EDIT: Picked it up on 12.29- a few bad pictures follow, nicer ones below









After going back and forth between all sorts of cars (E36/E46 M3's, G35's, Acura TL, Lexus GS430, etc) I'm finally taking the plunge and getting what I've wanted since they came out- a mini.

I hope I won't regret the decision as I commute in Southern CA traffic (I do have another automatic car so the mini will only see 1/2 duty to work), but I figured I may indeed have more fun w/ something small, better on gas, and able to feel zippy even if I'm only going 40mph.

Saw a fairly loaded (Premium/Sport/JCW/English Leather) Royal Grey Cooper S on a dealer's lot tonight, and decided to quit wasting my time and my life being miserable on the road daily and to just pull the trigger.

Plan is to pick it up tomorrow evening. I hope the decision to spring for the JCW package over the base S w/ a few more features (Navigation/Convenience/Cold Weather) is a good one.

Look forward to getting to know you all.

 

Sounds like a nicely equipped JCW MCS. And that English Leather. It looks and feels great.

You'll love how the MINI makes a commute more enjoyable and tolerable. Post some pictures when you pick it up.

Welcome aboard.

 

Congrats! You will love it. I've got he 06 JCW and have been loving it since November! Word of advice to run it in as specified to optimize engine performance....we ran it in (almost ) to the letter and have experienced better then the advertised 0-60's, and probably more HP also (yet to be on the dyno). Most importantly it handles like it's on rails! Can hardly wait to try it with some better summer tires!

Enjoy!

 

Congrats on your JCW MINI, you will not regret it MINI's are a blast to drive weather its doing 40 or double that

 

thanks all for the warm welcome! I knew I was making the right choice w/ like-minded people out to enjoy driving

JCWGurl- I'll be sure to follow break-in instructions exactly. That's the joy of no longer being 16 and having it pain me to wait to mash the throttle. Now I'm anxiously (perhaps even moreso than the power) awaiting all the mini 'coolness' items (headlight washers, speed sensitive wipers/radio, etc) and of course the handling.

 

Welcome to NAM, Aviators! Are you buying from Long Beach MINI? (I saw a couple beautiful Royal Greys MCSs there recently.) Be sure to check out all the nice clubs in the SoCal area, some of which have forums in the WESTERN Regional Forum here on NAM. Your specs look great. The cold weather, which many don't understand for us in SoCal, is awesome. Love the bun-warmers...great for long-distance roadtripping.

 

Better on gas? I think my S is using alot more gas than I thought!

 

I was expecting ~18mpg out of a M3.

I figure I'll be able to beat that at least according to the dealer's ratings of 25/32

 

I average around 20-21 mpg on my E46 M3. Sadly, the MCS is only about 22-23. I didn't buy it for its stellar mileage, but I expected slightly better.

 

congrats, and post lots of pictures I rode in a JCW once, i loved it

 

I'll be sure to do that as soon as I take some.

 

indeed I am, and it is.

Here's a 'spy' pic from last evening.

http://img390.imageshack.us/my.php?i...34small8uu.jpg

 

HA...you are a lunatic!!! Not that that's a bad thing!

 

Oooooh...that one is fantastic! I love it! BTW, depending on your driving-style, you can average 23-28 mpg city, and up to 35 mpg highway. I've done better than that in my S. Some find they get very good mileage with the JCW package. So is tonight delivery night? Say hi to Matt/Tony from Clover!

 

yeah, couldn't make it back there yesterday evening before they closed.

I'm sure my New Years drive will be much more enjoyable!

Picking it up from Tony tonight, dealt w/ Matt yesterday, both seem like great guys and an overall great dealership.

 

Picked up the car tonight, was incredibly impressed with the service we received from everyone at Long Beach Mini. Tony who helped us out through most of the transaction was a joy to work with, and this resulted in a very pleasurable, FAST, and memorable buying experience. I would highly recommend them, and I don't toss out favorable recommendations often/lightly.

The car itself is just amazing, I'll save the amazements about all the perfectly placed/incorporated/intuitive gadgets/options, but frankly the thing that is just mind boggling is that how I fit with perfect comfort on the inside (I'm 6'2) yet on the outside it looks like nothing short of a midget with a small purse could wedge into the thing.

I have more headroom in this car than nearly anything else I've driven. Haven't gotten on the car even remotely hard, but it's a blast to drive and looks great.

(better) pics to follow shortly.

Look forward to now Motoring!

 

Welcome on-board, congrats on your new Mini

 

My guess is that if you like it now, yer gonna love it in about 1200 miles.

They are a hoot. Happy Motoring!

 

That's a real beauty! I have an 05 with JCW, and in mixed driving, the OBC says ~28-30 mpg, in actuality I get ~26-28 mpg. It's pretty hilly here, so your mileage will vary....

Rawhyde

 

Congrats on the JCW purchase. You will be very very happy once the break in mileage is up.

I've been averaging only about 21-22 mpg with my '05 JCW. I was disappointed, and worked hard at hunting down the reason. Well, I finally found it - it's my right foot!!!

You'll soon understand.

Happy motoring.
A_Sr.

 

Great looking JCW
Well Our 1500 mile R/t to the Dragon in May, "Merlin" avg 34.6 mpg 1200 miles highway 300 miles Smokey mountain stomping.
R/t to AZ a month ago 4500 miles total avg 34 2 mpg 4000 mile highway, 500 miles city mountain stomping

City Motorin avg 24/26 depending on my mood

 

a couple more pictures from today:




I love the color, under foggy conditions today there's a hint of green there in the Royal Grey.

 

Ooooh, very nice. Congratulations. I just ordered a very similar one from the factory (RG/S JCW w/ bonnet stripes). Until late Feb. I'll just have to drool over the pictures of yours. Congrats again.

 

Congrats! She's a beaut! Those are the R98's that should have come on my car but MINI Canada screwed up and sent the 17" s-lites.

Oh well...it did result in some sweet 18" JCW's for a steal

Once again....very very nice! Enjoy!