JCW potential newbie

[K19RKS]

Hi Guys,

I have a max budget of £12k, looking to get a 55 plate (ish) JCW.

Although considering my options to a certain degree.

I am just wondering opinions on buying a £12k JCW vs buying a nice £9.5k Cooper S Chilli, and taking a trip down south to have the GTT £2.5k option, think its GTT 3 or 4!

For me there is the fact that I would own a geniune JCW and its retail value would remain decent, whereas modified cars always lose value (but is this the case with minis?)

But then again with the GTT option I would have spent the same money, bought a Cooper S with a Chilli pack so similar options and have more BHP?

Also is buying from a main mini dealer all its cracked up to be?

Opinions greatly appreciated

Cheers, Steve

[Bonnie Scotland]

Oh boy, what a dilemma, only you can really justify your route.
Sure, residuals are gonna be better with a fully branded BMW MINI for a trade in as opposed to your other option, but not by much in my opinion anyway.

If your 55 plate still carries warranty and TLC, that's something to consider, if you opt for a GTT will your local dealer still perform the TLC services??
But, it's so close to running out that it may not matter.

Simply put, do you want power or not? if you do i'd go the cheaper route, get a better specced S and go for the GTT, but, be careful, it's a dangerous place to keep your wallet in your pooch

[Keano]

TBH I was in a similar position as you when I bought my car and went with the JCW for all the usual reasons of warranty prestige etc etc... and I dont regret it either!

BUT had I not got the JCW I would have simply bought the best standard spec S I could find (with TLC, Chili pack, aero kit, xenons etc etc) and bought a 15% pulley, belt, colder plugs, JCM cat back exhaust and a Janspeed manifold... these mods would be about £1k and would probably have about 230bhp (?) plus a very well specced MCS which is fast and makes a nice noise!

Once you have posted a few more times send me a PM and I can give you a bit more info...

[K19RKS]

it is a hard decision but I am swayin to a jcw. I suppose another important question is... What can you do to a jcw?

[Keano]

Quote: Originally Posted by K19RKS (original)

it is a hard decision but I am swayin to a jcw. I suppose another important question is... What can you do to a jcw?

Same sort of thought pattern that I went through...

I have an uprated Intercooler, my next mod will be to upgrade my air filter and modify the JCW air box then Im going to get a manifold...

If your dead certain on modifying your car it may be better to start with a standard S as you can pick and choose mods depending upon what you want to get out of your car... If you have a JCW then you may find yourself changing parts which effectively you have already paid for - for example getting a 15% pulley when you get a 11/12% pulley with the JCW kit...

In short you can do the same things to the JCW that you would to a standard S when modifying just that you may defeat the point in having a JCW in the first place by doing so...

(IMO )

[Ant FR]

let me confuse some more.

12k puts you in R56 territory. That means a years warranty, new shape Turbo engine which usually RR at 190bhp standard and are just as fast as Gen 1 JCW due to the higher torque. Low milage, low tax, 100 miles more per tank of fuel Just doign a crude search you can pick some up for 11 but those are low spec, chilli spec cars creep in at 12-12500 but obviously you can haggle down to meet your budget.

Sorry to add confsuin but you are in the middle on money

heres an example of autotrader of a new shape you copuld afford, good spec, nice looking and average milage. that would be my choice having owned both.

Auto Trader UK - MINI COOPER S 1.6 3dr [Chili Pack] Hatchback

and here

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...icleRegLetter=

[Bonnie Scotland]

Sounds like you want to get more out of your car than a JCW can give you.
My advice now is to get a cheap S and go for the turbo conversion, all in approx the same price as your want to spend, plus, you get 300BHP

[jayxx83]

JCW all the way. Driven a standard S, modded s with pulley, JCW and an 08 plate S Turbo.

The standard s just feels too slow, the modded power delivery is no where near as smooth as the factory jcw. the 08 plate s feels really nice, but a bit too much torque from low down meaning its really easy to spin up... goes a bit breathless towards the end of third as standard although a remap and exhaust on the turbo would sort that out no problemo.

[K19RKS]

Quote: Originally Posted by jayxx83 (original)

JCW all the way. Driven a standard S, modded s with pulley, JCW and an 08 plate S Turbo.

The standard s just feels too slow, the modded power delivery is no where near as smooth as the factory jcw. the 08 plate s feels really nice, but a bit too much torque from low down meaning its really easy to spin up... goes a bit breathless towards the end of third as standard although a remap and exhaust on the turbo would sort that out no problemo.

I did notice the smoothness of the JCW when I drove it.

I think the only real option for me is a R56 Cooper S or the Gen 1 JCW. I dont like the idea of modifying a Gen 1 Cooper S compared to the JCW.

One of the biggest plus points for me on the JCW gen 1 was the whine from the super charger so if i went for a gen 2 Cooper S I reckon I would miss that. I also think i prefer the rareness factor associated with the JCW.

At the moment I am still swaying towards the gen 1 JCW, cheers for all the responses.

[K19RKS]

What kind of miles per gallon should I expect on average from a gen 1 JCW?

Cheers

[Ant FR]

Quote: Originally Posted by K19RKS (original)

What kind of miles per gallon should I expect on average from a gen 1 JCW?

Cheers

a tank on a JCW gen 1 will give you roughly 260-280 miles on average.

a tank on a R56 cooper S turbo will give you roughly 360-380 miles on average

you do the maths

[GP1904]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ant FR (original)

a tank on a JCW gen 1 will give you roughly 260-280 miles on average.

a tank on a R56 cooper S turbo will give you roughly 360-380 miles on average

you do the maths

I get at least 320-350 miles from a tank of 97-99 octane fuel in my GP, I drive mainly country roads and don't spare the throttle.

[Keano]

Quote: Originally Posted by GP1904 (original)

I get at least 320-350 miles from a tank of 97-99 octane fuel in my GP, I drive mainly country roads and don't spare the throttle.

Me too - although mine isnt a GP (sadly) just a JCW - I run V-Power...

I shouldnt worry too much about fuel economy though as these cars are for having fun in - both the R56 and R53 version will drink fuel if pushed...

You can use 300 miles and about £35 for a tank as a guide for budgeting if that is the basis of your question.... When chosing my car I budgeted for 25mpg ave with 250 miles and £50 per tank - Im beating that by some way, did 34.8mpg ave for last year...

[K19RKS]

I am an accountant so sorry if this gets over detailed.

Based on a gen 1 JCW....

Full tank is roughly £35 then, so @ 95.9 ppl for vpower = £36.5 litres = 8.2 gallons roughly,

300/8.2 is roughly 36.5 mpg, that would be amazing, i have budgetted on 21 mpg, i only do 600-700 miles per month, so on that basis it would cost me about £70, less than half my budget of £150.

I do have a heavy foot though but even if i got 25 mpg it would only cost me about £110,

Prob a daft question but why is the turbo so much more efficient??

Cheers

[Keano]

Quote: Originally Posted by K19RKS (original)

Prob a daft question but why is the turbo so much more efficient??

First thing is that the engine in the R56 with the turbo is a newer engine

More accurately however its just a fact of the workings of a turbo and supercharger - in short the supercharger is driven by the engine which takes up some of the engines power (IIRC the supercharger on the SLR uses 100bhp to make it turn) the turbo is spun up using the exhaust gases....

Have a look here:
HowStuffWorks "What is the difference between a turbocharger and a supercharger on a car's engine?"