Picked up 6/8 ....... Review is about the same as others have stated:

Seats - 10/10
Handling with Dynamic Dampning- 9/10
HUD 8/10 still getting used to
Fun Factor 11/10
haha more to follow - only able to put 100 miles on last nite. Mini's on Top, here I come.....

 

Congrats NH!!!!! Can't wait to see you and the new Mini at MOT!

 

BADASS! Very cool!!! Congrats!!

 

Congrats!

11/10 on the fun scale?!? What car are you coming from that was that boring?

 

What a great purchase and congratulations! I definitely love the Thunder Grey.

-Luccia

 

Yes, congrats. A new JCW is any Mini lover's dream for sure. Question: why did you not get the JCW Dinamica seats on your car, and how much extra was it for the seats you did get?

 

Thats pretty cool.






Looks like you went with the stitch/ Dinamica .

 

Looks amazing...love the seats - not sure the leather/dinamica are worth the $2000 premium. Same seat, just a slightly different material

 

Congrats NH!!!

 

How do you like the JCW Factory exhaust ? Did you try it in sport mode ?

 

These are the Cloth JCW Dinamica ......the Black and red are $2000 upgrade - suede type material

 

Sport mode has just enough grumbly deep tone for me. Live in a neighbor hood that would not appreciate anything louder...and for long trips like MTTS 2016 not sure the added noise would be appreciated with the JCW Upgrade exhaust kit would produce.....can still hear world around me and the HK stereo clearly....

 

Thanks - see ya in 9 days at MOT

 

Nice, has all the pops and crackles in sport mode.

 

I, finally had a test drive of the new factory JCW on Monday. You ask about the exhaust: Really, really nice, but I had the appearance of that muffler. I would prefer a north/south muffler. The sideways muffler just looks cheap to me. The JCW that I test drove really impressed me, for an automatic. The pops and burbles were fantastic. Performance: Right up there, much more than my 2011 fJCW that I traded on my r59 JCW appearance roadster. Actually, I've thought that my r59 was close in performance to the JCW, except for the fuel mileage, which is less. Automatic, I blame that on.

I just thought that I'd add my 2 cents worth here, as an amateur testing one of these beasts. I'm still on the fence, sort of, between the BMW 228i and the JCW, but I have six months before decision time. The JCW came up quite a bit, on my possible purchase/lease rating this week. It's the right size, I always thought that the r56 was just a bit smaller than I wanted, but the speed/tach sucks in my opinion.

The tach is almost, not useable, to me. The gas gauge's not up to premium status either. That's about my only complaints, as I think that Mini could have done a better job in design and useability of two gauges that need to be seen and used often. Taillights and the front lower grille, well live with it, it's what they have. Actually, I'm getting use to those parts now.

 

Thanks for the honest review. Sounds like you have tough decision ahead.

 

Wonder what suspension JCW you drove, versus what you have now (std, sport?). Because probably the biggest difference between our cars and the F56 hatchback is the way stiffer frame. What weight they saved from the top they put in stiffening the frame so lower COG too. I definitely notice it compared to my 2007 MCS especially cornering, and I had a 19mm AWB on that.

 

You're right. The BMW 228i is faster, better fuel mileage, but doesn't have the sound of the JCW. Their are other equalizers, but it depends on the deal that Knauz Mini will do. Patrick's BMW does deal well and that gets the payment between the two close. It will depend on just how close. I intend to lease the buy in three years this time, so that's about it.

The JCW growls a lot and is fast, while the BMW gets there quick, but much quieter and refined. I really prefer the growling.

 

I have the r59 JCW pak with Sport suspension. The JCW I drove had the Dport suspension. It actually felt more refind and comfortable than my roadster does. I've also got the NM adjustable rear sway bar.

 

I have the r59 JCW pak with Sport suspension. The JCW I drove had the sport suspension. It actually felt more refind and comfortable than my roadster does. I've also got the NM adjustable rear sway bar.