Newbie: Cooper s vs JCW

[CHRIS4414]

Hi im new to the forums today

I am looking into getting a Mini Cooper

The models i am interested in are the Cooper S and JCW.

I was just wondering whether the JCW is worth the extra money?

Can you get the JCW kits after you have purchased the mini e.g aero? I was thinking about getting a Cooper S and putting the Aero kit on the car as i prefer the look of the JCW.

Thanks

[300bhp/ton]

I too have pondered this.

And I think the answer is - its up to you.


Personally I don't like any of the carbon trim or the bodykit on the JCW and think the S looks a lot better. But I know others will disagree.

In road tests I've read lots of them say the e-diff in the JCW is a pain on bumpy British B roads. Loads of grip on smooth roads but a bit of a PITA at other times. I guess this then come down to personal preference on what you want from the car and your driving styles.

I do like the shift light and of course the extra power.

You can get more power from an S though, but of course if you are buying new it'll affect your warranty. Also the JCW block is stronger (according to BMW) so this may be worth considering if you are tempted to up the anti by a lot.

I guess the biggest thing for me is:

a) you get very little kit included with the JCW package and it costs a fair amount

b) the S is still good

c) the JCW kit came with stuff I just didn't want (bumpers) yet still had to pay for and end up with


If it was me I'd rather go for a well specced and sorted S instead of a same price lesser specced JCW.

But then again, if pace is what you are after the JCW does have a decent HP advantage. Here my view is a little tainted as I wouldn't be considering either as a full out performance vehicle. But if its your only car and possibly the fastest you've owned so far then it'd play a much bigger consideration.

[CHRIS4414]

Quote: Originally Posted by 300bhp/ton (original)

I too have pondered this.

And I think the answer is - its up to you.


Personally I don't like any of the carbon trim or the bodykit on the JCW and think the S looks a lot better. But I know others will disagree.

In road tests I've read lots of them say the e-diff in the JCW is a pain on bumpy British B roads. Loads of grip on smooth roads but a bit of a PITA at other times. I guess this then come down to personal preference on what you want from the car and your driving styles.

I do like the shift light and of course the extra power.

You can get more power from an S though, but of course if you are buying new it'll affect your warranty. Also the JCW block is stronger (according to BMW) so this may be worth considering if you are tempted to up the anti by a lot.

I guess the biggest thing for me is:

a) you get very little kit included with the JCW package and it costs a fair amount

b) the S is still good

c) the JCW kit came with stuff I just didn't want (bumpers) yet still had to pay for and end up with


If it was me I'd rather go for a well specced and sorted S instead of a same price lesser specced JCW.

But then again, if pace is what you are after the JCW does have a decent HP advantage. Here my view is a little tainted as I wouldn't be considering either as a full out performance vehicle. But if its your only car and possibly the fastest you've owned so far then it'd play a much bigger consideration.

Thanks for the reply.

I am more after the look rather than speed, although speed and power is kind of important, therefore i would definately want a 1.6 cooper, although i am not really wanting to go further than the standard setup, but may consider it.

I personally really like the look of the JCW, but i also really like the Cooper S, so like you say maybe it is just best to go with a well specced S rather than a JCW.

I also really like the sound of the JCW exhaust, but i have had a look around and it seems to cost £600 - £900 which i am not going to pay for as although it would sound slighty better the S appears to have a nice enugh sound.

[mooneymini]

If you are contemplating about the two and you have the money for either then go for the JCW.

To add it at a later date doesnt seem worthwhile if you could have done it from the start.

If you go for a standard Cooper S, you will love it to peices, but will possible wonder if you should have gone down JCW route

[CHRIS4414]

Quote: Originally Posted by mooneymini (original)

If you are contemplating about the two and you have the money for either then go for the JCW.

To add it at a later date doesnt seem worthwhile if you could have done it from the start.

If you go for a standard Cooper S, you will love it to peices, but will possible wonder if you should have gone down JCW route

Yes, that is what i thought that i would get the cooper S and then think ah i wish i had got the JCW now, but to be honest i am not really too sure i want the JCW for performance, more that i prefer the look but the performanc would also be a very good bonus as it would give more power, but then it is slightly more for the insurance. Also it depends how much extra you have to pay for a JCW in comparison to a S i suppose. I would be buying second hand, as you seem to be able to pick up quite good ones for a good price TBH compared to brand new.

Does anyone know how much extra you would pay for a JCW over a S second hand?

Do the Cooper S owners enjoy you Minis and are satisified?

Do the JCW owners find the JCW noticeably better than the S, in terms of performance?

Are there any common problems with the Mini Coopers?

Thanks

[mooneymini]

I have a Cooper S and think it is excellent.

I do on the other hand wish every so often that it was a little bit faster, but I am young and with little/no no claims bonus I couldnt afford to buy and insure a JCW.

I planned on having my Cooper S for 2 years and then trading up to a JCW.

[deep]

Hi
I,m new too and am awaiting the arrival of my new mini cooper s, I pondered for ages over the same question youve asked and in the end decided to opt out of the JCW as I thought it was just too overpriced for the little you get with it as standard. I,ve equiped my cooper s with a JCW aero kit and specced out the inside fairly much. I,ve spent ages on this web site reading the comments and views and the two well worth a look are performance torque for tuning and newministuff.com for all things electrical, links from the site sponsers. Everyone on this site appears to be very helpful and honest and the site sponsers are worth a special mention, good luck in your decision.

[iain cooper]

there's also the thought that eveyone and his/her dog seems to have a cooper S, but the JCW is not as common.

I would agree that if you have the money go for the JCW as it is the business.

I have thought of changing my cooper for a JCW as I probably could afford it, but what puts me off is the problems ( if you read the forum you'll see ) that still in my mind are unacceptable for a car in that price bracket.

shame really...............

[mooneymini]

I had to drive a new Vauxhall Astra sri Diesel today. When I got back into my Cooper S to drive home I couldn't have hoped for anything better.

[CHRIS4414]

Thanks for all the replies

I have been looking at the S and JCW. The JCW seems to be around £1000 extra but can vary quite alot, deending on the spec etc.

Some of the S's actaully look really nice so i am tempted just to go with one of those, but i still really like the JCW.

[jlove]

Having had a Cooper (still got it with 174,000 mi on the clock), a R56 MCS and now a factory JCW, the first question I'd ask you is "what do you drive now?"; it's all relative. Have you driven a FWD car with 200+ horses?

The JCW has that extra bite over the MCS (and the MCS mechanical LSD can put up a fight, too) and is longer-geared but will you use it? It does sound, from your postings, that you are after the looks rather than the power, so I'd pick the power you can live with - Cooper/MCS/JCW - and add the cosmetics that you want.

[CHRIS4414]

Quote: Originally Posted by jlove (original)

Having had a Cooper (still got it with 174,000 mi on the clock), a R56 MCS and now a factory JCW, the first question I'd ask you is "what do you drive now?"; it's all relative. Have you driven a FWD car with 200+ horses?

The JCW has that extra bite over the MCS (and the MCS mechanical LSD can put up a fight, too) and is longer-geared but will you use it? It does sound, from your postings, that you are after the looks rather than the power, so I'd pick the power you can live with - Cooper/MCS/JCW - and add the cosmetics that you want.

Yes i know what you mean about what car you drive at the moment as if it was a 1.2 then a cooper would be and feel far faster but a 2.0 turbo would feel completely different to a cooper s. At current i drive a 1.6 focus so it will be different i take it, most probably feel more powerful. Is that correct?

Also earlier in the post iain cooper said that there are many problems with JCW, also i have heard there are some issues with the S. I have searched the forums but am un able to find some clear poblems with each of the models. If possible could someone provide me with a link or provide the faults as i would appreciate it very much.

[Elliex]

IMO the cooper S is fast enough
i was looking into getting a JCW, the same reason as you, i think they look alot nicer with the kit.
but it's alot more running cost, petrol, tax, insurance, tyres, and apparently you need to service them alot more often.

if you have the money go for it!! i would if i was loaded, but with my wage i'm comfortable running a Cooper S and still having money left over. I wouldn't want to be working just to run my car.

what model is it? R56 or 2001 - 2006? there are websites you can get a JCW kit for around 700 sprayed for the older version.

i've got a red R56 cooper s, and was thinking of putting the kit on it. Dereck woodman mini quoted me around £990 inc vat for the kit sprayed, i told my local mini, they rung up dereck woodman and confirmed it, and quoted me £950! so it's not that much extra to get the kit considering the running of the car for the years you have it..

x

[CHRIS4414]

Quote: Originally Posted by Elliex (original)

IMO the cooper S is fast enough
i was looking into getting a JCW, the same reason as you, i think they look alot nicer with the kit.
but it's alot more running cost, petrol, tax, insurance, tyres, and apparently you need to service them alot more often.

if you have the money go for it!! i would if i was loaded, but with my wage i'm comfortable running a Cooper S and still having money left over. I wouldn't want to be working just to run my car.

what model is it? R56 or 2001 - 2006? there are websites you can get a JCW kit for around 700 sprayed for the older version.

i've got a red R56 cooper s, and was thinking of putting the kit on it. Dereck woodman mini quoted me around £990 inc vat for the kit sprayed, i told my local mini, they rung up dereck woodman and confirmed it, and quoted me £950! so it's not that much extra to get the kit considering the running of the car for the years you have it..

x

Thanks for that.

I will do that then for sure. Get a cooper s and put the aero kit on it, and thats not too much.

I agree with you in terms of running costs and servicing, i would prefer a cheaper car to run but still have the looks with your method.

I may also get the JCW bacbox to finish it off as that looks really nice and also sounds nice and i have found on another thread they are around £250.

[Vickster]

I have had my JCW less than a week (wanted as much power as possible hence not the 'normal' S and it is a pocket rocket) and it is a thirsty beast and only drinks super UL. I don't know whether servicing is more, mine has 8k miles on indicator still. Running costs not really a problem for me as I don't do many miles. Insurance will also be only £350 for me, but if you are a youngster then it must be quite painful. Mine has the Aero kit and looks really good http://images.pistonheads.com/aimg/1113/1113344-1.jpg.

Go for the S with kit, I don't think you'll regret it