Having a JCW, I would love to be able to exchange JCW info in one place. The GP owners, which are a considerably small minority of Mini owners have their own forum. How about one for JCW owners?

 

As ive said before, if we break down the forums any more, i wasnt a damn Dark Silver forum.

 

(though I do think it is a matter of time before MINI talk Prefomance mods and Preformance mods non S become R50 and R53 talk titles)

Guess you can add the vote if there is a DS forum then we should have a JB forum as well

I think a JCW forum is a bit excessive as even an all JCW car doesn't change a wohle lot, there are certainly many running around with far more modded tunning packages (maddes stage 5 and cosworth stage 3 for examples) I almost wonder how much of this is a they have one now I want one too syndrome.

 

I already think the forums are broken down too far and adds to confusion, but thats me, what do i know?

 

I thought that much more whenthings first had a major change (I wasn't fond of reorganizing everything again) But it has made it easy for me to largerly ingore conversations on things that don't pretain to my areas of intrest as much.

 

Well then, let just divide it between 1st gen and 2nd gen Minis' and be done with it. A GP dedicated forum? I mean COME ON! Something like 400 of those in North America, and how many are on NAM compaired to JCW owners? A GP forum is a real waste of bandwidth.

 

But take a look at the quantity of GP threads vs JCW threads there is vaild quanitity of disscusion there. There is more to it than the sales #s alone. A GP is significantly different, almost to the degree of Coooper vs MCS vs respective cabrios that presents unique circumstances, challenges experiances and almost inevidably issues. A JCW is a handful of mods and a factory badge. So I can very well see the GP forum being logical and the JCW forum being remarkably quiet.

 

I'm not in favor of adding a new forum right now since we'll be reorganizing the forums with the new model introductions. I'll be working with some of the admins to implement a new organization that will more or less be organized by model. Once I have a better idea of the organization I'll post an overview of what we'll be putting in place. Thanks and have a great weekend!

Mark

 

When I'm looking for something JCW engine or suspension related I check out the GP forum first. It is useful to those that have the JCW package yet not the GP. All other things are the same as the MCS.

Maybe the GP owners wouldn't mind sharing a little room for JCW specific questions.

 

Yeah, thats for sure.

 

I thought it odd when a GP only sub was created for such a small # of units. Since a GP is a much refined JCW, it should be a JCW/GP sub. No new subs to create; just change the title to add JCW's to the mix. I'm certain the post count would increase significantly and it would be a logical move. JCW'ers would appreciate it. I'm JCW 15,xxx (7/06 build) so I'm sure the number of JCW's is 16,000 or so.
Also, I hate to point out that (and at the risk of multi-violation rebukes and flames licking at my ankles) MINI 2 created a JCW AND GP sub back in 9/06:

Paul Mullett vbmenu_register("postmenu_2626009", true);

MINI2 Administrator



My Classifieds
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Bedfordshire
MINI2 Map: Find Me!
Local Time: 07:06 PM
Posts: 37,963
Offline


vbrep_register("2626009") New forum for Works (Cooper & S) and GP

Finally we've broken and decided to give the Works and GP their own forum.

The main reason is due to the new, more "in house" nature of the John Cooper Works kit, especially for the 2nd generation MINI. So we felt it right to give the current Works & GP models their own forum, as the same will apply when the next generation Works are released.


Please add JCW to the GP sub. My apologies and I hope that citing the quasi-competiton doesn't cause an adverse reaction thus dooming this request!

 

Since there is no dedicated JCW forum to collect and centeralize those threads for JCW owners, your comparison lacks validity.

The JCW is more different from the S, then the GP is different from the JCW.

 

A case for not having a JCW forum while having a GP forum:

The GP is an entire car produced by MINI with quite a few unique parts and issues (say GP audio issues because of the radio configuration unique to the GP).

In addition, on NAM the search function does not easily permit two letter searches without a dramatic negative impact on the server, so a GP forum makes it easy for people to locate "GP" threads since the search engine won't dig them up.

"JCW" being three letters does allow for search results. And better than that, it allows you to search "JCW" in a specific subject matter forum to quickly narrow down applicable threads.

Also, JCW is a "kit", not a separate model (MINI breaks out GP sales on their own in their sales reports as a separate model). We have drivetrain and brake forums and interior/exterior forums (for the cosmetic JCW parts). Having a JCW forum would pull these subjects out of their subject matter forums into one place where all JCW stuff (engine, brakes, wheels, leather dashes, spoilers, the MC JCW Sound Kit, etc.) would be jumbled together.

To me, it makes a lot more sense to keep the JCW parts in the forum they relate to (i.e. performance mods drivetrain, Performance Mods: Cooper, Performance Mods: suspension, Wheels/Tires/Brakes, and Interior Exterior).

 

The GP could be easily considered a "kit", since it is nothing more than a refined JCW, built in the factory.

For those of us who own documented JCW's, built in the factory, your last paragraph doesn't hold water.

However, the best course would be as suggested, and emulate the Mini2 idea, and title it "JCW/GP Forum."

 

So you're saying you'd rather have JCW MCS engine parts, JCW suspension, JCW Carbon Fiber Dash and downtubes, the JCW brakes, JCW leather dash and downtubes, JCW spoiler, JCW wheels, JCW leather cubholder ring trim pieces, and the JCW sound kit for the MC all in the same forum with the GP?

 

To me, as a user, it makes more sense to have a JCW/GP sub cat. Sure, you can search for a specific issue but that's if you know what your question is. The acquisition of knowledge relies on specific questioning but also, serendipity plays a large part. Often, you learn things when you didn't know you even had a question. You can stumble across issues you weren't aware of by browsing a concentrated area such as a sub category. You may refer to this as "jumbled together" I think it results in better browsing.
By far, when most people come to NAM, its not to find info on a specific issue but they come to "browse", to see what's going on. They tend to go first to their area of specific interest. First to 1st gear or MINI Talk, then to MCS or MC sub's and then if time permits, to the Bonnet or int/ext mods or the others. I submit that many of those with a JCW would like to browse a JCW/GP forum.
Its a very easy fix. Just change the name. I believe many would appreciate it. I know I would.

 

Yeah. Well maybe not the sound kit

 

The GP is nothing more than a JCW, upgraded. So it makes sense to combine the two since JCW owners can't have their own forum.

I think those of us who own JCW's, paid for the whole upgrade, had a JCW number assigned, view our cars as seperate models of the Mini, the same courtesy NAM accords the GP's.

 

The GP is a different car, the JCW is a different option package.

 

The GP is less different from the JCW, then the JCW is different from the S.

Bottom line, the GP is a factory optioned JCW. It's not a completely different car.

 

... is hung up on semantics.

 

I'm biased, of course... but I think I'd like to see a JCW-specific forum as well, whether it be lumped in with the GP one or separate. Perhaps make the GP one a "sub-category" of the JCW one?

I would then of course be tempted to start moving every single JCW thread I could find into that new JCW forum. One place to go.

That being said... I can also appreciate Dave's point about the search function being useful for this, and the fact that specific JCW modifications are already located in their appropriate "type" of forum (i.e. drivetrain, suspension, etc.).

BTW MiniMaxx... the JCW Sound Kit absolutely qualifies. It does what it is advertised to do, sounds great, and does add a few (yeah, ONLY a few) HP to a Cooper. It qualifies more than ANY of the carbon fiber JCW stuff would, that's for sure.

 

Absolute agreement. Most time I will stumble on information during casual browsing in a specific area.

 

Its a two seater different aero kit, different interior panels exclusive color different grille different wheels different guage faces, that huge wing on the back, manufavturer ordered hand wash only and the JCW engine kit suspension and brakes but even the engine kit has more to it, different control arms on the suspension.


Whereas JCW is the factory version of a handful of basic upgrades from ALTA, Fireballed, John Cooper Motorsport, M7, MINI -Maddness, WMS or any other manufacturer at more cost with less power to keep your warranty. (And now here comes the JCW flamers)

 

You invited the flames.

So, you're saying the GP is a JCW with the rear seat removed and cosmetic add ons. Wow that sure makes it a different car. It's what American car manufacturers have done forever: change the look and call it an all new car. A whopping 8 HP difference between the two cars, and some weight savings from the lack of rear seats and some sheet steel.

Not sure what you attemped to say at the end there, but the JCW is all John Cooper Works. Historical and traditional tie in to the original Mini super tuners.