Check out the fall (oct.) issue of Evo mag where they choose the dozen "best" sport(y) cars of 07. The R56 JCW is the only $ car in a pack of uber$$$$ rides. At a track event & on the street the R56 JCW wins accolades for speed, handling and general automotive go-fast synergy.
Dual-personality comment: The review does observe that the R56 JCW package seems to be an almost docile daily driver "until pushed really hard" where it unleashes it's depth of power and true grit. The same observation I have every time I get to the remote back roads and re-discover the "...car within the car... (EVO)"
Very impressive company to be seen in. GT3, Lambo, Lotus etc.

-I seems like every month a different mag. stumbles on to the R56 JCW & comes away w/ very similar impression: the refined synergy of the basic JCW tuning elements working in unison to create a "whole" that is greater than the sum of it's parts. Smooth, seamless power delivery & deep reserves of torque in a wide power band. It will be interesting to see if the best of the upcoming aftermarket tuning offerings can produce a similar outcome.

link evocar.com but they don't post complete current monthly issues, just teasers. You may need to visit a book store. B&N has it as does Borders.

 

Link????

 

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evol..._cooper_s.html

 

nope... just visit the bookstore, EVO is expensive but the december issues usually makes for good reading

 

The link only lets me read the first part. Did the test car just have the JCW engine kit, or the suspension kit too. I read this dude's review awhile back. The thing that threw me was that he thought that the sport button was horrible, said he'd never use it because it screwed up the steering/handling for him. I wondered what he smoked before he drove the car. When you read something like that it really makes me wonder why I'm reading it.

 

The link only gives you a preview of the review.

 

The more I drive my R56, the more I think I like it better with the Sport button off. The additional steering weight of Sport mode doesn't seem to give me any more road feel.


--Dan
Mach V

 

Ironicly... standard suspension on EVO's car, too. Not JCW or even Sport Suspension were spec'd. But it's thrown to the wolves, anyhow.

Interesting that EVO has come around. They slammed the R56S when it was first being debuted in Europe. They've gone from calling it too big & soft, to touting it as "the best MINI we've ever driven". How things change.

 

Depends on what he smoked that day, I swear.

 

Taken w/ a grain of salt I actually think the Evo JCW review was about spot on:
- The sports button w/ the JCW engine kit does not contribute a thing to the already instant throttle response & only stiffens up the steering a bit (only at low speed at that.)
-Hard to imagine how surprised they were to find out the JCW will make it up to 130 mph in the long straight.
-Best part how well the brakes managed at the track, my initial impression too: Really good OE brakes this time around.
-Truth be know the JCW engine kit may not be fully appreciated by drivers who can't find the space & open road for a proper jail-time romp.