Knowing what we know so far about the 2020 JCW ALL4, what are your thoughts on purchasing a 2019? Would you?

Pricing hasn't been announced yet but let's pretend there is an increase of no more than $1000. That's probably wishful thinking but being that the current JCW pricing is already pushing the limits of sanity... :D
And then you have to take into account the countryman already has a pretty high depreciation, well over 40% in the first 3 years. I don't know about the JCW specifically.

So first, would you even consider the purchase of a new (not pre-owned) 2019 JCW... or would it be 2020 or nothing?
And if you would go 2019, what kind of discount would you have to get before even considering the purchase?

 

I knew about the increased performance for the 2020 JCW back in April but decided to go ahead and custom order a 2019 JCW which should be arriving next week. My lease on the X3 is ending so I didn't want to wait for the 2020, but I was happy to go with the 2019 knowing I will save a little money and the performance is all I need.

Price: With incentives and dealer discount I will be saving almost 11% off MSRP, but you could save more by buying a 2019 JCW off the dealer lot. A couple dealers told me they won't be discounting the 2020 initially (never trust a dealer though).
So assuming you'll get an additional $3k-$4k in discounts/incentives on a 2019, and the 2020 will be more expensive, there will be at least a $5k price difference and maybe more.

Performance: I won't be tracking this car and it will used primarily as a DD in San Francisco traffic and to shuttle two small kids around, so 228 hp is all I need.

All this said, if performance is a priority, definitely wait for the 2020. The resale value will probably be higher as well.

 

I couldn't justify the cost of a 2019 JCW vs. The 2019 S All4 that I recently purchased. The power difference was too small and I really enjoyed the driving dynamics that the adjustable suspension offered along with the manual transmission (even better with cravenspeed short shifter added) and the spacious interior.

Although the 300hp makes a compelling argument, the lack of a manual transmission for the 2020 Countryman lineup automatically takes me out of even considering one.

 

Since MT is not an option, I would buy an X1/X2 over a Countryman. Without manual transmission, there's zero compelling reason to get a Countryman over a BMW, because BMWs have better content and are more attractive, let's be honest. They also tend to have better incentives.

That's why I expect my current Countryman S All4 MT to be my last MINI, probably to be replaced with the G-series [i.e. next-gen] X1, or "who knows", by then.

 

Waiiiiit a minute.... does the JCW not have the same driving modes that adjusts the comfort of the suspension???

EDIT: Nevermind... it has DDC for $500. BTW, i'm talking about Countryman ALL4 JCW, not Hard top.

 

I fully disagree about the BMW. I think the Mini has an interior that is actually more interesting and just as nice. The Mini also looks better in my opinion as well as it takes risks with the styling. Incentives are definitely better with the BMW, but the Mini is more special, you won't see them everywhere.

 

Would I buy one now that I don't live in the Bay Area? Knowing how awesome my car is? Yes, yes I would buy the JCW knowing what I know now. I probably would have waited knowing that a year ago.

 

But would you buy the 2019 with the much higher hp 2020 just around the corner?

BTW, how are you liking the tuning kit on your S? Any exhaust drone on the fwy?
Seems like you get close in power numbers to the JCW and still have over $4k left in your pocket.

 

Oh, I would wait for the 2020 for sure.

As to the tuning kit, I like it a lot. Keep in mind though I only had the kit installed 6 days until a work truck took out the right side of my car, see thread The Last Ride of the Countryman, there are details in there. The exhaust with the baffle closed is actually pretty quiet and useful. With the baffle open, it drones a lot. I like that it didn't mess with my warranty and now the car has the JCW as part of the VIN with a JCW plaque on the engine with serial number. They even put a JCW badge on the back of the car too. What I feel is missing though are the brakes, I would love to have them.

 

A matter of taste, but for the same money you get interior door grab handles, a much better key fob, true heads-up display, more sophisticated comfort access, and a bunch of other stuff that we don't get, not to mention the 228HP engine (I have an S, not a JCW). For what I paid, I definitely got less, but that is NOT to say I don't love my MINI.

 

Dollar for dollar, pretty much every car gives you more than the MINI.
That's why I've been torn between the JCW and Golf R.

 

I have a pretty much top of the line S that o got for $35k instead of the advertised $42k. No BMW dealer was willing to approach that with a comparably equipped X1. I feel like anything under the JCW can be had reasonably. And yes, the Mini is the emotional choice. I feel like the X1/X2 is just boring compared to the Mini, it’s just a show every time I drive it.

 

 

Good score. Mine is fully-loaded, and I paid full-price, but over on the X1 fora, I'n constantly reading about guys who got their fully-loaded X1s for $37,000 OTD after incentives. At the time, a comparable X1 was a consistent ~$4000 more than my Countryman S All4 plus no MT option, so it was a clear choice, but in hindsight...

 

Best I'd seen on the X1 is 10%, I can't imagine getting a fully loaded one for 37k, that's like a 25% discount?

 

Here is the trick I used, I just simply walked in and test drove it. I gave them the number and said that I would call every day for a week until they gave me my price. I told them that I had seen that the car had been on the lot for a couple of months and that I was happy to clear the space for them. I then proceeded to call several dealers and pit them all against my preferred car. The sales manager was just done hearing from me after 3 days and caved. I work in sales and have dealt with enough tough customers to understand their tricks.

Mini is having a tough time moving cars right now that aren't JCWs. Take advantage.