Standard (manual) transmission or automatic transmission?

[John2234]

Hi, everyone. I really fall in love with Mini Cooper S, and I seriously want to get one. However, some of my female friends suggest that driving a Mini is like what girls would do (which I don't agree with). As a result, I consider to drive a manual one (which I think it's kind of man's driving style).

I am living in City of Vancouver where hills are everywhere. And I am a new driving who used to drive automatic transmision car.

So, how do you feel when you are driving a manual/automatic Mini Cooper S? I have watched many videos or reviews, and the cars seemed to be manual all the time.

[The Eggman]

Stick shift as they say in The States, auto "S"NEVER !!

[John2234]

Thanks for the reply. But I really wonder how the automatic mini fell like, is it smooth?

[Pom Down Under]

I have just bought an Auto S as I do mainly city driving and the wife cannot drive a manual (some would say there is a good reason to buy a manual!!)
I find the Auto the best of both worlds, if you want a manual, just put the car into sports shift and use the paddles or push the gear leaver if you so desire.
Yes the box is as smooth as any other auto I have ever driven.

[cruzzzo]

go for the manual man, there's no feeling like the left leg and left hand in action together

[Lawrothegreat]

If you decide to opt for a manual, make sure you practise using a clutch in another car. It takes a small while to learn how to use a clutch properly, during which time you'll otherwise be wearing the clutch on your pride and joy. And they cost.

[HarryHBMCC]

The current Cooper S tranny has hill assist which is great! It holds the brake for you for 2 seconds so you won't slip backward and don't have to either burn the clutch or use the hand brake. If that is your main worry then MINI has you covered. While it isn't bad advice to learn on an old junker I actually find that confusing for first time stick drivers; you tend to learn that car's clutch grab point and another car will be different and confusing at first. When you've driven as many manual cars as I have you just figure out the clutch point in a few minutes but your second clutch is actually in some ways harder than your first as you need to learn the differences.

On the flipside if you've really never driven stick then you may be disappointed to own a new car which you can hardly drive.

I've always driven stick shifts so I knew I wanted one. I drove an automatic S for 3 days while my 2005 was having its tranny replaced and while the power is nice and the paddles are fun they are in no way a replacement for a real clutch and gear shift. In some ways in sport mode it is probably faster as it will wait for 6000 RPM or so to shift but if you WANT it to shift right when you ask it to by pressing the paddles you'll be disappointed. It is an automatic and pressing the paddles or pushing the stick forward or backward is only a suggestion and there is a delay in it actually 'shifting'. Compare this to a real manual which you control completely with your left foot and the stick and you'll see there is no comparison for really rowing your own. You can also skip gears which I often do, accelerating hard through 1st, 2nd and sometimes 3rd and then just skipping to a higher gear when I reach my cruising speed. There is no reason to go through all the gears unless your top speed is 240km/h :-D

I also found I had to put the automatic S into sport mode or the manual mode to get good response. Response was poor otherwise off the line though fine once you were moving.

Just my personal opinions but I didn't just take a spin in an auto S, I had this 2009 automatic S for 3 whole days so I put it through its paces and the paddles seemed pretty useless to me.

[bardot]

This subject has particular meaning for me - because my wife does not drive standard shift car - and the question of being selfish (by my choosing manual over auto) has reared its head - did Sarah even notice?. In my defense - the car being replaced was a manual Porsche 944 - vintage 1984/ so at least there was that. But this is not about my married life. I drove the auto S -2007 year - and within 15 or 20 minutes knew it was not for me. The shifts were awkward and especially as one slowed for traffic or at intersections made unpleasant sounds and hunting to get in appropriate gear.

Subsequently - as part of warranty here in states - while having my 2007 MCS serviced - dealer was good enuf to let me use a 2008 auto tran car. My initial reactions were verified - /// Course, I have re-entered the ranks of ...batchelorhood ism but that's not BMW's fault. By the way - do you find inordinate amount of tailgating / lack of manners as one tools around in a Mini? Almost as if some drivers look at our cars as only for college girls on way to beach. And not - as in my case - a hot racer in straight line to divorce court.
Regards,
Barry

[dakini]

it really comes down to personal choice. i'd call up the dealer and test drive both and see which you like better.

i wasn't a regular manual driver before i bought my manual S ... but I decided to buy the manual after test driving both. of course, i live in a place without hills and although i do mainly city driving, it's rarely stop and go traffic jams.

the types of driving you mention in vancouver ... lots of hills and stop and go traffic ... are both good reasons to consider an automatic.

in the end, it comes down to how you want to use the car, and what feels best to you behind the wheel.

oh, and by the way, i'm a girl and i drive a manual. so forget what your idiot friends are saying is "girlie" versus "manly" ... they're FOS.

[davidrothschild]

Hi,
If you're buying an S than you're buying a very peppy car. It would be a shame to buy an automatic, though they drive great.
If you drive in lots of traffic or mostly in the city, or have back or left knee problems, a automatic would be the way to go. I've been shifting gears for 32 years. I had enough of it and in Holland either you're always in traffic or driving at speeds that will lead to expensive speeding tickets.
If you make it to Germany, you can pretty much do what you want as far as sporty driving is concerned, though I just got a speeding ticket both there and in Switzerland.
If you getting an S, I'd go for the manual transmission. I bought a 2002 cooper just to avoid the speeding tickets an S will bring and the extra cost.
What ever you buy, you'll enjoy it. If you buy an automatic, make sure the transmission is in good shape and only buy it from a reputable dealer with a substantial guarantee.

[Black_on_Black_R56]

If your living in downtown Vancouver with a Cooper S, you wont really get the feel for it until you hit the mountains! It's made for all the turns BC has to offer. But if you are a regular city driver... and having heard about how a couple inches of snow can slow down traffic alot as well, maybe just stick to auto and pop it into sport when the time is right!

Enjoy!
PS: Go for a test drive

[Gust0o]

The Cooper S is not a "girly" car, by any means - it's simply for people who want to have some fun in their driving, regardless of what bits of gear they've got downstairs.

In respect of that fun, I'd be tempted to go for the manual - however, that's me; a chap who grew up driving manual in the North of England. I appreciate it might be a little more difficult for someone sat in Vancouver with years of automatic experience.

Any chance you can get a test drive in a dealership, to see and feel for yourself? It might be worth finding a manual-driving mate first, to get your bearings in working the gears, but experiencing it for yourself will pay dividends.