[MINIsota_Cuke]

I have been waiting to purchase a MINI for about 18 months and may now be in the financial position to do this.
About a year ago I test drove a CVT, but it was only in the Drive mode - did not switch to steptronic. Yesterday, I test drove a MCS and now I have a problem. Although I have never owned a manual transmission I have driven them several times before. However, now after driving one I'm not sure if I am going to want to be shifting all the time. I know once I get used to it I probably won't even think about it, but after owning automatics all my life I'm just not sure.

So, for those of you that own a CVT, do you think it has enough power and fun factor - especially in steptronic mode?

Is there anyone that wanted an S but ended up buying a CVT because a spouse convinced you to? Do you still long for the S? Are you happy with the CVT?

Someday I might want to get into autocrossing. Would this be possible/enjoyable with the CVT?

Finally, please do NOT give me the crap about the MINI being a "drivers" car and that manual is the only way to go. I'm looking for what would be the most enjoyable experience for ME.
Thanks,
Shawn

[Paul]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINIwannahave
Finally, please do NOT give me the crap about the MINI being a "drivers" car and that manual is the only way to go. I'm looking for what would be the most enjoyable experience for ME.
Thanks,
Shawn

Well, really, only YOU can answer that one. Do you have the chance to drive them both again back to back? Maybe some people on here are local and can give you advice?

The CVT Cooper, and the (manual) Cooper S are two quite different cars.

If you think you will struggle with the manual, then it might make the 'S' more of a bind than a pleasure. However, if you think you could grow to get used to the shifter, then I would imagine the personal gratification of a) Having the overall faster more powerful, more capable car, and b) Learning to 'master' a useful skill would make it a very rewarding car to own.

Depends what you want the car for.

It's not crap to say the MINI is a drivers car, it IS a drivers car, but there are different types of drivers out there, and only you will know what really will suit your own taste and needs best.

Will you be in traffic a lot, mostly in towns (the CVT may suit you better), will it be a play thing for hitting the open roads at the weekends (the 'S' might hit the spot for you)... Consider your usage I suppose is what I'm trying to say. And the effort Vs reward factor.

[acetonic]

I've had a ton of fun with my CVT. I'd love to have a 6-speed to toy with but if you do a lot of city driving, the shifting does get very very old in a hurry.

On twisty backroads, I've had no trouble keeping up with the pack, including 5-speed Coopers and S's.

[RobFriedman]

We have the CVT.. and it handled the roads in New Hampshire fantastic!!! I drove it in D and a few times in SD.. and on the mountain roads.. in Shiftronic for engine breaking.. and it was GREAT...
only thing was the initial D mode was ..well.. sluggish under like 8 mph < I've heard its like that in most mini's> and was faster in SD. Brought it in to fix a window that got hit by a rock less than one day out and asked about that.. looks like it was a software fix..
now SD revs even higher.. and D has less hesitation.

All in all.. the CVT is great

Rob

here it is in crawford notch near Silver and Flume Cascades

[Mauly]

I'll chime in with the CVT owners, I have a CVT and live in NYC, and I do alot of city driving, and I think the CVT was better suiter for me than a manual, and I do not have any problems keeping up with the sticks!

[BillK]

Well, I hate to post a "Me Too", but . . . well . . . Me too! I went with the CVT because I do a lot of city driving and I have "been there and done that" with a manual sport coupe. The CVT is a great alternative. I use all three modes as seems best at the time. It seems to me I have the best of both worlds. If the MINI were my weekend car, perhaps I would have gone with an "S" and a 6 speed, but as it is, I am happy I went with the CVT.

[Sejanus]

Paul's right of course, it really does come down to what you prefer. For me the CVT is a great compromise. You get the convenience of an automatic for dealing with traffic and a lot of the fun of a manual for pleasure driving.

[MINIsota_Cuke]

Great to hear that so many are enjoying their CVT.
I live in the suburbs and my commute isn't very far, but there are lots of stoplights. Also, this would not just be a car for fun - it would be my daily driver.

Of course, I can't make any decision until I test drive the CVT and put it in Sport Mode. I guess another positive is I have always liked the styling of the Cooper better.

I really would like to hear about any experiences autocrossing in a CVT. Is it possible to have a decent run?

Happy Motoring!!

[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.........

[ScooterMan]

Bought the MC 'cause the MCS didn't have the CVT. And now, a bazillion miles later, I still don't regret the decision!

[cooper4us]

MINI Wanna have:

There are some CVT owners that frequently autocross their cars (Check the Racing MINIs forum). The CVT being gearless often offers and advantage to their stick counterparts because the tranny allows the engine to always work at optimal RPMs....and all this can be accomplished without having to worry about shifting, rather you spend your track time with both hands in the wheel. Around the turns, a Cooper CVT has the potential to be a lethal weapon even against the MCS (The MCS is heavier and does not handle as crisply according to some autocrossers) but the MCS has a decided advantage in the straightaways.

You can configure your Cooper CVT with the same exact suspension and tire tuning combo as the one found in the MCS. You can order the Sport Package and get the SS+ suspension...voila! You get a Cooper with equal or better handling capability as the MCS, without the weight penalty of the MCS' supercharger components. If you don't like the idea of dealing with runflats, you can also order all items that make up the Sport Package a la carte...you can get the DSC, Fog Lights, rear roof spoiler, the SS+ suspension and instead of 16" runflats you can order the very good Continental 15" non-runflat rubber. Bingo! You have an awesome handler without the laden weight penalty of the MCS Supercharger and Runflats.

The Cooper from the handling point of view offers you more flexibility in terms of configuration than the MCS (Even interior or exterior color choices).

Oh Gosh, I am driving myself crazy with this thread!!!!

[elmadi]

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.

[cooper4us]

Elmadi, your wife can always keep the CVT...

[BartMack]

I appreciate this thread, as I am having some second thoughts about my CVT. It is an incredibly beautiful car, BRG/BRG with premium package & 17" aftermarket wheels, and I prefer the Cooper to the MCS anyway, but I find I'm having a yearning for a 5 speed now rather than the CVT! What to do??

A friend pointed out to me that many people would give their eye-teeth to drive what I drive! Its just 1 month old and 2500 miles, (I drove it every day around the outskirts of the city to get through the break in period!)

Should I try to sell it? Should I trade it in and get a Cooper with Premium & Sport? Should I just wait awhile? Has anyone else been through this? I don't want to seem either ungrateful or indecisive, I think it took some getting to know the car for me to understand the exact specs I want. I think I would go Pure Silver with Black roof & mirrors & 16" 5-star or carry over my 17"s.

Perspective on this is appreciated.......

[MINIsota_Cuke]

BartMack,
I'm curious. If you are considering the 5-speed Cooper to replace your CVT - why did you buy it in the first place?

My dilemma is giving up the power of the S for the convenience of the CVT. If they made a CVT with more BHP then I would be in heaven.

Shawn

[nfo]

i drive a cvt cooper and i'm ready for a S.
i wish i could afford to have both, but that's not an option! in the meantime i'm buying wheels and ice for my current cooper, when i've had enough of this car, i'll just transfer my goodies over to a new S! that's my plan.
the mini is a great car anyway you look at it.
some people like like chocolate, some like vanilla, some like strawberry! i like all three!

[BartMack]

Shawn, I think I thought the steptronic would be enough for me. I had always always driven a stick up until I bought a Jeep Cherokee 4x4 in Jan 2000, and it seemed like a wonderful relief to not have to shift anymore. So I wasn't sure I wanted to be shifting gears all the time again. But see all my stick shift cars before were just cars...they were not Coopers!! Driving this Cooper has revived my ejoyment of driving altogether. An expensive lesson, no doubt!

(so now I'm hoping when I do get the 5spd that I don't suddenly decide I need an S! )

[collibosher]

i love my CVT. its finally a viable transmission option in smaller cars and much more technologically advanced than a plain old manual! if mini only offered a regular automatic then i may have reconsidered.. but you have the SD mode and the steptronic.. which isnt quite the same as regular shifting but still has a nice fun factor... i often think it would've been nice to get the manual but the CVT is such a convenient and revolutionary transmission i quickly forget!

[swamos]

I've had a loan car for a few days now with cvt. I'd have to say that I prefer my S. The cvt is good in drive mode in the city, but when the road turns into that windy country backroad, all the various things happening with the cvt were distracting me from driving. In steptronic mode, I couldn't seem to decide between 2,d and 3rd when punting out of corners. In the S, 2nd is really good from 50 to 100+ kph.

IMHO summary, if I had a physical impairment that stoped me from driving manuals, or drove in stop-start traffic 90+ percent of the time I'd go with the cvt. Otherwise, I wouldn't pay for it. Save your money, and buy a cooper with 16" wheels.

[MINIsota_Cuke]

Does anyone know if the 145bhp Cooper conversion advertised by minisport work with the CVT?
If so, would this violate the warrenty?
Thanks,
Shawn