As I get older I am learning to go with my gut instincts. When I got my MINI I rationalized that I would be content with a cheaper more fully loaded Clubman S than a lightly optioned JCW. I went with my head and got S.

After two months of ownership I find that I hardly use the NAV system as it's rare I cannot find something in Missouri.

What I do miss is power. Although the car has enough zip around town, I do a lot of highway driving in Missouri and I feel like I am wringing the last bits of juice out of the S to meet my needs. I am looking at the stage 1 kit ~$2,000 and some aftermarket wheels/tires ~1,500 (mostly for looks). Should I go that route, that $3,500 would have covered the premium I would have paid for a factory JCW car after I trimmed a few things here and there, and I would still not have the JCW car's output.

So it's the classic case that I am considering spending more in the aftermarket to try and duplicate what the JCW car would have given me off the rack, so to speak.

I will continue to enjoy my MINI immensely, but should the timing be right, I may have to upgrade prematurely.

 

Hmmm, I'm not sure the JCW will solve your problem. Most of the added power of the JCW will still be at the top of the rpm band, you'll still need to downshift & wring it out to get it to move on the highway. Bottom line is that it is only a 1600cc engine. To get high output out of a small engine, it is always going to require revs to accomplish that.

Have you driven a JCW on the highway? You should probably do that before you trade yours in. Personally, I'd just do the Stage 1 and call it a day as you already have a beautiful car.

Regards,
Terry

 

Hey Mo - don't get caught up in the buyer's remorse game...

I can't say my situation is similar, but I walked away from a JCW Clubman all over the inclusion of the factory aero kit (without painted arches) up here in Canada. Whether you like the looks of it or not, is a whole different conversation, but I can't stand the look of it. At the end of the day, I want to be able to walk into my garage every morning and be in love with what I see!

So I told myself, just sell the aero kit and get the JCW aero kit (not yet available of for the clubman), the "standard" Cooper S Clubman bumpers, or some combination in between. But, if I paid for the standard bumper set, the whole idea of "paying to downgrade" just didn't sit well with me.

My car is cosmetically similar to the JCW Clubman (R112 wheels, roof spoiler, etc.), and as much as it's a fun car, the reality is that most of its life will be as a commuter car.

Do I still lust after those huge Brembos and the additional horsepower? Sure. From time-to-time... Do I care that they're not on my daily ride? Nope. Not one bit.

I'm missing out on some cache or bragging rights I suppose, but I love my car.

Enjoy what you've got.

You can always get a JCW or GP or whatever is "better" when you're lease is up,or when you're done with your current one, or when the Gen 3's come out, or whatever the situation is.

10% of life is situational; 90% is your attitude about the situation...

Peace.

 

I think the JCW would be more than the $3500 you are thinking. If you are going aftermarket rims, then you would need to add that (or substract it out), so that wouldnt make a difference. I was thinking the same thing, but power can be added for less, and I would grab a set of Wilwoods from TCE Performance for better performance than the factory Brembos, then do what I did and get a set of M7 coilovers for BETTER handling. With these 3 upgrades you would have a "low" key mini, thats just as fast, stops better and handles better!

 

The cost spread is the difference between my heavily optioned car at $32k and a lightly optioned JCW at $35k. I had to give up the NAV and auto AC to keep the JCW reasonable. Although some would consider $35k on the north side of reasonable for a MINI.

To a greater point I am trying to talk myself out of modding the car at all as it would make my car less of a value and the JCW more of a value, if that makes any sense.

I have driven a JCW and did notice a big difference in upper rev power and stopping. To a posters prior point, it was above 4,500, but that is where I find myself more often than I thought I would.

 

Have you considered a trade in?

I can't possibly relate to your lack of power issues, since I find my lowly MCC auto, no less, to be more than enough speed...but if you're that unhappy why not approach it as a trade with your dealership? It's amazing what sorts of creative deals can be reached and there are very few dealerships with a "pre owned" Clubman sitting on their lots.

I was at my own dealership MINI of Fairfield County in Stamford, CT and the ONLY cars they had were their demos...ok, besides some older MINIs on the sidelines.

 

Go with the Stage 1 & 2 Kits (Warranty), Rims, or you can wait...wait...wait...wait...wait...wait for that ship to come in again.