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More information from MINIUSA that some have been waiting for awhile to hear:
The long awaited Cooper S gearbox is here! It is a SIX-SPEED automatic with Steptronic paddle shifters. The transmission is from AISIN, a supplier to high end makes such as Audi and Porsche.
- 205 Automatic Transmission-Cooper S
Retail Price = $1350- 202 Paddle Shifters (must be ordered with 205) Retail Price = NC
<p>Just to reinforce that Aisin is a quality transmision supplier. The manual transmisions in the new Porsche 997 are produced by Aisin.</p>
<p>I test drove the AISIN, Volks and Audi tiptronic transmissions..
Smooth transition and 6000rpm limiter. Don't need much more in a S. Very acceptable in my opinion. I own a Mini S 6sp for all concerned.</p>
<p>Multifunction steering functions seems to be missing.
Must be an error.</p>
<p>The wheel shown simple isn't the multi-function wheel. Remember, it is an option.</p>
<p>When will we find out performance #'s? I have the 6 speed now, but would not want to give up too much “pick-up”.</p>
<p>After driving the Volks 150hp beetle with this 6 speed and the manual ,I was very impressed and just a touch ofloss in pick-up.</p>
<p>Will the 6th gear be an overdrive?</p>
<p>…the same kind of product they use on Audi and Porsche?</p>
<p>…hmmm,Gabe,you think I should tell the little lady(Wife) about this…</p>
<p>…thanks for the information.</p>
<p>…And today the Cooper S dies a little bit.</p>
<p>Sorry, but this is the same sort of watering down that BMW and Porsche did to their cars, sacrificing the enthusiast spirit for greater market share. The slope is real slippery from here on out.</p>
<p>You know as a fellow MINI owner (CVT) I really resent everyone who says that an auto MCS somehow hurts mini. I waited for two years for this to be introduced before finally settling on my CVT which I now love. But I couldn't get a MCS because of a physical limitation. That I should be denied the more powerful car because it doesn't fit your narrow definition of “sporting” bothers me tremendously. MINI people to me seem to reguard personal choice alot in every other aspect of their cars (bonnet strips, mix matched colors, etc.) and to want to deny that choice now is rediculous.</p>
<p>I agree 100% with Chris. It's extremely shortsighted to judge the choice for an auto trans in the way that keeps happening here. Some people simply aren't capable of driving a manual. And this somehow makes them ineligible for the power increase of the Cooper S? Get off your high horse people.</p>
<p>I also concur with Chris' comments. As a current owner of a 6-speed MCS and a Cooper CVT, I couldn't agree more tha there is a solid place for an automatic MCS. let the “purists” throw their hands high up in the air and rant all day long if so they desire….</p>
<p>MINIs are about a very wide variety of choice and its a car made to cater the wallets and desires of car enthusiasts alike.</p>
<p>In regards to the new 6-speed Auto Aisin MCS, I wonder what the fuel economy will be? I will not be surprised if the fuel mileage is even lower than the stock 6-speed manual version, unless they change the gearing ratios in the Automatic MCS.</p>
<p>I regret that MINI did not persue either a beefier CVT or Sequential shifting (Maybe for the R56 generation), but the automatic MCS is something long overdue in the US market and sure to be a hit.</p>
<p>I'll reserve judgement on this car until I get to test drive it.</p>
<p>Chris, there's a great difference between not being capable of driving a manual due to physical impairment (which is the very justifiable exception), versus those who are too lazy or timid to bother. That latter group is the norm.</p>
<p>I've never bought the “but I drive in stop-and-go-traffic” either. I used to do that day in and day out. It never stopped me from buying four cars in a row with manual trannies.</p>
<p>Christopher W,
I understand that, and you're 100 percent right. So what? Don't offer it because others might misuse it? You know I hear MINI's have a governor in the triple digits, why? People are obviously misusing it if they go that fast lets put it down closer to 75. (I mean that's the speed limit and all). See what happens when you limit others to your precoceived notions?</p>
<p>Chris</p>
<p>I don't characterise the typical automatic buyer as someone misusing a car. Rather, as someone who doesn't understand that they could save a packet in initial costs, have more fun, get better mileage and be more in touch with the operation of their vehicle. Oh, and need I mention that manual trannied cars are harder to steal?</p>
<p>You're changing the parameters of the debate by bringing in the straw man argument of speeding. That has no bearing on the discussion of the merits (or lack thereof) of automatic transmissions.</p>
<p>So Christopher are you telling me that my wife is a lazy driver because she prefers to drive a Cooper CVT over a manual MCS????</p>
<p>Excuse me mister, but I think you are sounding a little bit arrogant and inconsiderate. People choose automatic vehicles for many more reasons than your rather poorly constructed “lazy” argument.</p>
<p>Funny thing is that her Cooper CVT returns a consistent 30MPG in the city versus 22-24 for my 6-speed MCS.
I love both cars and I see NOTHING wrong with selling auto and manual MCS side-by-side.</p>
<p>People like you just reinforce the meaning of the phrase “Narrow Minded”.</p>
<p>Frank, I never said anything about the standard Cooper. I don't have any problem with the CVT. I'm only speaking of the S model. The S spirit is unique and should not become the next Porsche Boxster. There's a place for a car that meets a wide market and a car that is purpose-built. You can't do both at the same time. Putting an auto in the S is counter to its design philosophy, which is to keep the driver and auto as closely linked as possible.</p>
<p>Good debate here fellas… let's keep it clean though. I think there's several very good points here and there's no need to get uptight about any of them :)</p>
<p>There won't be any problems with an auto MCS as long as the auto doesn't detract from the MINI experience. As plenty of CVT owners can atest, they flog their cars pretty well. It's also very racer of MINI to through in the paddle shifters. That's kind of cool. </p>
<p>Now, I would only buy a stick shift MINI, but that's my preference. If others want to take the MINI experience in auto trans mode, let them. I remember my parent's 325i automatic. That car still hauled ass and handled better than anything except my MINI (which was part of the reason why I fell in love with the car even more after hauling it around a few turns…).</p>
<p>MINI= Choice and personalization. An auto for the MCS is simply more choice like the anthracite headliner and rear foglights.</p>
<p>Later Motoring Friends.</p>
<p>Not to jump right into the fray, but I somewhat agree with Christopher W.</p>
<p>Yes, those who have physical imparament may never able to drive a stick, and i sympathize… </p>
<p>yet somehow the point of the manual is missing… there are countless other 'top models' such as cilo 182, rsx type S, 350Z, elise, evo8, stis, all of which are top of the line 'sports' model like the cooper S to the cooper, as in the case of Sti to the WRX, yet why hasn't people argue why not every single car offer an automatic so those of you guys who wants to drive them can buy them? wouldn't it be great to give your mother a new sti for her birthday? (note this is meant to be as a joke, if i offended anyone im sorry)</p>
<p>i maybe wrong, and i probably am, but 90% of those who visit the likes of motoring file and other car related sites are likely enthusiasts, and therefore are more likely to even carry a sort of rejection to automatics…</p>
<p>i drive my S, yet sometimes on the long commute i long for an automatic to rest my left foot</p>
<p>so i neither hate it or like it.. i can see this bringing many minis, especially the S to the public, yet this brings a whole new crowd of drivers who will buy the S as nothin more than transportation, treat it like a corolla, which to me its kinda sad.. the mini's uniqueness is what got me to buy it, but now it will slowly disappear</p>
<p>this is not a bash towards ANYONE with a cvt cooper… and just for the record i love the CVT, a great leap forward in technology</p>
<p>also, is that remember the automatic on the S is a conventional automatic, it is not a CVT, it's been proven that cvt makes about equal, if not better mileage than manual, take the A4 cvt vs. the a4 manual and the a4 tiptronic and you'd see my point (of course in this example we'd have to take into account of the front drive and 4wd factor), nonetheless you cannot compare cvt to an conventional auto like the S cuze there is alot more factor to consider than just putting mpg figures side by side and take it as that</p>
<p>sorry for the very long post</p>
<p>Now the Cooper S owners can join the ranks of such unskillful and lazy drivers as Cooper CVT, WRC and Formula One. =)</p>
<p>There is another point to consider – the auto MCS will also increase MINI's sales….and we all know $$$$$$ makes the world go 'round.
Living in northern NJ(lots 'o MINI's), I no longer have a sense of the MINI being unique – so the argument of the MCS as an “enthusiast's” or “purist” car long ago ceased to exist in my mind. I simply see the automatic as a further evolution of the car…afterall, you can buy an Audi S4, BMW M3 or any AMG Benz car with non-manual trannies. Then again, there are those in the above communities that cry out over the same issues as some of the “old school” MCS owners are now doing…it's quite amusing actually. </p>
<p>Frank really has it right here…and MINI owners like to talk about choices & the enjoyment of the community, so why the cries of heresy suddenly?</p>
<p>Ok, chilluns, play nice now. I'm as old school as you're likely to meet in the MINI world. I've driven a lotta miles on plenty of shift cars – from 3-synchos top and a crash first, cars with Laycock-D overdrives on the top two, others with 6 speeds, one 5-speed with a 9-grand redline and no low torque,(talk about constantly shifitng!), even to splitters on a tractor rig, and also plenty of automatics, from those 2-speed weenieboxes GM puked out, to CVTs, to SMG's, and god-knows too many 3-speed American Iron slushies, and frankly anyone spewing about the potential dimunition of the MCS 'cause it's gonna be available with an auto – well, buddy, you lose. Choices are important for MINI owners, and with all that experience, even I would hesitate to dictate what is considered purist, especially since there are excellent arguments for a well-driven modern automatic.</p>
<p>If you measure your pleasure by the ability to shift, (not too hard to learn, by your own admissions) to get a “feel” for a particular car, and you figure you've found the True Grail, well, more power to you. You know what they say about Porsches and porkypines, though, – that little indicator will soon apply to those that pretend to a superior attitude regarding shifter MCS's. </p>
<p>I own one myself, and a CVT Cooper, and I certainly don't want to be portrayed as overcompensating, so go easy on those “purist” judgements.</p>
<pre><code> BCNU,
Rob in Dago
</code></pre>
<p>You guys are a serious bunch, but I would have to go with the Cooper S auto. I love toys.</p>
<p>Being one of the bunch who believes choice and alternatives are a basic tenant of the MINI brand, it should be no surprise that I support opinions like Frank's.</p>
<p>We can shift attention to specific questions like measured performance, fuel economy, braking, and handling.</p>
<p>How does the Cooper S Auto compare to the Cooper S 6-speed? There will be differences, and that's OK too.</p>
<p>I was just reading the comments again and realized that maybe the auto on a MCS is the sign for an even higher performance version of the car. It reminds me of the last generation 5 series. You could get a 540i 6speed or auto- and that car was extremely competant and swift- it was perhaps to the 525i/530i what the MCS is to the MC. Which means an M5 like MINI may be in the works? </p>
<p>Just a thought…</p>
<p>I think it is incredibly arrogant to think that by making an auto Cooper S it somehow impacts you and your mini. As if you will look down your nose at somebody in the 'Mini family' if they opt for an auto S. If you don't like it, don't buy. But to call someone who prefer the auto a lazy or timid driver is inane. And to say that someone who wants an automatic should be limited in their options is short-sighted and elitist. Introducing one more option does not 'water down' the mini brand. In my way of thinking, just one more way to “you-ify” your mini…. and isn't that what it is all about. Shouldn't matter one way or another how you motor (CVT or Manual) just as long as your are out motoring….</p>
<p>“yet somehow the point of the manual is missing… there are countless other 'top models' such as cilo 182, rsx type S, 350Z, elise, evo8, stis, all of which are top of the line 'sports' model like the cooper S to the cooper, as in the case of Sti to the WRX, yet why hasn't people argue why not every single car offer an automatic so those of you guys who wants to drive them can buy them? wouldn't it be great to give your mother a new sti for her birthday? (note this is meant to be as a joke, if i offended anyone im sorry)”</p>
<p>I have to argue with you on your thinking here. First of all a few of the cars you have listed here ARE available with auto transmissions eg. the 350Z. To compare the Copper S to an STi and EVO8 as being top models you are also pretty off. For example…The Sti is the top model of the Impreza line. there are 3 Impreza models in the USA. The base Impreza, WRX and the STI. So the correct Mini/Impreza comparison should be…Copper/Impreza 2.5, Copper S/WRX and lastly the JCW Copper S/ STi. And likewise for the EVO8… Lancer/Copper, OZ Lancer/MCS, EVO8/ JCW MCS. These are correct comparisons and last I checked a auto trans will not be available for the JCW MCS likewise for the STi and EVO8.</p>
<p>When will the 6 speed auto option be added to the MINI USA car configurator?</p>
<p>I have a slight correction to make to the EVO8 MINI comparison.. the correct comparo should be… Lancer/Cooper, Ralliart Lancer/ MCS, JCW MCS/ EVO8. Also… I spelled Cooper wrong on the above post.. damn these quick fingers :)</p>
<p>Yes … when will the auto MCS convertible be on the configurator? And when will delivery begin?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Any idea when a JCW kit would be available for the S Auto? </p>
<p>Concerning the above rantings…I had never driven a stick before I got my MCS in August. I will admit that it is alot of fun to drive, but I would like to have an auto S. It is just preference, like anything else in this world. The ability to choose is what makes life great! Just go ask someone in a communist country about choice.</p>
<p>I think that having a auto is a great idea so people who can't drive stick that well and want a Cooper S,now people have that chance.</p>
<p>What's the big deal? I think an Auto S (MCSA?) would be “much mo' bettah”; in my CVT I've seen plenty of S's give me the 'pass' signal on the track….</p>
<p>then again, about the evo8/cooper s works argument, one can again make another case of the mini one/lancer, mini cooper/lancer ralliart, coopers/evo 8, then JCW/evo8 RSII, or whatever high top end evo models tehre maybe (and im sure there are just too darn many!)</p>
<p>i defenitely arent a hater… i gotta get that straighten out.. i do welcome the fact that the automatic will bring plenty of enthusiasts to drive the S, and those who cannot drive it can finally do it.. yet in the same time, one can argue the same issue over and over again.. </p>
<p>i stated before i'd love an automatic on my commute, but until my leg falls off im staying with manual…. be it mini or other cars</p>
<p>and another note.. im very intrigued with how far automatic can be taken to.. nowadays manual's normal H shift pattern is now too hard to do with a 7 speed, which can be done so easily on an automatic! true semi automatics is what i would've love to have and probably wouldn't mind trading my 6 speed for it, but that is not possible</p>
<p>Herman L… In my post I was only comparing the models that are sold in the USA. I did consider including the mini one but left it out due to it not being available to the USA. But I can also make the comaprison including it…. mini one/lancer, cooper/lancer oz,
mcs/ ralliart lancer,
jcw mcs/ evo8 (various models). </p>
<p>I know you're not an auto hater.. I just wanted to accurately show that sporty models of all brands do come with auto transmissions.</p>
<p>Is the MCS automatic an electronically controlled 6 speed or a CVT with steptronic mode? I ask because cars.com lists it as a CVT and when I called the local Mini dealer here in Atlanta he also said it was a CVT. He also said the JCW package would be available on the MCS auto. He wasn't much interested in answering my questions though so I wonder how much attention he was paying. If it is a CVT then I'd like to take a current non S CVT for a test drive. Knee surgery a few years ago put an end to my stick days and I've been waiting for an auto MCS for a while.</p>
<p>Your has not been reading his bulletins. <strong>It will not be a CVT</strong>. For more info do a search above. Sorry to e so abrupt… I get frustated by mis-informed salesmen.</p>
<p>Thanks for setting me straight with the correct info! An electronically controlled 6 speed is just what I wanted to hear! Now I can't wait until Feb/Mar to test drive one. I know if my wife comes along and gets to feel it, things could be clinched for a MCS auto in the garage for spring. There are 2 Mini dealers here in Atlanta. Since one of them didn't even know what type of transmission was going to be in the MCS, you've helped me decide which one I'll buy from.</p>
<p>do you think a minis is to much for a 68 yrs old gentlemen</p>
<p>I meant to say MCS</p>
<p>We took delivery on our MCSC automatic this week and I have got to tell you the Steptronic system makes motoring in Florida very exciting. My wife demanded the automatic transmission and the Cooper was just a little too sluggish. The power of the S model and the new 6-speed is awesome–even for us 60 year olds! Thanks, Mini</p>