F56 JCW - What spec to go for?

F56 JCW - What spec to go for?

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Discussion

trowelhead

Original Poster:

1,867 posts

120 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
I'm looking for a small fun car for city driving so an Auto JCW seems perfect.

Can any of you who own a JCW help me out with the spec i should be looking for?

I am looking at buying used, 18-25k range. I would also consider speccing a new one if the deal was good.

So far, i'm looking at black, thunder grey, BRG or silver white - with black stripes, chilli pack.

Must haves:
Heated Seats

What are the other must have options?
Adaptive dampers? HK?

I will add the JCW Pro exhaust 100% to any car (ideal if has it already)

If anyone is selling also please let me know about your car - cheers smile

creepy coupe

302 posts

132 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
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I've just picked up a used 2016 JCW with every option ticked. I test drove a few before buying. Adaptive Dampers are a must if you don't intend going down the modding route. Also The chilli pack add some nice optiond. HUD works really well but it's not strictly necessary.

trowelhead

Original Poster:

1,867 posts

120 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
creepy coupe said:
I've just picked up a used 2016 JCW with every option ticked. I test drove a few before buying. Adaptive Dampers are a must if you don't intend going down the modding route. Also The chilli pack add some nice optiond. HUD works really well but it's not strictly necessary.
Thanks, ok adaptive dampers and heated seats are a must then!

HUD would be nice too...

I keep changing my mind on which colour i like best...

creepy coupe

302 posts

132 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
trowelhead said:
Thanks, ok adaptive dampers and heated seats are a must then!

HUD would be nice too...

I keep changing my mind on which colour i like best...
Ours is Thunder grey and it looks very different in different light. More so than any other metallic I've owned. Silver white looks great especially with a contrasting roof.

Boogs

404 posts

142 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
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Ensure someone hasn't opted for lounge leather as you lose the JCW seats, which leads me on to the question - as the seats are alcantara, why the obsession with heated seats? IMHO, Heated seats only really required on leather.

Agree go for the adaptive suspension. Anything else I really see as a personal preference.

Patch1875

4,893 posts

131 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
quotequote all
I'm also thinks about getting one or a cooper S, what's the score with roof bars it looks like mini ones only work with factory rails? or can you fit aftermarket ones?

Weirdly I keep thinking I need heated seats as well!

Goatex

164 posts

146 months

Thursday 2nd February 2017
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The one thing I wish our Cooper S had is the auto dimming rear view mirror, the design of the manual set up is atrocious. Personally I would stick with 17" wheels with non run flat tyres. If getting the auto then worth considering the adaptive cruise control if do a lot of stop start driving - have it on my other car and it's superb. Also find the interior trims on the mini hit and miss - piano black and dark cottonwood my favourites.

Shuks76

235 posts

149 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
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I just bought a high spec thunder grey with every option other than the heated windscreen. Epic little car, my second F56 mini (previous was Cooper S 5 door). Picked up a 7 month old car with 8k miles for £24k from a BMW dealer.

When searching I wanted: HUD, Sunroof, Adaptive Dampers, 18" wheels, Pro Nav as must have items. I would never have gone for adaptive cruise as an option but having just used it the other day driving on the M4 into London it was fantastic.

Will be getting a JCW Pro exhaust fitted on Tuesday.


flying scotsman

123 posts

221 months

Saturday 4th February 2017
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I am considering changing my Challenge 210. Time for mid life 911 crisis!
Mini demo then me, 2015, just been serviced but has tlc pack. 15000 miles, downside for you may be that it is a manual?

trowelhead

Original Poster:

1,867 posts

120 months

Saturday 4th February 2017
quotequote all
Boogs said:
Ensure someone hasn't opted for lounge leather as you lose the JCW seats, which leads me on to the question - as the seats are alcantara, why the obsession with heated seats? IMHO, Heated seats only really required on leather.

Agree go for the adaptive suspension. Anything else I really see as a personal preference.
Good point actually!

trowelhead

Original Poster:

1,867 posts

120 months

Saturday 4th February 2017
quotequote all
Shuks76 said:
I just bought a high spec thunder grey with every option other than the heated windscreen. Epic little car, my second F56 mini (previous was Cooper S 5 door). Picked up a 7 month old car with 8k miles for £24k from a BMW dealer.

When searching I wanted: HUD, Sunroof, Adaptive Dampers, 18" wheels, Pro Nav as must have items. I would never have gone for adaptive cruise as an option but having just used it the other day driving on the M4 into London it was fantastic.

Will be getting a JCW Pro exhaust fitted on Tuesday.
Very nice indeed, love TG - and love the pro exhaust cloud9

trowelhead

Original Poster:

1,867 posts

120 months

Saturday 4th February 2017
quotequote all
flying scotsman said:
I am considering changing my Challenge 210. Time for mid life 911 crisis!
Mini demo then me, 2015, just been serviced but has tlc pack. 15000 miles, downside for you may be that it is a manual?
Cheers, i do like the 210s.

My gf has an auto licence only so i was going to look for an auto so she can (occasionally) use it.

This might go out the window however as i was blown away by a test drive of a GP2 today...

mikeyscott

1,200 posts

207 months

Sunday 5th February 2017
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Put a deposit on this, but noticed it doesn't have cruise or parking sensors. Replacing a written off Fiesta

https://www.approvedusedminis.co.uk/car-details?ch...

Great fun and even mulling ditch my 135i

Patch1875

4,893 posts

131 months

Sunday 5th February 2017
quotequote all
mikeyscott said:
Put a deposit on this, but noticed it doesn't have cruise or parking sensors. Replacing a written off Fiesta

https://www.approvedusedminis.co.uk/car-details?ch...

Great fun and even mulling ditch my 135i
Looks great!

Lots of options ticked suppose there's always something missing that you have when buying used.


Patch1875

4,893 posts

131 months

Sunday 5th February 2017
quotequote all
This is the one I like but I'm going to wait a couple of months so will look then.

https://www.approvedusedminis.co.uk/car-details?ch...


mikeyscott

1,200 posts

207 months

Sunday 5th February 2017
quotequote all
Patch1875 said:
mikeyscott said:
Put a deposit on this, but noticed it doesn't have cruise or parking sensors. Replacing a written off Fiesta

https://www.approvedusedminis.co.uk/car-details?ch...

Great fun and even mulling ditch my 135i
Looks great!

Lots of options ticked suppose there's always something missing that you have when buying used.
Has no parking sensors though sadly

creepy coupe

302 posts

132 months

Monday 6th February 2017
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trowelhead said:
Good point actually!
We went for lounge leather in satellite grey. The are more comfy that the buckets and the colour lifts the darker interior. They are still very supportive.With good side bolster support.

trowelhead

Original Poster:

1,867 posts

120 months

Monday 6th February 2017
quotequote all
flying scotsman said:
I am considering changing my Challenge 210. Time for mid life 911 crisis!
Mini demo then me, 2015, just been serviced but has tlc pack. 15000 miles, downside for you may be that it is a manual?
Can you tell me about how you got on with the change from your C63 to the mini?

I currently daily drive my C63 and have added over 20,000 miles to it this year (at great expense). Alot of that has been fun driving, but most of it boring commuting etc in traffic that would suit the mini better.

I was looking for a F56 JCW to run alongside the C63, but if i like the mini i might sell the C63 and use the money for something else! Just don't want to sell the C63 then regret it.


flying scotsman

123 posts

221 months

Monday 6th February 2017
quotequote all
I miss the noise!
The mini is fun, it is about 1/3 of the cost and for my relatively short journeys, circa 15 miles, it does the job. I quite fancy a convertible again so considering 911/boxster to replace the Challenge.

For me, I quite like my cars to be lower power/lower weight - something that I had not realised until I bought the C63. Great car, but I found myself at silly speeds at inappropriate places. It did make me smile each time I started it but for my purposes, just the wrong car.

If you want a V8 coupe/saloon it is still one of the best!

Shuks76

235 posts

149 months

Monday 6th February 2017
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I might be able to comment here. I have the W204 C63 and recently bought my JCW. The Mercedes is special on start up and you don't need to thrash it to feel like your driving something epic. On the other hand the JCW makes more sense for my mainly shorter journeys on country lanes. You get to stretch the JCW, whilst with the AMG you are just teasing the engine.

I have my C63 for sale in the classifieds, but have decided I will only sell if a decent offer comes along. In the long run I would probably want something like a Cayman S/GTS for weekend blasts, keep the JCW for daily chores and have my 535d for longer runs. If I did more miles (like having a daily commute to work) I think the C63 would defo stay a little longer.