I have a question and I can’t find answers.
I’ve been driving my new 2013 JCW CM (with the 18” wheels) for a few weeks now and love it but I’ve have had 2 different loaners, one while I had my JCW gauges installed and another when It got a new windshield do to a screwed up install from the original having a stress crack.

First one was a regular 2014 “S” with 17” wheels (not the ALL4) and it was very responsive in the handling and steering wheel was really tight in both sport mode and non-sport mode.

Second one was an 2012 ALL4 “S” with 18” wheels and it was about the same, very responsive and tight steering but both were really ruff, hard, bumpy, and loud. My Sister-in-laws CM feels the same as the 2 loaners and hers is a fully loaded lounge Leathered “S” but 2WD

When I get back into the JCW it’s smooth, quite (as in Interior noise) , not near as rough and bumpy and the steering is rather easy and not as tight as the other 2 loaners. I can definitely feel a difference between sport and non-sport in the JCW but it’s allot lighter and definitely more luxury with more of an expensive feeling… … I like it but its worries me as all the reviews say it is so much stiffer and tighter than the base “S” model and the “S” ALL4

I have the Goodyear Efficient Grip with a 340TW and the loaners had either Dullars or Conti Sport Continentals with only a 240TW which I would think would have made for a softer smoother ride than my Goodyears…
I’m really confused as to why my high performance Sport JCW rides so much different and not quite as responsive in the steering… even the service guy told me “man this thing drives great, my CM “S” is super rough and harsh feeling, yours is so smooth”

Don’t get me wrong as this thing drives great but just want to find out other opinions….

There is a $7,500 difference between the All4 “S” and JCW and a $9,500 between the Base “S” 2WD and JCW…could it be that the suspension gets really tight only under hard cornering and acceleration??? I really haven’t taken it for a real ride yet.

As far as being faster.... YES, I feel a big difference in pull from the loaners...

Thanks....

 

Does yours have the sport suspension or the standard suspension? The JCW doesn't come with sport suspension standard if I remember correctly. That could be the difference you're feeling.

 

I thought I read that some thought it was an option but it really wasn't and they all came with the same suspension. But even if it had the standard it should be the same or slightly better than the "S" ... it sits .5" lower in the front and .75" lower in the rear than my Sister-in-Laws "S"

 

I just checked the mini website and it says sport suspension is standard on the JCW. That's the only thing I could think of.

 

I just looked it up on MINI USA and the SPORT Suspension comes as STD on the build list for a JCW

 

opps, sorry you beat me to it.... so I don't understand why mine would be not as stiff and so much smoother of a ride.... again I like it but curious why????

 

tires and tire inflation pressure

scott

 

It has the Goodyear Efficient Grip RunOnFlat

The ALL4 Loaner had the Bridgestone Duellers and my Sister-in-Laws has the Conti-Sport 18".... Im not sure what the 17" Loaner had...

Like I say, for me daily driver it realy drives nice and smooth, not that loud, bumps are not harsh and feel softer than the loaner cars.. I just thought that with it being a JCW it would be allot stiffer with really tight steering... This is my 4th MINI and i still have 3.

2013 GP2 and 2006 GP, previous was a 2009 FJCW so I know about the rigid stiff rides that you get with MINIs....lol
Thanks