Reverse Gear

[MINI ADI]

Hi
I have just taken delivery of a D for a driving school car.Now my problem is getting the gear stick over the "hump"to select reverse . It seams very stiff to me but some female pupils find it nearly impossible.Do others find this and could anyone having a test drive check it out for me.

Regards colin.

[Paul]

It does ease up, but it's never easy.

There are of course manufacturing/construction tolerances, so some are stiffer than others, but it certainly offers a fair bit of 'resistance'.

I would point out you soon 'learn' the best way to slip it in without too much trouble, but that wont help each time you have a new student. Test time could also be tricky, the examiner might think it's a problem with gearbox control when it's just a sticky shifter?

[KenL]

I had an S for a couple of days. I found it stiff and my wife had real trouble until we realised the best way for us was to sort of slap it across. It definitely was tough if you just tried to push it over from neutral.

The car I had was fairly new (1500 miles) so maybe they loosen up.

[MINI ADI]

Hi

Just an update on the selection problem.
It is getting a little easier to select reverse .
The dealer has offered to take the car back and return my original mini one ( or do a deal on a new mini one )but I think I will stick with the D as the pupils prefer it to the one.

Regards colin.

[gibbon]

The GETRAG 6-speed box one the OneD is fantastic
(I'm sure all the cooper S owners feel the same way)

and i just love the way you slap the shift over into reverse
"just slap it in" said the rather attractive french sales assistant on the test drive as she breathed heavily over my shoulder !

my :white: is now approaching 4000km and both the engine & gearbox are loosening up nicely ... gearbox was definately a bit "clunky" at first but you could feel it getting better after just 500km


all the best

[GOLDMINI]

Think my reverse gear has loosened up as well.
But I prefer to 'tug' it across instead of slapping....

Approaching 1200 miles and the whole car is loosening up nicely

[MINIALEX]

Speed is the key - I found it difficult the first time I drove an S but was told just to be quick and forceful and it was easy.

[Lurcher]

MINI ADI,
Got a D coming at the end of this month(hopefully) after ordering it yest. Also an adi having used mini one previously for tuition. Would welcome any advice tips re the diesel re learners etc.
Been told more forgiving re stalls.
Whats yours returning mpg. Noted your comments re reverse gear.
Thanks

GOLDMINI,
Thanks for the welcome.

[gibbon]

The car is quite easy to stall if the AC is on... you need to rev it slightly more before slipping the clutch, I stalled it a couple of times on the 1st day. Also the electronic accelerator pedal is sometimes a bit "slow" to respond so yeah, forgive new pupils stalling a bit more often than you'd expect

I got an incredible 4.88L/100km (what's that in mpg ? !) on a 520km run to Brittany a couple of weeks ago, but quite a lot of dual-carridgeway, cruising along effortlessly in 6th. Around town & on shorter runs, it's averaging 5.8L/100km

Agree 100% with GOLDMINI ... perhaps "slap" wasn't the right word () ... just slide the selector over to the left, then a firm push will engage the reverse gear... it's very easy.

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by gibbon

got an incredible 4.88L/100km (what's that in mpg ? !)

Click on the 'fuel and power conversions' link under each post/and from the 'technical' drop down menu and you can find out.

[gibbon]

yo nice one

[gibbon]

funny how you never see stuff when it's staring at you !!!! or maybe I just had a little TOO MUCH red wine last night