Saturday 7th November 2015

Mini JCW: PH Fleet

Inspired by Building Cars at Mini Oxford, Danny ponders all the extra bits on the JCW

---

Did any of you watch Building Cars Live a few weeks ago? It was a live TV marathon, broadcast during prime time on BBC2 from the Mini plant in Oxford. Apart from James May's ham-fisted failure to perform even the simplest task on the production line, and singularly failing to explain how the JIT (Just In Time) system always delivers the right part for the right car at just the right time - despite bringing it up every two minutes - it was a fascinating insight into a how a modern car is made. Two things in particular, though, struck me about the process in relation to 'my' JCW. The first was the revelation that literally no two cars that leave the production line are identical. A statement that was backed up by some mind-boggling number of configurations that you can choose to have your Mini built in.

Well it's a pretty sunset at least

Which immediately made me think: how the hell do you know whether you've made the right decision and ordered the best version? Even within the relative confines of the JCW hatchback sub-menu, you still have to make a call about wheel size, tyre type, damper style and transmission, all of which have fundamental implications for the way the end product drives. Of course, you're faced with a similar gamble with most other manufacturers, but I just wonder how much time engineering will have spent behind the wheel developing every one of the potential permutations. If at all.

It's a point that I've been mulling over since finally getting the opportunity to try the JCW with a manual gearbox a few weeks ago. Interestingly, the car I drove was also equipped with the passive dampers - another variation in spec that was not available on any of the launch cars. As anticipated, the manual gearbox really brought the Mini to life, making it a much more involving experience on a twisty B-road. Personally, I was worried the auto rev-matching system would spoil the party, but I'm glad to say it can be switched off, allowing - shock, horror - the driver the opportunity to heel-and-toe instead. But what my experience with YC15 OFR has also highlighted is that there is no right or wrong choice as far as which gearbox goes. My kneejerk reaction, before driving it, was to dismiss the torque converter auto box as a relic. Get behind the wheel of one, though, and it's actually a surprisingly slick transmission. Better than some dual-clutch systems out there, in fact. And if paddles are your thing, you won't be disappointed.

Roof rack proving its worth

Most reviews of the JCW - my first impressions included - have also pointed buyers in the direction of the adaptive dampers. But now I've driven a car with the passive versions, I'm not so sure. Why? Well the chassis felt sharper, keener and more alert. It felt more adjustable and communicative too. And while ride comfort took a bit of a hit as a result, not once did I think it was too firm to live with on a daily basis. Given I've probably selected the softer damper mode for 99 per cent of driving in my long-termer (and that one per cent was only to try it out), perhaps it's not worth the extra cost, weight and complication. What's the point in having more options, if there's only really one choice?

What also impressed me about the Mini's production process was the attention to detail. Every car, the program explained, is test driven around the outside of the factory over a variety of road surfaces to check for rattles and squeaks. If the specialist technician detects any faults, the car gets pulled off the line until the issue can be rectified. Now that's impressive quality control, and I reckon it goes some way to justifying the premium you pay for a Mini product.

Now to deal with 236lb ft in autumn...

With the arrival of autumn, the roads have become incredibly slippery, which has brought to light just how laughably easy it is to get the JCW to break traction under power. With so much low down torque, allied to what are not the world's grippiest tyres, it's possible to wheelspin through first, second and third gears without much effort, making everyone within the vicinity think you are a complete tool. As such, I've taken to avoiding nudging the rotary collar around the gearstick into the 'Maximum Go Kart' mode, and utilizing the less ferocious throttle map of the middle setting. Better to be sensible and have everyone think you are a tool, than accelerate away from the lights bouncing off the limiter and prove them right...

---

FACT SHEET:
Car: Mini John Cooper Works
Run by: Danny Milner
On fleet since: May 2015
Mileage: 8,827
List price new: £31,945 (Basic list of £24,445 plus £750 for Rebel Green paint, £1,400 for Media Pack XL, £2,470 for Chili Pack, £240 for variable damper control, £140 for run-flat tyres, £220 for sun protection glass, £215 for seat heating, £210 for Mini Yours fibre alloy interior, £590 for Park Distance Control, £150 for LED headlights, £590 for Harman Kardon hi-fi, £140 for intelligent emergency calling, £450 for head-up display)
Last month at a glance: Is there such a thing as a perfectly specced Mini?

Previous updates:
£32K for an automatic Mini? It's off to a tough start...
To Scotland for a proper test
New tyres and roof bars before Silverstone
Pushing harder to unlock Mini magic

[sad61t]

The infamous 'option paralysis' where we are unable to make a decision, because every option could be the wrong one and so we make no decision as that appears to be the safest option.

It was this very behaviour that led me to selecting the Baker Street special edition as it dramatically narrowed the available colours (roof black or body coloured), wheels (16" black), and interior combinations (specific trims and, I think, a choice of Baker Street fabric or the (IMO dire) Gravity leather). From my previous Mini I knew I wanted the auto box (it is lovely), max headlights, heated windscreen, keep the central speedo; and after that it was just adding trinkets like heated seats and HK audio.

[GTEYE]

I would wager a guess that all those Foxtons Minis are exactly the same spec!

[Dale487]

Am I the person who wishes they put more options on their car? The options on my Fabia Monte Carlo I chose are either sensible: mats & a spare wheel, or so great I wouldn't have a car without them: blue tooth & Sat Nav/DAB radio up grade.

Wish I'd have got rear electrice windows, parking sensors and may be cruise control.

I do wounder with all the chassis, wheel & tyre options avialable on some cars, if the companys themselves know what the best set up is - or do they like it that way to make us needlessly option up a car and make more money

[Clivey]

Dale487 said:

I do wonder with all the chassis, wheel & tyre options avialable on some cars, if the companys themselves know what the best set up is - or do they like it that way to make us needlessly option up a car and make more money

Of course they do. - There use all kinds of tricks to get you to add options; from making the standard alloys / trim etc. look dire to fitting blank switches in prominent positions on the dash. The Germans have got this stuff down to a fine art - I was looking at an M135i recently and couldn't help but notice the "Business Navigation" screen on the dash has a really thick, ugly bezel whilst the "Professional" one has a nicer, slim bezel and a wider screen...for £900 more than the standard system! Ker-Ching!!!

[MustardCutter]

The photographer must have had to wait a while to get a picture on box hill without a cyclist in the frame on a nice looking day like that!

[Dale487]

Clivey said:

Dale487 said:

I do wonder with all the chassis, wheel & tyre options avialable on some cars, if the companys themselves know what the best set up is - or do they like it that way to make us needlessly option up a car and make more money

Of course they do. - There use all kinds of tricks to get you to add options; from making the standard alloys / trim etc. look dire to fitting blank switches in prominent positions on the dash. The Germans have got this stuff down to a fine art - I was looking at an M135i recently and couldn't help but notice the "Business Navigation" screen on the dash has a really thick, ugly bezel whilst the "Professional" one has a nicer, slim bezel and a wider screen...for £900 more than the standard system! Ker-Ching!!!

That's similar but with the chassis side they ask more for "dynamic steering" & switchable dampers that may or may not be better - at least with the Sat Nav you get a better & bigger screen.