I have an S scheduled for production any day now and am fully on the fence about whether to get the JCW kit. The cash is available, but could be put to many other uses, of course. I've read the pro and con arguments ad nauseum. Not so hung up on the initial price of entry, but more the ultimate price of exit - the difference being the true cost of owning the car. My main concern here is that a 250hp turbo Mini (for example) is released in 3 years that sends the resale value of the current generation JCW through the floor.

That's where I'm at currently.

OK. You've got 30 seconds. Sell me!

 

It depends on how "available" the cash is.
If you're not gonna miss it till your next paycheck, go for it!
By the time that "250 hp" MINI comes out (maybe never), you'll have put many a mile on your JCW anyway.


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i agree...just go for it. we're hearing rumours of a t/c mini engine, but we won't know for sure if it's truly coming. and if it does come, it very likely won't be for a while. at least a while enuff to put plenty miles on your jcw mini. and if the t/c mini does come out, you can sell before our "old" minis' resale value drops. if it does in fact affect the jcw mini's value, that is.

 

If money is not an issue, and you want an intact warranty for a little better preformace from the MCS, then go for it. When will a super MCS be built? Who knows. It may or may not happen. If it does happen, I may do an engine swap. Until then I will of had a gerat time with my MCS.

 

Another alternative is the Dinan package for the MCS. It's supposed to put out @ 200 hp and Dinan should honor your warranty. Plus, I believe it is a bit cheaper than the JCW.

 

My JCW MINI was worth everything I paid and I am very happy with it!! Your main concern does seem to be that the car will lose value, but the fact is unless you are putting it up on blocks and keeping it under 20 miles, it's going to loose value anyway. The 'cost' of ownership is important, but more importantly (since you have the money) is the 'value' of ownership. Is it something you will enjoy without concern of it loosing some value??? If so, the the value of ownership is greater then the cost.

 

>>i agree...just go for it. we're hearing rumours of a t/c mini engine, but we won't know for sure if it's truly coming. and if it does come, it very likely won't be for a while. at least a while enuff to put plenty miles on your jcw mini. and if the t/c mini does come out, you can sell before our "old" minis' resale value drops. if it does in fact affect the jcw mini's value, that is.

Here's the latest:

The new MCS turbo charged engine will be released on the new MINI in 2007
( http://www.bridger.us/mini/?Y=2004&M...INIGetsAPrince )

It will make around 170 to 180hp. The new JCW kit will probably come out a year or so later.

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>>Another alternative is the Dinan package for the MCS. It's supposed to put out @ 200 hp and Dinan should honor your warranty. Plus, I believe it is a bit cheaper than the JCW.

I've talked to several people at MINI and they seem to be going a long way in trying ti distance themselves from these new Dinan products. First off there was a memo sent out last fall to all parts & service departments noting that if Dinan products are installed it will void any MINI warranty in that particular area.

And as an FYI any warranty that Dinan gives you will only be servicable at MINI dealerships that sell Dinan parts. While it may be a great solution to some it's probably not a true JCW alternative to most.

 

I would go ahead and get the JCW package if I were you. Of course, there will always be something bigger and better on the horizon, and if you wait for the turbo, there will be rumors of better things to come when that finally arrives.

Have your fun now with the JCW, and when something better comes along, trade up

 

Yeah, TiMINITim! That's what I'm talking about! Sell it, baby!

>>My JCW MINI was worth everything I paid and I am very happy with it!! Your main concern does seem to be that the car will lose value, but the fact is unless you are putting it up on blocks and keeping it under 20 miles, it's going to loose value anyway. The 'cost' of ownership is important, but more importantly (since you have the money) is the 'value' of ownership. Is it something you will enjoy without concern of it loosing some value??? If so, the the value of ownership is greater then the cost.

 

It’s like buying a computer, in 1 month it is outdated. Luckily cars don’t change as fast. The new engine will be in the 06 model year cars. I have a MCS and debating on the JCW for it as well. Sometimes we have to bite the bullet and enjoy life now!

 

>>It’s like buying a computer, in 1 month it is outdated. Luckily cars don’t change as fast. The new engine will be in the 06 model year cars. I have a MCS and debating on the JCW for it as well. Sometimes we have to bite the bullet and enjoy life now!

According to the current schedule the Cooper will get the new engine first in '06 and then the MCS in '07. At least this is what the internal documents show at this point. Interestingly the Cooper's HP will be bumped dramatically.

It's always a tough call - should you wait or not. One thing we do know - 99.9% of cars are not good investments. I'd recommend getting it if you have the money and will really enjoy it over the next 2-3 years.

 

>>It's always a tough call - should you wait or not. One thing we do know - 99.9% of cars are not good investments.

True, but somehow I've managed to live inside that 0.1% so far. Until my MC, I've always been a vintage car guy. Across a 2 BMWs, 2 Landcruisers and an Alfa, I MADE money on every car when I sold it, even after figuring in repairs. I think I'll probably do the same on my MC, as I got a great deal on it used and the market here in CA is still very hot. So the prospect of massive depreciation on a new JCW is kind of hard for me to swallow.

>>I'd recommend getting it if you have the money and will really enjoy it over the next 2-3 years.

Yes to both. Hmmm...

 

I think 99.9% of new cars are not a good investment. The used car market is a whole different ballgame, and there is defanitly money to be made there if you know what you are doing.

 

Very true.

This MCS will be the first new car I've purchased, so I'm just kind of freaking out about the whole depreciation thing. Luckily there's still a good arbitrage opportunity here in CA, as waits are long and mark ups are still the norm. Buying out of state allows you to offset some of the depreciation in the short term, but this supply-demand imbalance is probably not going to last for more than another year or so.

 

If you're a motorhead go aftermarket and create whatever torque curve you're looking for. The opposite would be to go JCW aka warranty/easy/simple

good luck

 

For the long term, the JCW is going to be the model that holds its value the most. It is the smallest production run of all new Mini's. In the short term, who knows. If you got it, spend it. Just make sure you drive a regular S first so you will really appreciate the JCW.

Uber

 

Here's my take on the whole thing---

If you plan on keeping the car for a long time, ie. past warranty, modding
yourself will be cheaper. You can do an intake/ECU/pulley/exhaust for about
$1800 + installation (maybe $700?) and get a bit better results. Or close to
JCW and minus the exhaust, would put you around $1,200 + install.
Exhausts, IMHO, are the least cost-effective mod. Tho, the do sound nice usually :smile:

True, you'll void much of your engine warranty, and even if you blow and engine(~$3,500), you will still be about even with the JCW cost... When you resell your
car, you might also take a hit on resale, depends...

However, if your concerned about hassle/warranty, etc. or plan on reselling it
within 4 years, the JCW kit will help. It is well tested, but also installed by a dealer.
...and dealers aren't always "top notch".

For me I'm doing an air intake and ECU, a pulley would be nice, but I still want to keep my warranty...