Im having a problem with money but I'm gonna have to get a loan for the car anyways so I figured I'd go ahead and get the JCW edition, but now that I think about it when I was on Miniusa.com and the total hit 28K I freak'd out. sOOoo I dont know if I wanna get the jcw edition now. But I figure it would be better to get it then to be trying to add some aftermarket stuff and void my warrenty.
What you think people.
Get the JCW or just the MCS???

 

Where to start...

1. There are thousands of threads that will help you answer this question, so try a search.

2. Basic numbers look like this, for the performance you get from the JCW package (+-7,000$) you can get for (+-2,500$) from the aftermarket.

3. Have you driven both cars? If not, how can you know which one is best for you? More importantly, how can we?

4. Aftermarket items will not necessarily void your warranty. Check out a sticky on this forum for that info.

5. If you're interested in autox, it seems like it's best to go with a stock MCS since the JCW is put in a very difficult class.

Jeez there's a lot more, happy hunting!

mb

 

Not to beat a dead horse, but there are several threads concerning your quandry.

I suggest you begin here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=52751

Then search for more afterwards, as there is much, much more written on this theme.

 

Get the JCW. You are actually quite lucky that the factory is doing it, not the crappy dealer.

Get the JCW all the way. 28k is cheap for that car.

 

Wow... I think you have your crap misplaced. It's the JCW parts that are crap, not the dealers.

8vmonster - You might also look into getting a stripped S with lsd and having "the crappy dealer" install the JCW engine tuning kit. You can do this for around $5000-5500, as opposed to $7700 for a factory kit and the "required" the Sport package. That way you can also get the reasonably light 16" X-lite wheels. The stock brakes are great, and reviews of the JCW brake "upgrade" are mixed, so you wouldn't be missing much there.

 

Shows how much you know about dealers.

 

Got the time, money and a good shop that can do upgrades close by? Best bang for the buck is aftermarket

Want the fastest most HP then go aftermarket.

If your like me, had to finance and don't have the coin to mod go JCW. Sure its more but a few bucks more on you loan versus the $$$ now for mods. Travel alot and might need service on the road, all dealers work on JCW. Not so with aftermarket.


Evrything else is just opinion: Some say smoother more refined...Thats subjective.

As for the dollar for dollar comparison. I've seen the labor involved in a JCW conversion at the dealer. If you get that kind of labor with $2500 for aftermarket--take it--its a bargain. But I doubt the aftermarket is so intensive at the $2500 range.

You do get a cool JCW badge though.


Paul

 

Get the JCW. If you don't you will regret it as long as you own the car. You'll keep thinking "I wish I had a JCW pacakge on my car. Why didn't I just do it? What was I thinking?" In two years you won't miss the couple extra grand at all, but you will have missed out on excessively fun motoring every time you get behind the wheel. You'll know you sold yourself short. If you get it, there will be no regrets, only great pleasure each and every single time you drive.

You know this to be true, my son. You know what you must do.

 

Drive a 2005 S. I was all set on getting the JCW, having only driven a 2003 S and 2003 JCW; the day I went in to order (Last saturday), I drove a 2005 S--it felt significantly quicker off the line as compared to the S (although admittedly not quite as quick as the JCW), to the point where I ditched the JCW. Maybe I'll regret it later on, but I doubt it. I know this is going to sound like blasphemy, but the new S is so good, I really can't justify the extra expense of the JCW. Although I have to admit, I wonder what a 2005 JCW, with the new gear ratios, would drive like....

 

Neither.....:impatient

I hate these kind of posts! And I really hate the MINI's that are put up for sale within a few months of ownership because of financial difficulties...certain situations not included.

If you're short on money, get a $12000 car or something cheap. Your wallet will be thankful...and your credit.

Don't listen to the people that say spend the extra money, better off with a cheaper car that you can keep rather than an expensive car that you have to take a loss on because you GOTTA sell it.

 

$7700???

Where did you come up with that number. Factory kit is $6300. Brake kit and LSD included, making it a much better deal than the previous years, or current for that matter, dealer installed option.

Not arguing the get JCW/ don't get JCW point. But lets not mislead people with false facts.

 

I vote don't get it. I would like to keep mine more rare and hopefully more desirable some day.


J/K...It's a good enough deal for me that I'm getting it, plus the warranty is good for when I move to Germany whereas I wouldn't have much support for the aftermarket parts. But, my situation is probably more rare.

 

I agree with 04yellowS, if your having money issues, get something else that you can afford.

 

JCW----JCW----JCW----

 

I tell my kids "live below your means" there is so much less stress.

As others have pointeed out there is way too much on this subject and you can read about everyone's viewpoint. If you want set and forget/warranty go JCW...... if you are more of a hobbyist go aftermarket. if you want to go fast....learn to drive

 

i think that is factoring in the required 17" rims to clear the breaks...part of the $1400 sport package.

 

JCW.

Dealers are "crap", by the way. The parts work very well. These parts may not produce eye popping acceleration and may be deemed a poor value by some - a personal evaluation - but the kit with warranty is very acceptable. The dealers do not know the kits very well - personal experience.

The 05 JCW is an extremely rewarding commuter car. Or, buy a Honda Civic Hybrid...not nearly as rewarding from a driving standpoint, but transportation nonetheless.

 

Welp, now that we're all getting opinionated:

There is a lot you can do with 7,000$, both in the aftermarket and the stock market, and everywhere. I can't, for the life of me, justify 30,000$ for my 05 MCS, just can't do it. I LOVE the car, but if I wanted to spend an extra 7,000$ to go fast and keep my warranty, I'd wait 2 years and buy a used e46 M3, so I can REALLY go fast (with cpo).

mb

 

So True! I have an '04 JCW with 10 hp upgrade and regularly get beat in AutoX by a hotshoe in a stock MCS on street tires!

As far as JCW vs. Aftermarket: read, study, and consider carefully for your specific situation. Everyone's different, only you can decide what's best for you.

One thing I do know for sure, either way you go, you'll have a blast and love the car!

 

The practical side of me agrees with the above. You sound like a young individual with a lot of years ahead of you. So, buy a cheaper car (maybe just an MC) and put $4k of the money you are saving into an IRA. You'll be thankful in the long run. The power of compounding interest, my friend. It is a beautiful thing!

The car loving side of me says don't waste your money on the JCW. For less money you can go aftermarket, not void the warranty (if you let your dealer install) and smoke any JCW on the road. Many, many threads on this. Do a search...

 

Exactly. You cannot get factory JCW without the Sport or Checkmate packages. Minimum cost for the factory JCW kit is $7700 = $6300 JCW + $1400 Sport.

Of course you could think of the cost as $6300 if you would have otherwise opted for massively heavy wheels, bling blue headlights (also heavy), useless foglights and officious software.

 

I think Im just going to get the MCS. and not the JCW.
because
1) money issues
2) scca-autocross will put me in a very hard class.
3) If the smaller pulley and exhaust does not hurt the warrenty, then I will just get that.
4) Im going to twin charge it later anyways so I can wait. lol

 

Then you have your answer. Wait and get the rocket car treatment.

Paul