Mini Cooper S JCW: Spotted
Still struggling with how the next Mini looks? Outgoing JCWs are now under £10K...
The R56 JCW didn't look as insane as the new version apparently will, although it did have a deeper front splitter and a couple of rather unattractive warts on the rear bumper to set it apart from the standard Cooper S. The driving experience, though, was unhinged.
The 1.6-litre turbo engine was a real bruiser. Peak power was some 210hp and torque rose to 207lb ft on overboost, but the delivery was even more impressive; there was just no lag and the torque curve seemed to flatten from 2,000rpm. The JCW felt properly quick in a straight line and had sufficient tractability to make Boxster drivers sweat.
The chassis was just about up to it. On dry, flat surfaces the front tyres could handle the grunt, but on a greasy or slightly uneven road the car would be tugged this way and that under full power. It was the chassis balance, though, that really defined the JCW because it was just so desperate to get all out of shape given half a chance. I remember exploring this on a test track one autumn and being staggered at how readily the rear end would break free at corner entry.
I don't remember any massive yaw moments on the open road, but that rear-led balance could still be felt. It made the JCW wonderfully adjustable and engaging to drive. It was a properly thuggish little hot hatch that subverted the standard Mini's cutesy image brilliantly.
That made it one of the more loopy cars in its class, I remember thinking, because as a Mini it would inevitably have been sold to kept wives and spoilt teenage girls who simply wanted the top of the line model. I wonder what they made of its lift-off oversteer characteristics in third-gear corners.
I once drove a JCW some 2,000 miles in three days from England's southeast to Monaco and back. I was in search of rally nirvana and so scrambled up to the Col de Turini in the Alpes-Maritimes north of Monaco. Having effortlessly cruised the autoroutes for 10 hours the previous day, the JCW then lit up the col as if it had numbers on its doors.
It was an impressive car back in 2008, but at more than £21,000 before options there was no escaping the fact that it was an expensive one, too. A few years on, JCWs are starting to dip below £10,000, just as this 70,000-mile examplehas done. It looks good in black, has a decent optional kit count and even comes with a warranty and care package. I reckon it's a lot of car for the money. If you are tempted by one make sure you know the difference between proper JCWs and the lesser John Cooper Works-kitted Cooper S. On this occasion, you'll want the warts.
MINI COOPER S JCW
Engine: 1,598cc, four-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, FWD
Power (hp): 210@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 207@2,000-5,300rpm
MPG: 40.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 165g/km
Recorded mileage: 70,738
First registered: 2008
Price new: £21,220
Yours for: £9,899
See the original advert here
Article needs some work
This has the dealer fit JCW kit - 192 bhp, and the aero kit, and works alloys.
[uselessinfo]The dealer fit JCW kit does give you an exhaust with the JCW logo engraved on the tips though (as the R53 had), the fJCW has plain pipes.[/uselessinfo]
Useless engine which needed de-coking twice, high pressure fuel pump went too and the ultimate ticket to seal it's impending fate of being sold was the head gasket going at 60k.
All in cost me 6k to repair/replace stuff. Handled well though, sounded ace as well but agree wouldn't buy another.
Lohen (a well known MINI tuner - not affiliated to me) now offer a de-coking service as it's so common - http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/proddetail.php?prod=Lo...
Article needs some work
Cheers,
Matt
Lohen (a well known MINI tuner - not affiliated to me) now offer a de-coking service as it's so common - http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/proddetail.php?prod=Lo...
It actually put me off buying one, its a shame because other than the image (which I wasn't personally that bothered by) it looks like a great package and the JCW variant looks like a real hoot.
Maybe I should have just manned up, and ignored the peer pressure
As the Mini brand moves upwards, outwards, onwards and spawns more varaints, I still think the R53 hatch is the best looking and most fun to drive. Progress, eh...
The newer Minis are getting to ridiculous sizes, BMW X3 size, it seems!
I think BMW are milking the brand dry now.
Lohen (a well known MINI tuner - not affiliated to me) now offer a de-coking service as it's so common - http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/proddetail.php?prod=Lo...
I'm glad the article was fixed with a proper fJCW... fJCW's do not have JCW stamped on the tail pipes and they have the Brembo's... Just a few things to tell them apart.
The bodykit on these is a bit grim though - especially the vent things in the rear bumper. BMW do seem to be milking the brand for all it's worth, but I guess they won't be happy with static sales so need to expand the market.
The second however, has restored our faith and proves to be great fun.
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