^^^I like them. Hell, they'd look good on mine as well but
I already have custom wheels. It figures, once you buy something
you always seem to find others you wished you had bought instead.
Oh well.

 

Problem is I cannot order the 5 Stars on an "S" with the JCW package, only with JCW and I just can't spring for the $4,000 extra. I wonder if my dealer can exchange rims for me?

 

Well, people say it because it is true? Sure, most of us will never drive the car at its limits, but even in general spirited driving the car handles better than a lot of other cars. If you are a talented enough driver that you can do make a jeep do everything you want, then you don't need a MINI. (although you may of course want one)

As for people not being able to tell the difference between an S and a JCW - if you are referring to handling then they can't tell a difference because (from the factory) there IS no difference (at least none beyond maybe the difference between 17" and 18" wheels).

Why does anyone buy anything other than a minivan or a Prius? Some people enjoy driving and some cars are more fun - a very subjective thing. For me at least, the MINI is just more fun.
More fun even if I never push it past what my wife's Prius could do. (although it might be the Prius at 99% of it's capability and the MINI at 75% to just pull numbers from the air)

Another point in a true emergency I like knowing that if I ask the car for 99% that the difference between the MINIs 99% and the <fill-in-the-blank> car's 99% might make all the difference in the world.
Even in the limited time that my son was driving my wife's Cooper, he avoided one accident that he felt he might not have in a different car, such as his old BMW - itself no slouch in the handling department. (his BMW being dismantled in our garage at that point was why he was borrowing the MINI)

Please refresh my memory (too lazy to search back up all these threads) - what MINIs have you driven so far? (just want to know what your baseline is when we talk about what's different than what you have experienced MINI-wise)

Don

 

^ Well stated Don It's the driver engagement that makes these cars so special. I have not found that with other vehicles, and I've been lucky enough to sample some very good ones. Sure, you can find other vehicles that are faster, some for a lot less money than I'm going to put into my Roadster, but I have not found any more engaging and entertaining to drive. That and the fact that they are relatively efficient makes the case for me

-Steven

 

+1 on the two above statements. Great car and a blast to drive.
A little modding on the suspension even makes it better. IMHO

 

I agree with all of that too but still not worth $4,000 more. But still may get it.

 

Yep, the value received is very subjective - as are most things when talking about a car like the MINI Cooper S. (i.e. not basic transportation).

I'd have spent an extra $4k in a heartbeat if JCWs came with automatic transmissions.

I will probably eventually spend *more* than that to get just the HP and the brakes. (and the HP will still actually be less than the factory JCW).
So, worth it to some of us.

My honest opinion - assuming you'll be happy with any MINI, I think you'll be fine with the S.
(as in, due to your other cars, neither the S or the JCW is going to impress you with just their acceleration)

Don

 

I agree with you 100% :-)

 

Now to try and find a way to get the 5 stars on the order without buying the JCW

 

What is your dealer saying about the 5 stars? Are they willing to play?

 

He wasn't working today. I emailed him my thoughts but he took it as the manufacturer doing it so I Reiterated that maybe the dealer could do it. Im going to the dealer tomorrow to test drive and order!

 

All right, good luck with it all...we'll expect a full report

 

here is the wheel color I picked...done by paint shop...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3360605

 

Ambevalance. that best describes my feelings on the Bullet wheels. (un)Fortunately I don't have to decide at this time.

I have never been big on black wheels but they do help make the MINI 58/59 look more unique/sportie. Now which to choose: Bullets or Black Chalange?

Bullets positives:

Nice black and silver outline contrast
Easy to clean
Simple unpretentious look
New design and rarer than the Challange

Bullets negatives:

Matt finish has much less pop and contrast than gloss black
Simple unpretentious look
More conservative look overall than the Challange
More commen on the R57 (my least favorite MINI)

Having said all that I would still consider the silver Challange as 1 of the 3 wheel options to choose from. Also might consider aftermarket 19" wheels since I'm not totally blown away by the Challange or the Bullets (only ones I would consider). Oddly I still like my Web Spoke wheels and don't see why MINI drooped them as an offering. I think they would make a good looking choice in gloss black.

 

I would jst say this. The Bullets look much better in person than in pics.

 

.....but I have seen them and I DO like them. If I were to order today there is a good chance I would get the Bullets. I'm just playing a little devil's advocate plus I still like the black Challange too. Just presenting MY opinion of them.

 

The bullets on our Roadster are the first black wheels I've owned. (Had chrome, silver, and even white)

I went with them because they were something different for me, and (in theory) they are compatible with the JCW brake kit should I ever get to pull the trigger on that upgrade.
(Will be a tough sell for my wife anyway, but telling her it would also require new wheels would kill it dead!)

Was also looking forward to a wheel that didn't spend 90% of it's life looking dirty unless cleaned just about daily!

Now that we have it, I'm super pleased with how they look on our red car with its black stripe.

Don

 

NY Yankee, glad to see you found your color, that is George's Mini Earl, He has the Recaro seats in it and they look very nice. You should also check out his other toy, 1934 3 window Ford Coupe "Aqua Belle"

 

Yes I know his other car...Nice right! How do you know george?

 

LOLOLOL, He is a Friend of mine on FaceBook. Small Mini world

 

Cool. I think he has the 1st JCW east Coast.

 

I believe your right, but I think there was about 2 or 3 others that cam in, I think Island Don's came in about the same time.

 

How did he get perproduction or prototype Recaro's?


...but Don's is an S.

 

Not sure what you mean the Recaro's were available on builds starting in February

 

Mine did show up pretty early - I do know it was the first one in Missouri. But - not a JCW. I thought the ability to order a JCW Roadster was later than the ability to order the other versions.

Don