Help me pick, Roadster Cooper S or JCW.
Discussion
I'm toying with getting myself a Min Roadster and just wondered if anyone had any experience with both the Cooper S and the JCW and wether the JCW is worth the extra money.
I'm looking for just a fun toy to drive with a sensible boot (hence the roadster), and maybe something trackable from time to time. I've had a few great cars over the last 3-4 years, all very fast, so looking for something to give me the same fun element in a smaller package.
Si
I'm looking for just a fun toy to drive with a sensible boot (hence the roadster), and maybe something trackable from time to time. I've had a few great cars over the last 3-4 years, all very fast, so looking for something to give me the same fun element in a smaller package.
Si
When I was looking a couple of years back, the JCW came with sports suspension (i.e. a stiffer anti-roll bar) and was run-flats only. The former is now an option (and I'd avoid it on the Roadster). This may account for the reviews saying that the car skipped and the extra power was only useful on smooth A roads. However, the brakes are uprated, so if you are into track days, then the JCW would be the way to go.
You should also consider the DTC that comes as standard in the JCW, but is an option on the S. Caveat here is that while the DTC is listed as a £140 option, it only comes rolled into the JCW interior package; this alone takes the S's price from £21,145 to £23,220 which is man-maths distance from the JCW's £24995 base price. And the JCW will retain the value, while the DTC option on the S will evaporate come resale.
There seem to be less options available now... you used to be able to spec Recaro seats. I'd stick with the standard cloth sports seats - the Lounge leather looks great but I didn't find them as supportive, and the Gravity leather sags in about three months. I'd skip the Chili as this replaces the JCW cloth seats (with red stitching) with plain black cloth/leather.
Personally, I've convinced myself that a red JCW with Xenons, heated seats, media pack and red colour-line would be an ideal purchase. Now I just need to do some work to pay for it
You should also consider the DTC that comes as standard in the JCW, but is an option on the S. Caveat here is that while the DTC is listed as a £140 option, it only comes rolled into the JCW interior package; this alone takes the S's price from £21,145 to £23,220 which is man-maths distance from the JCW's £24995 base price. And the JCW will retain the value, while the DTC option on the S will evaporate come resale.
There seem to be less options available now... you used to be able to spec Recaro seats. I'd stick with the standard cloth sports seats - the Lounge leather looks great but I didn't find them as supportive, and the Gravity leather sags in about three months. I'd skip the Chili as this replaces the JCW cloth seats (with red stitching) with plain black cloth/leather.
Personally, I've convinced myself that a red JCW with Xenons, heated seats, media pack and red colour-line would be an ideal purchase. Now I just need to do some work to pay for it
Yes. Go for the jcw.
The feel, handling and looks are slightly better. Especially in spice orange with black wheels The power delivery seems to be less torquey but that maybe down to the tyres/mileage. Seems to have a sweet spot at 60ish on a good twisty a road which IMHO the cooper s didn't. The extra power is noticeable and very useable. Secondhand jcw should hold their value, though looking at the final balloon payment - not by much.
Main disadvantage is price, fuel consumption (down by 3-4 mpg), extra road tax and horrendous ride with sports suspension and rft on anything other than fairly smooth a road at speed. Btw horrendous compared to cooper s - shockingly awful compared any other roadster I have driven
The feel, handling and looks are slightly better. Especially in spice orange with black wheels
The power delivery seems to be less torquey but that maybe down to the tyres/mileage. Seems to have a sweet spot at 60ish on a good twisty a road which IMHO the cooper s didn't. The extra power is noticeable and very useable. Secondhand jcw should hold their value, though looking at the final balloon payment - not by much.Main disadvantage is price, fuel consumption (down by 3-4 mpg), extra road tax and horrendous ride with sports suspension and rft on anything other than fairly smooth a road at speed. Btw horrendous compared to cooper s - shockingly awful compared any other roadster I have driven
Don't rule out an S with a remap that brings it up towards JCW power levels.
With regular S 16" wheels with non-runflat tyres, the ride on my S is positively supple and better than our SLK - while still hanging on better through the twisties.
Standard S front spoilers from the 2011 facelift onwards (so all S Roadsters) have handy air ducts feeding cool air straight through to the front brakes, so brake fade isn't an issue even when the standard S brakes meet trackday use.
Cheaper, much smoother riding, as much fun, and probably not far off / just as quick from A to B through the twisties over todays lumpy bumpy B roads, while gliding over urban speedhumps...
Unless you do want the heavier 18" wheels and bigger heavier brakes, rock hard suspension, heavier and more expensive tramlining runflat tyres, and everything all that extra unsprung weight does to the JCW in exchange for a few more horsepower...
With regular S 16" wheels with non-runflat tyres, the ride on my S is positively supple and better than our SLK - while still hanging on better through the twisties.
Standard S front spoilers from the 2011 facelift onwards (so all S Roadsters) have handy air ducts feeding cool air straight through to the front brakes, so brake fade isn't an issue even when the standard S brakes meet trackday use.
Cheaper, much smoother riding, as much fun, and probably not far off / just as quick from A to B through the twisties over todays lumpy bumpy B roads, while gliding over urban speedhumps...
Unless you do want the heavier 18" wheels and bigger heavier brakes, rock hard suspension, heavier and more expensive tramlining runflat tyres, and everything all that extra unsprung weight does to the JCW in exchange for a few more horsepower...
Cooper s with chilli pack and Jcw are on 17" standard wheels, but I get your point. Removing the sport suspension check button and swapping out rft makes a huge difference to public road manners.
The power and sport suspension make the jcw roadster a hooligan on track. I've not notice brake fade on either, but I only do 20min sessions. Not thought about a remap, however 210bhp and peak torque at under 2k revs feel about right.
Auto express seem to like it http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mini/roadster/61116/m...
The power and sport suspension make the jcw roadster a hooligan on track. I've not notice brake fade on either, but I only do 20min sessions. Not thought about a remap, however 210bhp and peak torque at under 2k revs feel about right.
Auto express seem to like it http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mini/roadster/61116/m...
Best compromise would be JCW with Sports Suspension and 16s (if you can live with the looks).
Remap on a JCW should see north of 230bhp, depending on how brave you feel you can go higher with different intakes, intercoolers etc. I'd be wary of remapping the standard S because of the standard internals, the JCW has much stronger, forged internals which take the power better.
The only options really worth ticking IMO/IME are Xenons, heated seats, HK & multi-function wheel, the rest is personal preference
Remap on a JCW should see north of 230bhp, depending on how brave you feel you can go higher with different intakes, intercoolers etc. I'd be wary of remapping the standard S because of the standard internals, the JCW has much stronger, forged internals which take the power better.
The only options really worth ticking IMO/IME are Xenons, heated seats, HK & multi-function wheel, the rest is personal preference
Not sure the 16" wheels fit on the JCW due to the uprated brakes, thought you needed minimum of 17". Maybe that was an R53 thing? Having driven the R56 on 15, 16 and 17, my preference on my current Cooper was the 16s but then I did spec an auto box too. :gonesoftinmydotage:
Agree with removing the RFTs, though dealer's salesman made teeth sucking sounds when I mentioned it. With the S you can option RFTs in, but on the JCW you can't option them out and are left to the dealer's tender mercies.
I'm sticking with my opinion to delete the sports suspension on Roadster.
Agree with removing the RFTs, though dealer's salesman made teeth sucking sounds when I mentioned it. With the S you can option RFTs in, but on the JCW you can't option them out and are left to the dealer's tender mercies.
I'm sticking with my opinion to delete the sports suspension on Roadster.
Had a good look at a Roadster today and really liked it, cool to look at, lots of space and nice inside. Spec'd up a JCW but it worked out much to expensive (£28k) so might have to keep a look out for a used one instead.
Also looked at a new shape Z4 and there more comfortable inside than my older Z4M Coupe so thats on the list.. defiantly a choice between the 2. the Z4 is a much better beast on paper, better performance, convertible hard top, RWD...
Decisions Decisions.
Also looked at a new shape Z4 and there more comfortable inside than my older Z4M Coupe so thats on the list.. defiantly a choice between the 2. the Z4 is a much better beast on paper, better performance, convertible hard top, RWD...
Decisions Decisions.
I will soon be starting a new job, which requires a commute.
I have a 2012 jcw roadster, 18000 miles, balance of manufacturers warranty, tlc package.
Spec is as high as it gets, chili red with black viper stripes, black alloys, chili pack, media inc sat nav, Harmon kardon, heated lounge leather - black with red piping. Might be of interest.
Kevin
I have a 2012 jcw roadster, 18000 miles, balance of manufacturers warranty, tlc package.
Spec is as high as it gets, chili red with black viper stripes, black alloys, chili pack, media inc sat nav, Harmon kardon, heated lounge leather - black with red piping. Might be of interest.
Kevin
tjlees said:
Cool. Is the red on the wheels rim protectors? Do they work?
I had no idea so just had to go out and look and the red is certainly not a rim protector. Think it is just an accent in the wheel for cosmetic reasons to match the callipers. Can't see the front one for brake dust 
.They were on the car when we bought it as an ex-demonstrator with a retail price of over £30k but has all the packs and recaros etc. Just seen the price of the alloys so understand too - £2,500
. We are thinking of putting on the 17" without RF tyres. We don't have the sports suspensions so even with the 18's the ride quality is quite good. I think adding 17's with decent tyres will make it even better. Especially in sport mode with the remap.Edited by CarbonV12V on Saturday 9th August 21:29
The one I looked at (the launch edition, without the electric hood) had black tape covering some of the joins just behind the seat belt mount. I assumed it was a fix to get the cars to the dealers - from your comment, maybe not?
Also make sure you can close the roof - I couldn't on the launch car, and nor could the hapless salesman; he could see the sale slipping through his fingers as we both wrestled with the catch. In the end I went for a Baker Street hatch and have been very happy with it. The rest of the package is really good, the hood is compromised to leave some boot space.
Also make sure you can close the roof - I couldn't on the launch car, and nor could the hapless salesman; he could see the sale slipping through his fingers as we both wrestled with the catch. In the end I went for a Baker Street hatch and have been very happy with it. The rest of the package is really good, the hood is compromised to leave some boot space.
SwampySi said:
Spent today looking at my various car options and I've not crossed a Mini off the list.. For the price there charging for them it just feels cheap, and i REALLY HATE the single skin roof with the metal working clearly on show, not what i want to see from a £25k car.
It's a love/hate thing. OH loves them, regardless of the ride, difficult to open/close roof and some cheap parts.Even a second hand Boxster couldn't knock the mini off top spot in my OH eyes - and that car oozes lots of quality, feel, ride and handling.
Gassing Station | New MINIs | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff