When I started out on a year long journey for a last “manual transmission” the last place I thought I would end up was on a Mini Forum.

Both my boys get got their drivers license in 2023 and as such, I no longer have to drive them all over the place. Sure, we have a nice family car (2021 Volvo XC60 T6 Inscription) but I have waited a long time to get something with only 2 doors, a stick, and an interior only big enough for me, my wife, and our Brittany spaniel Wesson. I wanted a car for adventure, road trips, AutoX, and HPDE track events as well as managing my short 7 mile commute daily.

I drove everything I could get my hands on. Dark Horse, M2, M4, Supra, GTI, Golf R, Mach 1, Type R…

In the end, I ended up picking a car that I smiled in the most. Sure the Dark Horse sounded cool - but I’m not a “Mustang” guy. The M2 was probably my favorite performance car, but the price and the level of “always on” probably would have lead to pretty expensive insurance payments and speeding tickets.

I could go on, but what the Mini JCW offered was the spirit of what I was looking for - a last of its kind, ICE manual transmission car that makes me smile every time I get in it - and it does so with a reasonable level of sanity, elegance, and sophistication that I enjoy.

I haven’t named her yet, but I do think I’m in love!

 

You have a fun car! Perhaps not the 0-60 of the Dark Horse or quite as competent as the M2 in corners, but hopefully a bigger smile ( or at least as big ) on your face when driving !

 

You know the thing is, there are a ton of amazing cars out there right now… Sad to see so many of them on their last leg with no batteries and a manual transmission.

There are a ton of “better” sports cars than a JCW, but the thing about better is unless you are one of the truly ridiculously wealthy there is ALWAYS “better”

i hope I’m fortunate to own an M2 someday, but I think this car is special in its own way regardless of horsepower and track times.

I’m pretty proud to own a little piece of such an amazing legacy

 

The JCW F56 is already faster than any muscle car from the 1960's, and handles infinitely better.

How much more do you need on the street?

Smiles per hour !

 

Congrats again!