As ya'll know, I picked up my '09 JCW a little over a week ago. I installed the NM Engineering springs, aero kit, DDM intake, new wheels (14.X pounds each) and drove it for roughly 250 miles.

I drove it down from NC to Roebling Road in GA and it had 585 miles on it when I arrived at the track.

This weekend was PHENOMENAL. Saturday's first session was REALLY ROUGH. New car, been a year since I've been on that track, had to get used to it.

Sunday started off much better but by the afternoon sessions, the car and I were one. That car FLIES. With my '08 with a JCW stage I and an automatic, it was decent but NOWHERE near the new '09 JCW.

The '09 Carrera couldn't pull on me in the straightaways nor in the twisties, the car performed perfectly. I can't wait until I get better (a long ways away) to use track tires.

A few times when the *** end slid around, it was easy to pull the car back straight. I am so thrilled the way the car drives and shifts.

I'll post pics later.

Mark

 

Sounds like you had fun! I've got all the aftermarket goodies here waiting on my JCW to arrive.

 

Absolute blast.... I went down with fellow NAM member (Ben Thayer) and Gordon (phlash)

Ben was HAULING ***... that boy is good and has his car setup perfectly. I tried to get Gordon (also an instructor) to give me a ride but we just couldn't get it together.


Oxy, when you get your car, make sure you bring it by. I'd love to see it.

Mark

 

Sounds like a plan Mark

-Chad

 

Great to hear but there is no reason a new Carrera shouldn't pull you handily in the straights.

 

I'm sure on top end, that car would pull... but coming out of a corner and running from 90mph and only accelerating to 120'ish mph, he didn't have enough to walk from me... he had to keep giving me the wave by. (granted, I can't tell how hard he was pushing it but surely he stepped on the gas on the straight-aways)

I'd like to say that it was cause he was babying it (it was a brand new car...3000 miles) but I only had 585 miles on mine.

 

Great job on the track orangecrush! Sounds like you had a lot of fun.

These cars are great track toys. They will keep up with a lot more powerful cars. I have an 07 manual MCS with all the JCW kits on it. Not to brag, but I had no problem riding on the tails of the Corvette's at Sebring about a month ago. Sebring has a few long straights and they were able to pull away from me on those straights but catching up with them on the corners was fun. The ones that I kept harassing on the corners had to let me pass them!

 

Glad to hear you had so much fun. I've had my JCW since September and have yet to track it. First event is scheduled for 2nd weekend of June. It will different for me since the last time I tracked locally it was in my M3, and before that with M5/M6 at the BMW M School.

I agree with other posters that the Carrera should have been able to pull away from you, rather than vice versa. Maybe the driver was shy about pushing the throttle. It took me a while to get enough confidence to do that with the M3. I wasn't ready for all that power at first.

I just ordered the Alta CAI + Turbo Inlet hose, as well as a set of OZ Alleggerita wheels with Yoko Advan Neova. Those are due this week, so I'll have a month to break in and get used to the change.

Can't wait.

 

Had mine at Putnam Park this year, it was fantastic. Even after jumping out of a 997S the JCW was still a joy!

I have a couple more days planned in this car, I will post progress.

Glad to see you had fun!!!

 

Is this the break-in period driving as recommended by MINI USA ?

 

YES