hi everyone,

I have another wonder here that is does the upcoming 2009 JCW mini worth the price?

The price is exactly ten thousands more than MCS, without any additional luxury package on.

Since we are all MCS owners, would you spent that ten thousands to reach for JCW mini or save the money for ourselves and do further modification if we want to.

I think ten thousand is very enough to do lots of modifications.

JCW mini has 208 hp.

 

I have thought about a JCW Clubman, but probably will just add the JCW tuning kit when I have the $ and it's available. Save about 7 grand but I don't get an LSD or the plastic body kit. The add-on plastics I am not much of a fan of anyhow!

 

I don't think the JCW comes with aero kit standard either !! And it's "lsd" from what I understand is simulated, sort of, not really an lsd but a dsc dtc hybrid... Though, I got an lsd on my mcs anyway so it doesn't tempt me

I thought about the new jcw fleetingly, but honestly, I have the jcw Kit. It's just not enough difference for me. I'm already going to be pushing higher numbers with the kit and just a few mods.

 

I was looking at an 08 MCS configured for about $29,500. I ended up leaving out just a few options and have an 09 JCW on the way for $33,000. I think the extra money will be well worth it to have a car that's much faster, a good amount of upgraded parts, and a warranty.

 

if u gert the whoLe JCW package, i think its worth it cos all covered in warranty and putting a grin/smile on yr face whenever u drive it is PRCELESS..

 

I think the answer depends on what you want. I don't know about the $10K difference. When I look online it appears from base MSRP Cooper S, to base MSRP Cooper JCW is roughly $6500. You do get a bunch of things in that money spent that you can not get in the aftermarket. For example, the engine changes, the trans changes etc.
But other things like the power output,, brakes etc. can be duplicated.

So I think if you want to buy a car and play with it, the S might make more sense. If you want to start with more HP and more capability to make even MORE than the Cooper S, the JCW is a great choice.

Recently I have been driving both the Cooper S with ALTA items and the Cooper JCW without and they are similar at that level. But the JCW will be AWESOME once we add the appropriate ALTA items in coming weeks!

Let me know if I can help!

 

Not a chance. Too much money for too unimpressive a car.

 

An MCS with the same features as the standard JCW is only $4,350 less ...

 

I also depends what your wants are. You can option a JCW almost to the price a STi or EVO.

 

Thank you everyone.

I am living in vancouver so the price im looking at is from Canada website:

www.mini.ca

MCS is 29,900 and JCW mini is 38,390.

So the difference is almost 10k and US dollar and CA dollar are approxiamtely the same now.

Sorry to confuse people and the price for JCW mini in CA is way much higher than the price in US. With the tax added here, JCW mini would be really expensive.

I wonder if there is anyone would trade in their MCS for JCW mini.

 

The way you put that makes the comparison much simpler. Under 5k for 36HP with a motor built to handle the power, a trans and clutch to handle the power, better brakes, lighter 17 inch wheels and a few extra touches is well worth the money in my opinion and the better resale value for a limited addition that does not violate warranty just seals the deal. If you add 5k in after market you would be lucky to get any of it back in resale and you may hurt your resale.

 

The JCW tuning kit will NOT void a warranty either, the after-market add-ons could, depending on your dealer.

 

There is a jcw mini on towson mini's lot for almost 36k.. I'm sorry but, for that kind of money there are alot of other cars to look at, sti,evo,r32 or 135i. 1st three are awd

 

It's not just about the money. I'm not sure about the R32, but the STI, EVO, and 135i are gas hogs. 20mpg average, no thanks.

Also, some of the options can jump the price up very quickly. My dealer had a launch edition JCW that had about $5k in dealer-installed options on it. I spent a few grand less on mine and got a lot more options.

 

GOOD point! Keeping in mind we service the STI and EVO community and I own both I can 100% say the EVO gets terrible gas mileage and the STI is only shortly behind it. Also, TOTALLY different cars. The MINI is still my fave for the "all around" category!

 

Yeah, that extra $10k is a lot.

I was thinking about the 135i, since the base price is around the same as a JCW equipped about the same as my current MCS, but the 135 is just... boring looking. Around here it seems every other car is a BMW, and the 135i isn't as distinctive as, say, an M3 or M5. The JCW is a more exclusive version of an already interesting vehicle. Then I'll read another glowing review of the 135i and my mind will start to change.

I think I'll just keep my MCS.

 

Comparing prices for a MCS and a JCW is like comparing prices for a BMW 335 and a M3. You can say that for the money that you save from buying a JCW, you can use to buy aftermarket parts and make your MCS just as powerful as a JCW, but at the end of the day, your car will still be just a MCS.

On the BMW forums, the 335 fanboys are debating the same thing about the M3. They rather get a 335 and easily mod it (chip and exhaust) to surpass the HP of the M3. Swap the front and rear bumpers to look like an M3. Heck, slap on a ///M if it makes you happy, but it will always be a 335.

What you pay for is membership to an exclusive club. JCW (and M3) owners can smile at the end of the day knowing they have the real deal.

 

No car is " just a MCS " ... IMHO .


Even though I have a MCS jcw I still think that's a little too fine cut to start estranging other mini-ers.

happy motoring. my .02

 

I don't agree with your comparison. Moving from the 335 to the M3 gains you 114 HP (a gain of 30%, and it shaves a full second off the stated 0-60 time) as well as full manufacturer supported/warrantied upgrades, and a proper M badge (not a 'fake' one installed on a 335). Moving from the MCS with JCW kit to the JCW gains you only 19HP (a gain of only 10%), and the MCS with JCW kit retains full factory warranty and even has a proper JCW badge. In fact, given that I have already seen more JCW MINIs around than I have MCS with JCW kit, it's quite possible that a JCW 'stage 1' will be less common than a 'factory' JCW (only time will tell).

I agree that the JCW is a major upgrade over the MCS, but given that you can get halfway there for 1/4 the additional cost (and still have a JCW badge and warranty), it is difficult to justify.

 

So I should remove the word "just"?

 

What I was trying to explain is not about how many %percent% gain or how much money you can save if you buy one car and not the other. These "special edition" or low production run models are considered in a class of their own. Reminds me of the phrase "imitated but never duplicated". Sure they offer JCW kits for your MCS, just like BMW offer M-Sport packages for their non-M cars. But just because your MCS has a JCW kit doesn't mean its a full factory JCW car. Just like I can't call my BMW 335 with M-Sport package a M3. After all, MINI did designate the JCW as a stand alone model on their line up, and no longer a "add-on" package for a MCS.

I own a 2007 MCS with nearly every option minus the navi, but yet I still say to myself "what if..." when I see a factory JCW car. Maybe next year I'll trade my MCS for a JCW.

 

I definitely agree with you there. The only concern I have is that I have already seen more factory JCWs than I would have expected. I assume this is because the batch of 'launch' vehicles hit the dealers and are being quickly snapped up, and they won't end up being as 'common' as they may seem at present.

The extra cost is too much, though, IMO. For that price I would have expected the JCW suspension and body kit to be included.

 

The 135 and the MCS , stock or modded, are very different in they way they feel and drive. FRom a "fun" point of view I still like th Mini. I now have a 315 hp M roadster and it is quick and handles great and it is a really nice car but the Mini is something al together different. Th cool thing about the Mini is that you can go with an all out RMW or just add an exhaust or intake and it is still a fun car.

 

no its not worth it. If we could get a bigger turbo and really awesome DINAN perf. for our R56s, it would be faster and just as good. for 30 Grand you should buy a 135I which has 300 HP

 

Last I looked the 135i starts at $35,000. Add all the goodies and you're in the range of a basic 335i.