Forgive my meanderings here but I just need to think out loud to a crowd that probably understands. Not really looking for advice as much as just stating my observations.
A little background first, I'm a serial car buyer, having owned 30+ cars since I started driving at age 16. Current rides are a 2012 991 series 911 bought new, and a 2011 R56S bought used (5th MINI, also had R53S, another R56S, and two factory R56 JCW's).
So when the F56 JCW was first shown and announced, I figured I would of course want one. I had followed the gestation of the F56 generation and looked at them but had not driven one as I wasn't really in the market yet. We have three MINI dealers in town and I have bought new from all of them, and as the JCW got closer I was in contact with two of them for more info and test drives when available.
I've got to say right now that the decision to offer the JCW only in automatic at its launch perplexes me. There are vague announcements of the manual not being ready yet, and/or production line musings, but to me it was direct slight from the factory level telling me that they knew what was best for me and I could take it or leave it, or wait for some indeterminate time. It also perplexes me a bit that if MINI/BMW feels the need to push an auto shifting transmission onto the JCW demographic, why didn't they go to the trouble of making a modern dual clutcher at least?
So, I got emails almost simultaneously from my two contacts telling me they had their first cars in and to come down for a test drive. Went to one of them about three weeks ago after work one day, driving my 911 that day (which may be important.) They had two JCW's out front, both over $40K tarted up with all kinds of options that are unimportant to me. Took one out...and was completely underwhelmed. What should be on paper the best factory MINI ever left me kind of cold. I didn't think it felt all that fast, the ride/handling felt soft, like driving a small luxury vehicle, not the quick reflexes I've been used to. I told the saleswoman when I got back my true feelings. She said that a lot of previous generation owners say similar things. I got back in my 911 to go home. It cost almost 3 times as much so it SHOULD feel better but I immediately thought of how Porsche can mix luxury trimmings with a firm but supple ride, and somehow reach both goals in the same car, and it has a MANUAL transmission at least for now.
So a few weeks go by and I wonder daily if it was the automatic transmission that soured my impressions, or the F56ishness of the car. So I went back on Friday and asked to drive an F56S with manual. Well, it made an incredible difference to me. To those of you who bought or are buying auto's and like them, no offense intended, but to me the manual totally transformed the driving experience for the better. The slick shifting and being better able to control the torque surges made the whole car feel better to me. The F56 really is quite different, no doubt about that, but I began to feel like maybe I could live with it.
This time I had gone down there in my R56S. Got back in it to go home and for the first couple of miles it felt coarse and unrefined compared to what I'd just driven. But after about five miles I was back at home, and the directness for lack of a better word, that I love so much about MINI's was there again. The R56 DOES lack some refinement but I guess that's part of its charm.

So here I sit. For the first time in 10 years of MINI ownership and evolution, I am not feeling compelled to go order a new JCW. I don't usually compare "what else can you get for the price" but no way in Hell am I spending $40K+ for a MINI (my desired build comes in at $34300). You either want a MINI or you don't, it's more of an emotional attachment than it is a business decision. And I never NEED another new car, it's just been my nature to change every few years.
Another scenario comes to mind when I consider my latest R56. I had bought the first four new, but came across this 2011 in late 2013 at the local Ford dealer. 29K miles, great shape, well optioned for me, and likely around $28-29K new, got it for $16K. Part of me says when I tire of it, I should start looking for another R56 JCW, a quick glance on Autotrader shows a relatively constant flow of them, many with incredibly low mileage and decent pricing.
I just don't know, sorry to go on so long, just had to get it off my chest.

 

It sounds like you've nailed it. The F56 in general *is* a small BMW, so it's going to lack the raw visceral feedback of the prior gen MINIs. If you plan on making the F56 your next sports car, then it'll be emotionally disappointing, which is why so many previous MINI owners are upset. If you're looking for a small luxurious hatchback then the F56 is perfect.

I agree that the car you take to test-drive something makes an enormous impact on your perception. I always try to take the car I plan on replacing with me to the test drive to get a live back-to-back comparison. If I'm really serious about it, I'll drive both on the exact same route so I can compare apples-to-apples and not have the roads traveled as a variable.

If you're looking for more of an existential response, how about trading in everything for a Cayman GT4? Or get the F56 and then build a Caterham?

 

Thanks for the insight. I'm glad that I ordered a manual. I'm being told end of August for delivery. What are you other future manual owners being told for delivery time frame?

 

While we are on random ravings. I drove electric smart car yesterday. Very impressive and really just like an automatic in many ways. I just don't get the auto thing - just buy a smart car in electric - tons of torque and the equivalent of 100kms per litre. This is the future of automatics...IMHO!

 

I just traded out of a BMW X1 and ordered a JCW Hardtop in manual. Had I been able to get the X1 in a manual I would probably still have it. I'm with you in that BMW is making a mistake by not at least offering a manual in more of their models. I understand the whole automatic is faster and better gas mileage -blah blah blah but those paddle shifters will never take the place of popping that clutch and slamming it into gear IMHO. Pretty soon the only way to get anything with a manual will be to go overseas.

 

I ordered a JCW 6MT yesterday and was told mid August to early September, but the factory has yet to weigh in on those dates, so I'm taking that with a grain of salt at this point.

 

Don't feel too bad. I ordered mine in March and am getting pretty much zero information from my dealer while people who ordered in May have their cars at the port ready to ship. I don't even have a production number or anything. I sent an email to the dealership today, and based on their response, or lack thereof, I will be reaching out to MiniUSA today as well. I get they are only given certain allocations etc. but Mini needs to look at how they handle things especially with something like the JCW where there will be limited allocations. They should reach out to the dealers to see where the interest levels lie and check for pre-orders like mine and those should be first in the queue.

Sorry for venting, but I have been waiting a long time already and am not happy with my dealership. May have to call around see if any of the others have an allocation spot then tell my local dealership I am going there if things do not start happening soon.

 

Indeed, Your experience with your dealership seems ridiculous. You need to check with other dealerships in your area.

I ordered my 6MT May 2, then tweaked the build configuration on May 10 (after I had already received my production number on May 4). Production started May 29 and completed June 5. It was loaded and shipped on June 10 and is already halfway across the Atlantic on its way to California.

I'm not sure where you live, but I would think there must be an alternative dealer that has allocation spots available for you.

Best of luck!

 

+1 You would think from the way you are treated that they did not want you as a paying customer! I would not want to get my car serviced by them...

 

Having driven a 2007 MCS manual for 7 years I get the appeal. And I bet the JCW manual will be a gas. Although my JCW auto is exactly what I wanted this time around remember that the first couple years of the R56 factor JCW no AT was available at all. I suspect they offered the AT first for logistical reasons not because they don't see demand for the manual. I do get the "it's not a Mini it's a Beemer" thing though, especially from someone who's owned a handful of Minis like the OP. Now a 911 is a different car entirely. My friend who just bought an F56 had one some years back, and she got real sick of that as her DD lol. She likes the Mini a LOT better (and yes it's an automatic!).

 

The email I sent the dealership yesterday explained that I am fully aware of people (even one that I know personally) who ordered in May and June and already have production numbers or the car is done and waiting at port. The response I received was that None of them have been given production numbers yet and they are still waiting, basically calling me a liar without saying it to my face. I am guessing that they gave my slot to someone without telling me, but I have no idea.

I contacted MiniUSA yesterday and am waiting on a response from them. I do have a few dealerships I can go to that are within 100 miles and will consider that depending on the response I get. One of them is part of the same group as my local dealer so will probably avoid them, and I ordered my last 2 Minis from them and had issues both times. I am sure the next hassle will be getting my deposit back if I do go elsewhere. Unfortunately, everything I am hearing is that the allocations have gone quickly all over the place, so I may be SOL and stuck waiting on this dealer. If that is the case, I will do my best to make sure the experience is as miserable for them as they have made it for me.

As for their service department, those guys are awesome and have always treated me more than fairly.

 

Funny. Our stable includes a 997, Panamera & Cayenne diesel but a huge fun void was filled with my JCW manual trans Paceman. Very fun car. The market is going to totally automatic but high tech tranny's not your uncles auto.

 

^Thanks for the very good and thoughtful post^.

 

Manual is the way to go. You'll be happy.

-Luccia

 

Thanks to those who gave me feedback. For the record, my decision is to do nothing for now. I don't feel positive enough to order one now and that's okay. Despite what any sales person might say there is nothing limited about the JCW, dealers will continue to get allocations each month, so I'll just play the waiting game for now.
I look forward to hearing impressions here from manual owners when they start arriving, and also seeing what alternatives may pop up in the next year. My current MINI is working fine.

 

A good call and one I was close to making myself. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. I realized that my wifes car (VW Jetta) is starting to cost us a lot of money in repairs and she really wants a Mini, so why not give her mine which is 4 years old, paid off, and only has 23k miles on it, then get myself a new one. Win win for everyone involved as she will get a like new vehicle that she can rack up the miles on with her commute and I will get the JCW I have always wanted that will be used for fun stuff since I work from home and do not have a commute, hence the low mileage on my current car.

My decision came down to getting the JCW when it came out or getting a Roadster. I really like the Roadster, but could not make a case for it as we like to travel with our dogs and the complaining I would have to listen to with my wife <sarcasm, sort of> being cold when it is 80 degrees outside and not wanting to lose her blinding white complexion</sarcasm, sort of>. Not to mention the Roadster as I had it optioned was nearly the same price as how I have the JCW configured.

I do not have mine yet and have only driven the automatic version, but based on that I know I made the right choice based on the situation we are in. Despite my issues with the dealer, I am really excited and looking forward to getting it. I will post my impressions (hopefully minus my anger with dealership experience) once I have had some time behind the wheel when it comes in, as I am sure so will others.

Maybe wait for the next GP???