Triple Threat: New Motorist. New MINI. New to driving manual!

Hello everyone! My name is Michael and I am a MINIholic. I am hooked on these tiny balls of power, but have a few concerns I'd like to voice. My fiance has also made a recent purchase of a MINI and we are both loving them, but it has been a love/hate relationship. Of course, when the car is riding like a dream it's a dream, but my fiance ... after only 2 months ... had to bring her car back to the dealership because the transmission is acting up. (She has an automatic, I have a manual). The consensus is that she will probably either need a repair or replacement. That's mighty disappointing.

My concern is with my gearbox, and perhaps one of the many motorists out there can give me some insight. I am new to driving stick, and new to MINI, so this might be normal for this particular car. When I am shifting, it feels like I really have to push into gear. There is almost a double or triple clicking feeling ... it just doesn't feel like I think it should feel. I don't really know though, because I have no point of reference, but shouldn't shifting be smooth? It almost feels like I am not going to be able to get it into gear when I am driving. It feels as though the gears aren't lined up correctly, and when I push into that gear, the teeth of the gears are not locking together right away, but hitting each other and then moving into position (causing the double or triple click/resistance).

It seemed smoother when I first drove the car home, and is gradually getting worse.

Just a quick mention, I am in The Poconos, where it is consistently between 10-35 degrees Fahrenheit.

The other concerns are small, such as my windows not coming down the 1/4 inch when I open my doors ... there is a buzzing sound coming from the passenger door at high speeds ... and I have been smelling a sweet burning smell like that of antifreeze coming through my heater vents (I have the heater set to vent not circulate).

Anyway, for a new 2011 cooper (just purchased November 27th) I am a bit concerned with the way the car feels, but again it might be normal break in stuff.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thank you for all of the great information. My fiance's MINI is a 2010 Cooper S Automatic and mine is a 2011 Cooper Manual. We both drove the cars off the lot brand new this year. We are having major issues with her vehicle, unfortunately. We brought the car back to the deal this week, and they sent it back home with us last night with a "could not replicate ... scans came back clean". Guess what happened on the way home ... uhhh it happened to us again. Well, needless to say, we are bringing it back in for a second go.

I'm not having nearly as many problems with mine. I just would like to have them do a once over. I got a coupon for a free car wash/detail in the mail, so I am going to use the coupon and ask all of my questions when I am there for that. This way, it is nice and casual (especially since we are putting the service department through some hoops with my fiance's car). I'd like to continue to have a good relationship with our dealer, but it becomes difficult when you bring a car in and they can't duplicate your problems. Then when you have questions, they just start to give you the cold shoulder.

Anyway, I am having a grand ol' time, driving as much as I can. It is such a breath of fresh air to have a car that I don't dread getting into. I used to hate driving, but I am beginning to love it! Once I get the answers I need, I'll be even more psyched.

Thanks again for all of your replies. I look forward to sharing more.

 

Also, I will have to get some photos of our cars and post them up. Soon enough!!