New MINI Cooper S

mmmmQuattro · 04-01-2017, 03:06 AM

I was all set to get a Mini Cooper with an automatic and drive it in manual mode. However, after test driving one today, I was a bit disappointed.

We don't have any manual cars in our family anymore, so we kind of miss the manual. But I am not sure that I really miss it at all. Where I live, it's just so stop/start that after a while you think it's just not worth it.

Anyone get the manual and wish they had gotten the auto or vice / versa?

Red Bread · 04-01-2017, 03:20 PM

Minis and Miatas should always be manuals. BRZs, Corvettes and Wranglers too.

///M Power-Belgium · 04-01-2017, 03:30 PM

I love my Mini !

hlothery · 04-01-2017, 03:50 PM

When I had my Cooper S, it was a 6MT. Fun, but a pain in traffic, especially since you were screaming at 15MPH in 1st. No DCT then, don't know if they have that option for Mini now. Definitely would not get a regular automatic, but if they had a DCT like in my M4, I'd rather have that than a 6MT. YMMV

mremg · 04-01-2017, 06:12 PM

Manual! Don't even think about it. I drove my MINI in LA traffic for 2 years and probably one of the easiest cars to drive stick in traffic. Just enough torque to get you moving in slow traffic and a delightful shifter.

mmmmQuattro · 04-02-2017, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Minis and Miatas should always be manuals. BRZs, Corvettes and Wranglers too.

good point - not sure about the Wrangler, though.
I test drove a manual one a few years back and ended up buying the auto.
Sort of regret it, as the auto was only a 4 speed total slushbox.
But the manual was really hard to drive.

Mini manuals are a lot easier.

Manual it is!

mkoesel · 04-02-2017, 08:05 AM

FYI, strong rumors that Mini will replace the planetary box with a DCT this year as part of the LCI. This may make the manual mode much better.

eluded · 04-04-2017, 02:50 AM

I would get the manual transmission but I have never owned an automatic transmission so I might be biased.

to_riffic · 04-04-2017, 12:43 PM

Manual. It's such a light clutch compared to other higher performance cards that feel like you're at the gym pushing that third pedal in. Drove my old R56 MINI in LA traffic for 5 yrs before I gave it up. Wouldn't have it any other way.

BEM-S4 · 04-04-2017, 01:01 PM

Manual. My cousin has a GT4, old spider, 911 Turbo and a Macan. And that's just his porsches. He DDs a mini S manual.

ciaranob · 04-04-2017, 01:29 PM

We've had a manual Cooper S since 2004(!!) - still a blast - only way to go. Wife wont even let me replace it with a newer version

04-01-2017, 03:06 AM	#1
mmmmQuattro Major 266 Rep 1,169 Posts Drives: f83 / E93 335 / E70 X5 40d Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Adelaide, South Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 320 E91 M-Spor ... [0.00] 2009 335-E93 M-Sport [0.00]	New MINI Cooper S - manual or auto? I was all set to get a Mini Cooper with an automatic and drive it in manual mode. However, after test driving one today, I was a bit disappointed. We don't have any manual cars in our family anymore, so we kind of miss the manual. But I am not sure that I really miss it at all. Where I live, it's just so stop/start that after a while you think it's just not worth it. Anyone get the manual and wish they had gotten the auto or vice / versa?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-01-2017, 03:20 PM	#2
Red Bread Major General 4458 Rep 9,160 Posts Drives: Smog machines Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Minis and Miatas should always be manuals. BRZs, Corvettes and Wranglers too.
	Appreciate 2 jpnh1429.50 Viffermike1764.00 Quote

04-01-2017, 03:30 PM	#3
///M Power-Belgium General 71084 Rep 26,713 Posts Drives: ///M3-E92-DCT Silverstone II Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	I love my Mini ! __________________ "MAX VERSTAPPEN" IS THE 2021+2022+2023+2024 F1 WORLD CHAMPION - #UnLeashTheLion - BPM DEV-Tune & DCT Software-Tune & Servotronic & coding ///Alpine HID Angeleyes ///Oem.exhaust mod.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-01-2017, 03:50 PM	#4
hlothery Seeking mental floss 488 Rep 806 Posts Drives: 2022 Mercedes EQS 450+ Join Date: May 2016 Location: San Antonio, Tx iTrader: (0)	When I had my Cooper S, it was a 6MT. Fun, but a pain in traffic, especially since you were screaming at 15MPH in 1st. No DCT then, don't know if they have that option for Mini now. Definitely would not get a regular automatic, but if they had a DCT like in my M4, I'd rather have that than a 6MT. YMMV
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-01-2017, 06:12 PM	#5
mremg Private First Class 55 Rep 129 Posts Drives: TT RS, NC MX5 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Manual! Don't even think about it. I drove my MINI in LA traffic for 2 years and probably one of the easiest cars to drive stick in traffic. Just enough torque to get you moving in slow traffic and a delightful shifter.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-02-2017, 08:05 AM	#7
mkoesel Moderator 7544 Rep 19,368 Posts Drives: No BMW for now Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canton, MI iTrader: (1)	FYI, strong rumors that Mini will replace the planetary box with a DCT this year as part of the LCI. This may make the manual mode much better.
	Appreciate 1 ///M Power-Belgium71083.50 Quote

04-04-2017, 02:50 AM	#8
eluded 2JZ-GTE 3168 Rep 4,144 Posts Drives: 340 6MT, 50e, others Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sofia iTrader: (0)	I would get the manual transmission but I have never owned an automatic transmission so I might be biased. __________________ A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-04-2017, 12:43 PM	#9
to_riffic Lieutenant General 3072 Rep 13,776 Posts Drives: rwd Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (38)	Manual. It's such a light clutch compared to other higher performance cards that feel like you're at the gym pushing that third pedal in. Drove my old R56 MINI in LA traffic for 5 yrs before I gave it up. Wouldn't have it any other way. __________________ ~loud noises~
	Appreciate 1 new2the3391.50 Quote

04-04-2017, 01:01 PM	#10
BEM-S4 Major General 4533 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	Manual. My cousin has a GT4, old spider, 911 Turbo and a Macan. And that's just his porsches. He DDs a mini S manual. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
	Appreciate 2 Viffermike1764.00 to_riffic3072.00 Quote

04-04-2017, 01:29 PM	#11
ciaranob Major 755 Rep 1,478 Posts Drives: M4 Convertible Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	We've had a manual Cooper S since 2004(!!) - still a blast - only way to go. Wife wont even let me replace it with a newer version __________________ Individual M4 Convertible ED Sept 2014
	Appreciate 0 Quote