I drive a 2003 MCS.

Do most Mini's have a 'notchy' shift into the gears? My Mini does and it has always been like that. I have never really thought anything of it until I let a friend drive the other day and he seemed to have a harder time getting it in to gear and it made me notice that it definately 'snaps' into gear. It is not that difficult to put it in gear it just requires more input than a light push of the hand.

Oh, and reverse really requires heavy hand pressure to push it over and up into reverse. Is this anything to be concerened about or is it normal?

Thanks,
k

 

Mine does, i think its a glorious feeling

 

+2
-1
Mine does the same thing. Its sorta feels like there is a detent that you have to push past to get it in gear. I find it a little offsetting because I feel like its gonna break. But, I live with it.

 

I like the shifting feel on it and the reverse is understandable because you wouldnt want to accidentally throw it in reverse. I was teaching a friend the other day in my mini how to drive a manual and she couldnt even get it into reverse because it was so hard for her to push it over haha.

 

I think all minis have notchy shifters. It's a deliberate carry over from the 60 Classics which if you have driven one you will know what it is to have a notchy shifter

 

I love the feeling as well but was just making sure its normal. Thanks for all the input!

 

Mine is like that too. To me it just means that my gearbox is doing its job.

 

mine too, i hate it. Feels broken

 

we need a poll of people who love the feeling and people that hate it

 

I've driven cars that have all types of shifter feel. My Lotus Europa has the stiffest gear lever in the world and is not gated but it somehow works and I can easily shift it smooth as silk. I've driven Honda's that just slide in and out of gear and that seems to work fine with them. Same for Toyota's. I'm not a big fan of the MINIs shifter. A little notchyness is fine but it's too much for my liking. Many have said a Whalen **** helps but I feel that the added weight up top makes things a bit sloppy. I'll probably try a SSK to see if it helps with the slop (which is going to make it even more notchy). I'm still searching for the best compromise for my MINI.

 

you don't realize how notchy it is until you drive an 07 mc/mcs, or any bmw

 

The feeling of the 1st gen MINI shift is fabulous. Very little chance of an adrenaline induced mis-shift like there is on ungated transmissions that feel like you're stirring a bucket of paint. A short shift kit makes it feel even better.

 

+1 for notchy shifting.

-1 for those who grind gears because they don't realize how notchy the shifter is when they drive your S.

 

Mine feels like it's going through a gauntlet sometimes when shifting....I assume that's the notchy-ness everyone's talking about. It worries me from time to time, but I deal with it.

 

... I'd like reverse to require some additional positive action, like, for example, pressing down on the lever (an old VW design),

The only other thing I don't like is that when shifting down into 2nd from third, it is a little too easy to miss the down stroke for 2nd, andgo right by it so that you are still in neutral. I REALLY DON'T LIKE THAT. I'd like it to be not possible to go "past" 2nd (too far to the left).

 

A Whalen Shift Machine will take away the notchy feeling.

 

The heavy shifter is one of my favorite things about the car, especially after driving my Honda Civic all week. The Honda shifter is too light, has no feel to it.

 

I've heard that Japanese trannys are "light" (less notchy?) and that German trannys are "stiff".

 

Ethnic stereotyping?

For shame!!

 

Porsche is pretty smooth, so I guess the german stereotype is not accurate.

 

I don't know if "notchy" is the word I'd use to describe it, but it is not as precise as what I am used to. Meaning there is more play in the shifter than I would like, but the actual shifting into the gears is smooth and easy. Of course, reverse does have a detent to overcome. But that is for obvious reason. I was/am, considering a short shift, but am concerned about some of the fitment issues I have read about, as well as the installation hassle.

 

The 2007 that I test drove did feel a bit rubbery & lighter.

 

Yes, the 2nd gen shifter is much smoother (sloppier) than the more precise (notchy) feeling of the 1st gen shifter. Actually, the feel of the gen 1a shifter ('02-'04) is about half way between the gen 1b ('05-'06) and the gen 2.