Popped on to the Mini USA site and ran a build through the configuator. They now offer the JCW tune as a part of the build around $1600 + $225 for the exhaust tips. I thought that was a very nice feature and the price isn't that bad either. Dealers were charging near $3K w/ their labor a few years back, and even if you find the JCW kit cheaper, dealer labor would still put you well into the $2K range. Kudos to Mini for this one.

Additionally, they apparently include the Mini Excitement Lighting in the Iconic line. I know guy s hated it and didn;t want it, but I like it and hated to pay $200 extra for it in 2018/ 2019.configuator.
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Not sure, If I were to guess it would be a post install (which IMO is fine since the dealership's have been doing them all along anyway). It would make more since to have it done at the factory since each JCW tune means the removal of the stock exhaust and disposal. Mini/BMW could save those parts at the factory rather than writing them off as a loss (unless they are shipped back a reused- thinking they don't do that either, likely scrapped).

 

Mini Excitement was included on the 2019 JCW Signature and Iconic trims. The Pro exhaust was available for order if your salesman knew the code. There's lots of options that could be ordered that you can't add on the website configuration page. All they did was add it to the configurator.

 

I ordered a F56S in October and discovered that you could order the JCW tuning kit for this price. But, I bought the I/O JCW they had on the showroom. Weak-kneed on my part, but after 2400 miles, no regrets.

 

Pricing my next one out w/ all the options is $37,400 . Yikes! Just want the damn moon roof gone. Hope that's still an option.

Was looking at alternatives and the new Hyundai Veloster N looks promising. Gets excellent reviews and in mid 2019 or so, an 8 speed DCT will be offered. Hyundai, Since hiring the BMW M designer, is becoming a player in the performance car arena. Understanding it's not a Mini, but it is quirky and fast w/ plenty of standard features, coming in a $8K less is pretty appealing

 

Not that you're ever going to get a MINI for the price of a Hyundai, but I was able to order an "S" or a "JCW" in any of the levels and get a credit for deleting the sunroof ( $800 ) credit. My MINI is a daily driver and I like a lot of the other conveniences offered in the new MINIs.
When I bought my I/O JCW I thought the wheels were exclusive to my car, but a guy on Facebook had them on his "S". There are a lot of options and deletions not mentioned in the computer configurator.

 

 

I'm not a fan of the new trim levels either. Almost bought something else because the car was 4K more than last years car equipped the way I wanted it verses a 2019 with the trim and packages I was forced to buy just to get the one option I wanted.

 

Agree prices are higher than I'd like, still ordered my JCW convertible since options for why I wanted where limited. Agree the Hyundai ticks most boxes, and if wanted another hardtop would be looked at. But like most cars too big for want now, same size as the Clubman I'm turning in

 

Personally, I don't mind the new configurator. I'm firmly in the Iconic camp for options as most of them I'd want anyway. If I optioned out my original MCS w/ all the options I want, it would likely come in even higher than the it does in the new configurator.

As much as the new Veloster N (not even the 275HP model but the 250HP car) intrigues me, I do love the Mini. It is a BMW lite, with lots of quality built in. The Mini is small (outwardly) but has amazing interior and storage space. It is light, and w/ the JCW tune a blast to drive. Interior looks fine to my eye also w/ nothing looking cheap. IMO. I will admit I have not sat in the 2019 Veloster, so it may not look/feel as cheap as portrayed in some reviews. As a side note, The reviewers that have to touch and finger every part of the car's interior and comment that this is hard plastic and this dash part isn't soft enough drives me crazy. In every car I've ever owned, I don't get in the car and then caress every part of the dash before driving. In fact the only time I ever touch any part of the dash other than the ***** occasionally, is to wipe the dust off after a month or so. I've owned cars w/ leather dashboards, imitation leather dashboards, stippled soft touch and hard touch plastic dashboards, and they all "looked" fine from where I sat (key word being "looked"). .Sorry to rant, but it seems that if they can't find anything else to B!t*H about they start on interior component composition.

The current VelosterTurbo model (not the new N) has as many or more options as the MCS and based on performance reviews is faster than the MCS (HP and Torque numbers certainly indicate such). All reviews say it is a blast to drive too. I really need to visit my Hyundai dealer and at least sit in one. A back to back test drive could further persuade me. Doing a back to back w/ a salesman on board in my MCS w/ the tune and a 2018 JCW, convinced me to stay w/ the S and JCW tune (and the Salesman concurred).

Dunno, like I said, the Mini is my favorite car to drive daily (perfect size, weight and amenities w/ a rather high cost to play -close to a BMW 230i). Fortunately, the cost isn't an object, other than my personal idea of value for dollar$ spent) That being said It will take something pretty amazing to unseat the Mini in my eyes..

 

The '19 MCS that I had ordered was an "Iconic" with the sunroof deleted and the JCW pro tune. It would have been substantially less than the I/O JCW that I bought. But I have no regrets. I really like the JCW engine. It has great torque and loves to rev. My previous '15MCS had great torque but seemed pretty flat in higher rev ranges.

 

Yes, that's what I heard and that bears out looking at the numbers. For me, most of my driving is in town so my motor never gets to rev out, but the extra torque comes in very handy down low.

 

Well said! Very similar feelings

 

Looks like they added even more options to the configurator. There black door handles and fuel doors, mirror caps and more wheel options on the JCW.

 

 

I plan to visit my local Hyundai dealership and test drive the Turbo - No "N's" in stock, plus would want an automatic anyway as wife drives the car too. Should get a feel for seating and general feel of the car testing the 1.6L turbo. HP and Torque numbers are close to the "S", so performance and fun factor should be similar (at least on paper). Got one of those $50 test drive certificates, so what the heck.

The Veloster N reviews got me looking at "Mini" alternatives, and comparing what's out there (VW, Ford, Honda, Subaru), the only one that is quirky enough and has potential is the Hyundai.. I really want to take a critical look at the interior since that seems to be the only complaint made by reviewers. I do like a decent interior, but find that if the driver's seat is good and the steering wheel feels comfortable, I really don't notice the other unless I physically touch it.

That being said, I'm betting after all is said and done, I'll buy another Mini w/ the JCW tune. The smaller size is more appealing to me, and the hatch w/ storage access is superior on the Mini (there is rather big lift-over lip on the Hyundai and a pretty narrow opening _at least in the pix I've seen). Mini storage is amazing, I know of no other sub compact car that can haul a 55 inch OLED TV in the box, home from Costco w/ the hatch closed.

 

 

So, stopped by the Hyundai dealership yesterday. Parked next to a Veloster w/ my Mini to compare size. Veloster looks to be about 1 foot longer to my eye and the account for a percentage of that length. Hatch access is rather narrow in comparison with high "lift-over". Driver seat was wonderful. IMO a bit support and overall position than the Mini, Steering wheel felt good also. Lots of plastic and the center screen did look rather cheap. Still not bad for the money

Asked If I could take for a test drive and was walking w/ the salesman to find a car in their lot, so he could get the number off it and get the key. He told me the "N" is a limited production car and they are selling for $4K over sticker. I said that your dealership's choice and not Hyundai, and this is the first I've heard of a 400 car run. He didn't seem to know much about the cars, just his sales pitch and was constantly checking his cell for text's. He did find one Veloster Turbo way in the back lot buried behind a some other cars, so he got their numbers for keys and we proceeded back. He went for the keys and I talked to my wife. She did not like the car much. She said it's no Mini. The interior is plain (not nearly as nice as the Mini and the exterior was nothing special either, her words "it's just a Hyundai". When salesman returned I told him that my wife doesn't like the car and rather than waste our times, on a car I won't be buying (I buy cars that both I and my wife like - and I would not subsidize a greedy dealership that over charges for cars), lets just forget the test drive. He was more than happy to not have to walk back into the lot and jockey cars around.

Yeah I could have made him do the test drive but my time is valuable also and I'm not one to have people jump through hoops when I have no intention of buying (although this salesman probably deserved it).

On the drive home she said, "Maybe we should look at a Porsche". LOL

 

and that DEFENITLEY isn't a Hyundai, but would be a nice choice.. Kind of hoped this would have went better to hear your opinion of it though