I know most will think I am crazy, but:

I would have bought a JCW when I bought current car, except they did not come with an automatic. When I was younger, all my cars of this type had stick shifts, but I am past that, even though I still like to go fast on winding roads. When I heard that the JCW is offering the automatic for 2013 I thought I would buy one and sell my current cars.

While I can afford to do this, I do like to get proper value for my money. I am now having a hard time justifying the loss I will take on this car and the additional expense for the JCW, without that much gain over what I have now. The body kit does not mean that much to me. The brakes can be upgraded for under $2,000. My car is now almost as fast as a JCW. I have cured the BAD drone from the JCW tune up with a side branch resonator. (I will post about that soon.) I have put a fair amount of time and money into the present car already.

I have KW var 2 TSW coilovers, Vorshlag camber plates, Helix intercooler and Integral Audio Soundstage + Sub audio waiting to be installed.

I have decided to start Autocrossing and want to install the coil overs and camber plate before I do. Once I install any these parts I will be past the point of making the change to the JCW.

Can anyone give me some GOOD reasons to change from what I have to a new JCW?

 

i think you answered your own question

 

+1

 

I'd agree with the responses above, if getting back the $ for what you put into your car is the most important thing. Stick with yours at that point.

Modding any car usually won't increase value unless you have a very particular buyer who wants all of the pieces you've invested in. That's why the cars with the JCW tuning kit or brake upgrade won't get nearly back what money they put into those upgrades, as they are just that, upgrades. When buying a used car, people tend to look for cars that are as close to what they were like from the factory.

I can certainly appreciate wanting the factory JCW (I'm there myself) but can't justify the price at the moment. I'd say, keep the car you have and continue to love it, but maybe skip the coilovers for now and keep that money set aside for the factory JCW later. Since you have a 2012, you'd be really upside down in the sale/trade, so why put more money into the car if you are going to look at the JCW? The car is great at the auto-x stock, so the upgrades you have should be plenty. Just my $.02. best of luck with whatever decision you decide to go with!

 

Keep the car you have.....nuff said......

 

and go buy the '13 JCW, load it up with your options choices and leave it alone.

 

Thanks to all of you who responded. I will keep working on this car and keep it. For me, JCW = too much expense with too little benefits.

 

This is what I did. I bought a 2010 factory JCW R57 on December 31st 2011. The retail sticker price was 43k it had 22k miles on it and I bought it for 28k. There is no reason to buy brand new. This car was mint not a flaw and someone else lost 15k dollars. Also buying a convertible at the end if the year in the middle of winter helped. So I'd wait a year and buy one used. Autotrader was awesome I bought a car 1000 miles away and had it shipped. You can do the same. BTW I like you can afford to go buy a new car any day I like. But I'd rather not lose money.

 

P.S. and I agree I'm not sure if a JCW is worth the money. It isn't all that much faster than an S If you're looking for more speed I'd rethink and maybe consider something like a BMW M3. I am already doing so after only 8 months of owning a JCW. The JCW is fast but it doesn't Amaze me with its speed.

 

Are you wanting a JCW because you think it's fast or the status of owning a factory built/badged JCW?

Sounds like you built your own personal version so keep what you have. Those factory placed plastic badges are not worth the $$$ you would spend.