[ku2t]

Just asking for advice from anyone who's owned or had a good test of each.

I've got the cash for a new MCS chili, or a 12/18month old JCW R53.

Based on your experience which would you recommend?

Ta in advance

[Rakey]

tough choice, I've got a JCW at the moment, and I'm soon trading her in for an R56 MCS, both drive and feel different, but not in the sense of speed.

You really need to know what you want, what type of driving do you do etc..

Mine is going due to mileage and that I need something that is better on the MPG and more comfotable on the motorway.

[kevkbuk]

I ordered an R56, but you'll get lots of different opinions probably!

It really depends on what you want though. I orginally went to buy a JCW, but after back to back testing with a standard S I decided it wasn't worth the extra £s. Sure it was a little more powerful, but round the twisties the S was just as much fun. So I was all set to buy an R53 S but the fuel consumption put me off a little, so I started to look into the R56, and ended up ordering one...

As long as you can live without the supercharger whine, which is pretty easy IMHO, the R56 is the much better car I think.

You'll get comments from people about all 3 models though, so really you've gotta test drive them both and see what you think.

[Olly.]

I think the best advice would be to go to a dealer and test drive both back to back.

Some people will prefer the JCW and some will prefer new MCS

[Paul]

Similar performance on paper, very different characters. You should really try them both as already suggested.

[AidenL]

Totally different characters - but for myself, I'm moving with the times and going with the R56 early next year - I'll miss the whine for sure, but the preformance of the R56 is , imo, on a par with the R53 JCW

[tiger333888]

tough call pal. Either way you've be in motoring heaven!

Out of interest, where are you based - You have a dealer in mind?

[ASTON]

old jcw

is just far better wish i still had mine

[ku2t]

Thanks guys (and gals?!) for the great response. It's really useful to see how they compare to 'live with' which I don't think you can ever get on a test drive or even borrowing for a day or two.

I am currently looking through the mini cherished to find a dealer near to me ( Yorkshire) that has both models to compare.

I currently do 20k miles/yr 50/60% of which on the motorway, and looking at your responses I could possibly be better suited to a new model, but we shall see.

I was quite surprised that performance is very similar consider 35bhp difference - i assume this is down to torque/new fuel map.

Thanks again

[R1]

JCW is my vote. I've tested the R56 but I have no plans to change on many issues (I could give a list, but it's all been said before!).

Best try and test drive them and make your own mind up.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by ku2t (original)

I currently do 20k miles/yr 50/60% of which on the motorway, and looking at your responses I could possibly be better suited to a new model, but we shall see.

if thats how you will be using it then I'd say the R56, as getting 22mpg on 20k miles a year is a real killer, trust me

Good dealers to try are Williams Rochdale, or maybe even a trip out of Yorkshire to Woodmans, well worth it, think that might be where my next car comes from

[R1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

if thats how you will be using it then I'd say the R56, as getting 22mpg on 20k miles a year is a real killer, trust me

Good dealers to try are Williams Rochdale, or maybe even a trip out of Yorkshire to Woodmans, well worth it, think that might be where my next car comes from

Motorway work + spirited driving I'm getting around 29 MPG out of my JCW. That's about the same as the R56 acording to Pauls test. Must be that cabrio doing something to the MPG on yours!

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by R1 (original)

Motorway work + spirited driving I'm getting around 29 MPG out of my JCW. That's about the same as the R56 acording to Pauls test. Must be that cabrio doing something to the MPG on yours!

must admit to alot of mine been non-motorway, but still when on the motorway it sits at about 12mpg-24

You must drive like a girl

[R1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

must admit to alot of mine been non-motorway, but still when on the motorway it sits at about 12mpg-24

You must drive like a girl

Says the man with a cabriolet!



The lowest I have seen on mine is 24 MPG. I very rarely use it through town though.

[matt21]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

if thats how you will be using it then I'd say the R56, as getting 22mpg on 20k miles a year is a real killer, trust me

Good dealers to try are Williams Rochdale, or maybe even a trip out of Yorkshire to Woodmans, well worth it, think that might be where my next car comes from

is your hair on fire

dont have a works but was suprised by my MCS fuel comsumption. drive it hard and have averaged 32mpg since I got it!

like R1 said seems about the same for the new one

my vote would be JCW

[Paul]

I dont get that from my MCS, let alone the JCW!

[matt21]

that the "beauty" of the A5 all the way to work