[stinky]

Hi guys.

I'm about to order a new Mini and I've specified my perfect Cooper S, which includes pretty much every option except for the JCW body and interior kits and the parking assistant.

But the Cooper S has now become so expensive that it cost like a more spartan (though still well equipped) John Cooper Works. There are certain luxuries that I'm not willing to sacrifice, like navigation and the Harman Kardon stereo, but some other options I can live without and others come standard on the JCW.

Sacrifices I've made on the JCW spec is:

• No active dampers
• No rear view camera
• No parking assistant
• No auto dimming mirrors
• No chrome line interior
• Uglier seats (standard JCW seats instead of the Black Pearl option in the Cooper S)

I am also not sure that I prefer the looks of the JCW; maybe it's a bit much? The Cooper S is certainly more stylish and restrained, while the JCW may be a bit gaudy. I'm undecided.

Lastly, my JCW spec is about 10% more expensive than my Cooper S.

Some people probably think I'm stupid now, because the Jimmy Clarksons always want more poweeeeeeer. So do I, but keep in mind that it comes at the expense of convenience and price. I will have to live with the payment and the harsh ride.

There's also the issue of the JCW "only" having 231 hp, which isn't quite a lot for the money, and it doesn't seem to make it that much quicker than a Cooper S.

So why am I even considering a JCW? That's an excellent question.
I can't help but like the exclusivity of it. And it is quicker, even if not by much. I'm also thinking it might have better residual value. And oh, the exhaust note should be great. Anything else that I've missed?

So what do you think? Is the JCW gaudy? Worth the money? What the **** should I do?

 

[Hat]

its a toughie. there is an argument that a JCW should have better residual than a fully loaded S as the resale value never takes into account added options. But that said there are probably as many who prefer the S to the JCW as there are the other way around. If its a tight decision i'd always recommend going with your heart rather than your head. Love the car first, worry about values when the time comes. who knows what might happen betwee now & then?

Personally i agree with you that the new JCW kit is a bit gaudy & dare i say it 'aftermarket'? but that might be an age-related view.

 

[stinky]

Yes! I agree. My head would probably have bought a Volvo or something, but we can't have that, lol.

The problem is that my feelings towards each choices vary by each day. Today I'm thinking of course I'm going for the Cooper S: it's less money, more equipment, less boyish and just 0.3 or so seconds slower from 0-100 km/h. But yesterday I thought of course I want the exclusivity of the JCW.

You are right about the JCW kit. It does look a bit aftermarket, like a styled Nissan. Aftermarket is exactly the right word to describe it.

I think the most compelling reason though is that even though there's 40 hp more in the JCW, it doesn't seem to do very much for the performance. So what I end up with is a more expensive, less equipped and roughly as fast car as a Cooper S.

But maybe I'll change my mind tomorrow again.

 

[Hat]

i looked hard at the Volvo V40 R Design but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Part of me felt like it was giving up

 

[stinky]

Screw it. I'm going for the JCW.

I noticed I've already added the most important options to the JCW spec as well. I'm thinking it would be dumb to choose the gimmicks outlined above instead of more performance.

Then it really boils down to the looks of the cars, and I think I'm prepared to live with the uglier bodykit to have better performance and a rarer car.

 

[mick]

Love that decision stinky, YOLO etc...you know it makes

 

[02fanatic]

If you're going with the manual, let me know what you find out about placing the order and delivery expectations. I started a thread elsewhere on here to monitor progress of the manual transmission orders.

As for your decision, it appears you've done alot of homework and your reasons for choosing one car over the other will vary from others. Some of your reasons I agree with, some I don't...but that's what makes buying a MINI so much fun!

Personally I love all the MINI's, and the JCW certainly isn't "uglier" IMO...just more beefy (on steroids?)...and that's the way a high performance car is suppose to look. And if you are wanting a soft gentle ride, the JCW is not going to be to your liking. As for the seats, the leatherette sport seats are perfectly fine...much better than the older Gen seats. My only regret is I wasn't able to see & sit in the std JCW cloth sport seats (nobody has any STILL!). I think I would have liked those, since I didn't order heated seats.

I chose the JCW because I love the new BMW powerplant in the JCW (hp & torque), I could care less about parking assist, and such things.....my car isn't for family outings...my kids are all grown up and on their own. I got the JCW "for the fun of driving"! it WON'T have any bells & whistles, other than the HK sound system and the added driving lights (those are practical though since the JCW has no fogs).

Only thing that bums me out is no CD player in the F56 (without cramming a 6-cd changer into the glovebox and adding Visual Boost...visual what?).

It's gonna be a long wait! Good luck with your final order...stay focused on what you really "need" when ordering or your wallet will empty really fast!

John

 

[stinky]

If you're going with the manual, let me know what you find out about placing the order and delivery expectations. I started a thread elsewhere on here to monitor progress of the manual transmission orders.

As for your decision, it appears you've done alot of homework and your reasons for choosing one car over the other will vary from others. Some of your reasons I agree with, some I don't...but that's what makes buying a MINI so much fun!

Personally I love all the MINI's, and the JCW certainly isn't "uglier" IMO...just more beefy (on steroids?)...and that's the way a high performance car is suppose to look. And if you are wanting a soft gentle ride, the JCW is not going to be to your liking. As for the seats, the leatherette sport seats are perfectly fine...much better than the older Gen seats. My only regret is I wasn't able to see & sit in the std JCW cloth sport seats (nobody has any STILL!). I think I would have liked those, since I didn't order heated seats.

I chose the JCW because I love the new BMW powerplant in the JCW (hp & torque), I could care less about parking assist, and such things.....my car isn't for family outings...my kids are all grown up and on their own. I got the JCW "for the fun of driving"! it WON'T have any bells & whistles, other than the HK sound system and the added driving lights (those are practical though since the JCW has no fogs).

Only thing that bums me out is no CD player in the F56 (without cramming a 6-cd changer into the glovebox and adding Visual Boost...visual what?).

It's gonna be a long wait! Good luck with your final order...stay focused on what you really "need" when ordering or your wallet will empty really fast!

John

All very good points. I went with the auto gearbox. This will be my only car and it'll be used a lot. I don't have the luxury of having two cars.

I have indeed done a lot of homework, but I've been stuck between these two cars after having eliminated a lot of cars and their options. It's quite a nice problem to have though, and I believe I will be happy with either one.

I'm not dead seat on having a soft ride. The adaptive dampers option on the Cooper S is part of the Driver Package, and I'm not sure I would have chosen them otherwise. Also from doing even more research on these forums, it seems that the sports suspension is the way to go if you want better handling, which I do. I was under the impression that with dynamic dampers, I could have the cake and eat it too, but while that's sort of true, it'll never handle as well the sport suspension. So I've sort of moved on from that option.

I will use my car for everything, but then again, it's not like the JCW is a 911. It's still practical enough to carry four people from time to time, and to do some shopping in.

Now regarding the seats, I saved quite a lot of money by not specifying the Chili package on the JCW, which include the black/red seats. Those are an additional $2000 in my country. Instead I cherry picked the other options included in the package.

I haven't seen any photos of the black standard JCW sports seats either. I hope they are nice.

 

[Hat]

JCW with auto box? that's a bold, but i think, good choice.

 

[02fanatic]

JCW with auto box? that's a bold, but i think, good choice.

That's the only choice right now, unfortunately. I have no doubt the automatic trans is going to be awesome (and supposedly quicker 0-60), but I still like the idea of manual shifting when driving...and why on earth MINI has delayed the manual transmission on the JCW is an absolute mystery to me! SOMEDAY, in the future, the truth will reveal itself, but there's something to this strategy, mark my words!

 

[Hat]

That's the only choice right now, unfortunately. I have no doubt the automatic trans is going to be awesome (and supposedly quicker 0-60), but I still like the idea of manual shifting when driving...and why on earth MINI has delayed the manual transmission on the JCW is an absolute mystery to me! SOMEDAY, in the future, the truth will reveal itself, but there's something to this strategy, mark my words!

you can still manual shift using the paddles or the lever in sequential mode. many premium sports car manufacturers are only offering auto now & its a growing trend. i think this is a tactic by mini to push the jcw more into that sports bracket

 

[02fanatic]

you can still manual shift using the paddles or the lever in sequential mode. many premium sports car manufacturers are only offering auto now & its a growing trend. i think this is a tactic by mini to push the jcw more into that sports bracket

Yes, I believe you are correct...I just wish MINI would admit to it!

My build sheet doesn't say anything under transmission & I asked my dealer why? I was told that the manual transmission is "standard on the JCW", the automatic is an "option". Ok, that kinda makes sense....but, why is the "standard setup" NOT AVAILABLE??? It just blows my mind!!!!

I sure hope MINI wakes up and realizes that this game playing is not going to set well with ardent MINI buyers out here who want the manual!...After all, the manual is on the MCS...has been for 2 years!

 

[sirron]

Don't get the parking assistant,

 

[stinky]

JCW with auto box? that's a bold, but i think, good choice.

Yes. I've never had a car with auto before, but I've gotten pretty tired of shifting so I thought I'd have one on my next car. I actually expect to like the ability to paddle shift even more.

Don't get the parking assistant,

Would you mind elaborating? I agree it's unnecessary on a car of this size. It's not specced on my JCW, though.

 

[Balypu]

Hi guys.

I'm about to order a new Mini and I've specified my perfect Cooper S, which includes pretty much every option except for the JCW body and interior kits and the parking assistant.

But the Cooper S has now become so expensive that it cost like a more spartan (though still well equipped) John Cooper Works. There are certain luxuries that I'm not willing to sacrifice, like navigation and the Harman Kardon stereo, but some other options I can live without and others come standard on the JCW.

Sacrifices I've made on the JCW spec is:

• No active dampers
• No rear view camera
• No parking assistant
• No auto dimming mirrors
• No chrome line interior
• Uglier seats (standard JCW seats instead of the Black Pearl option in the Cooper S)

I am also not sure that I prefer the looks of the JCW; maybe it's a bit much? The Cooper S is certainly more stylish and restrained, while the JCW may be a bit gaudy. I'm undecided.

Lastly, my JCW spec is about 10% more expensive than my Cooper S.

Some people probably think I'm stupid now, because the Jimmy Clarksons always want more poweeeeeeer. So do I, but keep in mind that it comes at the expense of convenience and price. I will have to live with the payment and the harsh ride.

There's also the issue of the JCW "only" having 231 hp, which isn't quite a lot for the money, and it doesn't seem to make it that much quicker than a Cooper S.

So why am I even considering a JCW? That's an excellent question.
I can't help but like the exclusivity of it. And it is quicker, even if not by much. I'm also thinking it might have better residual value. And oh, the exhaust note should be great. Anything else that I've missed?

So what do you think? Is the JCW gaudy? Worth the money? What the **** should I do?

I had the same problem and chose the S. I didn't like the lack of front fogs on the JCW and I specked up a S to the max. I'm going to add the JCW tune and breaks in a few months and I think an S with those upgrades will be far rearer then a JCW

 

[stinky]

I had the same problem and chose the S. I didn't like the lack of front fogs on the JCW and I specked up a S to the max. I'm going to add the JCW tune and breaks in a few months and I think an S with those upgrades will be far rearer then a JCW

Just curious, if you're going to add the tuning kit and Brembos, why did you opt for the S? Was it only because of the missing fogs?

 

[Balypu]

Just curious, if you're going to add the tuning kit and Brembos, why did you opt for the S? Was it only because of the missing fogs?

A few reasons

Front fogs, I could also spec up an S to full but a JCW would have been more basic, didn't like the JCW seats and also I would had had to wait longer for the JCW as I got my S in March and would have had to hold on for the JCW.

 

[oscarcat]

As we (Jamesant is my husband) are in the fortunate position (?) of owning a Cooper S for 5 months (rejected due to the infamous crankshaft problem) and waiting for our JCW, I can honestly say that we are not particularly bothered by the lack of front fog lights. We had the LED headlights on the S and they were so bright, we never needed to use the fog lights. I know the fogs do add to the overall look of the front end but given that they have been replaced with vents to cool the brakes, I'd much rather have function over style.
We were lucky enough yesterday to go and see the JCW in the flesh as our dealers have got theirs under wraps awaiting the launch. I have to say that we were stunned by its looks and are so pleased we were brave enough to order it blind! Those front brake discs and calipers are huge!
We reckon we are about 5 weeks off delivery, I'm sure hubby will be posting photos galore!

 

[Hat]

Yes. I've never had a car with auto before, but I've gotten pretty tired of shifting so I thought I'd have one on my next car. I actually expect to like the ability to paddle shift even more.

Yes the paddles are good fun and the shifting is instant. Also if youre lazy or busy it will still downshift automatically to avoid a stall. Ive only tried the sequential once, to be honest its a bit redundant.

 

[stinky]

Did you get a glimpse of the black cloth JCW seats? If so what's your opinion?

I haven't had a need for fog lights ever, really. 10 years ago they were for pissing of the police while looking cool in combination with the main beams. Then cars got LED DRLs and I stopped using the fogs because the halogen looked bad in combination with the LEDs. And now I'm not sure why I'd want them at all. They just happen to be stock on the MCS.