Mini Cooper S Automatic (MCSa) - 1 week old - My review

[mg_atx]

Hi,

Since I had to order my MCSa without ever having test-driven one... and thinking others may be in the same boat... I thought I'd post my review of mine. This is a review of the combination of the MCS engine and the Automatic transmission, so I won't talk about any other features of the car. Here goes:

Overall: Great, I love it!

My background - I feel this is important because people are going to immediately rip into the manual vs automatic argument and I'm only going to have to explain this later:

I learned to drive on a manual in the UK and have driven several medium-fast manual cars (various rentals, an Audi A4 turbo and a Rover 216si at various times) so I am not totally alien to the manual transmission. I generally prefer autos though, my MCSa is replacing a Nissan 200sx auto (2.0l, DOHC, twin spark) and I've had a Honda/Acura Integra auto in the past. I have owned crappy 3-speed autos too, and despise them as much as anyone.

My other car is an automatic with a tiptronic box, and I never use it in tiptronic mode, there doesn't seem to be any point with a 4-speed auto and a normal torque convertor.

I have driven an old Mini manual (an 1100 I think). In my teenage years a good friend had a Mini 1300s manual (this is one of the faster variants of the old Mini, not quite a Cooper but close) and 5 of use would barrel around London in it. I live in the US now.

So - I test drove the vehicles they had at the Mini Center in San Antonio last October - a Cooper CVT and an MCS manual.

I did not like the Cooper CVT at all, it works backwards from a traditional auto, instead of revs increasing as your foot goes down, torque increases and the car goes faster because the gear ratio increases at the same time, but revs stay pretty much the same. It's very odd to me, and would not have ordered one of those.

The MCS is, well, the MCS. It's a great and very fast car no doubt, but I felt I had to do a lot of work with the gearbox to keep it lively. It was worth it to have to put up with the manual to own such a fun car. I didn't order right away, more research to do...

Then I found the MCSa was coming, and even better, that it was going to have a proper (non-CVT) 6-speed auto box. More digging, and I find that the 6-speed box is made by Aisin, who supply the transmissions to a lot of high-end European makes (Audi TT and others). I was sold on the MCSa at that point.

Fast-forward to last week, when I picked it up. It is every bit as fabulous as I had expected, perhaps more so.

The engine, of course, is great, there is tremendous pick-up once you hit about 3000RPM or so, and 4500RPM (which I am not supposed to go over during the break-in period) comes up remarkably quickly after that.

IMO the best feature of this transmission is the torque convertor, probably a result of design that they have been able to do by virtue of the 6 speeds. If you don't know, the torque convertor is the magic thing in an auto box that allows it to work without a clutch.

People who complain about automatic transmissions are usually complaining about two things: the relatively small number of gears (3 or 4 in most auto boxes) and the torque convertor, which is usually designed to slip in every gear except the top gear. Mini (or Aisin) have managed to address both of these issues in the MCSa design.

In every gear other than 1 and 2, it feels as if the transmission bypasses the torque convertor entirely (like there's a lock-up). This is a very good thing. It's really noticeable in 3rd and 4th gears, it's like the engine is directly connected to the gearbox with no slippage detectable. Unlike most auto transmissions, if you take your foot off the accelerator in 3 or 4 the car will start heavy engine braking immediately - just like a manual. Put your foot down harshly and the car will jerk forwards - just like a manual. Very little slippage is detectable in the torque convertor. Awesome.

Gears 3 and 4 are clearly the "fun" gears. 5th is OK, the car still pulls well in 5th, but 4th is really the one for passing from 50-70MPH in a hurry. 6th is a bit too high in my opinion, but useful for a long-distance cruise. Don't expect to accelerate much in 6th (of course, my foot is not that heavy yet, still breaking it in). 1st seems a bit useless, it's too low to do much in, and because of the limited slip of the torque convertor, if you shift into it at anything more than 5 or 6 MPH it will jerk you forwards as the engine brakes. The main purpose of 2 is to get you to 3 quickly.

There are really three ways to use the car with this transmission:

Normal (D) mode: Seems best suited to parking lots, long-distance cruising and congested traffic. It's the way I would drive with a driving test examiner in the car. I would say this mode has a slightly too high preference for the higher gears and shifts up a bit too early, so the engine lugs a bit. Of course since I am still breaking in the car my foot is not that heavy yet, maybe with a heavier foot it would be more responsive. Nevertheless, this is a useful mode for the situations noted above.

Sport Driving (SD) mode: The shifts are a bit low for parking lots and congestion (unless you like to pull 3000RPM through a parking lot at 12MPH). This is a good mode if you have medium congestion on roads with speed limits from 40-60MPH, or where you want to have fun on something twisty but can't be bothered to shift that day. This mode likes to keep the revs of the engine between 3000 and 4500 RPM it seems - right where the power band is.

The SD mode is *very* well programmed. The way the SD mode works is that it picks the gear until you override it (with the stick or the steering wheel paddles) and then you are in manual mode. In most traffic situations I have been in (225 miles so far) the SD mode picks exactly the gear I would have chosen for the same speed and conditions. Totally intuitive.

Manual (M) mode: This is where it gets fun. You start down the twisty two-lane road, no place to pass, there's traffic in front of you, so you slow down to 30 to let them get ahead. Wait a minute or two for them to get some distance, then open it up and catch up with them in 45 seconds. Repeat. You've all done it.

The manual shifting paddles are the absolute best feature of the MCSa engine/gearbox combo. There is the stick for changing gears too, but you will never use it.

I was initially a bit disappointed by the fact that they are not true F1-style (one paddle to shift up, the other to shift down), rather, pull either to shift up, push either to shift down. The wisdom in this design decision becomes obvious the first time you turn the wheel 180 degrees and forget which is the left paddle and which is the right. So it's OK.

You are in (almost) complete control of the gearbox and engine in the Manual mode. The experience is very, very like a manual. There are several distinct advantages over the manual though:
- You are unlikely to shift into the wrong gear. You're in 4th and want to go to 5th, but the detent in the gearbox takes you to third. Ouch! We've all done it in a manual. Not gonna happen in the MCSa unless you accidentally push the paddle instead of pull it.
- You don't have to take your hands off the steering wheel to change gear. I don't care what any manual-maniacs say: all else being equal, having 2 hands on the steering wheel is better than one, no question.
- You can change gears faster. Let's review.
- Manual: move hand off of steering wheel towards gear lever. Simultaneously, begin to depress clutch and lighten up a bit on the accelerator. If you've timed it right, your clutch foot will be down when your hand gets to the gearstick, and you can begin to throw the lever to the appropriate position, being careful to move the stick left or right as appropriate as well as up and down. Then reverse all the above, and you can depress the accelerator again to enjoy your new gear.
- Automatic: Pull on the paddle. Or push to shift down.
I know the MCSa is slower from 0-60 than the MCS but I wonder about which is faster in changing gears in the midrange and especially when the road gets bendy. If I was really concerned about 0-60, I would have bought something with 300HP but no manoueverability.
- If it's good enough for Schumacher, it's good enough for me. I figure that the F1 guys know a thing or two about operating a car at high speeds on something a bit more challenging than an oval.

The not-so-good stuff:
- I really don't like the kick-down so much. I know, I'm not supposed to use it, and I try not to, but sometimes it happens when you don't know it's going to - it's hard to tell exactly where it will kick down. Since the feedback in the accelerator pedal is (I think) electronic, it would be good to increase the resistance slightly just before it kicks down, so you know. Won't be so much of a problem when it's broken in...
- Kickdown in manual (M) mode: I don't like this, and I hope it's fixable in software in the transmission. IMO the car should not kick down in manual mode, but it appears that it does. Then it does not kick back up when the revs go up. So you end up in a different gear from what you told the car you wanted. It's acceptable to kick-down in an automatic mode, but not in manual IMO.
- Yes, the car is a bit heavier with the auto, and the torque convertor probably does take a little power, but hopefully the 7HP power boost in the 2005 model year will make up for that somewhat...

So, overall, a great package. I know I've talked a lot about it being "Manual-like" and it really is in my opinion. That implies that manual is better, and it may be for when you want to have fun with the car.

With the MCSa you have absolutely all the advantages of the manual when you want it, and all the advantages of a full-automatic when you don't. Very, very well done.

I hope to see you all there in your MCSa's soon...

Marc

[beekman]

Great to read someone's impressions who has actually lived with the car for a while!

One thing confused me on your 'don't like' list though - are you saying that in manual mode, the transmission will drop down a gear if you suddenly depress the gas pedal really hard, standard slush-box style? Or are you talking about when you slow the car down drastically to a stop or slow roll and it drops down into 2nd gear automatically?

[Paul]

Nice report/review, thanks for sharing.

[AndyP]

Hi Marc,

We picked our MCSa up on the 1st March and I have to agree with everything you said in your well written and very insightful review.

I noticed the kickdown sometimes reacting a little too enthusiastically and actually dropping two gears instead of just one. For the moment I am putting it down to me actually learning how to treat the car, and to get a feel for how heavy you need to be with your right foot to get the results you want.

However, it has to be said the "Manual" mode has to be the absolute bees knees!

Great review. have fun with the car.

AndyP

[HyperBlueS]

Great review! Mine is scheduled for a mid april delivery and can't wait for it to hit state side. A couple of questions as I had only test driven an MCSa twice (I know it is a luxury since most did not get the opportunity, very lucky I must say) for a few short runs....

1) I have read about the old CVT and how it has been improved, I noticed though that on my "Review Order Detail" in the owners lounge that it lists the Automatic with cvt in parenthesis. I hope I am not getting one of the old auto transmissions and was wondering if yours listed the same, I just want to make sure they are not trying to pass off one of the old ones into my 05 MCSa.

2) I know that there are three modes of driving, D, SD and M. Since I test drove at night after work I did not get a great look at the options on the stick, it seemed to me that there was only two modes D and M with selecting M by putting the shifter all the way to the right. Anywho just curious as to how it is exactly selected.


Thanks for the review!

Neil

[Kenmini]

COngradulation on your New MINI !!! ... I'm sure you're gonna love it .... I'm also a New Owner of a HB/HB MCSA for one week now ... I couldn't agree more to what you mention about the MCSA ... but let me throw in my 2 cent about our MCSA too ... !

1)the AUTO Tranny is reaction time is very quick ... alot quicker than my friends 330ia... I find it quiet smart that it will down shift very quickly for me when ever I slow down .. sometime even quicker than I Wanted .. thus giving me a very mild degree of lurching ( if thats the proper descriptive term for it ) somewhat similar to the CVT tranny. when ever I'm in D mode accerlating to about 70KM but not over .. it tends to keep its gear in 4th reving at about 2700 something RPM ... and no matter how long I curise for, it will stay in that gear until I speed up pass 70 for it to shift up.

2) I'm hearing this Popping noise when ever I down shift in steptronic mode .. Hmmm ... whats making this noise .. I read about it and what I found out is that its actually cool for the MCS to do that plus MCS owner likes it ...

3) my front mud flaps really do work ! and I love them ... I remember I got a MC loaner once without a mudflap and I drove over slush and snow with it .... I came out of the MC to find out that alot of slush was made its way up to both side of the doors ( half way up _and it looks really nasty after it dried up ... with my mud flaps now ... there literally very little to no slush that gets on to my doors ... only very little bits will touch the bottom black trim on my door.

4) I had a 30 min drive with my 17" RF sports tires until I mounted my 15" snow on my MCSA on the same day I picked up my MCSA. ....couldn't say much about the performance of the tires but I feel very connnected to the road And a bit bumpy ... I Know I'm gonna miss the awsome acceleration and more comfortable ride of the 15" when I put my 17" S-spoke back on ! ahahah...

[mg_atx]

Quote: Originally Posted by beekman

Great to read someone's impressions who has actually lived with the car for a while!

One thing confused me on your 'don't like' list though - are you saying that in manual mode, the transmission will drop down a gear if you suddenly depress the gas pedal really hard, standard slush-box style? Or are you talking about when you slow the car down drastically to a stop or slow roll and it drops down into 2nd gear automatically?

Thanks... it's only been a week, it feels both very new and very familiar at the same time, hard to describe...

When slowing, I've mostly been shifting down before it does, it seems like about 2000RPM is a good place to do that, except 2-1 which should only be done below 8 or 10 MPH.

If I happen to forget and the engine shifts down for me while slowing, that's not a problem. When slowing, there's one of three things that could happen after you shift down:
- you could slow down more, so it's a good thing you're in a lower gear
- you could maintain the same (lower) speed, it's ok to be in a lower gear
- you could speed up, in which case it's good to be in a lower gear.
So overall, when slowing, foot off the accelerator, if the transmission shifts down to put you in a lower gear, it's generally a good thing IMO.

The situation is different when accelerating though. If I'm accelerating and I (or the car) shifts down, then the most likely thing that is going to happen next is that I would want to continue accelerating. But you're probably already close to the top end of the lower gear, and would want to shift back up soon after, and that part doesn't happen.

The specific thing that happened in my case was me taking a fast but sharp right on to a slip road with heavy traffic on it, having to merge across 3 lanes of traffic traveling about 40MPH in a short distance to get on the freeway onramp. 3rd gear would be perfect for this manouever, so I selected 3rd just before the right turn. Go through the turn about 20-25MPH in 3rd, need to accelerate some to match the speed of the traffic on the road. Next thing I know there's no pick-up, I can't accelerate past 30 or so, and I notice the transmission is in 2nd, not what I wanted. (Yes, ok, so the stereo was on loud)

So kind-of less than ideal, something to watch out for if it happens to you.

Marc

[mg_atx]

Quote: Originally Posted by HyperBlueS

Great review! Mine is scheduled for a mid april delivery and can't wait for it to hit state side. A couple of questions as I had only test driven an MCSa twice (I know it is a luxury since most did not get the opportunity, very lucky I must say) for a few short runs....

1) I have read about the old CVT and how it has been improved, I noticed though that on my "Review Order Detail" in the owners lounge that it lists the Automatic with cvt in parenthesis. I hope I am not getting one of the old auto transmissions and was wondering if yours listed the same, I just want to make sure they are not trying to pass off one of the old ones into my 05 MCSa.

2) I know that there are three modes of driving, D, SD and M. Since I test drove at night after work I did not get a great look at the options on the stick, it seemed to me that there was only two modes D and M with selecting M by putting the shifter all the way to the right. Anywho just curious as to how it is exactly selected.


Thanks for the review!

Neil

Thanks!

1. Mine said CVT too, but I checked with my "Motoring Advisor" and was assured it would be the 6-speed. That said, I would still call if I were you.

2. D is with the stick in the left position. If you move it to the right you are in SD and will stay in SD until you shift up or down (with the paddles or stick). Then you are in M until you move the stick to the left.

Interestingly, if you are in D you can also use the paddles to temporarily shift up or down. It returns to D after 10-15 seconds or so. It's useful to shift down before you start that overtaking move...

Hope this helps,

Marc

[nonsequitur]

Quote: Originally Posted by HyperBlueS

1) I have read about the old CVT and how it has been improved, I noticed though that on my "Review Order Detail" in the owners lounge that it lists the Automatic with cvt in parenthesis. I hope I am not getting one of the old auto transmissions and was wondering if yours listed the same, I just want to make sure they are not trying to pass off one of the old ones into my 05 MCSa.

You are definitely getting the Aisin AW TF-61SN 6-Speed geared Automatic Transmission, with a torque converter. I don't know what may be happening in the website detail you are seeing, but the MCS does not carry a CVT. Please alert 1-866-ASK-MINI to make sure they know so it can be resolved for everyone.

The CVT installed in the Cooper and One is not "old" by the way!

I continue to enjoy the development of this Forum on the MCSa. Those participating here are typically bringing insight, suggestions, great questions, and useful experience to their posts, which how a community of enthusiasts grows stronger.

Keep it up!

[Boo]

Sounds like the Auto is a good on, thanks for the reviews all

[HyperBlueS]

The CVT installed in the Cooper and One is not "old" by the way!




Sorry about that! Very true, not "old" but the 05 version. Actually I am really new to the whole "motoring" thing and find the forums here to be fantastic, and has assured me that I along with others are making the right choice by buying a Mini (auto, manual, cabrio whatever). Also, being stateside I think that if they also offerred a One that it might be a big hit here, anything to get more Mini's on the road! I know that I would have gone for a One a year or two ago....

Thanks again for the help!

[Tom B]

Quote: Originally Posted by mg_atx

2. D is with the stick in the left position. If you move it to the right you are in SD and will stay in SD until you shift up or down (with the paddles or stick). Then you are in M until you move the stick to the left.

Interestingly, if you are in D you can also use the paddles to temporarily shift up or down. It returns to D after 10-15 seconds or so. It's useful to shift down before you start that overtaking move...

Hope this helps,

Marc

Marc,
I apologize in advance for seeming to be dense. I've been told it comes with my advanced age. Along with repeating myself. Along with repeating myself.

On a serious note.....When you're in SD mode, where does the tranny shift? I seem to remember, during my test drive, that they were held until 6,000 - 6,400 RPM. Also, when in the MANUAL mode, the transmission will shift up or down for you if the gear you selected is "inappropriate" for the speed. In either case, is the transmission merely bouncing off the rev-limiter ? Do you think it's OK to routinely let this happen?

Tom

[Wondaboy]

Marc, (or others)

I wonder if the kick downs will decrease as time goes on if your not driving dukes of hazard style? Have you noticed any changes over the week? I have no idea how long the software takes to learn your style.

Piers

[AprilWhine]

Thanks for the great review! I may be able to add some comments in about a month, my MCSCa is a week 12 build.

And the CVT is not old, it is an amazing bit of technology.

[Kraigster414]

How can I match that opening review. Excellent. I have had my 2005 MCSa for almost a week now and love it!! It's a totally different "feel" from my 2004 CVT which was a great car in its own right. The MCSa however knocks the socks off the CVT power wise. Nimble, super pickup from a dead stop, and passing is effortless - smooth and with authority. This car MOVES! (This is definately NOT your father's automatic!).

Couldn't be happier. This car is more fun than I deserve!