MotoringFile Most liked posts in thread: Does an Automatic JCW Dilute the Brand or Strengthen it?

Ahhh well.... That's one way of dealing with the weak manual clutch bearing.....

 

I do not understand the mentality that you have to drive a stick to be a man.....and I've driven manual transmission cars all my life.

My Clubby is an automatic and I consider it the best of both worlds, when I'm on track I use the shifter, when I'm driving home from the track and tired, I don't have too!

I think the automatic in the MINI is a wonderful device and I love it!

I'll be putting up a video later of my track day yesterday, just to show what an "autotragic" as they are wont to put it, is capable of....

 

Minidave - Drive what you like. Don't let anyone tell you that an auto is bad or is somehow a lesser MINI. It is all about personal preference.

 

Personally it seems all right by me. I know in the future there will be an automagic in my life along with knee replacements. I'm not there yet.

 

You sound like my husband......

After years of soccer and lacrosse, he's had 3 knee surgeries, one hip and one elbow surgery. He still drives stick and I'm sure plans on it for as long as he can.
Hell, he was driving his car 3 weeks after his hip surgery this past December and will be at the Dragon with it

 

For me it is less that (I for one would not want to be a man! I rather enjoy being a woman most of the time), and more that driving an automatic was so boring for me. We call it steering a car in my house, instead of driving. heh.

 

Why do you think this?

I have the same number of gear ratios, it shifts faster and more precisely than a manual, and the factory says it's quicker 0-60 than a manual?

Where's the downside?

Where's the performance difference that will 'clean my clock"?

I maintain that an equally equipped manual is no faster than an auto....period.

 

I wasn't a big fan of the auto in my wife's justa clubman. I much prefer my manual. That being said I do believe there should be the option so that those who are unable to drive a manual can still enjoy any MINI product.

 

Ha!

I thought we were having a friendly discussion too.....

My point remains the same tho, and other than personal preference I still haven't heard one firm reason why a stick is inherently better than an Auto trans in a MINI, nor why someone driving an otherwise equal stick could "clean my clock".

As to automatics not being race worthy, I point to Chaparral, which used what was widely regarded as the slushiest slushbox ever made - the 2 speed Powerglide - quite successfully. That's also the transmission of choice for most drag racers - rather than a stick. Shifts faster is the reason usually given......

Again, I'm not arguing either for or against either transmission choice, my point has always been that it's personal preference - that one is NOT inherently better than the other, and to call out the stick snobs who insist otherwise.

Motor on.......

 

Sometimes I like going out to a restaurant and I let the chef cook my meal....
When I'm home... I do the cooking.

All my vehicles are automatics..... Except the MINI....

For me..... The MINI puts the biggest smile on my face when I'm rowing through the gears.....

I still like eating at restaurants.....

 

Your response made me laugh.

Long running inside joke... see, I was "you" on the "sewing site" in the 2006-2007 time frame. The original MINI auto tranny crusader. Spent way too much energy fighting that battle back in the day. Now I just laugh every time it comes up.

It's all good.

 

I guess it will help sell some high priced JCW's to people that can't drive stick.

I hope they don't put an auto tragic in the new GP, that would be a horrible crime.

If you can't drive stick go learn on a rental car, if you can find a stick rental car.

 

I actually didn't realize it wasn't offered before! :lol:
Well, hey, I guess that's cool. I'm not a fan of automatics, especially in MINIs, but that's just me. I also traded an '09 for an '06 so what do I know? :cornut:

 

Folks with bad knees need love too... Auto or stick, bring it on JCW!!!

 

Way to go makin' sense and all :biggrin5:

 

I think it's good Hey when I'm tired and like minimark said, my knees are tired, I skip my car and drive the wife's auto MCS. Hey with the paddle shifters, it's actually very responsive and gives that F1 feel :lol:

 

Hard to dilute something that already has the Countryman........:biggrin5:

 

Both our MINIs are automatic with paddles. So not much I can add.

When all you young'ns get tired of shifting, join up.

I would welcome a JCW automatic, it might get me into the 3rd MINI.

 

What he said ^^^^^^