It makes you wonder where John Cooper get there prices from for the S kit.!!

[dinger]

This really does make me wonder where the hell MINI/John Cooper get there prices from.

Below is a article from Auto Express.




Z Car Packs An Extra Punch


f you're worried the Nissan 350Z might not be quick enough for you, don't fret - a 300bhp tuning pack is to be offered when the car goes on sale in October.

The kit has been produced by the Japanese maker's motorsport division, NisMo, and will be the first in a series of uprated mainstream Nissan models which are bound for UK showrooms.

The 350Z's performance pack - due to be announced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next weekend - is to be offered through dealers as an option. It includes a stainless steel exhaust, reprogrammed engine management system and a new air filter to boost power from 276bhp to 300bhp.
Torque will increase from 363Nm to 380Nm.

While the upgrade's cost has yet to be finalised, it's expected to be about £1,000. Another £1,500 will buy a styling pack called the NisMo Aero Kit. This includes side skirts, a race-style rear spoiler and special lightweight wheels.

NisMo add-ons are also set to filter down through the rest of the Nissan range, and an insider has hinted that the Micra is next in line for the tweaks. "We're aware the Micra has a somewhat feminine image, so a performance model is the way to appeal to a male audience," said our source. "Just look at Renault's Clio - it used to be Nicole's car, but the 172 and V6 have made it desirable to young men." The NisMo-tuned Micra will use an uprated version of the 1.4-litre engine and feature suspension and styling modifications. Tom

[KenL]

Is it because the JCW includes an uprated supercharger and a re-machined head whereas the Nissan thing only implements simple changes such as fitting a new exhaust and filter as well as re-mapping the ECU which apart from development cost is virtually free to carry out.

Also the JCW gets ~40bhp = 25% increase whereas the Nissan is only 8.7%.

[dinger]

Ken, for a £1,000 you get an extra 24 bhp seems better value for money than the S works package.

[Washy]

I think we all agree the JCW kit is pricey and that there are alternative ways to tune the MINI for less if warranty and TLC are not an issue to you.

Having said that if you take Hartge conversion (which I think is good) and match it like for like with the JCW, that is to say include the Hartge exhaust the H kit is £2600 add on the cost of servicing to replace the tlc and there is not too much between the two in terms of price. Factor in the possibility that a MINI dealer might give you something back for the JCW where as they might not for the Hartge kit...that actually makes the JCW cheaper

Accountants eh

[KenL]

I agree Dinger, it does look better value. I was just trying to work out the economies of it.

That 350Z looks a cracking car though doesn't it? I read in Autocar that the Euro version nas better quality trim than those sold in the US/Japan too.

[dinger]

Dont get me wrong I'm not dissing the works package,but you have the manufacturer offering a performance upgrade on its new model at 1/4 of the price of {JCWS} that "correct me if I'm wrong" keeps the warranty intact.

[Washy]

Quote:

Originally posted by dinger
Dont get me wrong I'm not dissing the works package,but you have the manufacturer offering a performance upgrade on its new model at 1/4 of the price of {JCWS} that "correct me if I'm wrong" keeps the warranty intact.

Sure, the point I was making was that the alternatives are not as cheap as they seem.

You are quite right though. The Nissan kit does seem good value. I nearly went for a 350Z instead of another MINI, but it was just a bit more than I wanted to spend.

I guess at the end of the day it is just another example of BMW taking liberties with their pricing of options and accessories

[QQQ]

Quote:

Originally posted by washy
Sure, the point I was making was that the alternatives are not as cheap as they seem.

For the UK with TLC and 3 year warranty that's absolutely true, although Hartge is actually one of the more expensive aftermarket kits.

For continental Europe we get a total different picture though. For example in the Netherlands we do not have TLC and 'only' have a 2 year warranty. I paid € 2500 for tuning (including exhaust) and KW v2 coilovers! JCW kit over here is just over € 5000 and that's without coilovers. I think one of the reasons the JCW kit is so darn expensive is because of the ridiculous GBP - EURO exchange rate

[Paul]

I'd have to say it's because it's only an exhaust, chip reprogram, and an air-filter.

[SoggyCornFlakes]

I'd have to say it's a Nissan - did you see it on TG last week, looked a dog to me.

[Washy]

Quote:

Originally posted by QQQ
For the UK with TLC and 3 year warranty that's absolutely true, although Hartge is actually one of the more expensive aftermarket kits.

For continental Europe we get a total different picture though. For example in the Netherlands we do not have TLC and 'only' have a 2 year warranty. I paid € 2500 for tuning (including exhaust) and KW v2 coilovers! JCW kit over here is just over € 5000 and that's without coilovers. I think one of the reasons the JCW kit is so darn expensive is because of the ridiculous GBP - EURO exchange rate

You are right if there was no TLC and a shorter warranty in the UK things would be different. Looks like the work you have had done is good value.

The warranty thing weighs heavy with me though and that along with the fact I enjoyed the test car so much are the main reasons I went for the JCW option.
Having said that I was at the Autosport show earlier in the year and there is some really good aftermarket stuff out there for the S.
I actually like the idea that there are alternatives out there...just like the original mini

[Eric_Rowland]

Quote:

Originally posted by dinger
Ken, for a £1,000 you get an extra 24 bhp seems better value for money than the S works package.

You also get six cylinders with the Nissan... It's easier to get more horses from a bigger engine, so absolute #s aren't relevant.
Ken has it right looking at the % increase. If you want 9% more HP (~15hp) you can get that (purportedly) with intake and exhaust for close to that £1,000.
One quarter the % increase, one quarter the price - seems on par.
Now if Nissan offers a 96bhp (40%) increase in a package...

[LMB]

The JCW kit is expensive, that's not exactly news.

Other manufactures have cheaper up grade options, but they don't concern me. What does is the packages available for the Mini.

Like everyone else who got an engine upgrade I looked at the competition. I chose the Works Kit....

Simple as that.

[LMB]

Quote:

Originally posted by QQQ
I think one of the reasons the JCW kit is so darn expensive is because of the ridiculous GBP - EURO exchange rate

They are also trying to claw back some of the cost that went into the R&D of the kit in order for it to comply to a Global Market. If it was just for the UK/Europe (like Digi Tec/Hartge) the kit IMO would have been much cheaper.

[dinger]

As I said earlier I'm not slatting the JCW S kit and I pleased that you choose that route to go down LMB {as I would if I was in the market for a power increase}.

£1000 = extra 24bhp makes the Nissan very good value for money on the cost of the upgrade .