[Spookyfish]

The dealer called me yesterday telling me their new CVT car was ready. So I told him I was eager to take a quick testdrive today and keep the appointment for nov 4th with my girlfriend.

So I got well over an hour of Cooper CVT and I'm lovin' it!. This was a brand new car (2004 spec) with 25km on it. I added another 50 or so.

I think the car is plenty fast. I hardly used SD and steptronic because this car hadn't been run in. Slow speed operation is very smooth for me. Pulling away from a traffic light is way better than a manual transmission. On the freeway accelerating from 120km/h is plenty fast as well.

I can feel a slight 'downshift' delay when I punch the gas in order to overtake, but nothing that worries me.

What I didn't like - and I had the same in a manual Cooper I drove a few weeks back - is that my right knee (LHD) hurts against the left vertical center bar or whatever you'd call them. I think some padding will do the trick.

I'm currently driving a manual 2002 Renault Clio (98hp, 0-100km/h in 10.5, top 185km/h) and used to have an automatic 1989 Audi 80 (90hp, 0-100km/h eventually, top ~ 180km/h).

[Sejanus]

It's a great car, but try and find one you can play around with the SD and steptronic mode on. They really add an extra dimension to driving the CVT MINI.

[Spookyfish]

I tried a little SD and steptronic.

The SD mode was very nice for quicker overtaking or quickly getting up to speed.

I couldn't figure out steptronic mode within the hour. It's quite a different experience than a normal manual transmission. This surprised me a bit after having read about it alot. Also using the steering wheel paddles in steptronic mode while making a tight turn is next to impossible.

[nonsequitur]

Haven't seen the steering wheel paddles yet; interesting comment on making a tight turn that begs questions on how that all works.

Can you select up or down from either side of the wheel? Are you using a "racing-style" grip on the wheel (keeping you hands at roughly 9/3 but twisted) or are you in such a corner that hand-over-hand movement is happening? What could change to make it easier?

[Spookyfish]

Quote: Originally Posted by nonsequitur

Can you select up or down from either side of the wheel?

Yes

Quote: Originally Posted by nonsequitur

Are you using a "racing-style" grip on the wheel (keeping you hands at roughly 9/3 but twisted) or are you in such a corner that hand-over-hand movement is happening? What could change to make it easier?

When you keep your hands at 10-to-2 or quater-to-three there is no issue. Fixed paddles behind the wheel might help...

[nonsequitur]

I'm sorry for the follow-up delay. If using the paddles is "no issue" with your hands at 9/3 or 10/2 in a tight turn, then what is the issue with the design?

The whole concept is a bit clumsy, and it took some time to sort it out for F1 as an example, but there has been progress. I'm told the Audi and Ferrari wheels work fairly well. True?

I may get a chance to see the new Audi RS6 this weekend, and there's rumor that one of the Ferrari Enzo owners will make an appearance in this track event as well. We'll see ,,,

[Spookyfish]

Hairpins for example require you to move your hand away from the 10/2 position in a 'passing through the steering wheel' fashion. If you *then* want to change a gear you're best of using the floor-mounted gear lever.

I found this out when pulling a way from a traffic light, turing left 100 degrees.

So what I meant to say was: when you are able to keep your hands where they belong, you're fine. If the turn is too tight and you need to move your hands around, you're better of not using the steering wheel mounted paddles.

[nonsequitur]

OK, and I can see what you mean now. Thanks. I've been trying to work the wheel without changing hand positions, but the practical limit is about 200 degrees of rotation.