Getting In Gear: How Mini Taught Me To Drive A Manual

“Clutch in, move to second,” I repeated. There was a steady stream of self-talk as I maneuvered a dark green Mini Cooper S four-door hardtop around the closed track at the BMW Performance Center West under the tutelage of two professional instructors. This was my first time experiencing a manual transmission vehicle after nearly 20 years of driving. Finally after nearly three hours in the Thermal, California sunshine I was starting to get the hang of it.

Mastering Manual

Now anyone can learn what Mini calls a “life skill” at the newly launched Mini Manual School at its parent company’s BMW Performance Center located about 30 minutes south of Palm Springs. The manual training program, available to the public as of this month for $499, coincides with the reintroduction of more manual options across seven Mini models. 

For November 2022 production, Mini announced manuals were returning in three of its two-door hardtops. Last week, Mini revealed even more manual transmission options for March 2023 start-of-production on the Cooper convertibles and four-door hardtops. A manual transmission or automatic option will cost the same on Mini’s Signature and Iconic trim levels. For those opting for Classic trim, manual comes standard with a $1,500 charge for automatic transmission.

Before the school officially opened, I joined a group of media to experience the class. Unlike most manual learners, I would have professionals teaching me stick shift basics. Typically, relatives attempt to teach young drivers how to slowly and smoothly release the clutch, often resulting in frustration and tears.  

My Mini manual teachers, pro race car drivers Loni Unser and Chris Hill, radioed in instructions, guidance and observations as they watched us slowly make it around the track—again and again until we weren’t stalling or sputtering. While we only made it to third gear after several hours, for a true beginner like myself, I established a foundation for driving stick shift. I had never downshifted or switched gears while throttling ahead and steering. And I didn’t cry once.

The school provided both classroom instruction and in-car practice, both valuable to feel comfortable with the idea of shifting through street traffic even if we stayed on the closed course. After every lap I would put the car into neutral to give my foot a rest and try to emulate moving into first gear after at a four-way stop. Thankfully, the manual Minis are equipped with an “Auto Restart” feature, so pushing in the clutch after stalling restarts the car.

Shifting to Stick 

Mini may be onto something with a manual resurgence. A Mini-commissioned survey in late January of more than 1,000 adults found that 53% wanted to learn the “important life skill.” Younger respondents (ages 18 to 34) were even more eager to learn stick: 67% were interested in learning. 

While working the clutch, I felt in control and involved with the driving process, something that I rarely think about in automatic vehicles. Here was a full body experience with my left foot pushing and releasing the clutch in and out, the right braking and hitting the gas, my right hand on the gear shifter, the other on the wheel and my mind only focused on the mechanics of driving. 

I didn’t think once about turning on the radio or finding a good driving playlist. The soundtrack was mostly me repeating aloud “clutch in” whenever I wanted to switch gears or come to a stop without stalling the engine. As the school’s lead instructor Robert Stout told us before we got behind the wheel, “You are controlling the car. You are driving the car. You are not riding in a car.” 

But finding a car to practice on or even buy is increasingly difficult. While Mini will offer seven models with manual transmission, only 1% of cars today have a clutch, according to car data company CoPilot. Throughout brand offerings, manual transmissions are hard to find with Chevrolet, Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Ford, Dodge and Acura all only offering one model with stick shift available, often on the highest performance trim.

But the Future’s Electric

Mini’s manual mindset comes at a strange time as the brand and the entire car industry switches gears to electric. Electric vehicles inherently have an automatic, single-speed transmission with electric motors and a large lithium-ion battery replacing an internal combustion engine. Mini delivered its first electric Mini Cooper SE in 2020 and plans to only make electric cars by the 2030s.

Until then, the British-based carmaker is embracing the last gasp of manual driving during the EV transition. Mini representatives reiterated its commitment to electric, but while gasoline-powered cars are still on the road for the next decade and beyond, the brand wants to make the most of it. “We want everyone to be able to have fun today in a manual transmission,” Mini product spokesperson Vikash Joshi said.

Somehow, hitting barely 30 mph while going in the same small circles around a track for hours, I had a blast learning the fundamentals of driving a manual transmission. There were no tears or expletives. Even more enjoyable was hearing all the stories and memories my experience elicited. Just mentioning my manual driving class prompted advice (“Drive barefoot!”), tips (“Keep your foot on the clutch!”) and faraway looks about the Ford Explorer they learned on in the high school parking lot or the old Range Rover their uncle brought to family summer vacations. 

Mini provided lodging, meals and travel to enable us to bring you this first-person report. Although Forbes Wheels sometimes participates in manufacturer-hosted events, our coverage is independent, unbiased and aimed at offering consumers an objective view of every vehicle we test.