I'm in the market for a Mini as my daily driver. I'm trying to keep my budget under $30K out the door. I test drove the F56 MCS and a R56 MCS the other day at my dealer and liked the F56 better. But I have not yet driven a R56 JCW. How does it compare to a F56 MCS?

I've found a few slightly used R56 JCW automatics (I don't want a manual since I'd be driving mostly in stop & go traffic) for around the same price as what a new F56 MCS would cost.

Any thoughts on these two options are appreciated!

 

Drive both. IMO they're quite different, from the styling/design both inside and out to the way the respective cars feel on the road.

Even getting replies from someone here who has owned or driven both, what you feel in the seat can be very different from what someone else feels.

 

Youre considering buying a used jcw over a new F? :/

 

So I take that as a no? :-)

 

Another way to put it: "You're considering an F5X over a R-series JCW (or at all)?!"

Personally, after having seen and driven the F56....my reaction is: Just No. Bigger and uglier than the R56, let alone R53. But I digress, the issues have been discussed ad nauseam on this and other MINI forums.

It's all subjective, and the final decision really comes down to what feels and looks better based on each person's taste.

 

I have owned an R56 for 6+ years, and have test driven F56.
The new car is head and shoulders above the old in ride quality, handling, interior quality, and value retention.

Drive both, and see for yourself.
Or wait a few months, and order F56 JCW

a
'08 MCS
'15 M3

 

the F56 JCW will be more money than what I would want to spend. This is going be my commuter car and might be replaced by a M3 down the road, so I don't want to spend the big bucks on it.

 

Ok, I can understand having an opinion on ride quality and handling. I can even respect the interior quality opinion although I wasn't that impressed with the difference - maybe I'm not discriminating enough. :-)

But value retention? I think the results are still out on that in the real world. I expect it to be good just like previous generations, but I'm curious as to what makes you so confident the value retention will be so much better than it was previously?

Don

 

This

 

Maybe it's me, but I think my R56 rides better than the F56 I had as a loaner. But my car is from from stock... Especially with the automatic in the loaner.. It sucks... Maybe with paddle shifters.. But it's just wrong...

The light thingy is stupid...

 

R56 JCW. I know its a commute car, but your very likely to get bit with the mod bug. Far more options right now for the older car

 

F56 is you like all the latest technology and a smoother ride.

R56 JCW if you like it more raw and the styling with JCW body kit and the JCW brakes are awesome.

 

Had a chance to drive the F56 as a loaner car last weekend for a couple of hours while my R56 fJCW was being serviced. What I liked about it was the smoothness of the engine (but was way too smooth for a MINI imo), loved the seats, the window switch by the door, like the start/stop toggle switch, and the car speakers sounded better, LED lights were nice... That's about it.

Didn't like the engine feature turning off when you're at a stand still. It wasn't smooth at all when it turned back on. Car is just too big with weird front bumper styling. Looks off.

Maybe I'm biased. I just love my R56 JCW

 

I have owned two R56S's. I just wonder about your assessment.