How harsh is the JCW ride?
Discussion
Mrs picked up a Cooper Roadster this weekend. Have to admit I like it a lot. We never tested the JCW but there are some good deals out there at the moment. I've read various things about how harsh the ride is in the JCW. Can anyone tell me how bad it really is? I had one of the first EP3 CTRs and that was a bit harsh, but solved, to a certain extent, by different tyres. Is the JCW similar?
How harsh. ? Very
On my cooper jcw on anything other than smooth roads its crashy at best and damn awful at worst, seriously considering swapping to coilovers which apparently are a huge improvement.
Hitting a bump/pothole mid corner makes the car skip sideways, its really really not good.
On my cooper jcw on anything other than smooth roads its crashy at best and damn awful at worst, seriously considering swapping to coilovers which apparently are a huge improvement.
Hitting a bump/pothole mid corner makes the car skip sideways, its really really not good.
Thanks for the reply. Does the Cooper S have coil overs? My thinking was that I could get a fully loaded JCW and then fit a set of Cooper S springs and dampers or maybe an aftermarket set. Roads in Surrey are properly crap at the moment and terrible ride is not acceptable. The ride in the Mrs Cooper is terrific on 17s and 45 profile rubber.
On some East Sussex back roads on Friday, (B and minor A roads) my R53 JCW was hideous.
Pogoing on rippled roads and feeling as rigid and harsh as hell.
Fine on smother stuff though.
I've been using the X3 most of the winter so not so used to the JCW.
As my wife also drives it, I'm reluctant or dispose of the RFTs as she likes the security. Can't blame her as her nephew has had two pothole puns pictures in the last few weeks so made it more important.
Her Cooper rides 'much better, still on RFTs.
As my JCW isn't my main car, it doesn't do big miles so I'm reluctant to chuck money at it yet but it's not great.
Pogoing on rippled roads and feeling as rigid and harsh as hell.
Fine on smother stuff though.
I've been using the X3 most of the winter so not so used to the JCW.
As my wife also drives it, I'm reluctant or dispose of the RFTs as she likes the security. Can't blame her as her nephew has had two pothole puns pictures in the last few weeks so made it more important.
Her Cooper rides 'much better, still on RFTs.
As my JCW isn't my main car, it doesn't do big miles so I'm reluctant to chuck money at it yet but it's not great.
AP which are budget coilovers, height adjustable only are circa £500 plus fitting, others with adjustable damping as well are more, standard suspension is of the coilover type just the spring rate and damping are all wrong, runflats make it worse so swapping those to normal tyres and a repair can in the boot helps, and that's how mine is but still its not good.
Cooper S with the sport body kit might be a good combination for ride and looks? Then try 16" wheels for better ride comfort, which are the sweet spot, imho
16"s with 195's have 95% of the lateral grip of 17"s with 205's, but 16% more sidewall for significantly greater ride comfort, and about 20% less (unsprung) weight than 17" wheels, let alone the 18's.
Our SD on 16's still rides really well, yet manages to keep up with anything from A to B over twisty B roads on runs at weekends. The ideal compromise for my weekday potholed and speedbumped ride comfort, and weekend fun use.
16"s with 195's have 95% of the lateral grip of 17"s with 205's, but 16% more sidewall for significantly greater ride comfort, and about 20% less (unsprung) weight than 17" wheels, let alone the 18's.
Our SD on 16's still rides really well, yet manages to keep up with anything from A to B over twisty B roads on runs at weekends. The ideal compromise for my weekday potholed and speedbumped ride comfort, and weekend fun use.
DavidLScott said:
It really is a road surface thing as much as anything else.
Have to agree with this too. Unless the road has really bad surface, most of the time I find the ride comfort acceptable. However, I do tend to seek out dual carriage ways and motorways much more than I ever did before now?!Mine is on the standard JCW suspension rather than the optional sports one that lowers the ride height a further 10mm?
eatcustard said:
Minis bounce, thats what they do, if you can get a works mini, buy it.
Your teeth will fall out, so what, the smile you get is worth it.
Too right.Your teeth will fall out, so what, the smile you get is worth it.
Only had a 7 mile dash back from town last night - bumpy roads, Xenons blazing and the few cars out quickly despatched.
Had to tell my poor wife what a great drive I'd had.
How sad.
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