[29BQ]

Jeez.. this is so hard decision!

Compare:

Manual
Positive
1. more fun
2. faster
3. new experience
4. easier to use(you know how to do it)
5. save money, $1,240
6. after learn it, you can drive any car(with automatic or manual). Include travel another country, which most car have manual in europe.
7. chance to upgrade engine with manual.
8. more? idea? if, you got any idea, then, post it.

Negative
1. NIGHTMARE, when you're stuck in traffic jam.
2. no free hand *
3. harder to use(use it first time)
4. more? post it

CVT
positive
1. too easier
2. save your energy from traffic jam
3. free hand, while you drive *
4. it is American's favorite...(you know it is famous.. hehe)
5. more? post it

negative
1. slow as hell!
2. acceleration is PAINFUL!
3. boring
4. waste money, $1,240
5. same experience
6. upgrade engine with CVT? - unconfirm
7. more? post it


Note: *(free hand) mean that you can use something with your another hand while you drive. Example: you can drink a cup while you drive(with CVT).


Which one you think it's best?
thank you very much!
29BQ

PS: I live in St. Louis, MO. Also, I don't know how to use stick.. but, i hear it would be fun. My mom will teach me how to use it. I am 17 years old. ya, i am soo younger to get new Mini cooper!

[Marsh]

Hi 29BQ
Just a few points you have missed. I have driven both manual and automatics. As far as acceleration goes, in the real world of city and urban notorway driving, a decent automatic will outperform a manual. Yes, from 0-60mph a manual will always win, but how often does the need to accelerate from 0-60 occur? A good CVT will accelerate quicker from 0-40 and then starts to fall behind a manual. This initial acceleration gives a real advantage in city motoring. Yes, I have driven American cars with their dreadful, slushy automatic transmissions. However an advanced CVT, with a semi-manual spectronic type option as found in the MINI, is a very different kettle of fish. Try one you will be very surprised.
cheers
Marsh

[UCSDxBoi]

Manual... enough said.

[29BQ]

Quote:

Originally posted by Marsh
Hi 29BQ
Just a few points you have missed. I have driven both manual and automatics. As far as acceleration goes, in the real world of city and urban notorway driving, a decent automatic will outperform a manual. Yes, from 0-60mph a manual will always win, but how often does the need to accelerate from 0-60 occur? A good CVT will accelerate quicker from 0-40 and then starts to fall behind a manual. This initial acceleration gives a real advantage in city motoring. Yes, I have driven American cars with their dreadful, slushy automatic transmissions. However an advanced CVT, with a semi-manual spectronic type option as found in the MINI, is a very different kettle of fish. Try one you will be very surprised.
cheers
Marsh

Thank you for post!

Ya.. But, i am thinking about upgrade engine.. but, I doubt it will work with CVT.. well? I wish so..

thank you!
29BQ

[29BQ]

Interesting! it looks like most people(probably from european) prefers manual.. I hope some americans will come here and they will vote..
29BQ



*BUMP*

[Bill Sz.]

I don't know if my vote will count, since we are getting the best of both: Our Liquid Yellow Cooper CVT ... my wife's car ... is scheduled for delievery (according the owner's lounge) on April 13th., and our Dark Silver Cooper S ... my car ... is scheduled for delivery sometime in June. However, since my wife drives in stop-n-go commuter traffic, the CVT was a logical choice for her. And, from what I have read, using the CVT in the 6 speed "Sport Mode" will still guarantee you a whole heck of a lot of fun. The only unfortuante part is that when we had our test drive there were no CVT's in Southern California to test. So .... in a week or so we'll give you a more detailed report.

[daver]

a negative point of CVT is also higher fuel consumption.
I just read a preliminary cartest on the cooper with CVT and it consumed 9.5L/100KM, where the manual Cooper did 7.5L/100KM.

Altough it's merely an indication, the consumption with an automatic is still higher the n with a manual.

Like mentioned before the MINI's CVT is another cup of tea then the traditional (american?) automatics. Especially the manual mode (pull the stick to shift up and push to shift down) can give you the pleasure of a manual without the hassle in the traffic jams.

I personally prefer manual, but hey... I am european

Just take it for a testdrive and you'll know what to choose...
Daver

[groovy_jr]

Manual ofcourse!

[stanMINI]

As an American and as a driver, I would like to say that I would not even consider an automatic in a MINI. It is a sports car after all. Save the automatics for your family sedan.

[BrantV]

On some vehicles an automatic is wonderful. Especially if you want to smoothly cruise through town. However when it comes to the Cooper the CVT doesn't fit for me. It fails one important test.

Automatics are passive non-participatory.

I'm getting a Cooper S to actively enjoy the whole experience.

Rowing the gears
Matching revs on down shifts,
Ability to engine brake.
Choosing a gear for its penny pinching, gas sipping ratio, or heavy torque.
Coasting down hills in neutral.
The ability to decelerate while merging to match traffic without having to use the brakes. *

There's nothing wrong with the CVT or an automatic. I'd much prefer someone purchased a MINI with a CVT than a large gas guzzler.

* We have a serious problem in the States on our highways due to the use of automatics, and the use of only an all or nothing brake light. Drivers in automatics find themselves applying brake pressure to maintain speed down gentle slopes, and when traffic starts to gradually slow. This causes a chain reaction of panicked brake lights, as the drivers behind them think they're stopping and apply their brakes harder. The wave pulses backwards through traffic, until some car is forced to come to a complete stop. The problem will never vanish, but automatics don't help.

[PigLick]

Quote:

Originally posted by BrantV
* We have a serious problem in the States on our highways due to the use of automatics, and the use of only an all or nothing brake light. Drivers in automatics find themselves applying brake pressure to maintain speed down gentle slopes, and when traffic starts to gradually slow. This causes a chain reaction of panicked brake lights, as the drivers behind them think they're stopping and apply their brakes harder. The wave pulses backwards through traffic, until some car is forced to come to a complete stop. The problem will never vanish, but automatics don't help.

I suppose automatics do make this a bit worse, but the real problem is bad/inconsiderate drivers and following too close. If people would just pay more attention, be more considerate, and not follow so close, there would be no "panicked" braking. If I see brake lights suddenly appear ahead of me on the freeway, I rarely hit my own brakes right away. For one, I pay attention, so I usually know exactly why the person in front of me is braking, and can react accordingly. Secondly, I'm not so close on his ass that if I don't hit my brakes within .03 seconds I'll hit him, so I have time to decide if I want to brake, and how much.

What you say may be true, but I'm a bit cynical and from what I've seen, if everyone was driving manuals, we wouldn't have less traffic, we'd just have more rear-end collisions as people who weren't paying attention smash into the back of the car in front of them because they didn't realize they were slowing down in time.

PigLick

[MiniCooperS2002]

Regarding Americans and automatics, apparently we are switching over to manuals quickly. Cadillac is offering their first manual in 50 years on the CTS. I also think that the majority of MINI's sold will be manual, I mean why get a fun car with a boring tranny?

[Sejanus]

Quote:

Originally posted by PigLick


I suppose automatics do make this a bit worse, but the real problem is bad/inconsiderate drivers and following too close. If people would just pay more attention, be more considerate, and not follow so close, there would be no "panicked" braking. If I see brake lights suddenly appear ahead of me on the freeway, I rarely hit my own brakes right away. For one, I pay attention, so I usually know exactly why the person in front of me is braking, and can react accordingly. Secondly, I'm not so close on his ass that if I don't hit my brakes within .03 seconds I'll hit him, so I have time to decide if I want to brake, and how much.

What you say may be true, but I'm a bit cynical and from what I've seen, if everyone was driving manuals, we wouldn't have less traffic, we'd just have more rear-end collisions as people who weren't paying attention smash into the back of the car in front of them because they didn't realize they were slowing down in time.

PigLick

It is so weird to be reading this post after having nearly been crunched in exactly this sort of situation today. I was on my way home from a Giants Game at PacBell (They won, of course ), cruising along on I80 going into a curve, when the people up ahead see 2 CHP cars doing something on the side of the road. They all hit their brakes either out of fear of getting a ticket, or probably just good ole rubber necking and suddenly traffic went from 75 to a dead stop in the fast lane. I had plenty of room to stop (of course ), but the folks behind me scared the blank out of me. For me this confirmed what I've believed ever since I had a job driving a shuttle: that manual or automatic, human beings (myself included) are far too erratic and incompetent to ever be allowed to operate anything as dangerous as an automobile. Now if only my new MINI would get here so I can get out on the road in something really fun!

[Damo]

Why is CVT American's famous, when I thought it was invented and made by British Leyland?? Or is because American's prefer em.

Ok CVT is probably better in the real world, but Hey I've never been there in my live. Manual is more fun. I drive an Auto at the mo with Steptronic, and its just boring and lazy

ROLL ON MAY for some Manual fun (or until Colin lose's his senses again and lets me have another go in his)

[J3T]

(IMO!) I'm sorry but I bought my cooper to enjoy driving it and not be disconnected from it which lets face it an automatic does!

[29BQ]

Wow!!

Thank you for reply so much!
Anyway, it look like..
CVT: 50% positives, 50% negatives
Manual: 50% positive, 50% negatives
it's equal.. it is so hard to pick one. AHHH!! Help me!

So, i make another one thread. i hope it will be helpful..
Here: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...&threadid=5910

thank you very much!

Keeping post on!
29BQ

[scott]

how can you have a sporty, fun, fast, exciting car like the mini then stick an automatic gearbox in it. Half the fun about driving is dropping down the gear, over revving the engine etc etc. It'll always be manual for me.