A sporty car, but maybe not a sports car.

Manual every time.

 

Sporty??? There's lots of American tin that is "sporty," but the MINI's a whole lot better than that. My daughter's old Sunfire was "sporty."

 

The auto transmission in the R56 is really quite awesome. I have a friend who drives a stick Eclipse and was a manual transmission die-hard until he drove my MINI. He loved it, and also like the auto-manual modes.
I've heard the R56's auto transmission is about the best on the market, save for maybe the one that VW has been putting in their GTI's, but I haven't read into that very far.

 

Six speed manual is the only rational choice! Very sweet.

 

I have been shifting up at 2000 rpm. and so far at 200 miles on this tank of gas I have averaged 34.1 mpg. I don't slow down the traffic at all however. It is about how fast other cars accelerate anyway. I didn't know driving like this was possible. At this pace I will be able to squeaze in one extra day of commute per tank. But I think I will go back to my old way of driving and live with 30 mpg.

 

I'm guessing you're going by the OBC, right? I'm afraid it is notoriously inaccurate by at least a couple of mpg--I'd go by the actual mileage/gallons calculation. Not that you can't get 34.1, of course. I routinely get 33 and change in mine, overall calculated mileage, city/highway/spirited--whatever the traffic and mood suggest. Hubby is constantly on me to conserve, so I'm sure I could get a lot more. For example, I don't do a 2000 rpm shift. I've read several have calculated over 35 mpg in their MCS, and I know some personally with nearly 40 in their MC.

I've read (on NAM) that the best way to economize is to shift into high gear as quickly as possible, so maybe you could do even better without hurting the "feel" of the car as much.

 

Your mpg tells me that you're not having fun driving your Mini at all. I am at 25.5 mpg right now and it's not moving up. But I am having a lot of fun with my auto/manual whatever they call it.... steptronic. I am shifting at 4-4.5 rpm (where the fun just begins). Forget about mpg if you want to have fun.

 

Oh, I wouldn't say that. I put my foot in it all the time. I love that turbo! I was in fast traffic freeway today, for example (unusual for me, since I live out in the country). Boy, was it FUN to find the holes and zip around. As I say, I live in the country, so the curves are all around me. It doesn't take much time to get into some real twisties, too--my own "private" roads most don't know about.

About shifting at "4-4.5 rpm." I don't agree the fun begins there. I'd believe it if you were talking about a pre-07. The new ones are just so flexible from 1500 on up, though, that you just don't need to flog the engine. Yes, it takes 4000+ to do something in our Porsche (much to the chagrin of the folks in THAT forum), and that's been my experience with most of the other cars I've driven, too. But the MCS turbo? Nope. Don't believe it.

P.S. You're basing your lower mileage on an automatic--there's a difference just between auto and manual. As I recall, it's a good 3 or 4 mpg minimum, at least according to my friends and the folks on NAM.

 

The 405 freeway sucks in any transmission so just get a 6-spd. =)

 

As of today my ave. mpg is 34.4mpg on the current tank of gas. And total miles left + miles driven = 510 miles on the current tank. I drive 35 miles/day.... that means I can go 13 working days before needing a refuel. That's a long time!

 

Auto is for girls! =)

 

6 speed!!! I am nearly 95% city and 5% highway and I love shifting its so much fun.

 

To me, the decision is real easy, 6-spd or no mini

 

6 speed manual here.I tried to get one in the auto,so the wife could drive it as well.Just didnt do it for me .The car screams manual tranny and i havent driven a manual for 12 yrs.

 

manual... and i get to teach it to my girlfriend...

i dont know but something about girls and driving stick is prettyy hot...

 

Nothing like rowing through the gears

 

When looking for a car, if it doesn't have a manual, it's completely off my list, period.

 

6 Speed all the way and no headaches of Problems with the Auto

 

it's like I got on the time machine and went back to Feb.

 

+1 here for the 6 speed. It's more fun!

 

Auto Trans; More money for less fun and less MPG? I don't think so.

 

6 speed and I live in the SFV valley. An auto would really suck the fun out of a MINI.