Mini JCW - Mind Blown

[sicasey]

I'm nearly a week into ownership of a new JCW hatch and my mind is completely blown by the way this thing performs.

I ordered blindly based on reviews and it has by far exceeded my expectations. I knew it would be quick but this is next level.

It's massively underrated in my opinion. For a point to point premium hot hatch I can't see how you can get much quicker / have more fun for the money (new).

Bravo Mini

Edited by sicasey on Tuesday 31st July 20:00

[tallstevef]

Might have to try one of these - tried the Cooper S and that was fairly brisk. The only other premium Hot Hatch which might give it a run for its money could be the Audi S1. Drove one of those and it was a little animal!

[Wilmslowboy]

Yep -

I never gave them a second thought (always a Golf GTI family) until my chance I bought my wife one (long story).


Hers is a 2015 and is about the most fun car we have owned, the ride is a bit hard, but full on 4 wheel drifts around roundabouts are easliy possible (so i've been told).....

[superlightr]

sicasey said:

I'm nearly a week into ownership of a new JCW hatch and my mind is completely blown by the way this thing performs.

I ordered blindly based on reviews and it has by far exceeded my expectations. I knew it would be quick but this is next level.

It's massively underrated in my opinion. For a point to point premium hot hatch I can't see how you can get much quicker / have more fun for the money (new).

Bravo Mini

Edited by sicasey on Tuesday 31st July 20:00

looks great - love the colour.

Did you get is brand new or used? I cant see the JCW on the mini config but a few lightly used.

[Dr Interceptor]

They are epic, and even better once you lop the roof off

It's with regret that I am parting with my Sept 2016 JCW Convertible - just 14k miles on the clock.

[cerb4.5lee]

Great colour, I love my Cooper S so I can only imagine how much more fun the JCW is with its extra power/better brakes etc.

Enjoy it!

[sicasey]

superlightr said:

looks great - love the colour.

Did you get is brand new or used? I cant see the JCW on the mini config but a few lightly used.

I got one of the last batch before they halted production due to the emissions debacle.

I was assured that production would once again be starting soon.

[sicasey]

cerb4.5lee said:

Great colour, I love my Cooper S so I can only imagine how much more fun the JCW is with its extra power/better brakes etc.

Enjoy it!

Cheers! Starlight blue, apparently a new mini colour option.

I actually want to try a Cooper S to see if there's much difference between the two.

[nunpuncher]

sicasey said:

I got one of the last batch before they halted production due to the emissions debacle.

I was assured that production would once again be starting soon.

I was in the local mini shop at the weekend pricing up a Cooper S and mentioned that I might just get a JCW only to be told maybe March next year at the earliest and probably be different from the old one.

I'm not really sure what to do. I worry I'll get bored with a sub 200bhp Cooper S but I guess it can always be "enhanced".

[cerb4.5lee]

nunpuncher said:

I'm not really sure what to do. I worry I'll get bored with a sub 200bhp Cooper S but I guess it can always be "enhanced".

I'm almost a year into my Cooper S and I've not got bored with it yet as standard, occasionally it would be nice to have some more shove but it feels pretty good as it is and you can throw it around and trust it pretty well.

If I enhanced mine(been toying with the idea for months!) I'd have to upgrade the brakes because they don't inspire any confidence(I'd definitely crash if I tuned it and left the brakes standard!).

[cerb4.5lee]

sicasey said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Great colour, I love my Cooper S so I can only imagine how much more fun the JCW is with its extra power/better brakes etc.

Enjoy it!

Cheers! Starlight blue, apparently a new mini colour option.

I actually want to try a Cooper S to see if there's much difference between the two.

I absolutely love Starlight blue and if that colour was available on the pre Lci I'd have gone for that colour for sure.

[neilf]

sicasey said:

superlightr said:

looks great - love the colour.

Did you get is brand new or used? I cant see the JCW on the mini config but a few lightly used.

I got one of the last batch before they halted production due to the emissions debacle.

I was assured that production would once again be starting soon.

There are quite a few ‘brand new’ LCI JCWs in dealer stock at present, but you are right, production has stopped until further notice due to emissions stuff. Apparently the JCW is causing MINI issues meeting its CO2 targets (taken as an average across all models). Taken out of production until the electric MINI arrives in 2019. The electric MINIs zero CO2 output will then offset the JCW. If you want a JCW, better be quick or wait until next year!

[sicasey]

neilf said:

There are quite a few ‘brand new’ LCI JCWs in dealer stock at present, but you are right, production has stopped until further notice due to emissions stuff. Apparently the JCW is causing MINI issues meeting its CO2 targets (taken as an average across all models). Taken out of production until the electric MINI arrives in 2019. The electric MINIs zero CO2 output will then offset the JCW. If you want a JCW, better be quick or wait until next year!

Madness, I 'get it' but halting production on a model in demand? Potentially a good result for owners of lightly used JCWs I suppose.

[art200380]

Great to read this - was browsing round my local Mini dealership forecourt at the weekend (Halliwell Jones) and sat in an unregistered one they had in their showroom. Was amazed how nice it was (inside and out).

The following day I was trying to do a deal on it but they wouldn't play ball on a discount off RRP so I started looking on AT and the Approved Mini site....anyway, long story short, I'm picking up a 6mth old ex-management JCW from Williams Bolton tomorrow after work!

Hope it's a good as the OP experience!!

[superlightr]

art200380 said:

Great to read this - was browsing round my local Mini dealership forecourt at the weekend (Halliwell Jones) and sat in an unregistered one they had in their showroom. Was amazed how nice it was (inside and out).

The following day I was trying to do a deal on it but they wouldn't play ball on a discount off RRP so I started looking on AT and the Approved Mini site....anyway, long story short, I'm picking up a 6mth old ex-management JCW from Williams Bolton tomorrow after work!

Hope it's a good as the OP experience!!

excellent - remember to post pics please. !!

[sicasey]

art200380 said:

Great to read this - was browsing round my local Mini dealership forecourt at the weekend (Halliwell Jones) and sat in an unregistered one they had in their showroom. Was amazed how nice it was (inside and out).

The following day I was trying to do a deal on it but they wouldn't play ball on a discount off RRP so I started looking on AT and the Approved Mini site....anyway, long story short, I'm picking up a 6mth old ex-management JCW from Williams Bolton tomorrow after work!

Hope it's a good as the OP experience!!

Great to hear! What colour is it?

And please post some pics up when you’ve got it.

[highway]

I added the JCW pro tuning kit to my 2015 Cooper S. the kit looked expensive especially given what the aftermarket can provide for £1500. However, I wanted to stay OEM. The kit is fantastic. The exhaust sounds great and the extra punch from the ECU flash feels like more than 20bhp. I highly recommend it.

[sicasey]

highway said:

I added the JCW pro tuning kit to my 2015 Cooper S. the kit looked expensive especially given what the aftermarket can provide for £1500. However, I wanted to stay OEM. The kit is fantastic. The exhaust sounds great and the extra punch from the ECU flash feels like more than 20bhp. I highly recommend it.

It's a shame that sales of the Pro kit via Mini have also been stopped until JCW production starts again.

[steve-5snwi]

You can still buy the kit, they just won't sell it for cars registered after November 2017.

[Dr Interceptor]

sicasey said:

It's a shame that sales of the Pro kit via Mini have also been stopped until JCW production starts again.

It's stopped because it would need to be WLTP harmonised in order for it to remain on sale beyond Sept 1st. From what I've heard this is a massive ball ache for the manufacturers, and is the reason why many have simply 'dropped' models.

VW have dropped the basic Golf GTI and downgraded the power on the R
MINI have dropped the JCW