F56 Spec. Questions

F56 Spec. Questions

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shoestring7

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

245 months

Monday 13th July 2015
quotequote all
I'm looking at a JCW to replace my old Gti. I'm more interested in the way its drives than the way its looks, and have got a couple of questions about specifications:

- The model comes with 17" wheels as standard (although everyone seems to 'upgrade'). I've found previous series Minis drive much better on the smallest wheel option. Does this apply to the F56 as well? I can't find any press back to back comparisons other than complaints about grip of the P7 RFT

- Do all JCWs come with the same pattern 'sports' seats, with leather, dinamica, leather/fabric etc. etc. options? The configuration tool isn't helpful on this point, and the sales guy equally vague.

- Is there a digital speed read out with the non-HU dash as well as the analogue speedo?

- Any 'must have' options? Variable dampers?

- Why do almost all moderns cars have every single bit of steering feel and feedback engineered out of the system?*

thanks

SS7
*Rhetorical I guess

-

Boogs

404 posts

142 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
We have just been through the Spec process on a JCW for SWMBO. Its due in a couple of weeks.

They didn't have a manual JCW so we test drove a Challenge 210. This had the larger wheels and run flats and was fine. I don't however know whether it had the sports suspension or not (which is standard on the JCW). Most of the JCW reviews had the adaptive dampers and seem to recommend them. The sport suspension is therefore a little bit of an unknown quantity.

We decided upon the upgraded 17 inch wheels, simply because we preferred the look of them to the 18s and didn't want run flats. We also opted for the adaptive dampers - at £210 it would be rude not to.

The standard seats are the Dinamica, these can be upgraded to part leather and the upgrades have red inserts. Personally £1400 seems a bit steep for the minor amount of leather you get, but the red inserts combined with a red colourline option really transform the interior, so we opted for the upgrade.
Careful - if you opt for the "Lounge Leather" you lose the JCW seats and end up with the same seats as can be optioned in any other car. In my mind this would be a huge mistake (not least at resale). I would be more likely to take the standard seats and spend the £1400 getting them retrimmed to your colour choice.

Digital speedo - I don't think so

Must have - variable dampers seem to be recommended. I think most people expect the Chili pack - but if you don't want the larger wheels it is cheaper to spec everything else individually. Don't spec exterior chromeline as you lose the red JCW grill.

Modern cars - not all do! - check my profile for my car (which by the way you could secure a decent one for the price of a decent spec JCW) - there are options. driving

shoestring7

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

245 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for clarification of the seat and wheel questions Boog. I'm minded to forgo the delights of the Chilli pack and select 17s, the variable rate dampers and standard JCW seats; the next owner can like it or lump it!

Looks like the rear underfloor storage area is another useful option.

BTW how long were you quoted for a built to order car?


SS7


Mcbeth

225 posts

134 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
Digital display is included. You just have to select it on the panel.
I would definitely recommend adaptive dampers and a chili pack.
You can have the smaller wheels with the chili pack but I don't know why you would the bigger wheels are a lot nicer and the ride isn't too hard in my opinion.
( I'm in mini sales so have driven all the variants)
Chili pack also improves the resale value. It's what most people look for second hand but it will also improve the monthly payment if you go on a PCP

Mcbeth

225 posts

134 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
Digital display is included. You just have to select it on the panel.
I would definitely recommend adaptive dampers and a chili pack.
You can have the smaller wheels with the chili pack but I don't know why you would the bigger wheels are a lot nicer and the ride isn't too hard in my opinion.
( I'm in mini sales so have driven all the variants)
Chili pack also improves the resale value. It's what most people look for second hand but it will also improve the monthly payment if you go on a PCP

shoestring7

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

245 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
Mcbeth said:
Digital display is included. You just have to select it on the panel.
I would definitely recommend adaptive dampers and a chili pack.
You can have the smaller wheels with the chili pack but I don't know why you would the bigger wheels are a lot nicer and the ride isn't too hard in my opinion.
( I'm in mini sales so have driven all the variants)
Chili pack also improves the resale value. It's what most people look for second hand but it will also improve the monthly payment if you go on a PCP
Thanks for clearing up the question of the digital speedo.

You may well be different but I can recall a conversation with a Mini salesman a couple of years ago who was perplexed by my request for a MCS with 16" wheels and non-runflat tyres as he couldn't understand why anyone wouldn't want them. "I've tried them and it rides fine" he told me. Increasing unsprung weight doesn't just affect ride, but braking, steering feel and acceleration also (as well as increasing the cost of replacing tyres). The wheels really only need to be the smallest/lightest that will cover the brakes, and if 17" wheels were adequate for a 600bhp Maclaren F1 I'm guessing they'll manage a Mini's output. Unlike so many moderns, 17"s don't look lost in the wheel arches either - I guess they're smaller to suit the lower powered models.

I will check out the PCP impact of a Chilli pack but as I don't much like the seat or wheels it ends up being an expensive way to get auto a/c.

BTW a few weeks after our conversation the Mini guy called me to say he'd finally tried a Mini on smaller wheels and now got what I was on about.

SS7
PS Don't want to be too obdurate about this. Its possible that BMW optimised the JCWs new suspension around the 18" wheels, in which case they may well be a better option as they will offer a large contact patch.


Edited by shoestring7 on Tuesday 14th July 18:09

Boogs

404 posts

142 months

Tuesday 14th July 2015
quotequote all
Whilst accepting that Chili Pack does seem to be sought after generally it is far more expensive on the JCW than on the other models, despite the JCW having more of the kit as standard. More money for less upgrades.

I have no doubt the salesman will know the value at resale, but I'd question it's importance at JCW level as opposed to "ONE" level.

I added up each of the options individually and the pack was only a few hundred pounds less than spec'ing each item individually. as the 18s are £700, if you don't want them it is cheaper to spec each other item individually. Some of them are also included in other options, such as the auto wipers etc are included as part of the heated windscreen option. There are also a few bits that are (IMHO) pointless - "Mini Excitement Pack" for example, so you can get all the goodies without paying for the chaff. That said I am not overly concerned about being able to claim "Chilli Pack" at resale because we tend to keep our cars a while and I buy for us not the next owner.

With regards to build time, we ordered 23/5 and delivery due 30/7. Was hoping it might come a bit early, but currently "on time".

L3090

73 posts

138 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
I worked for MINI for 3 years.

Digital speedo is standard on all F56 models.

If it wasnt in the square part of the speedo as you were driving, you just need to push the button at the end of the stalk.

In terms of must have options, chili pack is definitely one.

When your car is valued, there quite a difference in valuation based on whether it has the chili pack or not.

IIRC you would be looking at circa £1,000 less without the chili pack.

At the end of the day, you're buying the top of the range MINI.

It is expected that it has the chili pack and in 5 years time when its for sale and all the others for sale just like it have the chili pack and yours doesnt - well you know..

I hear you when you say you're going to spec the bits you want.

Work out the exact price difference between a chili pack and one without as the chili pack also discounts certain options.

Those seats should be one of them as they'll be included in the price..

Boogs

404 posts

142 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
I completely accept the trade in/dealer view. I am not sure that a private buyer will look at it the same way - condition, owners and mileage being far more important on a car more than a few years old.

The Chili pack is £1K on the "One", but it is £2470 on the JCW.

The individual price of all the components is about £2600 (give or take - this is from memory). Subtract the wheels and "Excitement pack" and chavvy lighting you are already saving over £800. Should you not want the upgraded seats thats another £1K.

You dont get much on teh JCW with the Chili pack. Just my view and thought process.

shoestring7

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

245 months

Wednesday 15th July 2015
quotequote all
Boogs said:
I completely accept the trade in/dealer view. I am not sure that a private buyer will look at it the same way - condition, owners and mileage being far more important on a car more than a few years old.

The Chili pack is £1K on the "One", but it is £2470 on the JCW.

The individual price of all the components is about £2600 (give or take - this is from memory). Subtract the wheels and "Excitement pack" and chavvy lighting you are already saving over £800. Should you not want the upgraded seats thats another £1K.

You dont get much on teh JCW with the Chili pack. Just my view and thought process.
I have to say I couldn't really see the value of the Chilli pack on the JCW. Its pretty well specified as it is, and at more than 10% of the list price I couldn't see the value. FWIW I've never really seen leather seats as much of an upgrade.

Some time ago I bought a new Porsche Cayman. I didn't include many of the 'must have' options (paint, leather, parking, bum warmers, stereo upgrade, wheels) but did include a couple of the more driver-focused ones. I later sold it for the asking price within 48hrs of putting an ad on PHs to someone with the same view as me.

SS7

Mcbeth

225 posts

134 months

Friday 17th July 2015
quotequote all
The Chili pack is not available on a' MINI one Btw. The pepper pack is a grand which is similar but without half leather and 16" wheels.

I do get the small wheel thing. I had a customer who rejected all cooper Ss I offered him but one which had 15s for the same reasons, and a sweet little car or was too.
For me though, the difference was only noticible when you were really going at 10 10ths so overall, as on ownership experience that would be a reasonably rare occurrence (for me) hence why I'd go for the Chili

shoestring7

Original Poster:

6,138 posts

245 months

Monday 20th July 2015
quotequote all
I thought I'd round this thread off.

I've read various comments about the Mini's off-set pedal layout, so last Friday I arranged a try of a regular Cooper S on the basis that the JCW was the same thing turned up to 11, and so long as I experienced no discomfort with the driving position I could move on to ordering one (assuming I decided I could live with a car smaller than my Golf).

I’m glad I did - it goes to show how important the lost art of the test-drive can be. First off - the off-set pedal issue presented no concerns whatsoever, and had it not been pointed out on various fora I’d never have even been aware of the odd geometry. The first thing I noticed as I left Dick Lovett’s campus in Bristol was the heavily over-servoed brakes. I know the only manual car I drive now is a steam driven 911, but the slightest pressure on the pedal had the Mini on its nose. Apologies to the nice sales lady gritting her teeth in the passenger seat…..

Shame really as the pedals are nicely set up for a bit of H&T action, but I’d find it almost impossible at normal road speeds. Turns out its a moot point anyway as there’s a rev-match function to do it for you.

Within 10 meters I was aware of another worrying issue; there was a slight but distinct lag in response at set-off - almost as if its about to stall - before the turbo blows and the torque arrives. I noticed this before (albeit in more exaggerated form) in an Eco diesel Volvo V40. In that foul device any attempt to join a busy roundabout without a bootful of revs and clutch slip risked one being left stranded across the lanes in a barely moving car. The Mini wasn’t as bad, but it did feel as if something had been unresolved.

The third issue arrived a few seconds later; the poor thing had either been fitted with a bus flywheel, or has been engineered with the same effect for emissions reasons, or to stop novices stalling. Either way I had to wait for what felt like a full second for the revs to drop before I could select second, and the same happened from 2nd the 3rd. The softest bite-point I’ve ever felt in any car with a working clutch didn’t help either, so a brisk take-off was only accomplished in a series of spurts and pauses, unless you are happy to jam in the next gear and have the drive-train jolt as a spinning flywheel met slower moving clutch plates…..

I can’t recall reading anything in the press about these issues - but it certainly didn’t feel like a problem with this particular example. I really wanted it to be a hyperactive snickety thing, and was so disappointed it wasn’t. Of course, once the car was up and running, there was lots of good pull in every gear, even in 6th, the interior is almost grown-up,and refinement is good, but the other chassis shortcomings (feel-less steering, lumpen ride over m/way transverse ridges on its 18”wheel+ runflats) added to that fundamentally unsatisfactory control set up means it’s been dropped from my list.

Not sure of that makes me an old fossil or if the industry has just lost the ability to delivery manual sporty cars for keen drivers.

SS7