Well, yes... ...but my point was that you are afforded the opportunity to maintain leverage on the steering wheel with both hands with the a-car, greatly increasing the motorist's ability to retain control of the vehicle and mitigate torquesteer effect.

Better?

 

This guy can't drive a 6 spd. I don't care what kind of fancy names they come up like paddle shifts or F1, if it doesn't have a clutch that you depress yourself its an automatic.

 

Okay.

 

Including company cars, I've had about 75 cars and 9 motorcylces.
And only one car with a fried clutch/tranny. Would BMW buy it back if it wasn't a QC issue.
Ba-da-bing.

 

I went with the manual 6 speed. The MCS is a sports car that is very involving to drive. The manual just adds more to that experience.

 

That's an honest answer.

It's personal preference. Thank you.

 

hey Arnbut.
No worried buddy. We mini people are a bit overwound...lol
And what I meant was that traditionally manual trans are more attached to the driver than the auto...any you are correct the new auto is superb, but I rather have the auto....got to do something with the right arm other than grabbing the soda cup (which not to mention the cup holder broke in my 04)

 

I thought they bought back because of excess heat problems....

 

For a long distance driving with my whole family in the car, I prefer the automatic.

 

I'm not supposed to talk about it ---
but I can rehash what was in old threads, I suppose.
The trans/clutch took 2 dumps, it ran HOT, fuel vapor continued to pump out from under the hood after you turned off the car, and sometimes the car unlocked itself as I was driving it.
Other than that I really liked it....

 

Me I went with the 6sp, as someone said its more involving. Until now I have driven several automatics and even though they are greatly improved the experience of driving a manual is very different. The only automatic I would consider having is the double clutch auto that VW and Audi's have.

 

Thanks Daffodildeb! That is exactly what I meant

 

I've known several people with the VW/Audi dual clutches and they haven't been happy in the long term. In fact they all would prefer a true manual on thier next car. I'm sure these will get better with time, as everything does!

 

If you are going to install the Short Shifter on your MT,then buy an auto,the ultimate Short Shifter.Q

 

My wife drives our old R53 MCSa and now when I drive it - I'm bored.

Call me a Luddite... but I will never buy another automatic ... well at least as long as I have a functioning left foot

 

I drive to school 1 hour everyday going about 20 miles an hour. I also visit the city often where it is often worse, but I would still choose manual any day. I love the manual and although I have driven a few times before, I essentially learned how to drive while driving my MINI home from the dealership.

Also, when it comes to long distance, most of those miles will be highway miles in 6th gear where you probably don't use the clutch, so it won't be any different. In fact, I almost stalled cause I was on the highway and forgot I was driving a manual car since I didn't even use the clutch once I got on.

I think the one thing that would determine if you should get manual is if you like doing other things in the car. If you like talking on the phone, fiddling with your mp3 player, eating, or anything like that, it's a hassle with a manual, but I don't like doing those things while I drive, so not a problem for me.

 

Okay. I slept on it.
And I have a confession.

Now, don't all start dancing and throwing eggs at me either...

But, yes --- I know you suspected it... ...I do prefer the manual trans; I'd rather that both of our cars were manuals.
There, I said it. I feel better.
But it doesn't change the fact that my wife can't drive a manual.

Life is a series of compromises and then you die. The trick is to look on the bright side and enjoy the compromises.

 

Manual for all the reasons noted above. I do get caught in traffic from time to time and the MCS manual is very tolerable in stop and go. The car has good torque so it's not necessary to stir the box a whole lot and clutch force is fairly light so you're not giving your left leg a tremendous workout.

 

Well, I have owned a total of 4 MINIs, 2 6-speed MCS, 1 CVT and our newest upcoming addition, a '08 Clubman MCS..... automatic!

The '05 R53 S manual is my daily driver and I simply love the car to bits. The gearbox is fantastic and the car is a truly a road rocket (Mind you it is 100% stock since new). But, and the BIG but I have with manual transmission equipped MINIs is not the brilliant Getrag gearbox itself, but rather the not very durable OEM clutch setup. I have been driven sticks for well over 20 years, so I have owned my share of manual cars, but the MINI has been the only manual requiring a new clutch under warranty at 25K miles. I do not drag, race, track my MINI. It is my daily driver and the car does not get abused. If you look at it and drive it, the car looks and feels like new...It is that obsessively taken care of.

When the dealer pulled out the original clutch, the disc was toast. It was replaced, no questions asked. Here I am hoping the new clutch (12K miles since replacement) will hold better but time will tell. I also have a second replacement flywheel on file should the car ever needs a replacement again, regardless of it being in and out of warranty. Like I say I love the car, to the point, that I have decided to keep it at least 10 years. I bought the MINI service extended scheduled service contract that adds oil changes, brake pads, rotors and the WHOLE clutch assembly for 6 years/100K miles, whichever occurs first.

So under those terms, if the current clutch dies again at 50K miles then MINI will have to pick up the tab and continue to do so until the car either reaches 9 years or 100K miles. I have no problem with that.

But, the MINI OEM clutch is definitely a weak link in these cars. And it seems the clutch problems have gone to live with the R56 as well.

Like Arnbut, my wife has simply refused to learn to drive stick. I gave up on that endeavor long, long ago. Her first MINI was a '02 MC CVT (Not a bad car after all, we had it almost 6 years) and her next MINI will be a Clubman S with the 6-speed AISIN automatic. We are both really looking forward to it.

I am not a closet racer or a stick snob. Sounds like a group circle jerk. But I will enjoy the best of both worlds and having 2 MINIs (1 manual and 1 auto) is truly a great combination not experienced by many in these forums.

Dissing the auto is simply ignorant and a form of self-validation and to pump up your ego. Sorry that how 90% of the posts in this thread come across when you read them. Sorry no pun intended.

So enjoy whatever you drive. But... Live and let live.

 

And then we die....true.

 

6 speed!! Both of my MCS are 6 speeds. My wife and both children all drive manuals.

Just do it!

 

My MCS is also a 6spd, I've never owned any car that didn't have a manual transmission.

 

I drive 200-220 miles per day in my MCS. I wanted and bought a 6spd. I wish I had cruise, but not really, 5th gear is so inviting on the highway.

 

6 speed, way more fun.

 

6 SPEED manual! All the way! You can look at it like you can get better mileage. Its also MUCH more fun!