I'm going to be ordering a 2019. I have a 2015 MCS w/ the JCW tune. Anyone have experience w/ how each car stacks up as far as straight-line performance? Stop light to stop light, rolling acceleration and throttle response. This is my playful fun car. Not a track or autoX'er.

Looking at some dyno numbers comparing a JCW and an MCS w/ a tune and the wheel torque of the tuned MCS came in higher than the JCW. This concerns me as 'torque" is where you feel the car's power and acceleration.

http://www.motoringfun.com/2015/11/0...cw-tuning-kit/

I do understand the JCW has all the race and track add-ons, but while nice to have, I'd never use more than what the MCS has.

Price diff between the two cars I'm looking at is $5500. Appearance-wise I like them both the same. Not crazy about the JCW wheel choices, nor that I can't get the Chesterfield Brown leather (dash and arm rests pieces in the JCW), but can get the racy Diamica option.

Plan would be to get the JCW and leave it as is or get the MCS and add a Dinan Stage 1 ($900).

My dealer doesn't have a JCW that I can test drive as a comparison to my MCS w/ the JCW tune. So looking for any who may have traded up and can share experiences.

 

Get the JCW and add the Stage 1 tune. I was like "this JCW is about as fast a car as I need really, I'm not a speed demon". So I waited til the car was out of warranty and had the tune installed in Tempe, AZ. WOW! I don't get on it all the time but when I do it's like WOW! And it was only $500.

 

Previous - 2015 MCS Sportronic, JCW Tuning Kit, NM Power Module, NM RSE10’s (18”), JCW Coilover Kit, sunroof

Current - 2017 F57 JCW Sportronic, Dinan Elite, NM RSE12’s (18”)

My butt dyno says that power wise they feel about the same.

Verdict - JCW all day long

 

So, I went to my Mini dealership yesterday and test drove a 2018 JCW vert. Unfortunately, I wasn't impressed with it's low end performance compared to my 2015 MCS w/ the JCW tune.

On the low side 0-45-55MPH or rolling punches, the JCW just did have the "grunt" that my "S" does. I went in hoping I would be really impressed, but was really let down.

After the JCW test drive, I took the salesman for a ride in my car. I mirrored the driving I did in JCW. Quick take-oof form a stop, rolling accelerations from 5-10 MPH and from higher speeds like 35-45MPH.
I wasn't sure he was believing my commentary as we test drove the 2018 JCW and how it was comparing to my MCS w/ the JCW tune.

During the drive in my car, He looked at me and said "I have to agree with you, your car is more responsive than the JCW". He then asked if I had anything else done to my car other than the JCW tune - which I did not.

The test drives were done on city streets w/ some 50 MPH speed limits and stop lights. About what you'd encounter in a regular outing or drive. The normal conditions where I'd use a car's performance. Mostly between 0-60 MPH.

We came back to the dealership and the Sales Manager asked me if I was impressed w/ the 2018 JCW - Salesman and I both said my MCS w/ the JCW tune was a quicker/peppier/responsive car. He asked about any mods I did above the JCW tune, which were zero, His comment was "Good to know".

Honestly, If my MCS performed like the 2018 JCW, and the 2018 JCW, test drove like my 2015 does, I'd would decide to move up to a new JCW. There really was that much of a noticeable difference between the two cars. As is, If I went w/ a new JCW, I'd have to add a Dinan/NM or Burger tune to feel like I was taking a step up from what I'm driving now.

That being said, I know that a tune on the JCW would transform the car. I have a 2017 M240i w/ a Dinan Stage 1 and that car is as fast (or nearly) as the 2015 Corvette I traded for it.

Not disparaging or diminishing the JCW at all. The JCW is set up from the factory for some serious track use.. Adding an after-market tune would turn the JCW into a beast. On a track, where revs can be maintained and speeds are kept higher than normal street driving, I'm sure the JCW really shines.

However for me, spending another $5500 over a comparably equipped MCS for extras I'd not use and then have to add an after market tune to push the JCW to the kind of performance I enjoy now just doesn't make sense.

 

Now with the Stage 1 ECU tune I can easily spin the tires from a dead stop and between 1st and 2nd gears. The turbo squeals when the car shifts (my wife thought something was wrong with it). It was fast before now it's stupid fast accelerating.