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Picked up a 2015 JCW over the weekend. Picked up a lot model here it is:
Nothing fancy on the outside. Red on black with pin stripes on the hood. Sunroof.
Still not sure if I like them without the floods.
This is my third Mini, previous to having a 2005 base model and a 2014 S. I do have prejudices. So bear with me.
Seats are comfy. This model much more polished then others I have driven. What is with the decals on the instrument console though?
So initial thoughts. This one was a dealer model so had various options I have no use for.
Back up camera and park assist really make me feel silly having them. The camera does have better resolution then most models I have seen. And playing with the park assist the beeping and red increasing lines for proximity is better then most back up systems I have seen. It does not however have and side or peripheral range.
The seats are very nice. More faded look then I would prefer for new leather but lack of gloss was not a deal breaker.
Extra storage compartment, kind of a waste.
Mini connected. For my needs useless. I prefer androids.
Adaptive headlights. I have not used yet. Prefer the fog lights from previous models I have had. I currently consider this a downgrade.
Harmon Karmon. Better then stock Mini stereos I have had. Fidelity is good. But not enough access to modify the settings. Max volume not as high as I was hoping for either. A nice clear sound, but you better like the HK parameters. I do not think you get to teak the audio.
Navigation system sucks. I think this is all software issues. Having the map is nice but every other feature is inadequate for the cost. My car does not understand me, and then it is not smart enough to figure out a route recalculation is needed. Re route me or shut up please.
Over all the interior has had a very pleasing facelift and when sitting in the drivers seat I melted in comfortably. Sitting in her did give me a smug satisfaction that I was going to have some once I found some asphalt.
Exterior I am still torn on. I think most of my anguish is model year shock. Except for the fogs. I miss those.
Since we picked up the car from a distant dealership I first had to navigate city traffic and stop and go out of town. I found the JCW in the city to feel soft even in sport and missed the rugged, gritty, do not let go of the wheel mentality. I did feel at home in her and weaved her around traffic at ease.
Bringing her home from Ottawa was a good six hour drive. In a twist of fate a good chunk was on the Trans Canada Highway towards Peterborough. A mostly two lane highway with plenty of natural hills and curves. Nothing too crazy if plan to stick to 80kmh and follow the person in front of you. I do not drive minis to wait behind people on back roads however...
Driving this road is where the JCW grabbed me by the throat and screamed at me I AM MINI. She wanted to be driven, and I wanted to drive her. In sport the response was great, and the computer would not let me oversteer. She just glided in where I wanted with ease or concern. The softer suspension does however cause your foot to get heavier. I just did not notice the rate of speed at times and had to let off the gas a few times. I do know this model has a system to warn at X over and will have to turn it on.
I like to drive around 110kmh on our 80kmh roads. To the Americans I believe it is about the same as driving 65 in a 50. Not speed demon, but a bit quicker then posted limits. Because of this and being a Monday morning I had plenty of people to pass.
Being at highway speed and passing people was a riot. With the soft click blinker (just blinks three times) out you go with the foot on the gas and you need to come back in a few seconds later. Accelerating from highway speeds is crazy responsive. The turbo kicks in with much less lag over the S. And you get a nice little "sit down honey" punch back into your seat. She likes this spectrum of driving. 2-3 passes later the confidence with car grows exponentially. I knew I could pass traffic with half the oncoming space I am used too. Safely.
After the first pass I just simply said "oh ****"". I was doing 170kmh when I came back into my lane. I cackled. Her muffler cackled and popped. I like her.
Last edited by Patrick Walker; Jul 15, 2015 at 05:21 PM.
Reason: edited base model year
Patrick - Looks like you might need a set of LED driving lights on that car. I have installed them if you need any tips. Don't buy them in Canada though -too expensive!
Thanks for the write up.
Congrats on the new delivery! You'll get over the foglights, they're not what light your way at night when it really matters.
Originally Posted by axoo007
How much money did you lose changing car every 20 minutes?
Considering MINI's still hold their value extremely well, probably not that much. Obviously it was worth it to the OP, and that's what matters. After all, it's his money to use.
If you got the stock suspension it is pretty floaty. I'd get a rear sway bar and perhaps some aftermarket springs. I have the sport suspension on my JCW Coupe and I like it way better than my friends stock F56 suspension. Just my 0.02. And welcome to the club. The F56 is even faster than mine, I can't imagine how quick it is!
How much money did you lose changing car every 20 minutes?
Was not bad at all to be honest. The trade in was very good towards the new cost. Plus it reduces the bill before tax. This made it worth thousands more.
All said and done I drove the 2014 s for around the same cost as a lease.
I already ordered a replacement blind ring for mind. MCS one $22 .
I agree not attractive but had a purpose it's the tach ring for the disco light
GregoryK, was that ring bought from a US/Canada site or Europe? Do you have link +/- part number for the plain black ring so I can tell the Parts Department for one?
Congrats and good luck. However it seems like a tepid review from you, you don't seem to fit the car as per your own statements. I'm thinking you are going to be sliding into a 2016 soon.
GregoryK, was that ring bought from a US/Canada site or Europe? Do you have link +/- part number for the plain black ring so I can tell the Parts Department for one?
Congrats on your sporty drive! The interior looks fabulous and it's nice to hear that the stock suspension set up is not too punishing. Up till now the fixed sport suspension has deterred me from considering the JCW (my 3 cyl F56 has the adjustable dampers and on some roads too stiff for my partner).
Interesting how you call the car Betty. As a woman I see the JCW as Arthur - a short, slightly unnattractive bald Englishman who has a big personality
I'm entirely sure we have the least attractive generation of Mini, but the nicest to live with!
Congrats on your sporty drive! The interior looks fabulous and it's nice to hear that the stock suspension set up is not too punishing. Up till now the fixed sport suspension has deterred me from considering the JCW (my 3 cyl F56 has the adjustable dampers and on some roads too stiff for my partner).
Interesting how you call the car Betty. As a woman I see the JCW as Arthur - a short, slightly unnattractive bald Englishman who has a big personality
I'm entirely sure we have the least attractive generation of Mini, but the nicest to live with!
Interesting how you call the car Betty. As a woman I see the JCW as Arthur - a short, slightly unnattractive bald Englishman (with German parents) who has a big personality
I'm entirely sure we have the least attractive generation of Mini, but the nicest to live with!
Congrats and good luck. However it seems like a tepid review from you, you don't seem to fit the car as per your own statements. I'm thinking you are going to be sliding into a 2016 soon.
But the Beauty of the mini is I can just mod everything I do not like!
This is likely the last one for a few years. Hoping around 2018 or so they release a GP that I must have.
Car is great for what I want. Loads of fun and loads of fun now.
The review needs to be taken with a grain of salt, like you implied. This is a mini forum and no point extolling all the awesome things. Everyone knows them (or the majority of them. And everyone has watched youtube videos and reviews. We all know the points minis have us sold and/or fanatic about. I was pointing out the things the videos do not.
Anyone else getting the fathom boot unlocking and staying open syndrome? This has done this on every model I have had.
Congrats on your sporty drive! The interior looks fabulous and it's nice to hear that the stock suspension set up is not too punishing. Up till now the fixed sport suspension has deterred me from considering the JCW (my 3 cyl F56 has the adjustable dampers and on some roads too stiff for my partner).
Interesting how you call the car Betty. As a woman I see the JCW as Arthur - a short, slightly unnattractive bald Englishman who has a big personality
I'm entirely sure we have the least attractive generation of Mini, but the nicest to live with!
Much more original then my name. I just stole song lyrics!
Oh, Black Betty (bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (bam-ba-lam)
She really gets me high (bam-ba-lam)
You know that's no lie (bam-ba-lam)
She's so rock steady (bam-ba-lam)
And she's always ready (bam-ba-lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (bam-ba-lam)
