Too bad the Mini’s system employs a torque converter.

And yes, I know the SMG is a clutchless manual and a auto would be X percent slower in reacting. Not really a big deal — you get used to the delay and you can compensate for it.

Tell that to the guys in stock C class autocross down here in the the Lone Star Chapter of the BMWCCA club.

There’s a guy here who drives a MCSa and comes in first place at EVERY event he’s at, no matter who is driving against him and what kind of transmission they have. And he usually beats the pants off of most of the guys in the next class up also (where most of the modified (some heavily) MCS’s reside).

Don’t believe me? Go to their website and look at the autoX results page.

Yes, I realize that Gabe is talking about a straightaway 0-60 times above, but who in the world bought their Mini to drive in a straight line? If that’s what you want, go buy a Camaro.

It real life situations, it’s all about the driver guys.

Personally, if they had a JCWa with a better transmission (ie. DSG), I would have to SERIOUSLY consider trading my car in.

i figure that if the performance numbers are not seriously affected (negativly obviously), and they give it a 6speed w/ paddles

The MCSa is 1.3 seconds slower than a manually equipped MCS. Remember that the DSG in the Audi and VW is more like a manual in it’s design and doesn’t have a power sapping torque converter like true automatics (and the MCSa). You really can’t compare the two.

I’ve driven a GTI with DSG and loved it. I’m not sure if I’d opt for it over a manual but is truly a great compromise. Until the MCSa comes equipped with it’s own dual-clutch system it just can’t compete with the DSG. I don’t mean to bash the MCSa as I think it’s a fine old-school automatic. It’s just not at performance level of a DSG or true manual.

as for all the haters, knock yourselves out ; )

Why bother adding the auto then? Shouldn’t the JCW have a performance auto like its competitors such as the GTI, if it’s going to have one at all? BMW is adding more and more technological features to the next gen MINI, but neglects to add such an important bit as this.

It will probably be a BMW version of the Audi DSG, they are working on it right now

Actually it will simply be the same old torque converter auto that will be optional on the Cooper and Cooper S. While the BMW Group will soon be releasing a dual-clutch transmission (in conjunction with Borg Warner), it will only be found in BMWs for the foreseeable future.

but I also have a Aussie mate who drives (and races) an ‘06 JCWa MINI, and I wouldn’t even think of sneering at him for his choice of toys.

I totally agree. I just don’t want there to be any confusion over power-sapping automatic that uses a torque converter (found in the MCSa) and a true semi-auto like SMG or DSG.

And be nice to all those “pathetically feeble” pro or semi pro road rally team drivers all over the world that make their living racing, and who would not be caught dead driving a “stick”. They won’t even consider racing in a car that doesn’t have a paddle shift auto trans.

Just an FYI – Those race drivers aren’t driving torque converter type automatics found what we generally call automatics (as found in passenger cars) but computer controlled manual transmissions. There is a big difference in both ideology and performance between the two.

To everyone else who buys one – shame on you.

And before the ‘traffic’ bs arguments start spewing forth – ask yourself ‘What kind of enthusiast is so pathetically feeble and uncoordinated that they actually notice using a clutch in traffic?’

Following that argument, eventually we’ll have auto-accelerating cars because the use of the accelerator pedal is ‘too tiresome in LA traffic’.