+1. Well said. While doing some reading, I found this on wikipedia (yeah, I know): Just thought that was an interesting analogy. Especially for explaining to new manual drivers that there is more to it than the mechanics.
For me, I feel more connected to the MINI. Reliving old romantic times....yup. Just like the thought that I'm making the decision. It's me matching the rev's. It's me shifting the gears. Did I do good on that last shift? Can I do better next time? Loved making it all work on the Dragon last fall. The beautiful weather, the beautiful scenery. The curves, the trees, the other MINI's. Me and my manual, rowing through the gears, listening to the engine, making all the decisions. Beautiful syncopation and harmony with my baby. For me, nothing better.... Love my manual. Got nothing against auto's, but for me, I'll take the manual.
The only thing you're doing dfferently than I am by manually shifting my auto is matching the RPM, my computer is doing that for me.... As far as selecting the gear appropriate for the situation, I can do that too, and when I'm on the track I manually shift thru the whole session, rather than just letting the computer figure it out. The only difference is, when I'm in stupid traffic, I can relax and let the tranny do it's own thing, which helps when my knee is acting up too...
Following comment from a 2 manual shift MCS household I've tried the new MINI steptronic auto on a 10' justa. I think they finally got it down. No more herky jerky. You can shift up and down 1-6, 6-1 or you can go to full auto in a traffic jam. Same in the MCS cep't you get paddles too I tried it on a loaner 08' and it sucked, never would consider it If I buy another MINI it's gonna be a tough call to stay with the stick. Can't believe I'm saying this. Call it heresy or what My .2$
Oh, for sure I'm doing much more work. I've got that extra pedal I have to synchronize with. For me it's almost a Zen thing. The Ying and the Yang going on. It's me and the machine. Both of us are directly connected, making the sweet music. I'm working the clutch, not trying to slip too much, not letting the clutch out to fast or to slow, not killing the revs with the take-up. I'm having an extra bit of enjoyment making it all happen smoothly. I'm not willing to release that bit of mechanical pleasure to a computer...... Yet
I hear ya, I absolutely love that 'zone' of ripping down a twisty and becoming one with the car connected through the stick Sadly I think that day is coming <sigh> Saw the writing on the wall when you could no longer purchase a Ferrari without a auto :eek6:
Four of my cars are manual, three are automatic. My wife can't drive an manual. She drives our Volvo. The other two cars with automatics, she refuses to drive, one is a Ford F350 4x4, she says it's too big, the other is a Jaguar XJ-12C, it's recently had a frame up restoration, she says she's afraid she'd dent it and wont drive it. We got the MINI with an automatic so she would have a back-up car in case the Volvo was down for repairs. I drive the MINI mostly though. The automatic didn't cost us anything extra as MINI was having a free automatic promotion when we got the car. To tell the truth, manually selecting the gears with the shifter doesn't feel any different to me than a manual transmission car, except I'm not pushing on a clutch pedal. I feel like I can shift much faster with the automatic than I could with a manual, especially with the paddle shifter. If I get a hankering for a manual, I'll just drive one of my manual transmission cars. Dave
Slightly off target maybe.... When I was looking to buy my 09 JCW, I asked the SA if they were available in automatics. I was told that the only way to do that was to order a MCS auto and add the dealer installed JCW kit. I thought that was strange. The SA told the story of John Cooper's son (Mike maybe???) promising his dad that as long as he was connected with MINI and the JCW company, all factory JCW's would be manuals. Is this a true story? Factory JCW's are only manuals.
Very well said. To some driving is an art, to some it is a chore. Chuck you are an artist... Comparing an F1 cars flappy paddle 1 Million dollar gearbox to the auto in a MINI is laughable. Drive an auto if you want to, but please don't try to tell us it's the same as what the F1 boy's use. It ain't....