Possible New JCW Owner Help....

[envy]

Hi People,
I did think of buying an S and instead I drove the S JCW (06 Plate) a few months ago and got out smiling due to the power/sound and overall feel! I even went to the dealer yesterday but again felt that I want an S JCW not just an S.
So as I don’t know anyone with an S JCW and can only take dealers word, can you JCW owners be of any help…
Whether I should go with a cheaper full speced Pre-facelift,or a Facelift model (as I know that its 210 BHP and no "flat spots" on the facelift)

What MPG would you realistically get from an S JCW (Facelift model)… The dealer said 18 MPG usually, and the MINI Press say about 21 MPG.. What would I actually get driving it steady?

Are the high mileage S JCWs a problem, something I heard from a dealer was that high milage JCWs were prone to problems??

Is it a car I can do normal driving in, without it feeling too overbearing on short slow journeys

Would you recommend it?
Im only after a low spec 54 Plate S JCW, so what do you think… I know I could get a GTT Conversion but Insurance would be a problem.
Thanks for your opinions as I really need to know if I could live with it! Going from a cooper with 38 MPG to 18 is a concern

[Rakey]

Get the facelfited version is my vote, as the gear ratios are better and the build quality a bit better too

I average around 22mpg, and I don't exactly take it steady, I don't think you can in a JCW its just begging to be driven hard

I do all kinds of journeys in mine, be it the short journey to the shops or work, or a 5 hour motorway trek, its hard work in mine on the longer journeys but thats main due to the wind noise of the convertible and JCW seats, but I'd have to say that every journey is so much fun

[Gonza888]

Hehe, that dealer is really trying hard to sell you a new car. Go for the facelifted jcw, you won't regret it. I've done 30,000km on mine and i've had it for about 9 months and it's just great. Fuel consumption i can't really tell, here we measure litres per 100 km, but i can tell you it's not that much

[Haggi]

my mate gets about 34 mpg out of his 54 plate JCW i get the same out my cooper but i do tend to hoon it rather a lot

[Will_'S']

18mpg you'd have to be driving it hard to get that i can get 370 miles (33mpg) out of my gp which is roughly the same set up as the JCW but that is motorway driving round town it'd prob drop to about 28mpg being driven sensibly the big difference is the harder you drive the harder it drinks as i managed to get 150 miles out of 3/4 a tank the other weekend

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Will_'S' (original)

18mpg you'd have to be driving it hard to get that i can get 370 miles (33mpg) out of my gp which is roughly the same set up as the JCW but that is motorway driving round town it'd prob drop to about 28mpg being driven sensibly the big difference is the harder you drive the harder it drinks as i managed to get 150 miles out of 3/4 a tank the other weekend

or 15.6mpg if you were chasing a GP around some lanes in Lancs

[Tonyt3]

Around 7mpg on a track day..... :-))))

It is an expensive car to run, though I think the dealer is lying to you by saying high milers are prone to problems - not in my experience. Dealers dont sell high milage cars, so he's trying to almost force you to buy at a dealer by telling you that......

Just remember, anything a dealer says is said to get you to part with your cash at his establishment.....

theres plenty of second hand choice - try to find someone whose trading up to a new car, they may well drop their price when they are under pressure with a new car arriving. Very few people want to sell to a dealer with some of the trade in figures that they quote.....

[Will_'S']

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

or 15.6mpg if you were chasing a GP around some lanes in Lancs

Really i clocked between 18 & 25 ,o and i've solved the irratic sliding problem bald runflats

[BlueMax]

I have an April 04 MCS just before facelift, had the latest JCW kit installed (210hp) after 15000km. Fuel consumption went up marginally - I can compare because of the for and after situation. Remember all MCS's are reasonably hard on fuel. Agree with advice already given - go for a facelifted model, mainly because of the shorter gear ratios and also try and find one that has the limited slip diff installed - this was a factory option on the facelifted models gearbox. Whatever you do, go for the JCW - it is a hoot to drive, it can be sensible or as wild as you want to drive it. If driven "normally", I find it more quiet with the Works and driveability in sixth gear is excellent as well. Now you only have to decide on the colour - it is that simple!

[Tone]

If you are concerned about the cost of petrol, envy [and who isn't] don't forget to get an insurance quote. Have you got any NCB?

As others have said, your dealer sounds about par for the course

[cct1]

I bought a 2006 MCS, and in retrospect wish I would have gotten the JCW. At the time I bought it (new) I wasn't sure if I was going to trade it in for a R56, or add the JCW and hold on to it for awhile. After seeing the R56 (although not having driven one), I opted to hang on to my 2006 and add the kit--not the most economically sound decision, but I just couldn't stand the thought of getting rid of it, at least until the R56 JCW is out (Not bashing the R56; its just that I prefer the look of the 2006 after having seen the 2007. I haven't driven one, but I love the rawness of the 2006; when this car dies, I'll sadly move on and get an R56.).

So after driving the stock 2006 MCS for over a year, then adding the JCW engine kit, here's my 2 cents:

JCW is definitely the way to go. It sounds like you're buying used, so your not dealing with the initial expense/depreciation, which is significant. I haven't noticed a huge drop in gas mileage--I average 21 mpg, but I drive the car fairly hard (track season is coming up soon).

For spirited driving, the increased torque, and its accessibility at lower RPMs is pure joy. The car pulls noticeably better--I had a little stumble in first gear when the car was stock that disappeared with the JCW--a nice, linear acceleration in all gears. And I can actually accelerate in 6th gear now, whereas before acceleration was very slow and I'd usually downshift to 5th if passing. The amazing thing is how smooth it does all of this--the kit is perfectly mated to the car.

What surprised me the most, however, was the difference it made in everyday driving. I wasn't expecting much here, as I'd read that the JCW makes most of the difference in higher gears/higher RPMs, but thats definitely an oversimplification. The increased torque is definitely still noticeable in lower gears and RPMs, the end result being that the car is easier to drive for every day type of stuff than the stock MCS is. I don't have to downshift for extra oomph anymore, whereas I used to do that quite frequently when the car was stock.

As for the visceral experience of driving the car, the exhaust is a little quieter initially than the stock MCS, but its a lower, smoother growl. Wish it was a smidgeon louder, but the note itself is great. And when the air flap opens at approximately 4000RPM, the sound of the supercharger whine is fantastic, and the car is quite a bit louder than it was stock. In fact, with the increased torque and noise, I find myself shifting the JCW too soon--the noise at 5000 RPMs in the JCW is roughly equivalent to 6000-6500 in the stock MCS, so have to remind myself to hold the gear longer in the JCW. Hasn't become second nature yet, but it will. Nice problem to have.....As an added bonuse, burbels more than stock, which I also get a kick out of. Its just ear candy, but it really gives the car character!

So if you can get the JCW at a reasonable price, I'd definitely go that route.

[MiniNana]

JCW's RULE!!! I've said this before and I'll say it again. They are a blast to drive. My husband has a JCW GP and he loves that car. We both have LSD and 18" JCW wheels which make for a rather rough ride and you need to be careful not to hit pot holes and the like. I've had both strut towers mushroom with my Dinan front strut brace (cracked both brackets and bowed the brace, too) but all that's been repaired and I now sport an M7 strut brace. I get around 25 mpg combined in mine and I drive like a granny on crack. My husband is more conservative with his driving, and he still gets between 24-26 mpg combined. You won't regret getting the JCW though, trust us. Keep up informed as to what you decide to do. We've seen the R56's and that may be a way to go, too. Good luck!

[envy]

Hi People,
Thanks for all your comments, its definitely given me an in-site into the JCW. I loved it when I drove it for 15 minutes and just wanted it right away!

Heres some background for you… I currently own a Mini Cooper 2006 (Nearly a year old) and it’s a great car for around town driving and sitting in traffic… however… sometimes you want a bit of fun whilst driving and for that the Mini Cooper doesn’t do it for me (the sound, power, look e.t.c.).

I currently get about 34-35 MPG in my cooper which is OK but don’t do many miles anyway (ive done 7000 in a year). Going to a 54 plate may be seen as a downgrade in some sort of way, but im after a low mileage example with a decent spec e.g. HK Stereo, Auto Air Con too. For the same dealers seem to be hitting the £16k price which I think is a bit steep.

Knowing that it needs an MOT in like 6 months too!! What do you think, I reckon 14-15k for a 54 plate would be a better deal?

Im also trying to get the right price on my cooper, but with silly dealer prices being quoted its not going too well! So watch this space, I love the JCW and 99% sure its my next car. However ive got to find the right spec, price, part ex trade in price which means a whole lot of work!!

Also Is there any problems I should look out for when buying? Any known JCW issues?
With regards to insurance im only 21, but have 4 Years NCB. Meaning an annual premium of £900 Fully Comp which isnt bad bearing in mind my age and the car grouping (I pay £600 for my cooper), but x/s of £500 standard is steep!

Thanks again!

[Shamster]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

or 15.6mpg if you were chasing a GP around some lanes in Lancs

I wonder what mpg the JCW that was in front of the pack must've got!

The only problem you'll have with the shorter journeys will be trying not to press the loud pedal too hard.

[envy]

Valued the 54 Plate i saw today at 16k. The PCP agreement showed a balloon payment of 6k in three years , and said thats what they saw thought it would be worth at that point

Anyway its prob cause its a 54 plate, i got an excuse to look for a newer one! Plus didnt move on my price again for mine, so i decided id throw it up for sale privately too!

Matter of times so weeks, months.... years i hope not