...on my JCW that is. Over the last couple of months I came fairly close to purchasing a new Fiat Abarth 500 but changed my mind after getting in a couple of testdrives. Before any of you cast aspersions on my MINI cred, my current 2011 JCW is my fourth MINI since 2005, one R53S, one R56S, and two factory JCW's. I'm just a car guy who likes exploring new things and on paper the Abarth seemed like something similar but different.
The Abarth has only been on US streets for around a month now. Demand is a very regional thing, I could have picked up one my local dealer already had incoming as dealer stock in less than a month, where in SoCal dealers are asking $5K in markup, and in other places there is a 6-8 month wait for an ordered one. I had gone as far as putting a refundable deposit on an incoming one locally MSRP $25650. Ironically, the week before I got to drive my first demo, Car and Driver came out with their comparison test of the Abarth and JCW. The JCW won handily, rather large straightline performance difference, but it was noted that it SHOULD win considering its almost $9K greater price. They really liked the Abarth and were in general pretty positive about both cars.
Ultimately, all other things aside, it was just too slow for me in its current form. There are already rumored factory bits to up the power from 160 to 200hp, but right now it's a tad slower than a MINI S, much slower than the JCW as speeds increase. If I had been cross shopping these from scratch, the price difference might have tipped the scales towards the Fiat. It's more similar to the MINI S than you might think and MINI really needs to get its ever rising prices under control I think.
So I'm keeping the JCW, it's not like I was tired of it or didn't like it, I'm just a car guy who's fickle at times. To get back on you guys' good side, I should mention that I emailed the manager of my dealer and I am now #1 on "the list" for a GP2.

 

I just bought 2010 JCW My mind was made up after I drove the Abarth. I took the Abarth last Friday for a test spin. The exhaust note sounded great but i took it around a corner and I could feel the body roll. And I am like there is no way a JCW would lean at all. So I purchased a used 2010 MINi that was a "lemon /dealer buy back. Even though the "lemon " on the carfax may hurt the resale value /or trade in.. I really dont care. there is still warranty left and dealer maint. I still love the Abarth video with the guy getting slapped.


This Mini I will hopefully own longer then my first which was 4 months.

 

I need to get on a GP2 list as well. That thing is SICK!

 

I understand. I'm about the same. As soon as I jump into one car, a few months later I want to jump into another. I'm pretty much happy with my mini for now and have no plans on selling it. Love the GP as well.

 

We currently have an Abarth as a hire car (in England), nothing so far would persuade me to give up the MINIs for it.

 

I went to look at the Abarth as well, they are neat cars but I would get one as a secondary car to a JCW.

They sound great stock and are easy on the eyes but drive and ride nothing like a JCW.

 

So, what are you going to do with the JCW when the GPII comes in?