Hello. Finally got the OK from the wife to get a mini. She wants a nimble, small car. I want one that is also quick and enjoy a fast ride. This is a third car for our 2 driver household and will complement my crew cab truck and her minivan...

We have narrowed it to two cars

1) 03 JCW with custom wheels, 39K, well cared for car, but nearly out of warrantee and with custom performance mods. Great looking car, but worry a bit about reliability and resale if my wife decides she needs a trunk....

2) 05 MCS sport package, LSD, MF steering wheel, light wheels only 6k miles. Has JCW CAI and JCW exhaust. This one is $1500 more that the 03 JCW and obviously has a lot of warrantee.

So, please leave your imput on which one you would choose.

 

Arnold,

What a nice problem to have? Choicing between 2 nice MINIs! While I don't have an S or a JCW, I do have an '03, and have lots of little annoying problems between 24,000 (when I bought the car used) and now (almost 50,000). I think the reliability improved a great deal from '04 up based on what I've read here, other forums, and consumer magazines.

I would also think the MCS would supply more than enough fun/practicality as a third car. You can always do some mods down the road if you want to approximate some of the JCW performance.

Good luck on whatever you choose!

 

I'd go for the '05.
Better (lower) gearing, later build, fewer miles. Especially if you're concerned about reliability and resale.

P.S. Tell the wife a boot is better than a trunk.

 

i'd go for the 05, better tranny, more quirks worked out as the years go by, alot more warrenty.

 

#2. Take the warranty.

With JCW will be quicker despite the gearing but the warranty is priceless

 

Another vote for option #2

 

I would go for #2 for all of the reasons stated above.

By the way, tell your wife that trunks are overated.

 

As an owner of an 06 id lean toward the 05 mcs. Besides if you say it has the cai and the catback... Imo all you really have to add to the car to get to about 85% of the performance of the jcw would be sc reduction pully and an ecu reflash. So basically you can get the warrenty, the new gearbox with an lsd and about 80% of the performance for 1500 extra on the car and 600 in labor and parts for the pully and the other ecu.

Oh yeah... welcome to the addiction

 

go for the 05 MCS, i think that having the peace of mind of having lots of warranty left covers the extra $1500, plus like someone else said before, 04s and newer were just built a lot better.

 

Go for the '05
I have an '05 MCS and the warrenty has helped...a lot.

 

Between those two only? Get the 2005.

 

Another vote for the 05'.....

Donna

 

Ditto... get the '05.

 

#2.

-Cody

 

You know, the owner of the '03 JCW is really going to hate us!

 

Hmm. Both.

lol jk.

I would go with number 2, only because of the warranty.
You could easily get another ~20 - 25 HP from the '05. Do a pulley swap, new IC and maybe a header.

 

#2

Art

 

#1







No, I'm kidding, I agree that car #2 sounds like a better deal. The JCW parts are nice, but the aftermarket has performance parts that can get you similar and better HP numbers, for a lot less. Lower mileage is nice too, and the better transmission is a huge plus.

What colors are the 2 cars?

Drew

 

He can always lower his price

$1500 difference between the cars, one aftermarket modded, older, 36K mileage and no warranty, the other with 6K, a couple of JCW add-ons only and LSD?

It's a no-brainer, really, what every one else said.

 

yeah..what color are they.

I vote for #2 as well.

 

I'd go for the '05, I love mine!

 

Gotta be #2 for all the reasons already stated. You're gonna love it.

 

I'd go for #2 also. The 2005 is a better car. Put a 15% pulley on there & you are so close to a JCW. The tranny has better ratios & a LSD. Plus you get a newer car with a lot of warranty remaining. Yep it's #2.

 

#2. If your wife is concerned over a trunk, you could always add a roof rack.

 

Well, even though I prefer the gearing of the '03, I think for only $1500 more, the value of the '05 is better for you. If wifey misses a big trunk remind her that with the backseats down, there is a ton of space, and you can always install an OEM roof rack!

edit: Oops, dix...didn't see your roof rack comment! LOL!