Straightforward question, but let me know if you need me to clarify.

 

I have a base on order, but I've seen comparisons online and here w VW Golf R or Ford Focus ST or RS.

 

Nothing we love the mini, this is our second JCW and the mini community is a huge marketing tool for mini, almost reaching cult status. For the money it is hard to beat the mini and the fun that can be had touring, competing, and performance driving the little beasts. It is not our only auto, but is the most fun one.

 

Bought my JCW last year and love it. Crossed shopped VW GTI, BMW 2 and 3 series. I traded in a 328 and have no regrets. I also have a full size truck when I need more room. The JCW is awesome and tons of fun.

 

Cross shopping against a new JCW based on features and price alone would probably have you looking at quite a few other models for much less money. The MiNi and the step up to the JCW are both 'nitch' markets. Especially at the price point it takes to get a well equipped one.

You get it because 'You just want it' and it's not quite like the car everyone else has. Your car is going to be unique in the world of friends you have (that don't already drive MiNi's).

I traded my 2014 C7 Z51 which I dearly loved for one. What I didn't like is that for my 'play and fun car' the opportunities to drive it year round were limited. It came with very special 'summer' tires that were wonderful until temps started falling below 40 degrees (F) and when the weather was iffy it just wasn't fun to drive. Visibility while limited in the MiNi is basically what you can see out the w/s of the Vette and the side windows and side mirrors. If you've never had one, it's just basically lousy in comparison. My JCW is a fun car that costs much less per mile to drive and I've driven it already in all types of weather day and night.

My Vette was 'Lola' and my JCW is 'JR'. Here is the view of LoLa on the dealer's lot 8 weeks after I traded. I suspect the dealer went about 2K to heavy into it but he eventually sold it to a fellow that traded a Porsche Boxter.

 

I kept the C7 and traded in my old 2012 R56 JCW. I love both, they are very different cars. I was going to keep my R as well, but my wife, who is smarter than me, told me to trade it as I would never drive it. She was right, but I still miss it!

 

I had a 2007 MCS and it was time to trade it. It was between an F56 MCS and the JCW Coupe (the F56 JCW was still a year away). Tough choice, I wanted some of the new F56 features (HUD, LED lights, new seats and engine) and actually went to put down a deposit on one that got away. But what got me was the Coupe body style complete with the automatic spoiler, the stiffer frame and body for cornering. And of course the JCW turbo/brakes/body kit for only $7k is a great deal. It had Recaro seats too. I may get the F56 JCW down the road, I bet it's a beast!

 

Primary consideration- M235 or M2( if it ever became available) Secondary was the 4 series coupe, but too big. Tertiary choice- Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack manual including one grand gas guzzler fee. An old Mopar guy from way back . JCW won, mainly because I really like the staff at the MINI place, and a manual tranny car was in stock

 

You are correct with a tune and the JCW PRO exhaust to say it is exhilarating is an understatement! I loved my R56 JCW, and I still do even though it is gone, but I now love the F more after 3,000 miles and I am betting even more once I put some Michelin Pilot Super Sports on it!

 

After selling my hobby car of 12 years (turbocharged 95 mustang) to purchase a townhouse for both downpayment funds and lack of parking space, my daily driver now had to hold the role of fulfilling my visceral needs.

My criteria were: 1.) Something that provided a visceral experience. 2.) Had to come in manual 3.) Preferably turbocharged 4.) FWD or AWD due to our winters 5.) Quiet cabin for my 60 mi. round trip commute.

Golf R - I initially thought this was the perfect car but the wife absolutely despised the look of it. So you know who won that battle.

STI - Cured my need for a visceral experience, but horrible gas mileage and spartan cabin was a downer. Wife again not crazy about the huge wing and scoops.

Audi S3 - Great looking car but no manual transmission and pricey.

2016 Mustang GT - A v8 rwd that has always been a big piece of my life crept back in after seeing the 2015+ GT's. Total sex appeal. Decent highway MPG's..I was about to pull the trigger and buy a set of dedicated snow wheels/tire and call it a day. But the biggest turnoff was the overall size of the car which had a basically unusable back seat making it a monster 2 door.

After it was said and done, I just kept going back to the JCW as it satisfied almost every need, plus it was a chance to have something really unique.

 

I agree the FDR. I've driven a few Mustangs, not the GT though. A G1 Mustang was my first car. The new ones are too freakin' big IMO. Nothing at all like my car now.

 

Yeah, I respect some of the new "stangs" but there's nothing like the original ones, especially the GT's! When I was a youngster my neighbor's oldest son drove a '65 Shelby GT! Now THAT was a great mustang! The new JCW matches the fun factor of the Shelby, maybe better! 👍

 

I debated when we bought the C7, November 2013, and was seriously considering the last true Shelby, but I after we saw and drove the corvette we made our decision. If I could have any Stang it would probably be the Roush.

 

I just traded in my '13 R56S for a '16 JCW, and it is light years beyond the R56. Especially in overall quality and fit / finish. It is VERY close to my wife's F30 328i in those terms.

I wanted something small, nimble, and quick. I looked at the Golf R and threw that out because it's so generic looking. I really wanted the M2, but my lease was up last week and they still haven't been released to dealers so I would have been out of luck with that. Plus, I hate paying dealer markups...and my fleet dealer that I've got a really good relationship with told me even he wouldn't be able to do anything with the price. So that was out. I also was really compelled by the Focus RS, but I didn't look at that until after I placed the JCW order and it's a little too boy-racer for me. I still want to drive one of those, though. Oh, and as a total outlier - the i3. The size is right, the electric torque gets you moving pretty quick in city driving but the tires are too narrow and the interior is too hippy. I also drive 70 miles per day at a minimum so that puts it out pretty quick too.

TL,DR:

Golf R - too generic looking
M2 - couldn't wait, too expensive
Focus RS - to boy racer, not sure about comfort
i3 - not nimble, too "green".

 

Another MINI JCW, lol

 

It was going up against an M2, I've had a deposit down since last summer on one, but I got a house in SF and the Mini made more sense for the city.

I'll still get an M2 as well, but the mini is good enough I can hold off until a newer M2 with carplay comes out. the JCW can just live in my SF house for the rest of its days then!

That said I've been elated with my last few days since getting the JCW.

 

Nice. Lots of MINIs in SF, you will have many friends there.