I was confused by your wording. It sounded like you were saying you didn't have glitzy plastic and you didn't have dark gauges. Sorry.

 

Sorry if I confused you. I have a 2011 JCW with the dark gray gauges and dash trim. It's a higher grade of trim that was on the earlier R56's and to me, is a big improvement over the earlier dash trim. Now, if you think that this 2011 trim is cheap and glitzy, well I don't know what to say, except that I totally disagree.

With my JCW, other than I wish that I'd have opted for the Mini Connect/NAV system, I can't think of anything that I'd change or don't like.

 

I'd change the fact that my radio amp has freaked out on me, leaving me with a radio that didn't work until the amp came in from Germany a month later, and that now my satellite radio has completely disappeared from the mode menu, meaning I have to go back in on Monday for a 3-hour reflash of the computer (which had better not eliminate the pop and burble like some other people's reflashes have), which may not even fix the problem and may lead to me having to have an all-new radio installed. I'd also change the fact that three times I've had to take it in for weeping washer nozzles and it's still not fixed. Other than that, the car's been fine. I love the car. It's a hell of a lot of fun.

I will say this: I've spent more time at the dealership with this car for warranty work in the past year (yesterday was exactly a year) than I spent with any of my three Miatas, my wife's Subaru, my wife's IS300 or my wife's Mazda3 combined. The only cars I've spent more time at the dealership for due to warranty issues/things crapping out/things falling off of the car randomly was on both our A6 Avant and TT.

 

This forum is interesting. I am thinking of getting a 2012 JCW cabrio. But optioned out the MSRP is over $40k.

 

Well, I have only had my JCW for 1 day but I would say it's hard to have this much fun in a FWD car out the door (no modifications), but you do pay a price premium. I lost count of the compliments I received today.

 

It happened again! I had occasion to drive a 2011 Cooper for a couple of days and man did it make me appreciate my JCW! The whole personality of the thing is different. Its not just the power, its the suspension setup, sport mode throttle response, exhaust note, brake bite and everything. The normal Cooper is a good car but the road noise was deafening even compared to the exhaust drone in the JCW. I'll take that deep burble any day.

 

I agree... the wind and road noise is quite substantial and not as noticeable in the JCW just because of the exhaust.

As for the suspension, I still think it is unfortunate MINI did not include the JCW suspension from the factory - the Sports Suspension overall is quite good on the street considering it was only a $250 option for me, but it seems to struggle under hard acceleration.

And it isn't just the power - what about the huge rumble you get when flooring the go pedal at around 2,000rpm in any gear?

Anyways it has only been 2 months since my last update but no regrets (so far). I can't wait for the warmer weather so I can switch to summer tires and make use of the sunroof.

 

I'm selling my JCW and already starting to think about my next one a few years from now...

 

I've had my mini for about a year now (bought a 2009 with 16,000 miles) and put 18,000 miles on it so far. So, I think I can comment at this stage. I have also had A LOT of cars and have driven a lot cars.

There are things that drive me nuts about the mini the interior buzzes, crappy stock radio, how the seatbelt get's stuck between the seat and the door everytime you go to put it on , the very sporty ride can be pretty tiresome at times. However, the car is just so much fun to drive. I can't imagine another car right now. The car has so much character. Something that's devoid in most modern cars. I love this car. If I had to buy again I would....quickly.

 

You mirror my thoughts, exactly. So many are the first to complain about the power, the suspension, the performance and the rattles. My JCW hardtop is 16 months old now, no rattles, it does not lack in performance or economy. No problems, other than with the Sirius radio.

Could it use more power? Yes, I'd like that, as well as in the the actual JCW suspension. As for comparison with the Mini S, while they can be nodded for more power, it's still another $2k for brakes, ect. I would most definitely go JCW, probably in two years.

 

I acknowledge the rattle issue. My interior has a few squeaks and rattles in it after 3 years but that's not unexpected given how firm the ride is. I can't imagine going to the JCW suspension on the kinds of roads we have around here, the sport suspension is plenty firm enough! For me its less about the line by line spec comparison and more about the overall driving character of the car. What I can tell you is whenever I start to think about getting something else, I go test drive it and end up loving my JCW on the way home from the dealership. That says it all.

 

I recently drove a 2011 JCW and I am still grinning.

If I sell my corvette I will buy the JCW. It is actually more fun to drive than the vette. Granted I only drove it for about 20 minutes.

I just wish this one it had the Aero kit or that the aero kit was a little less expensive.

I am new here and REALLY thinking about the JCW.

 

Wow, I'm not sure I'd swap a Corvette for the JCW! Granted the JCW has the most fun per driving minute value I've seen yet but there's something about a Corvette that I've always lusted after. Have both!

 

I had a 1998 Corvette that I loved until it started to get old and falling apart. The upkeep was getting to expensive for me to keep it. I was going to trade it on a later Corvette but I read an article about the Mini Factory JCW so I went to the dealers in Orlando and test drove a Mini "S" and really liked it.They did not have a JCW at that time. When I went over again to look at Mini's they had the red/Black 2009 JCW sitting there. I made a deal and bought it right on the spot. (I did not even drive it yet) The Mini dealer gave me more on a trade then the Corvette dealer.

I thought I would miss my Vette but after driving my JCW home I never really thought about the Vette much anymore.

After doing some hot laps at Daytona I never ever missed the Corvette again.

This JCW is much more fun, More Comfortable, Don't rattle near as much, Has space to actually carry people or things. Handles better, drives better, lower insurance, better fuel mileage, and I could go on & on but by now you get the message. It is just a better more fun car.

It does not have the top speed of my 180MPH Corvette"


But my JCW will do 148mph and from 60 to 148 it is much faster accelerating.


At least the Porsche guys I hang out with don't tease me anymore. I have not found anyone yet that does not like & respect a Mini Cooper factory JCW.

The Mini is not really like any other car so you really need to know what you want before buying one. It is really in a class all by it's self. It sure won't impress the chick, or make you look wealthy but I'm 69 and don't need to impress anybody but myself anymore. (I never did anyway.) It is unusual enough that I still have people stop and ask me questions in a supermarket parking lot.

I love my JCW and I will probably get the 7 year warranty when the factory one runs out.

 

I too have had a couple of corvettes. I had an 86 convertible and a really nice 90 coupe. Both were sticks and a lot of fun. I have driven many other corvettes both classic and including a late 90's Corvette with a 427 ci. small block (550 WHP) one of my friend's has. I think corvettes are really special cars and I love them.

That said, the JCW is more fun ALL the time driving on the street than the corvette. Is it ultimately faster around the race track.....realistically it would be pretty tough. However, you aren't on the race track most of the time in the car. There is also a very silly kind of grinning fun that the JCW is to drive. It just makes you smile. The corvette is more of a "this is a seriously fast car that I need to be careful with or I could get into trouble". The Mini even though it is quite fast has a very different feel. In the end, for me it's about the feel.

Corvettes are very specific cars if you want and like the way the corvette drives ultimately the only car that you would rather be in is another faster corvette. I was like this for a time. I think mini's are the same way. They have a very specific and strong personality. JCW's are a really distilled version. They are fast frenetic little cars.....very fun in my opinion.

 

You said it! & I agree.

 

As much as l LOVE my JCW, she hasn't gone a month without a trip to the dealer since the day i bought her. This weeks warranty work includes a leaking rear main seal, loose heat shield, replacing the passenger seat because the airbag sensor doesn't work,waterpump recall & a new transmission :(!

!

 

As a Corvette (C5) owner myself, and having driven both cars extensively, my thoughts would more-or-less echo what's already been said when comparing the vehicles. The C5 is substantially faster in a straight line, but the JCW will give a C5 a run for the money in the 'twisties.'

I enjoy driving both cars, but for different reasons. As someone already said: why not have both...?

 

I posted this 2 years ago. It was the 3rd comment in this thread. I have owned my car for 3 years and 2 months. It has 32,000 miles.

The entire clutch assembly was replaced at 28,500 miles under warranty. No big deal I knew it was defective for a long time. I have been driving manual transmission cars for over 20 years. I never made a clutch smoke. This one had issues from day one.

Valve cover gasket replaced at 31,500 miles under warranty. A bit premature but no problem.

My car has not had any of the other issues that you read about here.

I never had to add any oil between oil changes.

I have had a ton of fun modding this car. You can see by my signature that I have done many mechanical and visual mods.

My car is unique. I know that there is not another on this planet that looks exactly like mine.

Would I buy one again. No. These are not long term keeper type of cars. Lease for 3 years or buy and keep it for 5 years. Beyond that, I think you are asking for trouble.

 

Yes I would buy it again. As far as problems , I have put 25 k miles on an MCS and 15k miles on my JCW and never had an issue. I have had several performance cars and the MINI is unique, it exudes confidence on the road, track and I always feel ' in synce ' with the MINI no matter what ' tenth' I am driving at. It can be pushed very hard or cruise along pretty comfortably. My JCW ( although modded) has got the better of many Corvettes on track.
I am always looking at other cars because I love performance cars- but I have never driven anything that so consistently makes me enjoy driving as a MINI. I often miss that it not exotic to look at , but is unique in a sporty way to veiw.
I hope to keep this one and maybe my kids will also enjoy it someday. I also felt worse about selling my MCS than any other car I have sold.

 

You have some great taste in cars there! Great little Lotus in that fantastic orange (why did you sell it?!) and a previous gen M3 - my favorite M3. And of course the JCW...


I do worry about long-term... Right now I think I will be selling it like you said after 5 years (if I can afford to)... but if the car turns out to be reliable, I think I will have a very hard time selling it. It really is one of the most unique but still practical cars I have ever driven. After only 2 months of ownership my wife wants me to keep it well past the 8 years we kept our first car (which I had trouble letting go - she wanted it GONE).

I get a LOT of compliments on this car. Although one teenager told me tonight I have a 'very cute car, sir'... was that an insult?

 

Perhaps a twist on this saga....I don't regret buying my current JCW (my second), BUT I don't think I would buy another because they've just crept up in price too much. Both of mine stickered in the $34Kish range, I think to do comparable on a 2012 would be over $35K and that's my limit for a MINI. I saw a JCW Coupe at the local dealer with a $41K sticker, that's ridiculous, sorry.

 

Hey walk0080, thanks I have loved my cars for sure. I just can't justify several cars and when spring comes and I yearn for something else than something has to go! I LOVE Lotus, it is like driving a Peregrine falcon, good speed , fantastic steering feel and the Elise package works so well together. At first I wanted more torque but as I got more comfortable with the speed the suspension could carry through turns I realized I did not need any upgrade to it ( umm except brake fluid, pads and tires). But it was such a selfish car for me , I couldn't bring the kids and my wife was a little freaked out by how small and light it was , so it was my ' alone time' , which is fine but after a while I wanted all the fun stuff the MINI offered and I was intrigued if I could get a MINI to perform as fast on track as the Elise ( I did do this) that I switched back to MINI. I still look at Lotus every day ( Elise, Exige and Evora) lots of ' em available. The MINI just endures with me. The E46 looks fantastic , brakes suspension and torque - it has it all. I live the Interlagos Blue and I can take the wife and kids along with me.
BTW I make a point of ignoring ANYTHING a teenager says! LOL

 

Just turned 3000 miles on her and it has been very fun and rewarding. I really like being back in a manual. Only thing that drives me nuts is the traction control that kicks in even after its selected "off". I'm just being picky, but the car is a lot of fun around town.

 

Hey, Phx JCW, have you pressed the DTC button once, and then press again and hold for a few seconds to remove DTC completely? Try that and drive again.

There are three main levels of the 'traction control' with the JCW electronic differential lock control (EDLC):
* DSC = corrective for little mistakes, actives brakes and reduces engine power if vehicle path is off
* DTC [button pressed once] = traction control optimized (via engine power) without stability; typically used in snowing / adverse weather conditions that ensure maximum forward traction
* EDLC [button again pressed and held] = stability & traction control off (no reduction of power if wheel spins); only differential lock is used

- Erik