I hated driving manual in LA traffic. I swore I was going to forfeit stick handling for easier automatic driving in stop and go traffic.

However when I test drove the MINI....I had to go with Manual...so much fun. And even though, I am still in stop and go traffic...it doesn't phase me one bit when driving a MINI.

sun roof is a good option..but if you want to race, MINIs are lighter without sunroofs. But this is SoCal...get the sunroof!!

 

I drive a lot, and there are times that I think that the auto might be nice, but then instant power is hard to give up. Depending on your patience auto is always a good alternative. I'm of average height, at your size it tips over to an auto.

 

I am English and hate Automatics, after driving an Audi TT 6 speed for 2 years in LA traffic, I sold it to sed a six speed auto Cooper S, sure I miss the manual alot, but after an hour in trafic I only want to kill say one person istead of fifty.

Each to their own.

 

I've driven over 3 years in LA traffic in a 2003 Cooper. Then I got my 2005 MCS a few months ago. The clutch on the MCS is way stiffer than the MC, so clutching in and out is actually fatiguing on the MC. However you do get used to this, and it becomes effortless over time.

Of course, in the MCS, you shift less often than the MC due to the extra torque, so that's a tradeoff. If you're already proficient driving stick, then get the manual!

 

I was just in an 06 MCS and the clutch felt almost as stiff as my 06 MC. Alomst no difference that. Both of them can deffinately give you sore calves.

 

And I have rather large ones. Looking at it more and more I'm tipping towards auto. I spent some time out in L.A. traffic this evening; stop and go, stop and go... It's just not worth it to me, especially at my size, to keep shifting around. For someone of shorter stature I guess it's not so big a deal. I don't really want to skimp out on the s/r either, so I may cough up. Hopefully this time around they've engineered the new six speed auto for sportier shifts and more precies downshift/upshift times. I'll see you six speeders at the track. Thanks for all the replies!!!

 

True, I'm 5'9".
Considering that it takes me one hour to get to work everyday (7 miles), the auto is sometimes a pain. It's just a good reason to not to go work and go for a canyon drive instead.

 

yep, I was there! Well, my car was. I dropped it off this morning, chatted up goaljinky and his wife and another very nice new nam member (alan) totally just spaced on his screen name. I came back at 2 to pick up my car. Whats a 61mm TB?

 

do all english hate automatics?