Thanks for posting the link to blizzard coverage, I enjoyed reading the coverage as I really didn't remember that far back. Hopefully you and JCW will not be part of a BLIZZARD of 2011.

 

Thanks!

The windows are tinted, just not very dark. I'm guessing they're 30% all the way around? I might get them darker eventually but that's not at the top of my list.

I'm really starting to like the color, I didn't think I would.

Does anyone know a rough estimate of how many JCWs there are in this country since 2009?

 

Someone else will probably have the exact figure, but I remember a 492 figure for 2009's, which included the last part of 2008. There was a big drop off in 2010, this I do know. There were hardly any at dealers until the Summer of 2010 that I recall. If I were to guess, I'd say that there were no more than 350 JCW's in all of 2010, although there was no difference between the 2009's and the 2010's except that the Multi Function steering wheel was made standard in 2010, that's about it.

Rather a rare bird really, for a number of reasons. Number one being that they Mini should have included your JCW Aero package as standard, like it is in Great Britain. The other, which I can live with, or without is the JCW suspension. Personally, I think that it should have had some kind of suspension upgrade, with the JCW suspension as an option, but no can do. I'm adding an after market spring and strut kit next Spring to mine, so I'm rather glad that the upgrade suspension wasn't included. The Aero kit wouled have been nice, though.

 

Congrats drewster! Great looking MINI you've got there. Hopefully this one will be trouble-free!

Motor On!

 

Thanks, I hope so too! I have an appointment at Towne on Thursday for the annual maintenance and for them to check a few other things. So far it's been trouble-free.

It's been a blast so far, but I have noticed a lot more "ricers" revving their engines at red lights than before.. ugh.

Just ordered my winter tires a few hours ago.

 

Ok, what did you order for winter tires. I'm thinking like you, WINTER>

 

Last winter I ordered Pirelli tires for my 15" wheels, and they were awesome, so I went with them again. I'm still a little bummed that I have to use my summer wheels as winter wheels now but oh well.

205/45R-17 Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Serie II XL

 

Drew: I'm going to go up one size and am looking at your Pirelli's, as well as Dunlop M-3 and a close out on Blizzak WS60's. Probably all of them are, or will serve my purpose, but what worries me is the warning about temperatures in excess of 45F, as here in Iowa, we do get some warm days in the Winter in January, and March, well sometimes. Not last year. Winter from Dec. 1st thru March 20th. with a little Winter thrown in on October 10th, 5" of snow.

 

Yeah I was looking at the Blizzaks too but they were about $100 more per tire for the 205/45/17. Buying a spur-of-the-moment JCW in mid-October wasn't very good for my bank account.

 

Drew: I have to question the price of the Blizzaks, as these are the prices of the tires that I am considering thru Tire Rack. They will ship to an independent dealer here in my town, free and it's $12 for mounting and balancing.

Pirelli Sotozerp Seroe ll $148. per tire
Dunlop M-3 $145. per tire
Blizzak WS-60 $129. per tire
Blizzak WM-70 $133. per tire

Now you may be able to see why I am interested in both, the Dunlop but will probably cheap out and get the Blizzak WS 60's, I like their tread pattern better than the WM-70's. Actually, any of these will probably work fine, as I said before, I am concerned about the tire wear and feel in warmer weather. The Dunops rate better in that regard. Anyway, later.

 

Oh yes, this may make a little difference, I am going with a size larger at:
215 x 45 x 17" Instead of the 205's. Kind of straighens out the speedometer error too.

 

Yeah I wanted to keep my tires all the same size. TireRack didn't have any Blizzaks in the 205. A local place wanted over $1000 for 4 Blizzaks in 205 mounted & balanced. Plus last year when it started warming up a bit the Pirellis I had seemed like normal all-season tires. They weren't sloppy at all and after putting about 6000 miles on them there was almost 0 treadwear.

My Pirellis were $132 a tire, plus about $45 shipping- $572 all together. I wish I could find a place that would mount and balance them for $12 a piece though. It's going to cost me $24 a piece w/ TPMS. That's the cheapest I can find around here.