Hello JCW gurus -

I am considering trading up from a 2019 Convertible Mini Cooper S to a 2023 Convertible JCW. I love the Rebel Green and Tan interior. My concern is that on many of the 2019, 2020, 2021 reviews they say the ride is very harsh and to stick with the S model instead.
I took it for a test drive but the roads were very smooth and didn't give me a real world situation of how it handles bumps and potholes. I don't want to buy a Mini that is going to knock my fillings out every time I hit a small bump in the road.
Does the 2023 JCW model have the same suspension setup as the previous versions? Are the dampers/shocks new or different than before? Thoughts?

 

I have owned 5 MINI's, 2 R56s', a '15 F56S, a '19JCW hardtop, and ,currently, a '22 JCW Hardtop. The new suspension in the JCW is a revelation. The new dampers are so good that the ride is good, even with runflats. MINI was able to stiffen the suspension because the new shocks have reduced so much of the harshness of the ride. I know it sounds too to be true, but you should drive one. In addition, consider 17" wheels.

 

Run flat tire are the biggest issues with ride quality on MINI, once you swap those out its much better,. Thats my feeling.

 

I had a three cylinder with 16 inch non run flats and today I have a four cylinder with 17 inch run flats. I dont notice any major difference. Run flats have come a long way since 20 years ago and are no longer the hockey pucks of yore. They are now made with newer compounds and feel like a normal tire today. Just my two cents.

 

No MINI experience with convertibles but I had a Porsche Boxster and its ride compared to my Porsche Cayman S and my Porsche Turbo was magic carpet smooth by comparison. The 17" wheels/tires on the Boxster vs. the 18" wheels/tires on the Cayman S and Turbo were a factor to be sure, but for a soft top generally the factory gives the car softer springs with shocks tuned to the springs to soften the ride.

Oh, and all 3 cars came with high performance tires. Never put all seasons on or run flats.

Thus I'd say moving from a 2019 S convertible to a 2023 JCW convertible the odds are the ride will be about the same. The difference between the S and the JCW suspension -- even though both are convertibles -- does add an unknown.

My 2018 2-door hardtop JCW with 17" wheels and run flats had a medium firm ride. Not to the point I ever worried about my fillings though.

Not sure to what degree the run flats played a roll. Every other MINI owner I talked to told me he/she ditched the run flats as soon as the ink was dry on the bill of sale...

 

I just bought a 2023 JCW.
My old mini was a 2005 S. (sold 5 years ago due to high cost of maintenance)
My new mini has 18" wheels and tires. I was nervous that the ride would be too rough.....What a great surprise, the ride is great.
Much better than my 05 even with 17" and non run flats.
Almost everything about the 2023 is better than I expected. The car feels so solid.
This is my daily driver and so far, it has exceeded my expectations.