Glad you were able to notice too.

 

On my second JCW Coupe. Both 2012's first built in late 2011 second late 2012. I get/got a consistent 31mpg around town. Not being conservative either.

 

I would say the aerodynamics have a hand in things. Also the JCW Coupe wants to be driven harder.

 

I completely agree and it is very simple to be convinced just by a test drive of a coupe and the HT on the road. With the coupe, the airflow is far better with no wind noise from the windshield and side windows. The ranked windshield and the two spoilers (roof and deck) are instrumental in a far more comfortable ride than the HT. It is my own experience.

For some the Coupe may look ugly but I believe that no matter the trim level, it is the best Mini until now.

 

I just passed 400 total miles on the odometer today and I own the Coupe for mostly two months now. I had to drive for about 25 miles on the freeway yesterday.

Now it seems to improve to 24 mpg. Here in Vegas, we are in the upper 100F and the engine seems to run very very hot with the cooling fan on most of the time.

I have the feeling the engine is prone to "vapor lock" in desert driving because the RPM drops by 200-300 RPM at stop lights without warning.

My biggest disappointment......... for a car in this price range, we don't even have a temperature gauge and we cannot monitor the basic functions of the engine.

My other car is a 2012 Fiat 500 and it has a temperature gauge.

I am wondering if the Mini will be safe to cross the Mojave desert when I will have to do twice a year LOL.

Well, I may be joking a bit but what is really the truth about the JCW engine? Is it prone to overheating?

 

Again, have NAV and MINI connect you can see the temp gauge which naturally runs a little hot, near ~226 F coolant for the N14 engine. Other wise for more info get the P3cars gauge. It tell you so much more and reads codes and clears them.
With MINI and options its pay to play.

I been to Vegas and nearly every MINI old and new has the fan clicked on all the time, don't know if that's because of the AC is always on (most likely) , or just the lack of airflow and the frying pan that is Vegas.

Also location and geography play a part in MPG.


Thanks

 

Well I would make sure to bring water and a spare if you will be off of the well traveled highways. I know a vendor here sells a spare that will fit for a 100 bucks-ish. I would do that for any car ;-)

 

LOL...... well, may be I am better to have a rental to go over the desert !!!!!!!!!!

 

I hesitated for about 6 months before ordering my JCW because I was upside down on my MCS at the time. Then I finally realized that working overtime during my 10-week wait was enough to get me ahead of my loan, maybe you can do the same? Working extra also helped with the wait. It was definitely worth it for me...YOLO!

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

I thought about doing something similar, but have realized it's not worth it too me.

Once the modifications are taken to a certain point, it doesn't matter what you start with, the end result practically the same.

I'm just waiting for a BVH and cams that are being developed for our platform.

 

I don't blame you and I am sure you are right. The performance parts seem to be expensive and quite an investment.

Do you have a Coupe or a HT?

 

Of course the A/C is always on.

Yes, it is a very harsh climate over 100F during the summer and sometimes topping 115F in July-August. Now in September, it is cooling down. The vapor lock problem will go away soon. As for mpg, I am not doing any better than 22-23 in city driving. The car has now about 550 on the odometer.

As you said, the lack of airflow seems a part of the problem to cool the engine and it really smells rubber even now. It also drips a greasy protective coating from under the doors and the sides of the hood that look like wax. It seems to be a corrosion inhibitor.

As for the cabin comfort in desert driving, the side glass is very thin and below-standard to everything I have owned before. Tinted windows are a must for not frying in this car.

 

I have a coupe

 

That's wax/grease is the coating MINI uses in transport, it will come out with time, some will be left over. Just wash it off with hot water and car soap.

We have Chemical guys if you need it. Or Sonax ( like there wheel cleaner ). Click on the Text.

Chemical Guys




Sonax





Know about the heat, been there many times. Really rained this week in Vegas, which was weird to see.

 

Had my JCW Coupe about 5 months, 3000 miles. I get about 26mpg in town, got 29 in my 2007 MCS. One question: I got an oil change alert at about 2-3 months. Does that make any sense?

 

Now, I have about 700 miles in about 2 months of ownership. It seems to stay to 24 mpg in town. The desert climate may have something to do with it and we are still over 100F for a few weeks.

I believe it could improve when it will cool down. What is really strange is more the unstable idle speed when the engine is hot. It looks more like vapor lock or engine starving.

About your oil change alert, your dealer will tell you. It may be time for the break-in oil to be flushed.