Hey guys, I hope this is the right area for this and I apologize if it isn't.

I've been a VW owner for the last 15 years but Mini has always been attractive to me (as evidenced by my join date here). I found a nice example of a 2011 JCW and test drove it yesterday. I'm hooked! But, it may be slightly out of my price range...

I haven't driven a normal "S" just yet but just how different would it be? I loved the handling and steering response on the JCW. I loved the acceleration and exhaust note. I've found some comparable "S" models at better prices. It seems to be difficult finding manual transmissions as well. I don't necessarily care about extra features like HID's or Nav. Just so long as there is a USB input and bluetooth for phone calls. Would it be a terrible difference/sacrifice to just get the lesser priced standard "S" model over the JCW? How much different is the handling etc...? I mean, I could slap some coilovers on it at some point but I'd prefer to leave it stock for a while.

Also, how about "chip" tuning? Could I potentially flash some software on the ECU and get significant HP gains to make me forget it isn't a JCW? I know this is a common thing with VW's but I've never owned a turbo model VW.

Anything else I should know before jumping in? Thanks!

 

JB+ or Manic tune seem to be the popular upgrades for more driving fun. I bought the JB+ but have not received it yet.

I have a CM and wife has Golf TDI. I like both but the edge goes to the VW except for AWD. Both cars are fun however.

I never driven JCW so can't comment on the real world difference between it and the S.

 

Where you located ?

 

L.A. Area

 

The Sport suspension option will make any MINI handle better than it would without that option. If the JCW you drove doesn't have that, I'm betting that an S with the option would handle better. It won't have as much forward thrust, so you'll have to figure out how important that particular factor is to you.

I wouldn't be surprised if a Justa with the sport suspension could out-corner a JCW without--but I wouldn't be surprised the other way either.

Tires also make a huge difference in grip.

The only real way to tell is to drive each one. Find an S with a manual transmission and see how much you like it. I also suggest finding a Justa with the manual and see what you think about it. I personally opted for the Justa because I don't need a lot of power, I figured the non-turbo engine would be simpler and have less to fail (I seem to be right in that!) and easier to work on myself (not so right on that one!). I got the sport suspension because what I really like is going around corners at stupid fast speeds.

I'd bet there are very few Justas with sport suspension out there... And even fewer that were not ordered specifically to race in some stock or nearly-stock class.

 

When I bought my "S" earlier last year, I regretted not going with the JCW..Now I own a JCW

 

I am one with a Non-s withe the sport suspension. That paired with 17" Challenge wheels with Bridgestone RE 11s and Cooper S brakes make it incredible fun and unstoppable in the corners. I will be stepping up to a 22 mm rear sway bar and it should get even better. All I want now is to look like a JCW, then I will be happier!

 

If I could do it all over again, I wish I would've spent that little bit more and gotten a JCW. On top of performing better, they just plain look better.

 

Agreed. Yet I just ordered MINI no.4 and once again couldn't pull the trigger on that JCW upcharge.

I have misgivings. But man. Moneys!

 

Having owned both I would say (if you can) get the JCW. Absolutely love my JCW, the power difference from my old 07' S to this is night and day.

 

 

The factory JCW's also have a different body package (I think it was optional for a few years), which looks more aggressive.

I think that you need to look at the MINI like another used car first: Condition, history, and options/colors. The maintenance history is very important, these cars don't tolerate being treated like a toyota (oil changes every 15k miles, no other maint). Since you have been watching the site for a while, you are probably aware of this.

The JCW has a different turbo, pistons, brakes and clutch (I think that there are additional changes as well). There is some solid reasons why the cars are worth more $$$$.

The JCW comes with the 'normal' S suspension. Both the JCW and S are available with sport suspension, as described above. The JCW is also available with a JCW Sport suspension option. If you look in the wheels and see red springs, that is a special option.

Have fun,
Mike

 

In my experience it also largely depends on the area you live in as well as the options you're looking for.

For example: I'd been looking around for about 6 months within 500 miles of my location for a JCW. I found exactly 1...and it was priced ridiculously. I can find automatic MCS's all day but wouldn't buy one ever (never owned an automatic and don't like driving them).

At the end of the day, it depends on your budget and what you can and can't live with. For me, that turned out to be a manual S that I've begun to mod. Couldn't be happier.

 

Well, I did not end up purchasing that, or any car at the time. I will soon be in the market and MINI has piqued my interests yet again. I've done some searching throughout the forums and found good info, but not entirely specific to what I am looking for so I am hoping I can bump this thread and solicit some more advice.

It appears that 2013+ Cooper S models are near my price range, and to be honest, I don't want to purchase too old of a vehicle, as I plan to keep it for a long time. It is my understanding that something changed in 2014 with these cars?

What should I look for/look out for when car shopping? What are the HP figures and have they changed at any point? If so, when? Basically I want to perform my due diligence before going seriously shopping and test driving. I have driven a few including the JCW referenced in my original post. I am looking for a vehicle under $18k and hopefully no older than 4 years, preferably less if possible. Can you help point me in the right direction and assist with common issues and quirks to look out for? Thanks so much and I look forward to joining the MINI family soon.


edi: Automatic and manual trans are being considered.

 

I believe that 2014 was the first year for the N18 engine in the JCW. I believe it was in the S in 2013 but they took another year before introducing it in the JCW. The N14 has more than its share of issues so getting one with the N18 should be a priority in either model.

 

NB is close, 2013 is the first model year of N18's in the JCW. 2011+ S models have the N18 too. I'm assuming you are looking at the hardtop model?

In 2014 MINI introduced the third generation Hardtop, redesigned and very different from the 2nd gen Hardtop. They changed the engine to the B48 BMW 2.0L Turbo, with slightly more power and torque than the previous gen. I've driven a couple and the 3rd gens seem much more refined. But to me they also lose some of that rawness that I like in the 2nd gen (and is much more present in the 1st). Still fun to drive and still has the MINI character, but lost some of the quirks like center console window switches, huge center speedo, etc.

2013 JCW Hardtops are still in the low to mid 20s so might be out of your price range. I'm biased but I highly recommend a 2013 JCW, to me it's a unicorn car, the only Hardtop JCW with the N18 engine so it should (hopefully) be more reliable. If you buy it soon you'll still have the 4yr standard warranty for at most another year and you would have the option of extending the warranty via MINI if you wanted.

2011+ S Hardtops have the N18 engine too (less power that JCW though) and they're in your price range. You can find some pretty decked out ones in your price range. If you are keeping it for a long time like me, try to find one with all the options you want. Check out the full option list on motor trend, it's hidden but they have option descriptions for every year/model. Check options of the MINIs you're looking at using BMWvin.com. They even now have a compare VIN feature that highlights differences between two VINs if they're the same model.

 

Awesome info! Thank you. I am not really considering the JCW any longer unless a nice example comes by. I think now I have narrowed it to 2014+ used hardtop "S". Do the auto transmissions have any issues? My wife's Ford Focus has some clutch issues in the auto trans and it is a widespread thing Ford is making us jump through hoops to fix under warranty. I would like to avoid any issues like that with a Mini if at all possible.

Since what I am looking at appears to be 3rd gen, I will try looking in that forum. Thank you guys for the useful info. Looking forward to posting here more soon.