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MINI JCW Reviewed

13K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  minigolf  
#1 · (Edited)
I have posted these in the JCW Forum accross several posts. Thought it best though to put the links together.

The JCW Mini has been reviewed by a few magazines as a First Drive. Here are the ones who have published articles on the web so far:

Autocar: Mini John Cooper Works - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk

Car Magazine: Mini John Cooper Works CAR review | Road Testing Reviews | Car Magazine Online

4Car: Mini John Cooper Works (200:cool: | Car Review | Road Test | 4car | Channel 4

Drivers Republic: DRIVERS-REPUBLIC.COM - Drivers Republic is a digital publication containing a website and digital magazine with videos, in-depth features and the most imaginative driving stories..

Most reviews are average, speaking of torque steer aplenty, and the new EDLC not being up to the job on B-roads, away from the track. Sounds like a fun car though, if not the most sorted in the class - maybe how a hot hatch should be?

"Car Keys" have an interesting take on the torque steer issue on p2 of this: MINI John Cooper Works | Road Tests, Auto Features

Auto Express: MINI Cooper | First Drives | Car Reviews | Auto Express
best verdict yet, though its not exactly an in depth review.

Top Gear: Mini John Cooper Works - Top Gear

Pistonheads: MINI John Cooper Works

Theres now a more in depth auto express review: Mini John Cooper Works | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express
 
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#6 ·
"Car Keys" have an interesting take on the torque steer issue on p2 of this: MINI John Cooper Works | Road Tests, Auto Features
They also say this:
"the Clubman won't be sold here until early 2009 because the extra body styling parts aren't ready for it, and MINI's customer research made it very clear that UK customers won't be interested until they are"

The first part of that sentence is completely accurate; the second part of that sentence is undoubtedly what the MINI PR person told them, and is total ballcocks. They jolly well know that there are UK customers who want the Clubman *right now* (and taunting us with comments in the press about the JCW Clubman is doing nothing to help the situation), and MINI tacitly acknowledge that the body styling parts aren't that important because they can be deleted from the order at the customer's option!
 
#10 ·
Which goes to show what journalists know these days - they're so used to having all their information spoonfed to them in press releases, they've stopped using their brains.

The JCW isn't really five grand more than an S - it's about two grand more than an S *specced to the same level of optional equipment*.

Having driven both an R56 S and an R56 JCW, I'd say that the JCW is *definately* worth the extra.

Which magazine/car review site was it that reckoned the MINI JCW was a more sensible purchase - and no less fun - than a bevy of supercars recently?