You're right about that - it never put on the side stripes when adding the sport stripes!

Some other weird things about the US one... You can't add Sport Stripes and keep a sunroof...

They're charging for the (free) flat load floor, and including a center rail with the bench seat. Now that I need to see!

I'm sure they'll work out the bugs shortly.

 

I'm curious to hear what you feel the priority order should be for mods. On the exterior, I'm going to add a rear bumper protector and clear film on the front, but under the hood, there seems like some easy things that may make a difference.

You mention an upgraded intercooler, but what about pipes (intake and discharge), cold air intake, shielding, BOV spring change, short shifter, ECU, etc.? I feel the order any mod is done in is critical both from the enjoyment perspective and to ensure the vehicle runs optimally.

 

Golf R is AWD and a much better drivers car, with far fewer compromises.

 

You'll find that we've been to hell and back with mods around here, and you'll get a good feel for what's worth it and what's not.

 

Well, nonetheless, this is a JCW thread.

And for a Countryman owner, you really seem to like the Golf R.

 

Humm, My 335i XDrive MSport build would come in a bit under 53K MSRP on the configurator. Granted that's without nav, but it is the MSport, heated seats, HK sound, leather, met paint... Take 7% off for Euro delivery and whatever I can negociate from the dealer and it's starting to get tempting. Not good. On the other hand no 335i XDrives on local dealer lot to go test drive and certainly no stick shifts. I might be safe after all.

 

Well, let us know how the clutch is on the new jcw.

 

I just re-did my config @ just over $60k -- that's M3 territory. That's what was keeping me at bay, though I have to say the ED would be VERY fun.

 

That's something I'm looking forward to - hopefully it's more than just a new friction pad.

 

Probably because I'm a somewhat dissatisfied Countryman owner. The Golf R, any Golf for that matter is a better car than the Countryman, the CM has far too many compromises to make it a good car. I will probably say bye bye CM when the next generation MINI arrives, since there's going to be a 4 door it should be better since MINI won't **** it up by pretending it's an SUV.

 

I'm sorry to hear that. I think the R60 is a love/hate vehicle. Either you just can't wait to get rid of it or love it every day.

Not sure what it is, but I certainly respect your opinion and decision! Had the fiscal side lined up better, I would have grabbed an M-Line 335i.

But for what the R60 is, it's pretty fun. I have the R52 which is a little 300hp go kart, so I know just how different this one is. Still brings a smile to my face after 2 years with it, flaws and all!

 

Theta, thanks for posting the brochure. I've been stalking the forums since late spring and waiting on the JCW CM to finally make it to the configurator. Now that its out, I figured I'd actually sign up here and participate

I'm planning to configure one this weekend. I'm new to MINI, but I went to my dealer in August and test drove a CM (he said it was a 12 but not totally sure on that). The ALL4 I wanted to test was already out so I only got to take the CMS. Considering the JCW is a different beast anyway, I am not too worried. I mostly wanted to get a feel for the MINI and make sure I loved it as much in person as on paper, lol.

I'll be getting automatic transmission, and I'm wondering if ill be the only one driving one around... Not that that's a bad thing necessarily!

I was wondering about colors so the brochure helped a lot, since I haven't actually looked at the configurator yet. I am thinking about Oxford Green with Chili Red stripes... Now I'm fairly sure I'd be the only one around with that! I like the green the best though... But not sure if it'll look like a year-round Christmas car! Hah!

So many decisions and options though! I'm probably going to be around $43k also by the time I'm done with options. What did your total price at the dealer end up being? Any recommendations on warranty, extend maintenance, etc.?

I'm coming from an 04 Passat that gives me nothing but grief, so I'm hoping this will be reliable even though it seems like MINIs have reliability issues. Have you found that to be the case?

Anyway, sorry for all the blabbering and questions. I'm excited to finally join the forums and soon enough will hopefully have a MINI of my own!

 

Welcome! There are many Auto All4s around (I have one now, in fact), but I doubt you'll see a lot of JCW R60s with the Auto transmission. Nothing wrong with it - it's just usually a trend for JCW owners to choose a manual transmission.

My out-the-door price was $43,400 with all options that I listed a page or so back. That's with a manual transmission, etc.

Glad the brochure helped you! Mini is getting the US side of things updated this week - they finally launched the GP2 and JCW CM sites in the last 24 hours. Other than a few bugs in the configurator, you should get a good idea of what to expect.

I just looked over the order paperwork (which is solid info vs. the current online system) and it appears that you can actually also have a red roof and mirrors on the Oxford Green (B26) color... wild. It's blacked out for every other color except white and black.

I don't ever take the extended warranty or maintenance - I have a modding addiction, and warranties don't like that too much.

Good luck with the ordering process!

 

I. Want. One!!!


I. Can't. Afford. One. :'(

Not willing to take the trade hit, but please document your mods and findings so I can take some bits and pieces and make my own frankenstiened non-jcw countryman! Thanks for your activity - I hope to learn a thing or 3....

 

Hello, I am from Sarasota I ordered a countryman JCW from Ft Myers Mini. Just found out it is at the port waiting on a ship. Just thought I would jump in. First time posting anything.
Fromag

 

Welcome Fromag!

What color, options, etc. did you go with?

I finally started playing with the configurator tonight and am strongly leaning towards true blue, white roof, red stripes. :D

Question for anyone, it says I can't order a sunroof with red stripes, even though I have a white roof with no stripes. Is that just an error? Seems weird to not be able to get a sunroof because of red stripes...

My spec is already up to almost $45 without it though :O

 

There's something wrong with it. It will still allow you to do white stripes with the sunroof, but not black or red. I wouldn't stress it since worse case, the stripes could be added at the dealer.

 

Ok, well that's good to know. I just emailed my MA to ask as well, so I'm guessing he can probably sort it out.

I'm still trying to figure out the ordering process from the pricing standpoint. If I spec out a car online and submit it for an order, do I plan on paying whatever it works out to on the spec sheet? Do I figure out financing at order or when it comes in? Will they try to add stuff when I pick it up at the dealer? If I want to negotiate on anything, I assume I would do that when I place the order?

Sorry for all the newb questions. I bought my last car in 2004 and it was one they had at the dealer and I didn't pick any of the options! This is all new to me! Thanks all!

 

The sunroof issue is just a bug - the order sheet is what to go off of.

For a JCW, expect to pay exactly what the price specs out to be - there is very little if any negotiation on any Mini, let alone a JCW.

If anything, work with them on the trade value (if available). Some people get the dealer to kick in a bonus (floor mats or similar). Nothing big, though.

 

Theta I was wondering what your experience is in terms of difference between the S All4 and the JCW.

I'm about to place an order before the end of the year and know I'll probably end up changing my S All4 to LOOK like a JCW anyways.

If one can afford it, is it worth just going for the JCW with the performance as well as visual differences?

 

I do have quite a bit of experience with this, as I've flushed more money into this All4 than all but two other users (kconner is beating me).

On one hand, I have much better performance than a stock R60 JCW. I can add a JCW body kit, have it all painted, make everything perfectly match a JCW... but at the end of the day, it's not a JCW.

When you sell it, it's just an All4. I even have two new JCW badges on my workbench that I didn't have the heart to put on. No matter how much effort or money you put into it, it will never be a JCW.

And the other lesson is that for all the work, parts, upgrades, tuning, etc. to get to 260tq, the JCW is still going to be a good +20/30 above the All4 because of the higher boost pressure available.

Bottom line, if you have the finances, get the JCW now. You will only spend $5000-7000 more, and you can finance it all. The body kit painted and installed is over $3000 alone, plus anything else you'd add.

Take this with a grain of salt, but this is coming from someone who did it the other way (in my defense, there was no JCW R60 on the horizon in Jan 2011) and ended up regretting it.

 

Thanks Theta! That makes a lot of sense. I just wanted to be sure of the flipside, of potentially anything I'd be losing out on by opting for the JCW. And seeing as I'm a sucker for the aerokit and would probably dress my S All4 with it anyways, I might as well go for the higher performance.

Placing my order by the end of December, and after weeks and weeks of deliberation I think I've finally decided on a Countryman All4 JCW 6AT, Bright White/Black Roof/Racer Stripes/19" Wheels with full toys. Might sound common to the US folks, but here in mainland Europe, they're still a rarity (you'll see some royal grey/true blue/absolute black base models running about. But I'm looking forward to getting in on a 2013 model)

 

That sounds like an excellent combination to go with!

 

I feel like I've received the blessing a MINI Tribe's Elder <3

 

Theta, The JCW at the LA auto show is a lot like the one you ordered, except for the wheels perhaps. I took a few pictures of the 2013 changes and figured I would post here while yours is being built. Not award winning photography but lots of people around and rushed to click.
You picked a nice color combo.