Many thanks from Spain

Salvador… I don’t even know what to say about this “crap” your saying. It’s your opinion so I’m not gonna grill you for it but there are people in this world who have driven manuals and are sick of constantly attending to it in horrible freeway traffic that takes 3 hours for a usual 30 minute commute, like myself.

And according to the dealers admitting that 75% of MCS owner opt for the automatic surely says you as a manual driver is the “poser.”

Such an ignorant mindset. tsk tsk tsk

One thing that I do wanna mention is about the “popping” or the back fire that the factory added to many stick shift MCS’s and surprise surprise!!! mine has the back fire despite being an automatic. After asking the dealer about this they said that the factory doesn’t put in the back firing into MCSa’s about 98% of the time. They say I was the “lucky” one since the dealer can’t put that option in even if the customer asks for it.

So as a lucky MCSa owner with the “popping” I am extremely happy with an automatic MCS. For those of you MCSa owner without the “popping”… drool cuz it’s a sweet sound to here.

So, as Jay says, live and let live — in the meantime, I hope you do enjoy your MCS.

As long as people have a choice, let them make their own minds up.

For nine years I drove an automatic. I always lusted for a precise, fun manual transmission car of my own. Life never brought one to me unfortunately. So I said screw it! I went to MINI of Concord and bought an ‘06 Cooper S with the JCW kit on it already. I traded in my auto 3 series and was now in a posisition that I HAD to learn stick, and guess what? I learned. I got it home myself the first day and have since devoted all my effort to really refining the craft of using a manual transmission. There was a very nice MCSa on the lot that was a bit less expensive than my car. But why would anyone want it? A MINI is to DRIVE! Not to ride in. I drove auto for nine years and after 5 days of stick the only way I’ll ever go back to an automatic is if I am forced to. If you want a fun car w/ an automatic, buy a 3 series (not an E90 though, boycott Bangle). Leave the real driving to those who actually enjoy it. MCSa IS FOR POSERS.

in the meantime – I’ll have to order the Manual version MCS.

Can’t wait to get my cooper S Auto.

In my opinion, if you can’t drive a manual you don’t deserve a performance sports car.

if your reason for getting an auto is because you suffer from long commutes, you don’t need a sports car, I love changing gears! Or if you simply can’t drive a manual – learn!

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Steve comments are the kind arrogance and snobbish attitude that bugs me. I see so much of these attitudes on other Mini Websites and from other unique car owners. What gives Steve(and others) the right to write and say that if I can’t drive a manual then I (and others) don’t “deserve” a performance sports car?

How arrogant! How elitist

In my opinion these kinds of comments are ignorant. Sorry that’s the way I see it. Just because he wants to drive a Manual he thinks everyone else should or has to.

Well I live in a City that has hundreds of hills (very steep) with stop signs at the top and people who like stop right on your bumper. I don’t want to be shifting constantly and possible roll backs. THAT’S MY CHOICE!

I have a 2004 MC (non S) with CVT. I like it. Drives very well in SD mode and in full auto in the city is great.

If I and others want a CVT for a MC or a MCS in long commutes, short commutes, up hill, down hill, whatever the reason and Mini makes one then that’s my choice and I have a right to buy one.

When Steve and others with similar attitudes run Mini Cooper then they can make the decision whether to offer only Manuals.

In your article you say –

“In fact, more than one Motoring Advisor I talked with was seeing about 75% of all recent MCS orders equipped with the automatic.”

Do you know what the sale fiqures are for MCSa and MCS?

Thanks

As for the PT Cruiser, it’s plain ugly… And Chrysler = Old people cars. And the Beatle is claustraphoic inside, not to mention that it’s VW and I’ll never get another VW after our last experiance with them. Another note is that neither of the two cars offer the small size or visibility of the Mini.

I’m looking for a new car and don’t need the S, in terms of HP, as I don’t ever plan on going over 80 — When can one ever go over 75 legally?

But I do need that extra boost in acceleration for making left turns, passing traffic, getting up hills, etc.

The basic Cooper would be fine but I don’t drive stick… My left hand is for eating and drinking, not fiddling with a stick. And while it wouldn’t be that big of an issue, it sure is in stop and go traffic and steep hills.

What I have to ask is: How is the automatic S compared to the automatic basic? The basic in auto is extremely sluggish and slow, the S auto is more quick and has more go from the start. Can anyone who actually drove, drove the automatic S confirm whether or not it has the power and acceleration to distinguish it from the automatic basic or other automatic cars in the class?

I have some customers who strictly want this for a fun commuter car. The MINI fits the commuter car perfectly because of its small size great handling and pretty good fuel mileage (compared to the other cars that they own) These customers havd 1hr drives from home to work and vis versa in stop and go traffic. For these extreme conditons i think the automatic optino does suit them quite well… I also have customers, and i am not trying to stereo type here, i am just explaing my experiance, were the husband wants a MINI and the Wife needs an automatic because she either doesn’t know how to drive the manual or simply refuses to learn. (trying to teach them might lead the couple in divorce i guess) The husbands are delighted to hear that they can get an S and not a cooper because they want a fun sports car but they have other commitments and people to think about.

I also have a few physically disable customers who are extatic that MINI has decided to comeout with the automatic S. you should see the look on their faces! It would probably remind you of the day that you took delivery of your car.

I hope you die hard 6-speed manual guys don’t think that the automatic transmission will devalue your car monetarily or devalue the car in the eyes of enthusiast. It is still and enthusiasts car! If you like the 6-speed buy the 6-speed, and let the other people who might not beable to buy a 6-speed enjoy a cooper s, these are people who are purchasing them because they have to because of the love of their spouse, their incredibly long commute, or because it is the only way that they will ever be able to drive a cooper S! Let them enjoy!