So....I had my '11 MCS in for scheduled maintenance and they gave me a R58 Cooper S for a loaner. JCW exterior and interior packages with challenge wheels.

I LOVE this car....holy hell! Problem is, I was just about to order a Paceman S. Ugh.....what to do?!?!

The R58 is a true Go-Cart.....

 

That's easy...R58 all the way! 100x better than the R61. I've been looking at a few R58 JCWs myself, but go with the coupe!

 

What is the major difference that you did see? Cornering-handling? Stiffness? I am just curious becaUse more or less are the same cars with the same engine . What did you like most?

 

I have a 2012 R58 JCW, ALL black. Its a great car with zero problems.


You'll like it!

 

As I've said in a thread I started half of me wants to buy the Eclipse Gray/Red top JCW Coupe automatic with Recaro seats I drove in Scottsdale, and the other half wants to wait and see/drive the F56 maybe in April for the US deliveries. I'm pretty sure I'd be very happy with the JCW Coupe (which has the black Challenge wheels, and the red colorline/accents).

 

First major difference for me was simply the "feel" of the car. As soon as you get inside, you feel like you're connected to the ground and that you're in a race car. The sloping roof and the smaller cockpit immediately give you a race feel. After that, the car seemed "quicker" and more responsive. Both my MCS and this car were manuals and to me the Coupe seemed to get up and go quicker than my MCS. Lastly, the handling seemed to be a bit more "connected" to the road. I'm not sure if the Coupe had the sport suspension or not, but my MCS is lowered on H&R springs and the Coupe still felt like it was more connected to the road.

All in all, the coupe has more of a "cart" feel to it than my MCS in my opinion.

Now the cons;

1. No back seat: This isn't really a huge deal (I don't like people in my car, other than my girlfriend, anyway) but I usually drive my parents around when they come visit. Guess I could always borrow my GF's ride.

2. No Universal Garage Door Opener: This is a convenience feature that I've grown to love on my MCS. Guess I'll have to opt for the manual garage door opener that came with the house. (Either that or make my GF park her car outside since she uses the garage door opener...lol)

3. No Sunroof: This sucks. I understand why there can't be a sunroof, but I LOVE sunroofs. Always (90% of the time) either have it cracked, or opened.

4. No "auto-up" on the power windows?: Not sure if this was just a problem with the car or if this is standard? If so, what's up with that? The "auto-down" feature worked, but not the up.

If I do pull the trigger, it will be as follows: (And before anyone asks, I cannot justify spending an addition $5,500 or so on a similarly equipped JCW for 27 more hp and a big brake kit. I know you get more than that, but it's not worth it to me when you can add 20hp for less than $300 aftermarket.)

His name, simply "Blackjack".

2014 Cooper S Coupe

Color
A94 Midnight Black Body Color

Packages
7KM JCW Interior Package
K9E1 Leatherette: Carbon Black
7KN JCW Exterior Package
3A9 Silver Sport Stripes
2P8 17" Challenge Spoke
ZCT City Pack
ZCW Cold Weather Package
ZTP Technology Package
ZNV MINI Connected with Nav Package

Options
226 Sport Suspension
345 Chrome Line Interior
3A2 Black Headlamp Housings
3AF Silver Roof/Mirrors
473 Center Armrest
4DA Dash Surface in Striped Alloy
502 Retractable Headlamp Washers
521 Rain Sensor and Auto Headlamps
534 Automatic Climate Control

Accessories
JCW Sport Gauge
Black Jack Mirror Caps
Side Scuttle - Black Jack

MODS upon delivery:

Megan Racing Coilovers
H-Sport Rear Camber Links
MINI LED DRL's
JB+ Tune
DDW Intake
Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires (hate the run flats)
Chrome amber turn signal & side marker bulbs

 

No auto up because of lack of pinch sensors.

We can thank our R59 brothers for that lol.

 

Ah, they hooked you with the old loaner trick. It's a great sales tool for Mini and a great way for you to try out a different ride away from the sales aspect of the dealership. It's a win-win. I got an R56 S loaner when my wife's CM JCW was in service for an oil change, and now...........

I just bought an R56 JCW in Midnight Black. you will love this color, BTW. It's going to be hard as heck to keep the finish up, and I'm not getting any younger, but a Mini in metallic black...wow...

When I was at the dealer, they were doing prep service on the R56(I had not bought it yet), and the sales person suggested I drive the R58 JCW to get a feel for the engine, since they are obviously the same in both cars.

I figured, heck, I would never turned down a chance to drive a cool car!

took it for a long drive and found some twisties. It does handle really nice. Love those seats-don't know if they were optional seats or not, but they reminded me of the Recaros in the GP2. You can really hear the exhaust since it's so close to your head. Has a great, low groan all through the cabin-love it.

Now, I prefer the traditional body style and "feel" of the R56 more, but that little coupe is a fantastic car. I was very impressed...feels like it's on rails even more than my R56 JCW.

The "turret" sensation would get to me after awhile though(keep in mind, however, I am 6'6") That extended roofline that is very low in the front was a little too closed in for me to live with on a daily basis. I agree with others that a removable targa style roof would make this car perfect.

And the OP is correct, you can't spend a few hundred to up the HP on a non-JCW and get a JCW...you are right, there is more to it than that.

 

I've had the R58 JCW for nearly 2 years now and love the nearly aircraft cockpit like feel.

When I get a R56 loaner I feel like I'm in a glass bubble. So exposed and open!

I always crack my head on my Coupe the first time I get into it after a R56...

 

They gave me a clubman when they finally got the JCW aero kit in for two days, I felt so high up and I could see everything lol.

 

" The old loaner trick!" I've heard more than one current Mini owner coming in for service and ultimately driving home in more car than he drove it with. That's why I stay away from Mini North Snottsdale. Last time I went in my wife was clamoring for me to buy the JCW Coupe. And I still might.

 

Usually my SA asks me if there's anything I've been wanting to try and then hooks me up....this time she duped me!

 

Don't be shy!

 

So, after building about 100 different R58's on MINI's website over the last week or so, I've finally resigned myself to the fact that if I "don't" get a JCW I'm gonna regret it down the line. I know this is contrary to my initial thought, but like I said, if I don't then I know I'm gonna regret it.

SO.....it just depends on "when" I'm gonna pull the trigger. I still LOVE my R56 MCS so I'm not in any hurry as of yet. My good friend, who is also my MA, is going to Pomona next week for training on the F56 and he's also going to find out the shelf life on the current R58. If 2014 is the last year in it's current state, then my window is closing and I will be ordering one sooner than later. If they push it out to at least 2015, then I will order a 2015 model later this year.

I've got it narrowed down to three color combinations (like I said, after about 100 builds) and I have included them in order of current preference.

Midnight Black/Silver - Silver Challenge Wheels
Highclass Gray/Black - Black Challenge Wheels
White Silver/Red - Silver Challenge Wheels

What would YOU choose?

Only time will tell.....

 

Auto up can be programmed into the Coupe. Helix did mine last year at the Dragon.

 

Can you elaborate on this? How is this done?

Thanks

 

Has anyone installed sport gauges in the new 2014 JCW coupe, I had them in my 2012 JCW coupe. But dealer said they may not fit the 2014.

 

Go with the P3Cars Digi gauge. Allot more info for allot less dough.

 

Shameless plug:

The P3 gauge is nice. I have one for sale ($300) been using it for about 6 months and have now decide to go with a "permanently" installed iphone 6+ displaying DashCommand.

 

Thanks very interested in gauge any pix of the one you're selling ? , I will go on line when I can to check them out. Just ordered the cradle for iPhone 5s hope it's worth it .

 

Here's a link to the marketplace thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post4023399