Test drove this car. Was very pleased with how good the car felt. The extra horsepower and the different clutch and suspension felt much nicer than how I remember my 2011 CM All4.



I just hate that when I configure one I like, it's hard for me to stay under $43,000!

 

Yea the JCWs will get you on price! Glad you liked it, it's a sweet looking ride.

 

I sure could've used those extra ponies the other day. I got spanked by a 535i.

Now before people go getting b****ed off about street racing, I wasn't street racing. I was fallowing a train of cars with this jackwad in front of the line going nowhere near the speed limit for several miles. When I finally got to a light, the road split into two lanes and I ended up next to him in the left lane. Not wanting to get stuck behind him again, I punched it when the light turned green. Which would have been fine because he was still in snooze mode, except the next light just about a block up the road turned red. Jackwad is next to me again, and I see he's just a young ratty looking kid with a car full of other young ratty looking kids (well, young to me anyway. I figured he's onto me now, so I flipped Sport mode on knowing was the only chance I had. Light turned green, I whacked it and got a decent launch, but jackwad finally figured out that, yes, German cars come with a gas pedal, and he pretty much walked away from me. Next light, he's all giggles and thumbs up, and then went back to snooze mode.

Honestly, I don't think even my tuned MCS would have taken him, though I'm sure it would have been a lot closer. Those things are damn quick. So I've decided the Paceman S things can easily use another 20-30 bhp or so for the kind of money we throw at it. I really didn't want to get into this again, but I guess it's time to start thinking about mods.

 

I've had my JCW for two weeks tomorrow, and have to say I'm pretty pleased with the power overall. Where I really find it lacking is low end, if you plan for a launch and up the revs it'll go fine, but if you just roll out and realize a bit late, oh my must go NOW! and slam the pedal down not much happens until the rev's build. Typical of a 1.6l turbo, but not quite what I'm used too.

That said it's fun to drive, now that I'm used to the body roll I'm not in quite such a hurry to put a larger rear sway bar on, and it does make me smile when I drive it!

 

This is the most amusing part of your story, like that's really going to help against a 535. Even an extra 30hp isn't going to be enough.

You should just be happy with what it is. It's not a rocket. I find it more than adequate for normal driving and quick sprints, but if you find yourself needing more power because you run into kids and their daddy's BMW's, you're kidding yourself.

 

I think you just nailed the entire future market for 15 year-old Minis up for sale on craigslist.

 

No delusions here -- I know exactly what it is, and it ain't no Beemer-eater. It's still a fun car, and I am mostly very happy with it. This 'incident' was never intended to be a street race -- I just wanted to get out in front of this clown because he had been driving like a complete mope for so many miles. If I knew he had actually woken up, I would have revved it until the light changed and then just watch him tear away.

As for sport mode, it's the ONLY way to get any kind of a decent launch in this car with the manual. Otherwise it just goes when it's good and ready. But really, I knew I was probably toast as soon as that second light turned red.

 

I need to drive a Paceman JCW to see if it feels any different from my CM JCW. For what it's worth I have zero complaints about the power or handling of my JCW