4 Post wonder - No pics as promised - Did China Lee Exports even get his JCW?

 

Dunno. Maybe he's too busy motoring to let us know...?

 

I did get it a while ago but only got a whopping 650 miles on it due to I've been way too busy. It is a blast to drive I am hopefully gonna get past the break in miles to really get on it. Not the power of my C63 but it is definately just as fun. I would post pictures but the web site says my pics are too big of file....I was able to load in the 6speedonline site.

 

Just about 3 years and 22k miles.... I would definitely do the JCW thing again. I've driven other MINIs including the S, and the JCW kit definitely kicks it up a notch. Probably have about 20 track days on her, too, and she definitely shows her JCW pedigree on the road courses. The only thing that I *might* do in the next iteration is to not get the JCW suspension and go with a tunable aftermarket setup, just because I would like the option of softening the ride for certain uses... like the MINI runs in Manhattan, for instance, where the bumpy road factor is significant. Go JCW!

 

How rough is the JCW suspension over the broken up, bumpy roads in the NY area? I have been considering getting the JCW suspension installed on my car but am somewhat concerned about the ride quality on bad roads. Thought about possibly going to a 205/50/17 non-runflat tire to add a some compliance at the same time.

 

I have the JCW suspension, front strut brace, and 215/45/17 non-run flats and find the ride to be most acceptable for a daily commuter. To be honest it's not that much siffer than my 1st gen MCS with the SS+ suspension.

If you go with the JCW suspension you need to ditch the run flats, otherwise the ride is too harsh, especially on city streets. My commute is mostly highway miles and back roads, so I don't encounter many potholes and road hazards.

However, I just did the PhillyMini.org rally that toured Philly. I didn't feel the JWC suspension was too harsh, until we got to a section in Olde City that has cobblestone streets. That stretch of road was not fun with a stiff suspension.

 

Agreed. I did drop the runflats and went with Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec ... which did wonders for the ride. As for NYC on the Direzza's, I think that if you know the roads, you'd have no problem with the ride. NYC is the Wild West to me, so spirited driving in packs with other MINIs, esp. at night, can catch me off-guard!

 

Tell me more about the Star Specs please. How is the turn in and on center response? I know that are touted as track/street tires. Are they OK in the rain?

 

I appreciate the feedback on the JCW suspension. It sounds like it's acceptable for daily driving. My daily commute is mainly on the highway/decent roads, so it sounds like that should be fine. And the other driving on more bumpy roads shouldn't be too bad, especially since I already have non-runflats for winter when the roads are at their worst. I'm still debating 215/45/17 vs 205/50/17 when I replace the summer runflats..

 

Go with the 215/45/17 for summer. They will provide more grip, will keep the car from bouncing around on rouuch roads, and may cut down on some torque steer.

205/50/17 would do better in the winter as they would bite down harder in the snow.

 

I've had my jcw cab since February and I'm at 5000 miles after driving it from NYC to LA where I left it at my vacation cabin. I'm missing my car. Anyway, Yes I would do it again because frankly I'm already thinking of getting a JCW clubman. I was leaning towards a porsche but the combination of gas mileage, cost, and all around fun have me leaning toward MINI again!!!

 

I have had my JCW for 10 months and 10K miles and I am very happy with it and would buy it again!!

My other car is a BMW M Roadster and I drive the JCW a lot more. The Mini is not as fast and doesn't handle as well but is just fun to drive and cost half as much to buy and half as much to drive!!

 

I bought another one!

 

What he said. After 6 years of ownership with 2 generations of cars and a cornucopia of crappy build quality and mechanical problems, these cars are starting to get on my nerves to the point that a trade-in seems imminent.

 

I just bought a 2010 MCSC and thought about buying a second Mini(JCW). I can't say I would be $7000 happier or enjoy it more than a Cooper S...but I'm thinking about getting one. My gut is I'll end up with a MCSC again.
My biggest fear is Mini's service. I'm not impressed so far. Phone calls not returned....and some other things. I will hate to have spent $35-40,000 and get treated poorly.
Mini's definitely not like BMW where the customers gets treated with a substantial amount of dignity and respect.

 

It's been said time and time again, and proven on this years configuration, if you option a MCS like the JCW, including the JCW tune package and Brembo Brakes, you will actually pay more for the MCS. Especially if you consider the installation cost. Anyway, there will always be complaints about these cars, ad others as well. They are cars afterall. As for the build quality, guess they will have to fire one of their robots.

 

To be realistic, it doenst' matter if you can't spec out a MCS to be a JCW for cheaper cause most people wouldn't add everything that is on the JCW to the MCS if they could spec it out.

I would say that most really only want JCW power numbers. And I'd say most would pass on the $2k brakes since the MCS brakes are considered good, and you dont' really see the benefit of the JCW brakes unless you regularly track the car...whcih most don't. Same with the beefed up tranny. Haven't seen any tuned MCSs with blown trannies, so it seems to be strong enough to handle 'JCW-like' power numbers from RMW and Alta tunes.

The JCW is built more durable...noone's denying it...and its cool to just have a JCW. But most people wont' track the car and dont' need that durability built into the drivetrain. And buying an MCS and tuning for JCW power and tuning the suspension for handling is all they really probably need or want. No point in spending $5k extra for the JCW if the $5k is not something you can feel good about tossing at the car.

So for most people, in real world terms, it is cheaper.

As for me...I'm so torn right now. I'm on Mini's website every day speccing out a new MCS and JCW. I can't decide cause I'm trying to not let emotion make the decision for me. I decided my track days are behind me, so I dont' really need a JCW and can think of alot of things to do with $5k. But....emotionally, I really want a JCW...lol. And I'd be happy just knowing that the tranny is beefier, that the brakes are great though I may not even get to use them to the fullest, etc.

And I kinda don't want to get into modding cars again cause I remember how you always just say I'm done after I get this...but then you keep planning/buying new mods anyway...lol. So bad for the wallet!

But its so hard to decide right now.

 

A MCS is quite a car to leave stock and enjoy. That's what I'm doing with mine.
I made that decision immediately. If I did get a JCW it would be mainly for pride of ownership...
Same as if I bought a Corvette. I would not need a Z06 (wouldn't touch a GM anyway)

 

I'm one of those guys that bit for the JCW. There were a couple of reasons for that. First, I do prefer the Brembo Brakes and the durability of the engine. When I have built my hotrods, some call them streetrods, I always over built the engines. I don't like broken engines. Same for the transmission, and from what I have heard from others, the transmission can cause problems. And, I really like what Mini did to the interior of the JCW. The dark gray color on the gauges, well I like them.

And, now to the MCS. Now I didn't spec out a MCS all that high, no sunroof or NAV, I did add the JCW tune on the engine, and it still came to over $31K. With the $1k increase over last year ($700 plus $250 on the cold package) it does get up there more quickly. I had the Cold pak, Sport pak, Convenience pak, and some other items and it did get there. My JCW is listing for $33K and for the extra $1500 I feel that I am getting my money's worth. The other thing that I like is the Red roof to deistinguish it from the MCS, not like in previous years.

In the end, they all are nice cars. The Just a Cooper, MCS, the new Countryman, the new coupe and ragtop, they all are nice. But, I've always been a performance nut, and this will be my daily driver. The 38 Ford hemisedan will be for nice days.

 

to be honest, i wasn't sure about my 09 jcw after a year of driving it. it started to become boring and the car didnt really seem to justify the price in my opinion.

if you get a jcw, spend an extra 900 for a tune, and you will be more than happy to own a jcw. but then again, maybe its just me. happy motoring!

 

I think nykwan's assesment of these cars is accurate. But you forgot to include the excellent exhuast note of the JCW. It brings a smile to my face everytime it burps and crackles.

I have owned both the MCS and the JCW and if you are truly a spirited driver or one who occassionally tracks or autocrosses his/her car (like I do) the JCW is the way to go.

Is it overpriced compared to other cars? I'm not so sure about that. I know I can keep up the the base Audi TT or 1 Series BMW, and the JCW is a lot more fun to drive and costs less. And I happen to think that the styling is just as nice.

Here is the deal breaker on your decision to buy the JCW...torque steer. Under hard acceleration you constantly fight the tug of the wheel. Some take this as a challenge (sort of like dealing with the lift off oversteer of earlier 911 Porsche's) and others just find dealing with the torque steer completely annoying.

 

Totally, completely, annoying... a couple weeks ago I demo'd a Hyundai Genesis 3.8L Track Coupe, and it was sooooo nice to downshift and stomp down on the gas and not have to sweat T/S attemtping to guide me into the ditch (did some thrilling drifts with it ). Methinks Id be happier with 1) RWD, and 2) a naturally-aspirated--and, unlike the shaky Prince--proven engine like the 3.8L Lambda

 

Yea, I wouldn't consider it overpriced if you use it for what it's kinda built for...tracking it. Then I think the extra durability is well worth it. The avg joe who just uses the car as a fun daily driver would consider it overpriced since they dont' really need alot of the added extras that you can't really directly use/feel, like a beefed up tranny, etc.

I tell people it is like buying tools. Is Snap-On overpriced? Depends who you ask. Ask an auto mechanice and he'll tell you his collection of Snap-On tools are well worth it. The avg guy will say that tools from Sears are much cheaper, good quality and do the same job. So it's all relative to what you'll really be using it for.

 

Good reply. I would buy a JCW Convert....so there goes the track.
JWC is worth the price if that's what the buyer wants and they can afford it. This thread is interesting ...asking if owners would repeat.
Ask me if I would buy a Cooper S again. Absolutely.

 

I would have six or more if I could in my driveway/garage! Think about it.