Hi All,

I'm new here. I just rented a Mini last week and I really want one. I am still in the dreaming stage for now but that could change in a minute.

Assuming the finances are fine, what is the consensus on buying a JCW or buying an S and modding it. Normally, I work on my own cars, but they are much simpler beasts than the Mini. I am not opposed to outsourcing the work since I live in NYC now and have no shop of my own to tackle anything bigger than brake pads or an oil change.

The problem of modding after the purchase might be the inconvenience of turnaround times if the vendors are not excellent with that sort of thing. That would put me out a bit

Ultimately I will want the ponies and the suspension so do I get a "better" car by buying it with the package from the mothership? Or can I roll my own for a few dollars more or less that does it better?

In the end is it zero net gain? Will it end up the same except for the upfront cost and the time. Also are there warranty issues to consider?

Thanks in Advance,

Steve

 

Yes!!!!! Go with the JCW.
You'll love the performance and it's all factory warrantied!!!!

PS get all the suspension upgrades and the strut brace!

 

I took 4 test drives at the dealership. S auto and manual, a JCW and a manual Sidewalk edition Cabrio with a JCW kit. I wound up buying a JCW.

I have been reading the posts here on NAM for the past 6 or 7 weeks and it really blew me away at how many people were doing serious engine and suspension modding to their cars. I could not figure out why. Keep that in mind and keep reading.

My car has been at the dealership 3 times since I took delivery for a few minor things. Not for anything serious. I have had the following loaner cars for at least a day each. A base automatic Cooper, a base automatic Clubman and an automatic Cooper S. I have driven each car at least 100 miles with a mix of highway and local roads. The base Clubman had a nice soft ride with regular 15" tires.

Conclusion, the factory JCW totally blows those cars away with power, handling, braking etc. It is now my opinion that if you are getting a MINI it should be with a manual transmission and if you can afford the JCW buy one. The automatic totally dumbs down the fun and makes a MINI just a regular car. Get the JCW. You will not be sorry and if you don't like a certain aspect of the ride then you can make a change.

I do not like the sport suspension on my JCW. I am having the JCW suspension installed this week. The JCW suspension should definitely come standard with the car. Not as a dealer installed option.

 

Note that the "package" does not get you any suspension improvements, which is just ridiculous. You can pay your dealer an ungodly amount to install the JCW suspension, but you'd probably do better in terms of $$ and performance with an aftermarket suspension upgrade.

One option you might want to consider is a low-mileage used 06 S. You could still have a chunk of warranty time left and for less than the cost of a new JCW you could build it out into a complete monster that will crush said new car.

 

Thanks for the input. I'm going to do some test drives next week! (if it's dry)

Steve

 

Perhaps U should come over and I'll teach you how to properly drive an automatic S with the JCW tune kit. Dumb down the fun, indeed! I suggest U take that not-very-well-thought-out blanket statement over to the JCW forum and run it by others that have installed JCW kits on their automatics, and watch their reaction.

"Totally dumbs down the fun." Speak for yrself, pal...I'm having a blast.

 

Uber-silly statements aside about autos dumbing down the fun, one thing to keep in mind about A/M modding is that dealers are cracking down on (non-JCW) mods and how they can affect warranty work; ive seen this shift in philosophy over the last few years. So if you dont go JCW, run potential mods by yr service advisor to see if they will negatively affect yr warranty; if not, get it in writing good luck!

 

I will have to agree with this statement. I went back and forth between the auto and manual. I have no regrets having the auto. I know it can outshift a manual anytime. It depends all on what YOU as a driver want and enjoy. As far as a JCW outhandling any other mini, how can that happen when they have the same suspension setups UNLESS it has the add on JCW suspension kit. But then again, you can add that to the S also. So outhandle the other minis...I can't see that happening. Just my opinion and I may be wrong.

 

I think if you have the means, then JCW all the way. I wish I had had the extra $5000... wanna loan it to me? :D




sidenote: Apparently, the ever expanding "forbidden topics of debate" now includes: religion, politics, operating systems (man, do I hate the Windows vs Mac vs Unix stuff), and automotive transmission.

 

 

Nonsense... as long as the comments don't turn into personal attacks or degradation, everyone can speak their own opinions on transmissions.

It's all a matter of personal preference.

Me? I have never driven an automatic transmission that I really liked. But that's just me. My idea of fun may not be the same as someone else's, and as long as YOU like your own car, who cares if someone else doesn't?

 

I never said anything about a Cooper S auto with the JCW kit. I have never driven one. I am saying a Cooper or an S with automatic are not as fun to drive when compared to the same car with a manual transmission.

 

I have been driving for over 20 years. I learned to drive cars with automatic transmissions and then I learned to drive cars with manuals. I drove manuals for many years. That was my preference.

My last car was an 06 330xi with auto. That was the most awesome car that I have owned. It was a lease. I am sorry it had to go back. I went with a MINI beacause the monthly payment was cheaper.

When I started looking at MINI's I thought that I would get an S with an automatic. I live near NYC and drive in the city on a regular basis. In the end I decided to go with the factory JCW which only comes with manual.

Like I said in my post I have driven all the late model Coopers for more than 100 miles over the course of a day with a mix of highway and city driving. In MY opinion the MINI Coopers are more fun to drive with a manual transmission. Again I am coming from BMW. The auto on these Coopers do not compare to the autos on BMW's

Again...my opinion.

Now go buy a JCW. They are awesome MINI's!!!

 

If you're interested in my two cents I just had this very same internal debate a couple of weeks ago.

I went into the dealer intending on ordering an "S" but open enough to test drive both. My wife and I agreed after pulling out into traffic that the 09 JCW was a wholy different experience than the MCS. We ordered a JCW few days later and she should have completed production yesterday.

Get the JCW... IMHO its well worth the $$$ difference.

 

I went through this debate at the beginning of 2008 when I ordered by Clubman. I elected to spend my money on a NAV and other niceties for the interior. I somewhat regret that decision for a couple of reasons.

1. Buying the stage 1 upgrade and wheels will set me back about $3000, so I am getting much closer to closing in on the premium.

2. You will save a lot of time and headaches by just ordering the whole setup straight from the factory.

 

I wanted the JCW too but needed an automatic so my decision was to opt for the S and add the JCW Stage 1 kit. I would still love to have a JCW.....maybe it can be a second car for me one of these days. Now if they would only offer the factory JCW with an auto.......

 

the most important question here is "what do you plan on doing with the car?" if you're worried about warranty issues and aren't going to track it, i'd say jcw is fine.

however, i don't think many jcw's are gonna stay with you as soon as you add a 15% pulley (jcw has 11%), free flowing exhaust, and a tune...and you would have spent significantly less!

btw, the mini is very easy to work on i've done all my suspension work (rear sway bar, coilovers, lower and upper strut bars) and most of the drivetrain (15% pulley, rmw cam, jcw cai, miltek exhaust) with a friend.

i think it's great to have so many options to play with....but i can see where it would be worrisome to others. to the op, there's definitely enough info here on nam to guide you along....good luck and i hope you get your mini

 

I think the OP effectively closed out this thread about 10 posts back...

 

you implying i shouldn't drink and post at the same time

things have been kinda slow on nam this winter

 

No! I love this thanks for all the great replies! I am going for the manual, even though I don't hate automatics. I just have fun shifting gears

I get the idea of the warranty and I like it. I'm gonna do the test drives but I'm pretty sure where I'll end up.

Thanks Again,

Steve