Cooper S or JCW? & JCW Chili pack etc

[Rich_AR]

Firstly, I know this is a car enthusiast forum, so most will say JCW I assume, however I need a little guidance on the following! My mother is looking to trade in her R56 Cooper S for a new Mini. She's no track day addict by any means, but does love a fast hatch and likes the look of the new JCW.

I don't know much about these new Mini's and I'm currently looking at the configurator online and it seems spec'ing a Cooper S with the JCW chili pack and the right wheels (black - as she wants) it almost comes in as the same price as a JCW. Is the JCW chili pack worth it? Or does it make sense to go for a JCW (thinking resale value after 2 years).

Having driven a F56 Cooper S recently (auto, not manual) it seemed a nice step on from a R56. But is the JCW too hardcore for a woman in 50's who doesn't do track days? Or should I bin off the JCW pack and save her the cash?

Thoughts welcome! (and no, I wont be driving it)

[steve-p]

I don't think the JCW is particularly hardcore. I find it very easy to live with. Control inputs are precise, and it's easy to drive it smoothly when taking it easy, yet it has a playful side in sport mode. The sports seats are really comfortable, too. One thing reviews mention is the need to specify the variable dampers because of the hard ride of the standard ones. I don't know if they were prompted to say this by the MINI marketing people to sell the option, but I totally disagree. Maybe I've been desensitised by too many AMG or M cars, but the ride on standard dampers seems absolutely fine to me. If anything, it's slightly better than the Cooper SD I had previously (which I bought as a stopgap and enjoyed enough to keep a year and it changed my outlook on what makes a car fun).

For resale value, I would say a JCW would almost certainly do better than a Cooper S with options. I say go for the JCW if it's viable.

[Boogs]

Ditto concerning the resale. JCW any day, ours is my wife's every day car. Very easy to live with.

As regards the adaptive dampers, we have them and considering the minimal cost I'd highly recommend them. Makes a world of difference on poor roads.

[sootyvrs]

Perhaps it would be an idea for your mother to visit the Mini dealer and test drive both cars... I can agree that the residual value maybe a little better on the JCW model but the outlay is also quite a bit higher £19k base S vs £23k base model JCW..

Question is whether your mum would appreciate (at her extra cost) the marginal performance advantages of the JCW over the still quick S model 0-62 6.8 (S) vs 6.3 (JCW)... One could argue that you mum may prefer £4k of nice options e.g. Chilli pack, leather, heated seats, heated screen, head up display, rear parking sensors, cornering lights, Media pack with nav etc.... all which are optional extras on both models and if you want them on the JCW, your price will be nearer £30k for the JCW!

One could argue, depending on your mum is whether the std. Cooper is more than enough for her... or perhaps is the car also for you to blast around in

[Rich_AR]

Thanks for the posts guys, does sound like what I was thinking.

sootyvrs said:

Perhaps it would be an idea for your mother to visit the Mini dealer and test drive both cars... I can agree that the residual value maybe a little better on the JCW model but the outlay is also quite a bit higher £19k base S vs £23k base model JCW..

Question is whether your mum would appreciate (at her extra cost) the marginal performance advantages of the JCW over the still quick S model 0-62 6.8 (S) vs 6.3 (JCW)... One could argue that you mum may prefer £4k of nice options e.g. Chilli pack, leather, heated seats, heated screen, head up display, rear parking sensors, cornering lights, Media pack with nav etc.... all which are optional extras on both models and if you want them on the JCW, your price will be nearer £30k for the JCW!

One could argue, depending on your mum is whether the std. Cooper is more than enough for her... or perhaps is the car also for you to blast around in

The JCW pack is 3.8k i believe, then adding on the nicer wheels etc soon brings it upto JCW base price. But you're right with those added comforts and the cost.

Test drives are booked this weekend. She currently drives the Cooper S, and isn't interested in a lower model. She's had her fair share of 205 GTi's, Clio 16v and Clio 182's over the years. And no, it's not for me to drive as we live in different countries

[sootyvrs]

Rich_AR said:

The JCW pack is 3.8k i believe, then adding on the nicer wheels etc soon brings it upto JCW base price. But you're right with those added comforts and the cost.

Test drives are booked this weekend. She currently drives the Cooper S, and isn't interested in a lower model. She's had her fair share of 205 GTi's, Clio 16v and Clio 182's over the years. And no, it's not for me to drive as we live in different countries

I agree that it's better value to get a JCW model rather than a Cooper S and make it like a JCW wannabe but is that really what you mother would want to do?

I think both models have their place in the market place albeit slightly over lapping in some areas....

[CarsOrBikes]

JCW if it is affordable, then buy one, it is the better complete car, always has that something others don't and no messing around with this option and that, it will hold a better residual probably, and will always sell before an S later on. I wouldn't say the same for the R56 but I regard that car as the stop gap between the R53 and this Fxx personally. Although I still think it's too big overall.

50 is no reason to look at other cars. Many people can't afford the fast car they always wanted until now. Just tell her to use the rev band.

[novus]

Had ours since Xmas

Great fun and nippy little car.

Ours now sports a Quaife mechanical LSD and coilovers so the handling is far ahead of the standard car that makes it even more fun

Couple of things to keep your eye out for that have come up on ours

Corner Door rubber rubs the paint off the door jamb ( not JCW exclusive issue) as it is too ruff and a poor design. Mini will fit paint protection film to sort this

Top of door panels- just had new door panel due to distortion where you put your elbow whilst driving. Piss poor quality in my opinion but may have been a one off in mine

Very creaky door handles hit and miss this one apparently mine were so have been stripped back and packed and refitted job done

Brake pad wear- after 2700 miles my brake pads are worn 40% driving style may be at fault however it doesn't really get tagged and hard brakes but could be more to do with the huge caliper and TINY brake pad behind it

Any way just somethings that I've encountered. Cars brilliant that aside

In relation to the resale value, theirs loads of JCW F56 about so I think the will depreciate the same % as a cooper S as the exclusively of the previous models has been thrown out of the window by Mini on this model

Enjoy yours