How is everybody with a factory JCW enjoying their car so far? Do you still think it is worth the extra money over a MCS?

I'm looking at getting a relatively loaded Cooper. At almost $38,000, the loaded JCW is scary expensive. I know I would kick myself in a year or two if I don't spend the extra $6k on the rarer, higher spec car (as I'm doing with my current car), but $6k really is quite a bit of extra money on a Mini.

If you had to do it again, would any JCW owners get a MCS?

 

If you can afford it get it and you'll be very happy. If you can't afford it then get a loaded S model for a bit less and still be happy.

 

I knew if I didn't get the JCW, I'd regret it. I ended up forgoing some options on the JCW that I would have included on the MCS, but I'd rather drive a JCW with less options, rather than a loaded MCS. YMMV.

 

I would wait for the next year's JCW. Rumor has it it will have more standard at the same price. That being said/known, you CAN get a pretty good deal on the current JCW...

 

I bought me a used MCS that I found a deal on with only 5000 miles on it so that I could test drive it so to say. I was having a hard time deciding on what to get? Now I am waiting on my JCW to get here, trading in, the MINI dealer offered me right at what I paid for it. But I know exactly what I want now!

 

I have seen that rumor a couple times on this site, but the source seems to be speculation based on a motoring blog's speculation. Given the fact that Mini has already announced the 2010 JCW Convertible, which (AFAIK) has the same features as the coupe, I'd be kind of surprised if they did a surprise release of an updated 2010 coupe. Does anybody have more definite information on this?

 

I am very happy with my JCW, no regrets. When I got mine, it was the only new car the dealer had, fortunately, it is what I wanted. Now, I want the JCW convertible, too; but as my "build" comes to over $43K -- I have to think awhile about it. One advantage to owning one, you know what you don't and do want on the next one.

 

Having driven all three - I'd personally go with the JCW. I'd rather drive a less than mod'd JCW than a loaded MCS - just my 2cents

 

I love my JCW. No idea if I would have loved a MCS just as much. I will say that you won't regret the JCW over an S, but maybe their is a chance for regret the other direction.

 

Actually, that rumor has been strongly seconded by Motoringfile--Gabe is probably the most reliable source out there....

 

As far as I can tell, motoringfile is the one and only source for the rumor. The forum is just an echo chamber. If anybody has more info, please let me know.

 

Zero regrets. Had I got an S, I would have not been as happy with the car.

 

Hey Lionel. I'm not sure if there will be an update on the coupe but it's certain that there will be a new Cooper/Cooper S coming out on late 2011 as a 2012 model.

But as for your JCW interests, go with a JCW over the Cooper S. I drive everyday wondering what a JCW would feel like. But with a JCW you should get the JCW aero kit. You should be able to get a JCW at the very least for MSRP or LESS. Their APR is pretty amazing as well right now. Dealers are having a harder time selling the JCW since the price range is similar to a lot of stronger competitors. So you should be able to cut a good deal with the salesmen. Just keep pushing them with no mercy. Trust me.... one salesman kept calling for 3 weeks trying to sell me a fully loaded MCS. I think you can get yourself a good deal.

 

no regrets here, i love this little beast. you get more people looking at your car too.

 

I've had a history of buying "base" cars then trading up to the enhanced versions later, so I'd say go with the JCW if you can afford it. I had two MCS's before, both generations, and now that I've had the power of the JCW that's all I could go for in a MINI from now on I'm afraid. I, for one, am totally satisfied with my purchase and have never felt that MINI failed me in anyway with the content of the present JCW (although I do think the body kit should be standard.)

 

Logically it makes perfect sense. The JCW's have been a disappointment from a sales standpoint, and BMW has acknowledged this by steep (for them) discounts. The current configuration of the JCW at it's current MSRP is not sustainable. So you have two choices: wait for the better specced version at roughly the same MSRP as it is now, or get a good discount on what's already out there. It seems like you're trying to talk yourself into not waiting, and that's fine--you still win, you should get a good price. All is well and good as long as you're not going to be disappointed with what's coming standard on next years model.

I suspect the current JCW will take a depreciation hit when the next one comes out, one other thing to consider...

 

That is always the case. Look at any car including Porsche and they depreciate significantly. I think the thing to look for is classic lines and performance. Do you like the way the car looks (or could be modded) and do you like the performance. The 1967 Camaro will never be out of style. And the 2009 JCW will never be out of style... so you can't really go wrong even though there may be a bigger and better model in a few years. There is going to be a lot of cool mods coming out for the JCW. I have seen some of the Alta performance equipment and they are working on ECU enhancements that should easily push another 30 hp and 20 tq. Very cool in a car this size.

 

I would think that even if sales were slow that the 2010 JCW would go up in price. I ordered mine because the on the floor version didn't have all the goodies I wanted! I was willing to pay list for what I wanted, rather than get a discount and get something with less stuff on it. They have two JCW's on the lot here in Oklahoma but I wanted the Xenon lights, I would have saved a little bit, I would not have been happy!

 

spinned, I think the next incarnation with more goodies will cause a depreciation because BMW is adding more for the same amount of money--performance isn't being improved, but what comes standard is substantially. It's not what usually happens with the model (maybe a few minor things are added, but we're going to see a substantial increase/inmprovement in spec rather than just a few minor tweaks), and wasn't what BMW initially intended. The depreciation will be out of proportion to whay you'd usually see.

Atomic, the whole crux of the issue is the JCW is somewhat overrpriced with not enough standard features (ie suspension and aerokit, for example). The only way BMW is going to make amends is by putting more on the car for the same price (or an only slight increase in price, like what they do year to year even when there is no change in the car model itself). One thing to remember, putting on the JCW suspension at the factory adds very little to the cost of the car. And adding the aerokit essentially adds nothing to the cost of the car, if done at the factory (on the R53, the front stock bumpers were actually more expensive than the front aerokit bumpers).

 

Well... that may be true. But I was willing to pay the extra 6k now for Brembo breaks, a bigger turbo and the other improvements. I mod cars anyway, so if I would have wanted to add these features and it would have cost more than the facotry. I am satisfied. If the car get more features next year, so be it. That happens every year, so get a car when you want one and don't worry about what comes next. Odds are you will be buying another one in three-four years anyway.

 

What I'm trying to point out is that this DOESN'T happen every year to the extent that it will with the JCW. What happens next year is going to be an aberration, it's going to make next years JCW significantly more appealing, at the cost of the current JCW's, unless you can get a pretty good markdown--which you should.

 

The question is when they will release a new edition. Despite one blog rumor to the contrary, Mini seems to be perfectly happy with their pricing structure for this bodystyle. The 2010 JCW convertible doesn't have any additional features, and is even more expensive than the JCW coupe. Mini has no interest in being a value leader, but they are doing fine business despite that.

 

No, BMW isn't happy with the pricing structure (or more importantly, consumers aren't happy with the pricing structure)--the JCW's aren't selling well, and BMW has acknowledged that (It is why you can get STEEP discounts on the JCW--this is relatively new in the kingdom of MINI; you can get a much better discount on a JCW than you can any other MINI model, in fact it's not even close. There is a good reason for that...). Look for a significant change with the next model year--you were warned...

 

I'll heed your warning, but I see zero support for the speculation especially considering that the 2010s should be out in a matter of months.

 

I guess we will see it when it gets here, huh? MINI's don't cost that much, if they want to give more bang for the buck cool.
what's that old saying: The bull S^#@ stops when the flag drops!
all I can say is I got what I want.