I am new to the forum, but not to minis. We have a 2012 R56 JCW that we bought new and we absolutely love it! We have tracked it some and done a lot of twisties in the Blue Ridge, Smokies, and Appalachian Mountains. It is a wonderful car to drive. We are considering the 2015 F56 JCW when the standard transmission becomes available.

I would like to hear from anyone who has a new, 2015, JCW in any of the models that has had a similar JCW in an older version. How does the new increased 2.0 231 HP engine compare performance-wise to the older JCW. With the increased weight of the new hatch the weight to horsepower ratio sort of has me questioning how it affects the performance. Also, the car is larger and how does that affect the feel? Does it still gurgle and pop?

 

Quick comparisons:
2nd Gen Cooper S: 181hp@5500 rpm / 177 ft/lbs@1600 rpm
2nd Gen JCW: 207hp@6000 rpm / 192 ft/lbs@1900 rpm
3rd Gen Cooper S: 189hp@4700 rpm / 207@1250 rpm
3rd Gen JCW: 228hp@5200 rpm / 236 ft/lbs@1250 rpm

I think most importantly with the new JCW, if you're looking at engine comparisions, it's not so much HP, but the torque increases of the new engine. There's a big torque increase and the torque is available almost instantly. Even the Cooper S gets as much torque as the R56 JCW and it gets it lower on the powerband. This will give you that "throw you back into your seat" feeling. True, it will be heavier (2845 lbs compared to the 2679 lbs of the last JCW), but with the increases in HP and torque, it should be faster in about every other way (though not by much with the manual - only 0.1 faster in the 0-60 times...automatics in the F56 will give you faster times)

Given what we know from drivers of the F56, we know it's a smoother ride which has it's pros and cons, depending on your point of view and probably also on what your equipment is.

Pop and burble will DEFINITELY be there - it is on the Cooper S. One can only assume it will be there on the JCW.

 

Thanks for the response. I love the go kart feel of the R56, and I guess I will just have to wait until I can test drive a stock one. I was originally planning to order one, but I will simply have to wait impatiently until the debut the new hatch JCW. Might as well wait until the 2016 arrives at this rate! Sort of a bummer, but all things considered realistically it is the most sensible. However, miniacs are not the most sensible beings on the planet.

 

True story

If it was me, I'd test drive a F56 Cooper S (with sport suspension, if available, if not, the dynamic dampers on SPORT), and see for yourself how differently the F56 carries itself compared to your R56. This will at least give you an idea of what that extra weight and size does to the basic characteristics of the car. After all, the JCW will just be a faster version of the Cooper S.

 

I have thought about that, but I don't want to encourage new toy fever too much. I like the interiors that I have seen, but I am still working on the exterior appearance. I like the interior a lot.

 

Owner of 2012 JCW stick , currently driving 2015 S Auto
Def notice the difference in torque and throw you back in the seat, I can imagine how nice 3rd gen JCW will be

 

How is the downshift with the paddles in the automatic compared to the manual downshift?

 

so i was just listening to a recap of MTTS where Todd from White Roof Radio was rraving about the auto in the F56, especially with the paddles.He and DB both said the shifts were incredibly crisp and satisying. in teh twisties, said it was easier, and almost better than the manual.

 

Hopefully, I will get to test drive the F56 JCW when it arrives, but it will take a lot to woo me away from the stick. I have been driving them for a long time and in twisties and a good track I have found them superior for my driving style. I have an auto in another of my cars and don't like it nearly as well as the stick. Nice in city driving and on the road, but lacking in performance driving.

 

All my cars for last 20 years...stick. This mini auto is extreme fun to drive. I think I would / could agree it might be as fun as manual transmission. I have manual r56JCW and honestly it is close fun factor for both. It is crisp up and down and holds the revs nicely! And the torque...wow impressed with the S!!

 

You all must be driving a different car. I got a F56 S loaner with auto. The things sucks. Sport, normal, or green modes, it's horrible.. I'll never buy an auto MINI. Now if they put a DCT in it... that might be a different story...

 

How long did you have the loaner and were you able to drive it any performance situations? As a loaner I assume that it was the plain Jane version interior, etc. Specifically, what were the performance issues that you really disliked, acceleration, braking, cornering, etc. I have eco mode on our other toy which is fine for multi lane highway driving, but no fun otherwise. I assume the green mode on the new mini is something of that ilk.