I have a 2012 JCW with 6 speed manual, took it in for routine maintenance, and was given a brand new 2013 JCW automatic. I honestly cannot tell a difference between that and a standard mini cooper S automatic. The auto trans just dulls out the whole experience. My car is tremendously faster, my seat of the pants meter. My car is so much more fun to drive. Sorry people who have the automatic, but just my observation.

 

+1

 

Haven't driven the JCW automatic......don't really care to, my last two JCW's with 6 speeds are perfect for me!

 

It is just not as engaging. I went from my manual S to an auto in my new car and thought the same thing. BUT, at the drag strip and track my new bone stock S handily beat my heavily modded 2008 in lap times. I was very surprised.

I still miss my manual though.... :(

 

They gave you a '13 JCW as a loaner... That's crazy.

 

Yes, they had one in the fleet, brand new 500 miles on it. But my 13,000 mile 2012 JCW feels so much sweeter! I love my car, but it makes me appreciate it even more.

 

Yes I don't know why you would get an auto JCW. You get a JCW for the fun factor not just a point A to point B car. Any car is more fun in a standard. I had to drive an auto for about 2 years and I know that I was not as good of a drive when I drove it because I got to relaxed so I did not pay attention as much. With a stick you know what is going on all the time.

 

Seriously. However my mini dealer is with a BMW and I get a new bmw f30 from time to time and that thing is surprisingly fast

 

They have to appeal to the public. The majority of MINI buyers (not this forum) want a cute and unique economy car. In 2002 when the MINI first came out a Cooper S was not evan available in an automagic transmission. Times change...

 

Not sure if that same demographic would pay the premium for a JCW. Heck, you can't even search for a JCW on autotrader.com or cars.com

 

I've talked 2 several peoplein my area that have straight shifts--and they say the new patal shift auto 4 2013 has greatly improved so much --they were going auto--I have ordered a 2013 MINI S with the JCW tune and auto

 

If they had DCTs, I'd understand. But a slushbox in a JCW? Yuck.

 

Yeah true. It's just a normal auto gear box. Too much lag. When I test drove each different gear box. I felt I was shifting quicker on the Manuel than the auto. I just had more control on the 6 spd then the auto.

 

The people that I was refering 2 were salesman with MINI with 2013's straight shift---heavey into MINI---- all said after u learn 2 use the patals---a straight couldn't out shift the auto !!!!!!

 

When I drove a demo auto there was a delay from when you pressed the paddle to when it shifted. This is what I am sure most people are perceiving as slow. I figured kit that when you wanted a down shift to hit it a little early to account for the delay.

For most drivers autos are actually quicker. Just not as fun.

 

Is there such a thing as ordering a standard MCS with a JCW tune and actually getting a performance difference? Likely you are referring to the JCW appearance package which is simply appearance changes. Unless your talking about the Tuning Kit

 

NO----I'm getting the JCW motor in the MINI S --it is offered as a option(208 HP-$2120.00)---and I'm getting the sport suspension rather than getting the MINI JCW --I'm affraid I wouldn't like the JCW suspenson( I will not b ******* the car like most people on this forum because of my age-61- this is just a toy 4 me and m wife)

 

I would double check where you are getting your information, just so you are not surprised or disappointed upon delivery. The Tuning kit is a dealer installed option and increases power to 197HP not 208HP (Actually 2013 JCW's have 211hp). Its not the JCW engine but some add on parts and software to increase power. Also being that its dealer installed the $2120 is just for the parts. I would expect to pay a lot more than that after installation. More than likely you would be better off getting a Factory JCW in the long run for just a little more $. And you get better brakes as well as the aero kit.

Look here:

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...-roadster.html

Also information here: (scroll down to the bottom reading "2011+ John Cooper Works Tuning Kit for MINI Cooper S")

http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/05/07/24014/

 

OMG!!!!!!!!--Thanks--thanks --thanks--build will not b sent in till Feb--looks like I'll b changing 2 the JCW----Holy-cow---thanks alot again---u r wright---I wouldn't b disapointed---I'd b pissed

 

No more automatics for me with this car, too slow and they fail and overheat.

I will consider a dual clutch box tough.

 

I may get booed, but the automatic serves me perfectly. I live in LA and the fact is this has to be my daily commuter and I sit in a LOT of traffic. I don't have the energy I used to, to sit in stop and go for over an hour with a manual. I'm day two of owning this car and I just took it up Topanga Canyon Rd and I consider the tiptronic more than adequate. Would I want it if this was a track car? No. But it meets my needs perfectly. I'm having a lot of fun with it. Anyway, there's my defense for us auto owners

 

I bought mine with an auto(I multi-task, which I will stop doing since it's better to keep my eyes on the road), but since I miss my manuals...I will be getting my next MINI with the stick. Shoot even right now my SA told me that they just knocked off $6.5K off of the 12' Coupe S that has 2.5K miles on it and fully loaded....decisions, decisions

 

No booing from me. I went with the auto for the same reasons. If I had another DD, I would have probably went with the stick. When I feel the need to row through the gears and reach tripple digit speeds in seconds, I just jump on this thing.

 

I drive a manual R53, I drove a friend's BASE AUTOMATIC Cooper and was impressed by how on curvy roads I could keep up just fine with my friend and her husband in there Roadster S. Yes, I could shift faster with my manual and I feel more in control. But frankly it's mainly in how you drive the car.

Off the line power isn't everything.

Just my 2 cents.

 

I drove my 2005 MCS for two years (and manuals all my life before that) but after moving to downtown Seattle my left leg ached most of the time!! While I miss the stick when I'm on I-5 or cruising out on Highway 2, for the hills and the stop-start traffic we have I doubt I'll go back to a manual as a daily driver