F56 JCW buying advice

9295 Views 24 Replies 16 Participants Last post by wwleone, Nov 17, 2016

giz

Discussion Starter · Nov 3, 2016

Hey,

First post looking for a bit of advice re buying a new f56 JCW. Me and my fiancée currently both have a car each, I have a 2008 fjcw and she has a Fiat 500. With the wedding coming up in March 2017 and that fact we don't really need two cars we've been looking over the past few months for a car to share.

I have been looking at the M140i and after test driving one decided it's not for me. I just can't escape the MINI bug after 8 years of ownership so we have decided to look at the new JCW. I am trying to arrange a test drive of a automatic version as my fiancée can only drive an auto. This seems to be a hard task in itself as I have been to 2 separate dealers who look to have no interest in selling me a car. Phone calls not returned, ignored when visiting the dealers

I currently have a quote from a dealer in London with 13% off the list price but I am eager to test drive before I commit.

For owners who have switched from manual to the auto gearbox how are you finding it? and in general, how is the car?

Has anyone had any problems that I should be aware of?

Thanks

Chris

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

winceyette

· #2 · Nov 3, 2016

Manual to auto convert here! I LOVE my JCW auto! Wont be going back to manual now!

Reactions: 1

giz

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 3, 2016

winceyette said:
Manual to auto convert here! I LOVE my JCW auto! Wont be going back to manual now!

Just what I wanted to hear! Out of interest what was your previous MINI?

Jordan

· #4 · Nov 3, 2016

I am in the process of changing my cooper S clubby manual for a hatch Cooper S auto. the paddles are amazing and the gear changes are so slick with auto!

winceyette

· #5 · Nov 3, 2016

giz said:
Just what I wanted to hear! Out of interest what was your previous MINI?

My previous mini was an 08 fJCW

sootyvrs

· #6 · Nov 3, 2016

The manual vs auto discussions seem to take place on every car forum....

I would recommend an extended test drive in both Auto and manual and decide your preference... no right and wrong answer really, they are both good...

I have always loved the interaction and satisfaction of changing manual gears and the rewards of heel/toe (when I get them right lol) in the past and then I decided to give an Auto a try in my previous M135i and it was an astounding gear box where I could change up when my foot was flat on the throttle and perfect blips on the way down... what's not to like? Trouble was it made driving fast a little less challenging and made the experience less satisfying in my opinion.

I would probably say that if I would have chosen a manual, I perhaps would have kept it longer.

The Manual change in the Mini (auto blips on downchange) so this has removed the need for me to heel/toe these days but I still feel the interaction of using clutch and gear stick still rewarding compared to using paddles and redundant left foot...

Autos are probably the future I suspect and one day, manual cars will be a thing of the past so for me I would like to savour the experience while it's still with us (call me old fashioned lol)

Good luck with your decision

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Reactions: 3

giz

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 3, 2016

Interesting, thank you for that. Unfortunately I don't have a choice, it's auto or nothing at the moment due to her licence.

Hopefully by the end of this weekend I'll have a new order placed.

Blue al

· #8 · Nov 3, 2016

giz said:
Interesting, thank you for that. Unfortunately I don't have a choice, it's auto or nothing at the moment due to her licence.

Hopefully by the end of this weekend I'll have a new order placed.

So how much is a Re-test :laugh:

Pmcg16

· #9 · Nov 3, 2016

The question around auto v manual is irrelevant given you're partner can only drive the auto. The real question is the JCW special? Having driven both an auto and manual I can say it definitely is special. I upgraded from a 2014 Cooper S to a manual JCW in the summer and every journey is an event. Bite the bullet and buy the bloody thing, you won't regret it.

KYDan

· #10 · Nov 4, 2016

I was a life long manual guy, but the Miles Ahead bunch (Our instructor was Pippa Mann.) Convinced us that the auto was faster and better. When we decided to order the F56JCW to replace our beloved R56JCW I originally planned to keep the R, but my wife, who is infinitely smarter than me suggested we trade it or sell it. It was painful, but Jenny Cool Wheels left us when we picked up MITEY 2. The difference in power and acceleration is nothing less than amazing. I still don't care for the bulbous snout of the F, but the performance more than makes up for it and when twisting and squealing on technical routes the automatic allows both hands to be on the wheel at all times and the gearbox is grade A+. It is a better mini mouse trap and I love it dearly. After adding the JCW PRO exhaust and an aftermarket tuning chip the little beastie now puts just shy of 270 HP at the wheels and oh, what a joy it is!

Davyboy

· #11 · Nov 4, 2016

Welcome along

I'm sure I read that in the UK the Auto is cheaper to tax than the manual?

James-B93

· #12 · Nov 4, 2016

I also moved from a manual to auto and would choose the auto again if I had the option, in this day and age where a lot of driving is stop start I was getting fed up with a manual (E92 320d M Sport)

It's easy when you're tired and just want an easy drive and you get the added bonus of the exhaust farts if you put it in sport, with an especially loud fart when the engine is cold and in sport, manual mode and a fair amount of throttle changing gear at 4000rpm, not that I've worked out the sweet spot or anything!

Reactions: 1

Wing Co

· #13 · Nov 5, 2016

My wife's JCW has it and it certainly moves along shifting quickly. As it is only 6 gears though I notice a difference between this and my X6 M50d (8 speed) which seems more linear and smoother - 6 v 8. Overall though great.

giz

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 5, 2016

Thanks for all the replies, still waiting to hear from my 2 closest dealers to see if they can arrange for one to test drive. They don't seem to be returning my calls at the minute.

One of them told me It wasn't possible to test drive an automatic gearbox as MINI ' have not and never will make an automatic JCW'... this was after telling me he's worked for MINI for over 10 years.

Help ?

Reactions: 1

brandonbardsley

· #15 · Nov 5, 2016

giz said:
Thanks for all the replies, still waiting to hear from my 2 closest dealers to see if they can arrange for one to test drive. They don't seem to be returning my calls at the minute.

One of them told me It wasn't possible to test drive an automatic gearbox as MINI ' have not and never will make an automatic JCW'... this was after telling me he's worked for MINI for over 10 years.

Help ?

You're in Cheshire, which dealerships have you been to? I'm pretty sure Williams in Stockport have an Auto JCW in their showroom in BRG that I'm sure they'd be more than happy to let you drive.

Give Mel a call on 0161 477 5500 and say Brandon Bardsley's referred you - she'll do her best for you.

Or even try Kelly who sold me my SD at Halliwell Jones in Wilmslow, although I wouldn't recommend them as a dealer.

winceyette

· #16 · Nov 5, 2016

giz said:
Thanks for all the replies, still waiting to hear from my 2 closest dealers to see if they can arrange for one to test drive. They don't seem to be returning my calls at the minute.

One of them told me It wasn't possible to test drive an automatic gearbox as MINI ' have not and never will make an automatic JCW'... this was after telling me he's worked for MINI for over 10 years.

Help ?

WTF?!!!! Get them sacked!! I hate when you go to a dealer and they think you know nothing about MINIs - particularly as I'm a girl. 95% of the time I know way more about the cars than the sales men!

Reactions: 1

02fanatic

· #17 · Nov 5, 2016

winceyette said:
giz said:

Thanks for all the replies, still waiting to hear from my 2 closest dealers to see if they can arrange for one to test drive. They don't seem to be returning my calls at the minute.

One of them told me It wasn't possible to test drive an automatic gearbox as MINI ' have not and never will make an automatic JCW'... this was after telling me he's worked for MINI for over 10 years.

Help ?

Click to expand...

WTF?!!!! Get them sacked!! I hate when you go to a dealer and they think you know nothing about MINIs - particularly as I'm a girl. 95% of the time I know way more about the cars than the sales men!

You must remember though some dealer reps are so inept they regularly advertise the 6 speed steptronic transmission as a "manual transmission"! Maybe they think the automatic is like the old cars that you put in "D" for Drive & simply motor along!

Davyboy

· #18 · Nov 5, 2016

A few years back we wanted to test a Cooper Countryman, no dealers close to us had one on their fleet but our local dealer arranged with MINI UK to have one of their press vehicles delivered to them so we could try it for a weekend. That is good service in my book!

Reactions: 2

rtowell

· #19 · Nov 6, 2016

Now I am troubled. I was convinced the manual was the way to go. I have driven both and the auto is very quick. Got a couple of months to make up my mind, but this really makes me think.

That said, my X1 has the 8-speed auto which is great, but it really tends to take the fun out of driving (even in Sport mode). I never tire of the 6-speed manual in my E39 M5, so a lot of soul searching to do.

Reactions: 1

JoeJCW

· #20 · Nov 6, 2016

giz said:
Thanks for all the replies, still waiting to hear from my 2 closest dealers to see if they can arrange for one to test drive. They don't seem to be returning my calls at the minute.

One of them told me It wasn't possible to test drive an automatic gearbox as MINI ' have not and never will make an automatic JCW'... this was after telling me he's worked for MINI for over 10 years.

Help ?

Bowker at preston was really good for me, delt with a guy called simon collinson who just sorted everything out no worries. only up the m6 from chester

They seem to do better trade in deals too

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

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