Hello everyone, Brand new member seeking advice. I currently own a 1996 Miata M with about 80,000 two owner miles. It has some tasteful modifications, lowered with koni shocks, tires and rims etc. and exhaust , Nardi wheel and hardtop. I love this car but feel like its time for a change. I am considering a a Mini, and like what I have heard about 04-05 John Cooper Works cars. Please encourage or discourage me, tell me what to look for and what to avoid. Im over 50 and have owned TR3's Healys, lots of VW's BMW's and even a Sunbeam Imp...and by the way the Mini doesn't have to be too practical. I would really appreciate any information.

Thanks,
Charles Myers
Lancaster, PA

 

I would not get 04 but 05-06 instead, preferably 06 JCW. The 05-06 JCW have CAI and bigger (380mm) injectors, lighter crank pulley and LSD. Oh yes and better gearing, too. Keep the Miata for some topless fun.

 

Also check out the M&M tour in Philly it is the MINI and Miata clubs run together. Check PhillyMINI.org I think

 

the revised gearing on the 05/06 cars also made them faster...
the 05/06 JCW's were 210 hp, the pre 2005 ones were 200, unless the jcw upgrade kit was installed....those did not get a trany change. Even the stock S, 2005 S, GAINED A FEW HP....and can often be modded to get jcw or better hp...depends on your goals..
One tip
on gen1 cars, the jcw was a group of seperate kits...some got one or another, few got most...the engine kit with thr slightly ported head as the main addidtion was the most common kit, but others such as the big brake kit, suspension kit, etc were avalable...

 

I do agree that 06 would be the best year to have. I am also over 50 and just recently got rid of several cars, MR2 Spyder, Impala SS. These were just playtoys and I never considered a MINI. Enter my daughter...We wanted to buy her a new car to finish college with and she ended up with a MINI. My wife went to pay for the car at the dealership and stated she thought they were really cute and fun looking cars. She was at that time shopping for another SUV, an H3 Alpha. She test drove a 2010 Camden, MCS and really was interested in it. I sorta liked it also. She bought it a few days later. I decided to take it out and see what it would do....WOW....They are super fun to drive. I decided I had to have one too. I found a 2004 JCW MCS with the airbox and injectors upgrade, so about 210 horses. The other cars sat there sadly undriven. This is not my daily driver, but I cannot seem to stay out of it. It really puts a smile on my face whenever I drive it. It is so much more stable and fun than anything I have owned in the past. See if you can take one out for a drive for about an hour and I believe you will be convinced. Most of my friends are high horsepower big block junkies. Several have ridden or driven my MINI and a few are now shopping for their own. You just have to experience it to believe it....Also the supercharger wine is very addicting...Hope you find what you are looking for
Chuck