Autoblog's First Drive of the 2015 JCW Hardtop

Here's an excerpt from the article:

"... does the JCW audience want a micro-Bimmer? Mini seems to think so ... the company seems to be making a play for a broader audience by softening experiential edges, but amping up the cartoon-like proportions and doubling down on a riotous interior design...

...the old JCW ... was a truer execution of the Ultimate Modern Mini concept. It was fun like a rollercoaster with a broken seatbelt at a craggy old amusement park. The new one is an OSHA-approved new ride at Epcot. Less of a hot hatch, more of a performance car. Such is the way of the auto world, I suppose."

 

Other than their opinion of at "riotous interior", I agree. The JCW has become a very competent GT that's also a hatchback. Fortunately, those of us that still want a hardcore experience can do so, just like we did in the past, with performance coil-over suspension, sticky tires, and a loud exhaust. The only change I see is the press being behind the times in understanding what MINI's demographic is and how we always fit the car to our preferences. The showroom car is just a blank canvas.

 

The "showroom car is just a blank canvas"??
I'm sorry but a loaded JCW + performance upgrades = $ slightly used 2014 Boxster or Cayman ...... and despite my mad mini love this would be a bye bye Mini, Pacific Coast Hwy in my Porsche moment....

 

Agreed. I'm with you. I lust after a Cayman. Though the practical daily driver side of me has always won out so far... I wonder what'll happen on my 40th B'day? Oh yeah... it'll likely win out again.

 

To each their own. A quick Porscheusa.com search for CPO's shows the average 2014 Boxster base model is going for about $59k. That's a far cry from the $30,600 the JCW starts at. IMO if you get a base Boxster then you still have to dump a bunch of money in it to enjoy it.

 

For sure. Those cars are not in the same category.

 

I don't think it's fair to hold a used car price against a new car.

 

New Boxster: Starts at $70k. New Cayman: starts at $72k. New JCW: starts at $31k. 2 for the price of 1.

 

With play money left over!