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MINI Tries To Save Stick-Shifts With $500 Discount

By Richard Read
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MINI manual transmission discount

MINI manual transmission discount

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Once upon a time, mastering a stick-shift was a teenage rite of passage. Today, though, it's tougher to find rides with manual transmissions, and the allure of the stick seems to be fading. MINI wants to change that by offering customers a discount on select manual models through the month of August.

In praise of stick-shifts

Knowing how to drive a stick provides admittance into an elite club. The frustrations of working the clutch, the embarrassment of grinding gears, the terror brought on by even the smallest hills: conquer those, and you can't help but feel a little special, a little badass.


But the manual transmission is dying. Heck, even Lamborghini decided to kill it off. Sure, there are still dual clutches aplenty -- and they're almost as fun to drive -- but it's funny how much you miss that extra punch of the left foot.

MINI hopes to revive interest in the stick shift with a new campaign to put drivers in touch with their inner "manualhood". At the heart of that campaign is a $500 discount for customers who opt for manual transmissions on their new MINI -- and that's over and above the typically cheaper MSRP of manual models.

The offer applies to the MINI Clubman, Convertible, and Hardtop. (Sorry, the Countryman isn't included.) The discount is available through August 31, so if you're still looking for a summer ride -- or maybe the perfect off-to-college car for your kid --act quickly.

If you purchase one for someone else, MINI will surely thank you for passing on the stick-shift tradition. Remember, though: you'll be on the hook for teaching the recipient how to drive that thing. And sadly, teaching a manual isn't nearly as much fun as driving one yourself.

For more information, visit MINIUSA.com.


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Comments (2)

  1. larry300 avatar larry300 Posted: 8/4/2011 3:50pm PDT

    When dual clutches first came out they were hailed as the savior of the manual as more people would take a chance and come to enjoy manuals again, but inevitably it became the manual's swansong.
    Thanks for trying Mini but $500 won't be a big enough difference, and won't pay for a new transmission if the gears are ground up later on.
     
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  2. fb_1841334499 avatar Bob Grimes Posted: 8/5/2011 1:00pm PDT

    It was fun when I had my old MGB, but in city traffic, forget about it. I still have a semi-automatic, 41 Chrysler Fluid drive. Only have to use the clutch to go into gear, then once there, shift with you foot on and off the gas. I would never buy a NEW car with stick.
     
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