I'm looking at ordering another car soon. What sounds like a better option performance wise?

A completely stock JCW Works with maybe a rear sway upgrade.

vs

An '09 S (6mt/lsd) with:
ECU upgrade (likely a piggyback Alta)
Cat Back exhaust (smog legal)
JCW Springs + Koni's or Coilovers
Rear Sway Bar
S-Winders with non-runflats

I don't really care about the JCW's body kit or wheels, so I'd be spending a lot extra for things I don't need. The uprated motor would be great to have ($), but I wonder if I'd enjoy a normal S with some minor engine mods an upgraded suspension more. I know resale would be way better down the road with the JCW, but I'm asking about pure driving enjoyment. Any opinions?

 

JCW enough said

 

Having pondered this question many times, I am trying (have an automatic) to find a happy medium.

Instead of spending the 5-6K on a JCW from the factory, I want the JCW stage I kit from the dealer.

Granted, it's a few HP shy but I'm thinking it will make the car run the way it should from the factory.

Also, though a bit more expensive (not much) than a comparable aftermarket setup (CAI, exhaust, ECM tune), It allows you to keep your full warranty.

If someone made a proven, completely ecu tune, piggyback or not, I would consider it but I haven't found that exists yet.

So, dealer JCW for half the price of factory but still with warranty.... works for me.

Mark

 

I would go with the JCW over modding a MCS not only because it maintains the factory warranty but everything works like it should right from the factory plus everyone has been raving about how much they love it.

Just like Mark posted above I am also waiting for the official release of the JCW engine kit for the 6-speed autos.

 

JCW for sure

 

warranty! go jcw

 

Go JCW if you want a "checkbook hotrod" and/or care about warranty.

Go Aftermarket if cars are your hobby and you want to tinker with your "custom".

Different solutions for different agendas!

 

I agree... if you're looking for turnkey, no fuss, no muss, then JCW is definitely the way to go.

If you like to tinker, tune and play with your setup, then aftermarket is definitely the way to go.

Me personally, between a supercharged H2, supercharged C5, supercharged V8 Miata and another supercharged Miata, and a blown big block S10, I DON'T WANT TO TWEAK ANY MORE....

I just wanna drive.... forget wrenching. (for me, no offense to you younger guys that still like it)

Mark

 

Who says you have to be young to wrench on cars? It's all about the passion.

 

Thanks for the opinions. I'm really digging deep looking for excuses to not get the JCW. I just need positive reinforcement to justify spending the extra 5k+!

 

Im the odd ball here...

I orderd MCS not JCW because I like to customize things on my own... yes warranty is gonna be voided when i change downpipe, catback exaust, the whole suspension.... but i always did those things to all my cars...

JCW is a great car... it just works like people say... but I like to have mods that I choose and install... i think it's the whole process of it.. more fun...

 

Hey Doc,

Warranty is not necessarily blanket voided, just because a person does certain mods. I've always modified my cars, installed superchargers, stereos, suspension, exhaust, cats, power pulleys, supercharger pulleys, tunes, etc. Always been fortunate with coverage. But, always took my cars occasionally to the dealers and established good relationships. Tends to pay off. People that work at dealerships are people too. (Can you tell I worked at one 15 years ago?)

So, don't feel like you are throwing in the towel, just because you like to mod. Who can wait 3 years for the factory warranty to expire, it's too fun to mod. But do the research, and do the mods nicely and should be fine.

Magnussen Moss Warranty Act is a friend.

However, each dealer and manufacturer and each mod can be different. So use care, but also consider the options. Modding can be quite rewarding.

 

JCW

 

If you plan to upgrade the brakes, the factory JCW becomes a much better value as that's a pretty expensive aftermarket item. Also, the exhaust tuning on the JCW factory car is just terrific - especially in sport mode. I can't speak for the aftermarket systems, but I found the stage 1 JCW exhaust to be a little boomy for my tastes (although the exhaust tips are MUCH better looking!). The dealers are getting JCW demo cars in so I'd at least try the two back to back and see. I made the decision to go with the factory JCW without driving the car and sweated it out, but have no regrets now. Good luck!

 

For me, these were my options:

Buy a used 07 MCS with 12,8k miles for $28,900 and have it immediately.
Order a new 09 MCS with similar options and have it in December (really, April, who buys a car in winter?).
Order a new 09 JCW and have it in August/September.

I ended up going with the JCW. I didn't get quite as many options as I would've had on the 07, but it was 2 model years newer, MUCH faster and warranty! And for only $4,100 more than what I was considering. I don't plan to mod so the warranty is great to have.

Also, +1 on the exhaust in the JCW. It was one of the first things I noticed compared to the MCS.

 

That's an interesting point... I bought my '08 off the showroom floor. As soon as I saw it, I knew there was no "ordering" anything...

The car had JCW brakes and JCW wheels on it. I swapped out the wheels and took the car with the brakes. If I did order a car, I would have never ordered the JCW brake package.

Having had the car for a month and some now, WOW, JCW brakes are GREAT. There are other alternative brake solutions but some of them make 1600-1700 for JCW brakes seem like child's play.

Now that I've got them, if I ever order another Mini, it'll have JCW brakes.

Mark

 

Good point about the brakes, it has the 4 pots and not the same calipers we already have in red with drilled rotors. My JCW is going to be pretty stipped to fit in my budget, haha (paint, WTS, stripes, rear fogs and maybe xenons). I guess I was thinking only about the engine being of added value, but if the brakes are factored in as well, it becomes a better value.

 

I think the JCW is by far the best way to go. Even if you want to tinker, the factory JCW (Stage II) is a better platform for mods because it has different pistons (designed to handle more boost), a stronger clutch, and transmission.

 

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll order one after I drive it at the MTTS event. I was a huge fan of Glider Pro back in the day btw!

 

I love helping to spend other people's money

 

I'm have the JWC suspenion mods put on next week $2,148 dollars including labor and alignment. I have the standard suspenion and it is too soft and wallows to much. I've been assured this will tighten things up

BTW Autoblog.com has a review of the 2008 Mini Cooper S with JWC engine and suspenison upgrades...they loaded up the car with too many options. Great photos with Mini in blue though.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/f...-cooper-s-jcw/