New Mini JCW

[Reg Local]

Picked this up for Mrs L yesterday.

John Cooper Works Sport in moonwalk grey/black roof. I can’t remember the packs we ordered, but it has the best spec nav, HUD, etc.

I only had a quick go in it yesterday evening, but first impressions were really good. Strong engine, excellent brakes, well sorted suspension with good ride quality & a real willingness to change direction.

The boss loves it & I think I may be borrowing it frequently!

Video incoming very soon.

[Yeti97]

Nice to see a new car with appropriately sized alloys/tyres. Looks great in that colour and sounds like a good drive. Hope you enjoy it!

[GaryF]

Looks great!

The aero (diffuser) at the back is much more pronounced and appealing than the GP3. Hope you both enjoy it

[cerb4.5lee]

Very nice and I like that a lot.

Enjoy it.

[Dolf Stoppard]

I really like what they've done with the facelift. Looks very smart.

[Wagonwheel555]

Is the diffuser and spoiler standard on the JCW models now?

Looks awesome

[Bungleaio]

Looks great, I really like the new facelift. Does it pop from the exhaust?

[davidc1]

Lovely mini. Enjoy.
Manual or auto?

[Reg Local]

Video as promised:

https://youtu.be/B2WXw5nZhoo

[davidc1]

Enjoyed that vid. Terrific review.

[Bungleaio]

Great video, Nice to see you like the manual box almost all jcw owners see the auto box as essential.

[Drekly]

Not a fan of the new facelift front end, but like the rest of the car. Lovely roads in the vid, if only the ones around here were as deserted!
Can't help but think the JCW is better suited to B road blasts on non-racetrack smooth tarmac than the GP3 from all the reviews of the latter.
For the JCW it does seem like passive suspension and 17 inch wheels is the way to go, then it doesn't get too firm in Sport mode.

As for the Fiesta ST you'd feel a bit of a tit in one over the age of 30 whereas the JCW has a more widespread appeal.
I think it has carved a useful niche for itself for pocket-sized performance with no direct rivals at the price (apart from the 500 Abarth, which is not even close).

[PT1984]

That is a good video. In fact compared to most of the ‘You tubers’ that is a great video. Technical understanding and from your deception I feel I fully understand how that car drives (not just because the wife has a Cooper S!) that video would sell me that car.

[Zetec-S]

Enjoyed that video Reg (and you've also picked up a new subscriber )

All the more because my wife has just placed an order for a JCW hatch, albeit with the auto box.