If anyone can give some useful info. all will be greatly helpful. I am in the market for a mini but not too sure the direction in which to go. The options are beterrn an 2006 R53 JCW i was lookin at fully loaded +, 2006 GP, or an 07' S fully loaded (R56). I am leaning more between the R53 and the R56, even though the GP will hold its value more. The biggest thought i have is with power between the supercharger and the turbo. If anyone konws whats going on with an R56 JCW commin out soon? I mean everyone i talk to says that even tho the Turbo is almost 30 hp less they say it feels about the same. I drove both at different times so couldnt really tell. Any info would be awsome thanks in advance.

 

I own a Cooper so I can't really help you out, but in terms of horsepower:
2006 MCS 168 HP
2007 MCS 172 HP

And if I were you, I'd get the GP. You can never go wrong with red mirror caps.

 

Im aucitaly lookin at a 2006 MCS JCW which has around 210 if i remember correctly.

 

How about all three! ( ... that was too much of an opportunity!)

 

I'd get the R53 JCW.

Zip

 

I think if u get the JCW you're probably not going to go with very many aftermarket mods. I think if you get the 07 you would probably getting the exhaust at least.

I think if you're looking for resale, the 2007 will hold value being newer by a year. The new JCW isn't supposed to come out until 2008 I believe.

Personally, I think it would be best to get the 07. I love my R53, but the 07 does have a lot of new stuff to offer. The only real downfall of that car is the center stack, and perhaps the fact that it is a new design. I don't think the new car will have as many problems as people believe, working on the R53 will no doubt have helped design of the R56.

 

Threads merged. icemen125 - please don't start a second thread identical to your first one. It's called double posting, and it's against NAM Site Guidelines:

 

Are you looking for direct handling? I think that the R53 will have a more direct handling because it doesn't use the electronic steering thingy like the R56. (I am just assuming)
If you're looking for power, no doubt, the R56 will be better. A Stock R56 is on par(if not faster) than an R53 JCW/GP. The R56 has more torque(get-up gogogo), much much more, which makes a biggggg difference~
The build quality of the new R56 is actually pretty good too, the interior panels and trims all feel much more solid. But like Muggy said, the centre stack needs some getting use to... haha~
And about value... I am not really sure~ :P I like the R56 personally, hence the reason I am picking one up in 2 days~ ^-^

 

How much are the GP's???

 

Ummm... not quite. But the R56 factory JCW should be incredible.

 

sure it is...

 

I drove both the R53 ('06) and R56('07)... I bought the R53 (06)...
I liked the handling and punch of the SC '06 better than the '07...
The GP would take the 06' feeling a bit further I guess (having never driven one)... and I would guess it would hold its value better being a special edition... but you'd give up the rear seats for the GP.

HTH!

 

Benefits of the R53: established model, most kinks worked out, lots of aftermarket parts available NOW if you are a modder. Drawbacks: It's a model year older, and in theory will "lose" more value as you drive it off the lot at time of purchase.

Benefits of GP: Fastest factory/production MINI available, unique on the street, attention-getter. Yet to be seen/proven, but GP should hold value better due to limited production. Drawbacks: No rear seat MAY mean higher insurance premiums with some insurers.

Benefits of R56: Turbo has more POTENTIAL upside for speed modifications than supercharger, newer model year means less immediate depreciation at time of purchase. Drawbacks: 1st year builds almost always have kinks to work out. Rattles & squeaks abound, according to my local MINI service department. Limited aftermarket for parts & upgrades on new model, just requires patience for products to be developed. Oh, and there's that fugly & poorly designed center stack that has no standard DIN, making aftermarket stereo applications custom install jobs due to dash modification being needed.

My personal opinion... I like the interior design of the R53 better. It's less gimmicky. But I have always been a turbo guy (until I got my first MCS in '03) and would love to get my hands on that R56 powerplant. Combining the turbo factor with BMW's valve timing technology, I see HUGE potential for upgrades & mods, as long as the ECU can be accomodated/bypassed/fooled, etc. (Never while under warranty, of course. ) And since all MINIs hold their value at or near the top of the resale lists, I don't know that depreciation is really a serious factor for anyone who plans to hold onto a MINI for more than a couple of years.

Of those 3, I think I'd go for the R53 JCW- established model, lots of aftermarket, no first-year surprises, and you get back seats. (If you dislike back seats & your insurance company won't penalize you for driving a 2-seater, then the GP might be your way to go, too)

 

More punch? Handling I would understand, even tho I don't think the R56 is not as good, it's just that most people are too used to their R53. The new electronic steering takes a bit of time to get used to tho~
But more punch?
Honestly I dun think the R53s(be it JCW or stock) can match the R56 in speed~ I duno about the GP tho, cuz we don't have the GP in Canada.
The R56 will give you a lot more usable power down low, if you're lazy like me(which doens't downshift too often), the R56 will spoil you easily. hhaha
Of course, we R56ers have to deal with those dreaded bugs for the first year model~ haha.
Someone suggested this earlier, get the GP and drive it for a year or so. Sell it later for the R56!

 

GP..

 

before I drove one prior to this weekend i would have said your crazy. however after driving one back to back with my modded friday build r53... i'd say correct and if it's not... it's so dang close that the r56 modded wont only pass the r53 jcw gp it will blow it's doors off.

so... +1 for r56

 

If someone told me last year that I was going to buy an R56, I would've called them crazy!
Look what I have on order right now? hehe

 

I looked all over the country to find a factory JCW. The HP was only a part of the desire for a JCW, as I wanted the factory brakes (suspension too!)
The regular Cooper S took only a few laps to fade the brakes and the reports I read a year ago indicated that the aftermarket items lacked sophisticated integration with the systems. The JCW and GP brakes seem to be a known plus.
How are the brakes on the new S? Did they make the upgrades standard?

BTW, most cars have about 3-4 times as much "HP" in the brakes as the engine! Compare accelleration to decelleration.
J

 

I don't know how the R56 brakes compare to the JCW brakes... I didn't get to track my test drive car~ :P
But from just driving on the street, the R56 brakes certainly have more "grab" compare to the stock R53 brakes. Don't remember how the JCW brakes are tho...

 

I had heard that R56 had JCW brakes standard now.

 

I heard that, too. Now get back to the word game posts.

 

wow Sh@t really?!
let me go search around...

 

Let us know what you find, because I think it was just another post I saw, not anything oaffish Al.

 

Yep, that's my understanding (R56 has same brakes as R53 JCW)... but it only applies to the R56 S, not the Cooper (remember, wheel size differences). The nice benefit for all of us out here with JCW brakes on an R53, is that it should expand the options for brake pads. JCW brake pads are not cheap!

I disagree with your speed comparisons between the stock R56 S and the JCW R53 or GP. There is more low-end torque, true... but the R56 didn't feel (to me) like it held the power as long as the JCW does. The low-end torque is deceiving, because it's natural to assume that extra grunt is just as dramatic at the high-end too. It isn't (IMO).

Of course, armchair comparisons are rarely spot-on. We need to see actual performance tests of the vehicles, done in the same location, on the same day, with the same driver!

 

I agree about the torque, Edge. I had another late model turbo car. Low end torque was great. But, hitting the gas while highway cruising resulted in a pretty leisurely climb in the MPH.