Madster: What options did you go for? As you can see, I kept mine rather simple. Added the red leather and black cloth at the last minute. It did make the deadline. Does your guy POE in Boston, I would suppose? Mine will come in thru Baltimore, same for the POE extras, which I have been advised not to do, as there is a minimum of 3 weeks of delay. I hadn't planned on that anyway.

Looking at your post there, that really would be a bummer if you waited this length of time, received the car and then it was an S rather than a JCW. I don't even want to think about that scenario. I'd definately be getting a lot of free goods from the dealer, that's for sure.

 

There was a 2011 JCW coupe on our weekend rally to the Texas Hill Country. Not sure when the owner ordered it but it came in several weeks ago, the first (and only thus far) 2011 of any type that the dealer has received. It was pretty basic, solid Chili Red (like mine), the new cloth seats with red stitching that were very nice, no sunroof or other frou-frou options. Thought it was very cool, the owner and his wife, both in their 70's, drove up each in their own JCW, her's was a 2009 red/black roof.
On another note, the new front brake ducts don't look as "cool" as the ones in the present JCW body kit. Also, the interior updating that's making everyone so gaga is really pretty subtle. If that's what's been keeping you from buying a MINI in the past, you are too picky.

 

We ordered ours as all Midnight Black Metallic, black lounge leather, with cold, premium and convenience packages. POE for us is apparently NJ according to the dealer. The S slot we took was only because that was the next car on their order scheduled for manufacture. It was truly manufactured as a JCW - phew!

We didn't wait for the 2011 for any particular reason it just happened to work out that way. We actually tried to purchase a 2010 JCW from Mini of Peabody and they weren't will to deal at all. This was only a week before we ordered our 2011. As of last week it was still sitting on their lot.

 

mtbscott: No, that hasn't kept me from buying in the past, as I have been on a 3 year lease with Mazda and it ends in November. Speaking about the dash, I have seen the 2011's, but not the JCW's at a dealer on the East Coast. To me, at least, comparing how the dash looks on the refreshed 2011, there is no comparison when compared with the 2010's and earlier. Plus, I got the red accents, both interior and roof/mirrors. I like the look. As for the brake ducts, you can't compare the 2011's with the JCW Aero as they are two completely different font ends. Without the chrome, I rather like the new brake ducts, same goes for the rear fog lights, as well.

Just think, in three years we can all do this all over again, waiting for the new 3rd Generation which comes out in late 2013, probably as a 2014. We can talk about how well Mini did with the new 3 cylinder engine (that one I might have trouble with) But as a president once said when they come out, I'll just put another log in the fire. Or maybe just have to get myself a 2012 JCW Aero kit and put that on. Who knows.

 

Hemi,

Since you got to order a JCW already, can you confirm that you can't order the blacked out headlights for the JCW? The Mini configurator still lets you select it though it seems like they fixed most of the other things that were wrong from the first couple days.

I'm looking at the same color combo as you, black with red roof, and the blacked out headlights look good with it. So I'm kinda hoping they do let you order that option.

But I can't order till Spring though cause of real life stuff thats out of my control right now. But because of all that 'stuff', I've convinced myself to go JCW instead of MCS to give myself a treat later! :D

 

Well, finally we received, really received officially, my JCW has started production. Yesterday morning at 06:47 to be exact. Maria, my sales gal even gave me the VIN. So, it's official. She says, now I know that you have yours coming, but she said that there are only about four that have even been produced this year, and those took over dealer slots. Mine is in the first batch of slots, and she thinks that mine is the first in line. Who knows, but at least it's nice to know that the Lil Guy is being built. Too bad we can't have pictures of the process.

Question that I have is: What takes them so long to build after the production starts? They claim that it takes 5 - 6 days. Why so long?
Just thought that I'd keep you up to speed on how ours is coming. Next will be the frustrating shipping.

Bill

 

They have to get all of the parts allocated and in order to do your car. It could be various things like grouping of cars of the same color to go through the paint shop, or different packages that might be easier to do all at once. The car does not take 5-6 days of work to make, it is the getting in the queue to be assembled with your parts form your optioning that causes small pauses in production.

 

You're right, I pretty much figured that anyway Just a little frustrating. I did get the completion date this morning and that is October 5th

I have thought all along that with the new Red Roof & Mirrors, that they just might be gathering up a group of JCW's to run through. And, as my Motoring Advisor reiterated, this is the first ordered JCW's to be produced. So, I guess now we get the parts located. I would have thought that between September 10th and now that they could have been doing some of this, but I don't know how they work.
Thanks for the help here.

Bill in Iowa

 

Congrats, Bill!!! Believe it or not it will go quickly from 10/5. At least you know that it will be in constant movement from that point on. You'll be driving the little guy before you know it. So I'm guessing that you will be taking delivery the first week or so in November.

Our MA confirmed for us yesterday that ours had indeed arrived in NJ on 9/28 and he was just waiting on the transportation information. I'm guessing by mid-week next week we should be taking delivery.

It's funny you should comment about providing a picture - my wife and I were just discussing that last night. We were saying it would be great if they could send along a completed pic.

 

That black is bad...I like the red roof and on my wife's Black S, that is exactly what I did for bonnet strips on hers.

 

Congrats on your new car Bill, you'll have it before you know it.

However, your advisor's remarks simply aren't true. I told you about the 2011 JCW that was on our Texas Hill Country run this past weekend. The owner had already had the car for about three weeks, and it was a custom order to his specs. Knowing the timeframe needed for building and shipping, and that the dealer he bought it at just opened for business in late June/early July, his was probably ordered in early August.
The salesman that sold him the car was with us on the rally. He didn't mention the specific ordering date, but did say it was the ONLY 2011 MINI that the dealer had received as of last week. We both figured that JCW's actually may have gone first since their only major changes were in trim, not engines.

 

Thank you for your kind words on the JCW. As for what My Motor Advisor stated, here are the exact words:


[FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=2]<Please let me know if you have any other questions... we found that JCW's are in certain production slots and yours will be one of the first 2011 JCW's produced!>[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS][/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS]That is all that I can go by is what she said. Except for the JCW's that have been build, using dealer slots, I haven't head of any. From the dates that your guy in Texas state, my guess is that he received what would be called a production model that was at the very beginning of the 2011 builds, maybe eve a pre production unit. Who really knows.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS]Anyway, mine will be thru the build on October 5th, on a ship in another week, maybe and here in November. That's all I care about. Whether it's one of the first, which I do believe, or not, in 2011 it won't really make a difference. I am one of those that does like what Mini did for the JCW. The look of the gauges, the red & black of the interior and optional black wheels, then the Red roof availability, I like it. That's why I bought it. And now the JCW does have a look all its own.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS][/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS]Bill in Iowa[/FONT]

 

Congrats Bill on your JCW finally getting built. I'll also be ordering a MB/CR JCW, but in november/december time frame. I'm holding off for the MINI Connected which will be available in the december build orders.

 

We were notified on Saturday that our JCW is at the dealer!! But now we still need to wait a few days for the Cert. of Origin to be received at the dealership before we can sign the papers and they can get the car registered. We should be able to pick her up by the end of the week. So close but still too far away!

 

Madster: These next few days will be maddening, I can believe. At least, if the dealership is close, you can go down and take a look at it. Remember, pictures. Great to hear.

Bill

 

I'm brand new to posting on this site, to this board, but I've been reading it for years. So new am I that I've not filled out my profile yet so you might be able to read more about my car (to whom I've given the name "Mack," because my best buddy, my dog "Mack" used to love going for rides, and the last we took together was in my MINI Cooper). I purchased my MINI in '02, live in a very hilly area, with twisting roads, so I have had a great time terrorizing the neighbors who live in the houses dotting the hillsides here. Mack, the car, is a Cooper with sports package, red and black sports seats, 17" black crown spokes, and has a red roof and red mirrors--which is why I am posting here on this particular thread. Mack came to me with white rood and white mirrors, 16" start blaster alloys, in Cosmos Black. I had gone into the dealership to order a red MINI, but found my MINI on the lot, fell in love with the combination (my 3 series was a special order black on red), and drove him home. I've always loved black cars, but I also always loved red cars. I always admired the red w/black roof MINIs that both turned corners and my head. So, one day it occurred to me to paint the mirrors red (because I admired the red mirrors on the GP), and then not much later I was compelled to do the roof--and I have to say, I fell in love with the combination even more deeply than I imagined. By the way, I had thought about wrapping the roof, but I couldn't get that depth of color that the Chili Red paint could provide. Yes, it is a mere R50, it is not an "S," much less a JCWs, and I understand, acknowledge and accept that. I drive a 5 series touring wagon for work, because my work requires that type of flexibility; but I love my MINI, just as he is. He isn't super fast in the straight aways, but man is he a blast in the twisties! I know that MINI is introducing the red roof option on the 2011 JCWs, so I thought I'd share a photo of Mack with you all. For those of you ordering your new JCWs, congratulations, and I'll enjoy watching to tear by me on the roads; and for those of you ordering the red roofs, I think they will look terrific with all the body colors being offered. Thanks for allowing me to introduce myself and my MINI to you, and I hope to get to know many of you in the year ahead.

 

Mack: Your car looks GREAT. That stripe may be on mine after I figure out things. I'm trying to figure out a stripe, not particularly interested in the standard striping, but that new black outlined stripe looks pretty cool to me. Oh yes, I have on order, see signature, just what you mentioned, a Red roofed & mirrored Midnight Black JCW. Some may call it a clown, some may call it a Christmas decoration, but I fits Mini and JCW as far as I can see. I just hope that I will be able to enjoy my Lil Guy as you have and are doing your Mack. Nice post.

 

Bill: Your MINI sounds amazing, and is just about exactly as I would order my own if I was to order one today. I'm most excited to see the photos of it and hear of the fun you'll have along the way. The stripes I have on Mack I found in the UK, and I played around with them along the way. At one point Mack, with his white top, had the stripes you see with a broad stripe offsetting them--a broad white stripe on the bonnet/boot, and a broad black one on the roof. It occurred to me that he looked a bit like a Run DMC track suit, so I removed the broader stripes and rather like the asymmetry of the red ones left it their wake, and that was when the red roof came about. I really like the new ones you are referring to, the black with the thin red pin strip accent. It is subtle, classic and unique at the same time. Which black wheels did you order?

I've never had anyone tell me that Mack looked like a clown, but a contractor did recently say to me as I drove to a project site in him, "Oh, you brought the lady bug!" I facetiously argued, "clearly...a red with black roof Mini would be a lady bug, this looks more like a black widow. If I ever see you and your crew running from a project site, screaming "black widows, black widows" followed by a swarm of lady bugs, I'll never let you live it down!" ;o) Red and black is an absolute classic; one of my favorite cars ever was a Mercedes Gullwing in black on red. Everyone seems to like the combination a lot, and a number of MINI enthusiasts driving on the road around me have cranked their heads so severely they've nearly gotten into accidents. Of course, as the new JCWs hit the road in numbers, Mack will no longer be so unique, but he'll still be well loved by me.

I wish you great enjoyment in your journeys with Lil Guy--you'll have a blast, and the color combination you'll love. Thanks for being so welcoming!

Mike

 

Thanks for the kind words, better than some when they find out that I did, indeed, order a new JCW. Well, forgetting that, Lil Guy has passed the Paint Shop and Final Assembly along with the final inspection. hey, it's built now and ready for transport to the dock. So, according to my figures, November 5th or so should get it to Iowa, via Schaumburg, Il.

PS.....What are other JCW owners doing about Winter tires, other than Bridgstone Blizzaks? And, what size are you using?

 

For the winter, I've ordered the JCW R114 17" winter wheel.


Dunno which tire goes on standard, though...

 

Does anyone have, or have a picture of a red MINI with a red roof & the JCW aero kit?

I've never seen one besides in the configurator, I'm curious if it would look good in real life.

 

Here's mine the day I picked it up. Based on the theory that you can't have too much red, I've also got the red leather/black cloth interior.

 

Well last evening we met our 2011 JCW for the first time. It's awesome!! We love the new interior changes, although they may be minor, they are still very nice and we're glad we went with the 2011. My personal thought is that it just looks a bit more finished and refined (I'm not trying to start a discussion regarding interiors - this is just my personal thought - previous interiors are very nice as well). We will be picking our car up tomorrow afternoon. The clock just can't tick fast enough!!

 

Mtbscott....that is one good looking MINI you have there!

 

Thank you!! I love it!!

Looks like that's the color combo I'm going with when I order a new one (hopefully in the spring).