I've had my MCS for about 6 weeks and I LOVE IT.... ADORE IT... but I'm finding it difficult to change gears smoothly. I'm sure it's my style of driving (my last car was a 1972 Beetle) so I'm hoping that some of you more experienced MINI drivers can help.
When I change gear, I can see out of the corner of my eye the front passenger being (gently) thrown forward then back into the seat (it feels much smoother to me but I suppose that's because I'm holding on to the steering wheel!!). I don't really push my MCS usually as I do most of my driving in central London where lots of cameras are lurcking around, and when I have passengers in the car, they are of the sort that prefer a smooth, safe drive (if you know what I mean).
Any advice on my driving technique would be much appreciated.
With my current car (5 spd I4)....
Higher revs with slower acceleration (that how an auto does it too) and fethering the cluch more between 1st and 2nd. Eats more gas but gives you a smother ride. That and with the AC on it smooths mine right out (maybe more load on the engine makeing my acc slower?).
My only advice is to shift very smoothly and deliberately - don't force it into the next gear, just exert pressure on the side of the stick to direct it to the next gear gate. Once it slips in then feather the clutch and throttle to bring revs up to match road speed. Just try and do things deliberately and not force anything.
A side benefit is that when the box is shifted deliberately, rather than forced into the next gear, your syncrhos will essentially last forever, especially the 2nd gear synchro.
The Mini engine is a relatively show revver with heavy flywheels, so I find it fairly easy to be smooth.
pappillon - I remember posting something very similar when I got my Cooper 18 months ago. Not much more I can add really, 1st and 2nd really benefit from slowly bringing the clutch up, once you're coming out of 2nd into 3rd you can bring the clutch up much more quickly. Somedays I'm really good at it, but when I'm tired or hungover I usually can't be bothered!
I have test driven two MCS's. The first one was about 3,000 miles old and the gearbox was pretty stiff, compared to the 5 speed in the Cooper it was horrid. Then I drove a MCS with 15,000 miles on it and what a difference. Hopefully as you put more miles on your car the gearbox will smooth out a bit but if you are looking for a real smooth drive I don't think yourll ever get it from a MCS. Also, you will learn how to drive the car the smoothest over time. I must admit I have similar concerns for when my MCS arrives but I'm sure it will sort itself out.
I'm in the northern clime where it's supposed to get down to 5°F (-15°C) soon and gotta think that stainless steel ball gets pretty cold. Even at mid 30's (0-10°C) where you may not wear gloves, how's it feel?
But, you still want to avoid bringing up the RPMs, right? To avoid clutch wear? He still wants to wait until the clutch is fully out to increase RPMs.....
Well surely that depends on how many miles have been done. I wouldn't recommend hard wear on your clutch because obviously you want to look after your car but revving the car won't break to the clutch. The car has been designed to be revved, clutch included.
I know what you mean about wanting to provide a smooth ride for passengers, the smoother I drive the less likely I am to trigger the rev limiter in the passenger seat.
Two things here I guess, the first is basic technique, fast in with the clutch - slowly out. You then need to get accustomed to the biting point of the clutch so you can let the clutch out quicker but go through that point more smoothly.
The more complicated side would be avoiding 'shunt' on down changes by matching engine speed to roadspeed - this would require you to heel and toe - basically give the throttle a blip with the side of your right (braking foot), before reengaging the clutch. You need to practise this by yourself on a quiet bit of road.
That' something else I learned on this site I haven't perfected it yet but it certainly makes for smooth downshifts. One thing I've noticed about the MINI on downshifts is unless you blip the throttle or change down at the right speed, the clutch grabs quite strongly. It seems more apparent than any other car I've driven.
IMHO my MC with a Whalen is smoother than ANY auto box. It just takes practice. If you've grown up with "stick shifts" then it'll be natural anyway, otherwise, just get loads of miles under your belt and it'll come.
It's all about timing.......and heel and toe....ing (if you can do it). Motorcyclists "heel and toe" all the time (it's not just about the sound ) by blipping the throttle on downshifts - I guess you'd call it "hand and toe"??
But a MC gearbox is VERY different to a MCS box. The MCS box is alot stiffer and the clutch is heavier too, so its so much harder to drive smoothly. The two cars feel very different. I personally much prefer the gearbox in the MC because its so much easier to change and is by far the smoother.
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ADORE IT... 
How's the Whalen in the cold weather? 
I haven't perfected it yet but it certainly makes for smooth downshifts. One thing I've noticed about the MINI on downshifts is unless you blip the throttle or change down at the right speed, the clutch grabs quite strongly. It seems more apparent than any other car I've driven.
