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elmadi · Jun 3rd, 2003, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cooper4us
We already have a CVT and we are thrilled with it. I also currently have a '04 MCS on order and have gone back and forth in the same predicament as yours. I have owned manual transmission cars for several years before as well as automatics. My current ride (An Impala) has a very smooth shifting 4-speed automatic slushbox. I figured that since we already have a Cooper CVT and my wife drives it all the time, I could treat myself to the MCS driving experience. When I first test drove the MCS back in January I enjoyed it so much that I put my order on the spot.....It had been 6 years since my last stick shift car so in a way I was missing that kind of added involvement with the clutch pedal.

Let's be realisitc here. The CVT is a fantastic transmission and it is a really flexible and fun "Automatic". The CVT also makes your everyday driving more relaxed, reduces wear on the powertrain by not having a clutch pedal (And often the human mistakes even the most skilled stick shift of drivers can make are virtually eliminated, like grinding gears, stalling, etc).

At time of resale maybe the CVT will make your car easier to sell to a second owner. Also the CVT will make your car flexible in terms of perhaps your spouse being able to drive it and enjoy it as well.

The MCS is a bit more of a driver's car. Like I said at the beginning, I have been driving stick shift cars for nearly 18 years and to me the everyday experience comes naturally to the point that I don't even think about it even if I stop driving a stick shift car for long periods of time.

My wife can't drive stick shift, therefore our initial choice of the CVT. My wife says that I should get a second CVT that way we make a compromise (I still get the steptronic 6 speed) so she can drive it as well when the need arises. From a practical point of view she is right and in all honesty the CVT delivers all the day to day performance you'll ever need. Even the cruise control seems to work better with the CVT vs the manual tranny versions.

Having said all this, however, the MCS is the car that I really want at this point in time but even if I decide to change my order and go for a Velvet Red Cooper CVT I am sure I will be happy with that as well. My wife knows that the MCS is the one I really want and even though she will not be able to drive it (But I persist in making an attempt to teach her how to mesh her own gears) she in the end will be happy knowing that I got exactly what I wanted it from the get go.

She already has a Cooper CVT. She never drives my current car (Impala) so I don't think the situation will be any different when the MCS comes home in 4 months.

It is a very tough call and decision because both models have their positives and negatives. It al comes down to what you really want and the kind of compromises you are willing to make once you decide which model you want to spend the next 3-5 years with.

I personally like the cleaner, classier Cooper looks...the chrome, the clean hood, the nicer 16" S-star wheels, the fact that you get a spare tire (In the MCS you are at the mercy of the runflats, no spare), the added fuel consumption and insurance of the MCS, etc, etc, etc...too many variables to get into.

I see the MCS like the car of a lifetime and I personally don't want to pass on it for the sake of an infrequent need like my wife driving it day in and day out.

Decisions, decisions.........

Well said "cooper4us"!

I am in thte same boat as you in considering the need of an spouse-----except you will have your future MCS soon while me I am still dreaming about it.

Jun 3rd, 2003, 12:28 AM	#12
elmadi MINI2 Regular Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cook County,Illinois Local Time: 11:18 PM Posts: 259 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by cooper4us We already have a CVT and we are thrilled with it. I also currently have a '04 MCS on order and have gone back and forth in the same predicament as yours. I have owned manual transmission cars for several years before as well as automatics. My current ride (An Impala) has a very smooth shifting 4-speed automatic slushbox. I figured that since we already have a Cooper CVT and my wife drives it all the time, I could treat myself to the MCS driving experience. When I first test drove the MCS back in January I enjoyed it so much that I put my order on the spot.....It had been 6 years since my last stick shift car so in a way I was missing that kind of added involvement with the clutch pedal. Let's be realisitc here. The CVT is a fantastic transmission and it is a really flexible and fun "Automatic". The CVT also makes your everyday driving more relaxed, reduces wear on the powertrain by not having a clutch pedal (And often the human mistakes even the most skilled stick shift of drivers can make are virtually eliminated, like grinding gears, stalling, etc). At time of resale maybe the CVT will make your car easier to sell to a second owner. Also the CVT will make your car flexible in terms of perhaps your spouse being able to drive it and enjoy it as well. The MCS is a bit more of a driver's car. Like I said at the beginning, I have been driving stick shift cars for nearly 18 years and to me the everyday experience comes naturally to the point that I don't even think about it even if I stop driving a stick shift car for long periods of time. My wife can't drive stick shift, therefore our initial choice of the CVT. My wife says that I should get a second CVT that way we make a compromise (I still get the steptronic 6 speed) so she can drive it as well when the need arises. From a practical point of view she is right and in all honesty the CVT delivers all the day to day performance you'll ever need. Even the cruise control seems to work better with the CVT vs the manual tranny versions. Having said all this, however, the MCS is the car that I really want at this point in time but even if I decide to change my order and go for a Velvet Red Cooper CVT I am sure I will be happy with that as well. My wife knows that the MCS is the one I really want and even though she will not be able to drive it (But I persist in making an attempt to teach her how to mesh her own gears) she in the end will be happy knowing that I got exactly what I wanted it from the get go. She already has a Cooper CVT. She never drives my current car (Impala) so I don't think the situation will be any different when the MCS comes home in 4 months. It is a very tough call and decision because both models have their positives and negatives. It al comes down to what you really want and the kind of compromises you are willing to make once you decide which model you want to spend the next 3-5 years with. I personally like the cleaner, classier Cooper looks...the chrome, the clean hood, the nicer 16" S-star wheels, the fact that you get a spare tire (In the MCS you are at the mercy of the runflats, no spare), the added fuel consumption and insurance of the MCS, etc, etc, etc...too many variables to get into. I see the MCS like the car of a lifetime and I personally don't want to pass on it for the sake of an infrequent need like my wife driving it day in and day out. Decisions, decisions......... Well said "cooper4us"! I am in thte same boat as you in considering the need of an spouse-----except you will have your future MCS soon while me I am still dreaming about it.