I've driven loads of stuff over the last year or so, and (yes, I'm biased!) I reckon my new JCW is as good as anything premium I can recall driving. Loads better than Merc C-class & A-Class and right up there with my '62 plate A4 and the recent spate of new A3 courtesy cars. Golf R felt very very well screwed together as did TTS, but I think where the Mini scores is that the design is so unique and different, nothing else like it, that tips it over the edge. So even a couple of bits of hard/cheap plastic down below, you'd never notice. Unless you spend ££££'s on extended leather, carbon inserts blah blah blah, its as good as anything out there to me, especially small car sector. Mine is stock JCW interior, no chili packs etc. and its an exceptionally pleasant place to spend a few hours.