From an article on Motoring File,

In contrast to this the JCW MCS (equipped with the JCW aero-kit) felt noticeably more confident than both the R53 or the R56 I tested at 140mph + on the German Autobahn. In fact, above tripple didgets it felt close to the GP in composure. The conclusion one has to reach is that the wind tunnel study done on the optional JCW aero-kit does effectively increase front down-force and provide a better experience at high speeds. While I had heard this said to me by more than one person at MINI over the last year, I had never felt this first hand until now.

Full article is here: http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/11/...-s-r53-vs-r56/

 

I actually slept very well the day before pickup. You need to as well, you have to be well rested for all the driving you will be doing.

Should be less than 24hrs away now. And if you cannot sleep, take a Neo Citran and wash that down with a few shots of whiskey, you will sleep like a baby.

 

But will I wake up? Maybe you meant less whiskey...

 

One week and counting

 

COKEN, I can tell you that the last week REALLY DRAGS ALONG....I've got less than 24 hrs to go and time isn't moving AT ALL!

 

I didn't need to hear that

 

Hah hah, I looked down and it was 4:15, got back to work and when I looked at the clock again later it was.....STILL 4:15!!!

 

I think I'm slipping into your time warp. I can already feel time slowing down.

 

OMG really that sucks. My car was off loaded in CA on tuesday morning
(2 days early). I called my MA to to see if he knew if it was on a truck up here to WA State and he said that it only just arrived yesterday and no it will take awhile. He stated you know the port is in California!!! Are you kidding me, he obviously thinks i'm an idiot.

 

Well, at least its in the right country now. Trucks offload a lot faster that rail cars that's for sure. My car was stuck in the Edmonton rail yard for a few days...

 

True, True. You are right. I'm just impatient. LOL It's been a year and a half since I first put my name on the waiting list.

 

12 hrs to go. As if I'm going to sleep at all...who did your delivery mansize?

 

3 more hours. Have you slept yet? You know she's waiting siting in the showroom all shiny. Are you rushing down for 9 or are you going to play it cool and stroll in some time after?

 

good luck Perihelion, hope everything goes smoothly and you have great weather for the pickup. It's been a long time coming

 

I can't see him waiting - bet he's on his way now

 

a bit cold and wet here today, but I'm still going to try and put on another 100 miles or so, I'm at about 960 now...edging closer to 1200 all the time Has anyone in Week 11 reached 1200 yet?

 

Heavy snow here in Colorado yesterday and today (measured in feet!). I don't know if the truck with my car made it over the Rocky Mountains and in to town yesterday. Parts of I-70 were closed yesterday and are still closed this morning. The good news is that they are saying that it will be sunny and near 60 tomorrow.

 

It was Jared, he did a good job, paired the phone to the car and all...
By the time of this post, you're already zipping around town...
Maybe I'll see you on the road today, heading out to Sherwood Park.
(after all we're only in a population of one million or so, including the bedroom communities )

 

Yup, hit 1200 yesterday and 1400 today

I'm definitely happy to not watch the revs "Oh no, I have to shift"

 

I haven't even hit 1000km yet!

The wife an I went to a gun club today as they had an open house. Canadian gun laws are pretty tight so getting to shoot a handgun without a license is a big deal. On a Mini related note though, during our drive home I discovered how you don't really feel speed in this car. I hit 140km/h without even noticing(the posted limit was 100). Once it's broken in I'd love to take it to a track or where ever so I can hit it's max speed legally.

EESH! I hate snow, let alone that much. Right now it`s 22C and partly cloudy here, good enough weather for me.

 

Nice I got to 1090 today, almost there....

 

Hah hah, I was on the road at 5am to get to the dealership on time. Turns out the traffic was light and I was sitting in the Tim Hortons across the street waiting for them to open.

Delivery went pretty well, I got Chris and he did a good job. There was a minor issue with a scratch that occurred during transit but they're making it right so I'm not worried. Mechanically the car is in good order. When I say good order, I mean ITS A BEAST!!! I gave up a heavily modded stage II Subaru WRX for this car so expectations were high but the JCW continues to surprise me. First set of lights I lightly depressed the brake pedal and the fiance and I almost went through the windshield! Those Brembos bite hard! Then there's the power. I didn't dare touch the sport button for the first couple hundred kms but she was already begging to rev higher. I've been shifting about 3000 to 3500 rpms but she clearly doesn't like being driven that way. By the time you hit 2500rpm she wants to pull all the way to 5000 and its killing me to cut her off early and shift. I can almost hear her begging for it. I have yet to use more than 15% throttle input.

Well, around the 200kms mark I decided to try out the sport button. WOW. Its damn near impossible to keep her below 90kph with the sport button on. Just cast a shadow over the loud pedal and she tears away. I wonder what overboost will feel like.

Now onto the handling. I have an overpass that I always use as a judge of cornering composure. Its a decreasing radius butterfly from the top of the bridge down onto a freeway where the limit is 90kph. In the Honda Fit, she gets uneasy at about 60kph at the apex. The WRX with AWD could manage about 70 before starting to lean heavily and push a bit. I pulled it at 90 just now and the car didn't even lean. I'm sure if there was no traffic I could do it a lot faster than that on stock tires. (Dunlops by the way).

Got about 550kms on her so far, can't wait to be past break in. My only complaint is the brake dust, my silver wheels are now gunmetal and will soon be black.

 

Glad to hear you finally got your car Perihelion, beautiful!

I know what you mean about how the car wants to be driven (even though mine's an S), it's just not happy when you have to shift around 3k.

And keeping the speed down is so, so hard. Not because I've got a lead foot, either, just that it's so effortless. And it's so different than my previous car where, sure, you could do 70 but getting from 60 to 70 was a lifetime. Now it just happens nearly on command!

Glad you're having fun and hope it keeps up!

 

I believe Perihelion likes the new car

 

I just got all emotional reading that you got your car!! I just ordered a couple weeks ago and have been reading this thread. It is so cool how you guys have been there for each other in this grueling wait time!! Congrats and I can't wait until I get mine!