Buying a new JCW....probably!!!!

[gra001]

Hi Guys

I need to get out of my old Merc` tow car and into something exciting afer years of track days with bikes and Caterhams. The R500 has been sold and my short list is now down to two......JCW and FocusRS. I`m sure the RS will be good but fear residuals may suffer quite badly. I`ve driven the JCW and yep, good fun. So, before I go for it, any advice on the following would be appreciated. No tracking anticipated for a good while:
-Is there any news on a facelift/new model?
-Must haves re spec?
-Sport suspension?
-Wheels? Stick with 17inch or go for 18`s?
-Tyres? Run flats or change?
-Seats? Recaros? (bit pricey!!)
-Dealer discount?

Possibly not a sensible question for a Mini forum but anybody wish they`d bought something else....if so....what????? My other short-listers were: R26R, TT, 370Z.

[Rakey]

gra001 said:

Hi Guys

I need to get out of my old Merc` tow car and into something exciting afer years of track days with bikes and Caterhams. The R500 has been sold and my short list is now down to two......JCW and FocusRS. I`m sure the RS will be good but fear residuals may suffer quite badly. I`ve driven the JCW and yep, good fun. So, before I go for it, any advice on the following would be appreciated. No tracking anticipated for a good while:
-Is there any news on a facelift/new model?
-Must haves re spec?
-Sport suspension?
-Wheels? Stick with 17inch or go for 18`s?
-Tyres? Run flats or change?
-Seats? Recaros? (bit pricey!!)
-Dealer discount?

Possibly not a sensible question for a Mini forum but anybody wish they`d bought something else....if so....what????? My other short-listers were: R26R, TT, 370Z.

The current MINI has been on the market for sometime, so a facelift is due soon, according to sources around November time this year, petrol engines won't be changing, but there has been reports of the centre stack and speedo getting a much needed redesign

One of the biggest problems I have with the JCW is that its not different enough from the rest of the range, the body kit is sold to those with Coopers and MCS's so it doesn't stand out, but there is talk of a new body kit being developed at the moment too. But don't think this will be for the JCW as its supposed to be a bit softer, but maybe they will withdraw the JCW kit from general sale?

In terms of spec, chilli and MFSW are must haves, anything else really is your own choice.

JCW suspension would be something I would invest in if you are getting this car, and something that I think should be included on a JCW from factory, but the standard sport suspension is ok.

Wheels, the car is best handling on the smaller wheels, but they look lost in those arches, the standard wheels on the JCW are nice anyway, so no need to worry about changing those, but do get rid of the runflats

JCW seats are pricey, but nice, all depends on your budget really, but make sure that if you have any dealer fit things you get a discount on those bits and get to keep the original parts too, you should be trying for about 10% on dealer fit parts. Reason for keeping the original parts is that when it comes to sell you can swap it back to standard as they will not add a huge amount to its value, but you would get more selling those parts on yourself.

Oh another nice to have is the JCW steering wheel, love this, and got it on both my MINI's.

As for discounts, this they will say there isn't anything available, but remember there are more than one dealerships, so shop around, work them against each other. You should be able to get a current offer a lot of dealers are running which is £500 towards the car, but as well as this aim to get the TLC pack for free, work on any finance rates they are offering you, and the dealer fit parts, but do shop around, and barter hard and tell them you are shopping around and make them work for your custom as its currently very slow out there and they will want your order more than they let on

[gra001]

Rakey said:

gra001 said:

Hi Guys

I need to get out of my old Merc` tow car and into something exciting afer years of track days with bikes and Caterhams. The R500 has been sold and my short list is now down to two......JCW and FocusRS. I`m sure the RS will be good but fear residuals may suffer quite badly. I`ve driven the JCW and yep, good fun. So, before I go for it, any advice on the following would be appreciated. No tracking anticipated for a good while:
-Is there any news on a facelift/new model?
-Must haves re spec?
-Sport suspension?
-Wheels? Stick with 17inch or go for 18`s?
-Tyres? Run flats or change?
-Seats? Recaros? (bit pricey!!)
-Dealer discount?

Possibly not a sensible question for a Mini forum but anybody wish they`d bought something else....if so....what????? My other short-listers were: R26R, TT, 370Z.

The current MINI has been on the market for sometime, so a facelift is due soon, according to sources around November time this year, petrol engines won't be changing, but there has been reports of the centre stack and speedo getting a much needed redesign

One of the biggest problems I have with the JCW is that its not different enough from the rest of the range, the body kit is sold to those with Coopers and MCS's so it doesn't stand out, but there is talk of a new body kit being developed at the moment too. But don't think this will be for the JCW as its supposed to be a bit softer, but maybe they will withdraw the JCW kit from general sale?

In terms of spec, chilli and MFSW are must haves, anything else really is your own choice.

JCW suspension would be something I would invest in if you are getting this car, and something that I think should be included on a JCW from factory, but the standard sport suspension is ok.

Wheels, the car is best handling on the smaller wheels, but they look lost in those arches, the standard wheels on the JCW are nice anyway, so no need to worry about changing those, but do get rid of the runflats

JCW seats are pricey, but nice, all depends on your budget really, but make sure that if you have any dealer fit things you get a discount on those bits and get to keep the original parts too, you should be trying for about 10% on dealer fit parts. Reason for keeping the original parts is that when it comes to sell you can swap it back to standard as they will not add a huge amount to its value, but you would get more selling those parts on yourself.

Oh another nice to have is the JCW steering wheel, love this, and got it on both my MINI's.

As for discounts, this they will say there isn't anything available, but remember there are more than one dealerships, so shop around, work them against each other. You should be able to get a current offer a lot of dealers are running which is £500 towards the car, but as well as this aim to get the TLC pack for free, work on any finance rates they are offering you, and the dealer fit parts, but do shop around, and barter hard and tell them you are shopping around and make them work for your custom as its currently very slow out there and they will want your order more than they let on

Many thanks Rakey, the fact that facelifts are being discussed may make a delayed purchase worth consideration especially when you consider that a well specced JCW could be circa £27K. Then, to find after a few months that there`s a revised model wouldn`t be too pleasing! My understanding is that the alcantara wheel now comes as standard on the JCW.

Edited by gra001 on Sunday 1st February 17:16

[wrighty78]

I think the only point I'd disagree with Rakey on is the suspension. Really depends how you plan to use the car, and if it's getting a lot of track use then the JCW Sports suspension might be a good idea. But the standard suspension is plenty firm enough for my liking and I found the Sports suspension way too hard for London's pi$$-poor roads.

Otherwise Rakey has it spot on. I went for the panaoramic sunroof on mine because it makes the cabin so much lighter, but each to their own.

I've now done 2,500 miles in my JCW in 6 weeks and am loving it.

[lardtastic]

One thing you have to have is the chili pack for the half leather and fogs and a few other things and before you know it your well over 23 grand!
Also, do not think a mini is depreciation proof. When I saw figures in car magazines for the cooper S they always quote the standard price, 16 grand, and don.t take in to consideration any extras so you end up with a skewed idea of the residuals. In my mind if you bought a brand new JCW you will lose a packet. I would go for a second hand R56 cooper S 07 plate for about 12 to 13 grand. Make sure it's reasonably well specked, about 20 grands worth in total should be about reasonable, then you have a car which is almost just as fast and just as much fun without the ugly JCW rear bumper and with the brunt of the depreciation already gone. And give the spare ten grand to me for such good advice

[Rakey]

lardtastic said:

One thing you have to have is the chili pack for the half leather and fogs and a few other things and before you know it your well over 23 grand!
Also, do not think a mini is depreciation proof. When I saw figures in car magazines for the cooper S they always quote the standard price, 16 grand, and don.t take in to consideration any extras so you end up with a skewed idea of the residuals. In my mind if you bought a brand new JCW you will lose a packet. I would go for a second hand R56 cooper S 07 plate for about 12 to 13 grand. Make sure it's reasonably well specked, about 20 grands worth in total should be about reasonable, then you have a car which is almost just as fast and just as much fun without the ugly JCW rear bumper and with the brunt of the depreciation already gone. And give the spare ten grand to me for such good advice

The resale as you say is calculated as around 60% after 3 years, but this is done purely on a standard car with chilli pack, all the other options are worth hardly anything if you are trading in, and add to the appeal of the car if buying. I mean you pay over the odds for sat nav and at £1500 then come trade in time it will maybe add a couple of hundred quid at best to the car.

[JCW]

I'd recommend hanging on until the Focus RS is launched. I certainly wish I'd done that because although the JCW is a decent car for £25k there's a lot more out there even though it is just my daily hack and some of the drawbacks to ownership could be answered by the RS.

If you get a test drive, let us know how it goes.

[lardtastic]

Rakey said:

lardtastic said:

One thing you have to have is the chili pack for the half leather and fogs and a few other things and before you know it your well over 23 grand!
Also, do not think a mini is depreciation proof. When I saw figures in car magazines for the cooper S they always quote the standard price, 16 grand, and don.t take in to consideration any extras so you end up with a skewed idea of the residuals. In my mind if you bought a brand new JCW you will lose a packet. I would go for a second hand R56 cooper S 07 plate for about 12 to 13 grand. Make sure it's reasonably well specked, about 20 grands worth in total should be about reasonable, then you have a car which is almost just as fast and just as much fun without the ugly JCW rear bumper and with the brunt of the depreciation already gone. And give the spare ten grand to me for such good advice

The resale as you say is calculated as around 60% after 3 years, but this is done purely on a standard car with chilli pack, all the other options are worth hardly anything if you are trading in, and add to the appeal of the car if buying. I mean you pay over the odds for sat nav and at £1500 then come trade in time it will maybe add a couple of hundred quid at best to the car.

Well I didn't say that the resale value after three years would be 60 percent. I said you would be able to buy an 07 plate that cost up to 20 grand new for 12 to 13 grand. There's no way in the current climate you would get 60 percent after three years for a cooper S. On a three year old Cooper S you would be lucky to get 50 percent, and that would be on a new mini from the garage you bought the other one from.

[Sam.F]

Just picked up my new JCW today loving it so far - needs running in obviously but can already feel the difference in a big way compared to the Cooper S I had before

[mjadams_uk]

Have done 5000 miles in my ex-demo JCW, and it's nearly as much fun most of the time as my S1 Elise. Which is a lot of fun.
I personally like the fact that it doesn't stand out from the crowd, doesn't shout 'boy racer' and so on (mine's all black). I would also recommend the m-f steering wheel, and the crappy run-flats - noisy, and useless in standing-water conditions - will soon be replaced by real rubber (any suggestions, anyone?)

Recommend this car highly, you'll love it.

[cannedheat]

JCW said:

I'd recommend hanging on until the Focus RS is launched. I certainly wish I'd done that because although the JCW is a decent car for £25k there's a lot more out there even though it is just my daily hack and some of the drawbacks to ownership could be answered by the RS.

If you get a test drive, let us know how it goes.

Plus fast Fords have always had a very strong fanboy following to keep the residuals up...!

Look

[JJCW]

r53 Cooper S and a bit of tuning at 1320 Mini - all the power, and the SC noise to go with it. Also a far cheaper option

Also i personally think the r53 looks better than the r56

[ilikecars]

I agree. R53 much nicer looking than the R56.

The R56 is still quite new, but already you can see how the R53 is holding it's value better over the R56 equivilents, and possibly will be making the R53 quite sort-after eventually

(ones that havn't been kev'd up anyway )

[JJCW]

ilikecars said:

(ones that havn't been kev'd up anyway )

Indeed.

Practical engine mods = good.
Pointless exterior mods = bad.

[dandarez]

mjadams_uk said:

Have done 5000 miles in my ex-demo JCW, and it's nearly as much fun most of the time as my S1 Elise. Which is a lot of fun.
I personally like the fact that it doesn't stand out from the crowd, doesn't shout 'boy racer' and so on (mine's all black). I would also recommend the m-f steering wheel, and the crappy run-flats - noisy, and useless in standing-water conditions - will soon be replaced by real rubber (any suggestions, anyone?)

Recommend this car highly, you'll love it.

WHAT tyres do you have fitted to say 'useless' in standing water?
My JCW goes through deepish standing water (almost flood I would call it the other week) as if it's in the dry! Doesn't even twitch.

Oh, after hating ROFs, I now love 'em. Well, the ones I have fitted.

What make are fitted to yours?