Comments on: MCS Automatic Paddles

By: AB

AB — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 22:47:22 +0000

Getting my MCSca the first week of Feb. Thanks for the paddle pic. I can’t wait to see it in person. It looks like the wheel itself is indented for them. Is that the case? Also, are there paddles on both sides? If so, do they operate the same way?

By: MrV

MrV — Sat, 22 Jan 2005 00:37:57 +0000

That's awesome to hear Mark. I have my own reasons for ordering one of these, and doing so "sight unseen" is a little unsettling on the nerves. Mine should be built any day now and I am looking forward to driving it myself.

Thanks for sharing the limited review!

By: Mark Pierce

Mark Pierce — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:47:53 +0000

I was speaking today to a friend who works for MINI who drove a pre production (built in November) MINI Cooper S Automatic Convetible the other day. He said it was fantastic, much better than he was expecting and worlds better than CVT. Using the paddles the shifts are very quick and smooth. Now he is not normally an Auto fan so for him to say it’s that good, it must be.

By: MrV

MrV — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 19:39:48 +0000

Please don’t start another thread of comments along that line. Let it rest.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 19:15:55 +0000

But it’s an automatic S. That’s like an automatic WRX, or an automatic M-series. Who does that? Come on…..

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 15:08:39 +0000

Dennis, I simple terms an SMG is like a manual transmission with clutch etc but with electronic mechanisms to do the shifting. A normal automatic has no clutch; instead a torque converter allows a sort of slippage. A quick Google gives: Read here about SMG and read here about normal!

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 14:29:42 +0000

This tranny is a regular 6 speed slushbox with Steptronic manual controls. It is made by Aisin (Japanese) and this tranny has been used in some VW products, most notably the current Audi TT. It is supposed to be a good and pretty reliable transmission, but not SMG or CVT here, just regular plain old hydraulically operated automatic.

By: michael Boice

michael Boice — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 14:20:37 +0000

If this tranny were truely a manu-matic ala SMG or Ferrari’s paddle system I would be in for sure. In particular, Ferrari’s system makes the shifting faster than their manual.

By: Brad

Brad — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 06:40:07 +0000

My MCS automatic is on the boat arriving in Charleston Saturday, I can’t wait for MINI of Charleston to add the goodies and hand me the keys….

By: MeeNgow

MeeNgow — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 06:06:47 +0000

In Thailand, if you order MCS now you can only get automatic. :( from the one and only dealer

By: Dennis Yu

Dennis Yu — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 06:05:38 +0000

So what is SMG transmision? and why is this just a normal automatic?

By: joe

joe — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 04:36:45 +0000

this is OT, but any news when will the Canadian site configurator be updated with MCS automatic?

By: drew

drew — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 04:21:35 +0000

thanks for the beauty shot gabe. as someone who is very psyched for my mcsa - i cannot wait!

cheers - drew