Back to the Mini fold - F56 JCW or Cooper S Works 210?
Discussion
I can't help you with the comparison question, though I've a PH friend with a well sorted low mileage Stage 2 tuned early F56 Cooper S manual - running around 300bhp with uprated clutch/diff/brakes/suspension etc. It's an absolutely mental little car (& been pictured in a few Lohen ads). I know he's thinking of reducing his little fleet down (PM if you'd like to know more). Whatever you choose, their great little cars, especially if they've been remapped 
Hi, I recently bought a Challenge 210 and am really enjoying the car. I have dropped to 17" wheels with non run flats (kept originals) and fined that, alone with adaptive dampers always in 'comfort' mode are the perfect set up for me. Enough road comfort but good handling as well. I love the blue tooth exhaust and the car just feels sharper when exhaust is open.
I drove a number of different minis as they have so many different options. I was trying to find my perfect mix of ride and handling, yours could well be different too mine. Suggest you test drive a few 210s and JCW with different specs, especially the suspension/dampers and wheels/tyres.
Good luck.
I drove a number of different minis as they have so many different options. I was trying to find my perfect mix of ride and handling, yours could well be different too mine. Suggest you test drive a few 210s and JCW with different specs, especially the suspension/dampers and wheels/tyres.
Good luck.
Edited by toffee on Saturday 30th June 14:28
toffee said:
Hi, I recently bought a Challenge 210 and am really enjoying the car. I have dropped to 17" wheels with non run flats (kept originals) and fined that, alone with adaptive dampers always in 'comfort' mode are the perfect set up for me. Enough road comfort but good handling as well. I love the blue tooth exhaust and the car just feels sharper when exhaust is open.
I drove a number of different minis as they have so many different options. I was trying to find my perfect mix of ride and handling, yours could well be different too mine. Suggest you test drive a few 210s and JCW with different specs, especially the suspension/dampers and wheels/tyres.
Good luck.
I have to agree that the 17 inch wheels with non run flats are.perfect. I can imagine 18 making the ride a bit hard.I drove a number of different minis as they have so many different options. I was trying to find my perfect mix of ride and handling, yours could well be different too mine. Suggest you test drive a few 210s and JCW with different specs, especially the suspension/dampers and wheels/tyres.
Good luck.
Edited by toffee on Saturday 30th June 14:28
highway said:
Aside from options is a Mini Challenge 210 not just an optioned Cooper S with the JCW tuning kit added?
Yes, they are. Depends if the options they have are important to you.The JCW kit can be added to any Cooper S (after Nov 2017?). I just found it hard to find a car with the options I wanted, that made financial sense, compared to a Challenge 210.
bga said:
Hi All,
New job & new commute means that the S5 is going and I fancy getting another Mini, budget is up to 18k
I've had my eye on a JCW but the Cooper S Works 210 gets rave reviews and is a bit more subtle. Has anyone tried both? Any thoughts?
I personally would find a JCW in the right colour combo that works for you. The big draw for me would be the bigger brakes. New job & new commute means that the S5 is going and I fancy getting another Mini, budget is up to 18k
I've had my eye on a JCW but the Cooper S Works 210 gets rave reviews and is a bit more subtle. Has anyone tried both? Any thoughts?
The Cooper S brakes are only adequate at best.
But ultimately, find different variants and drive them all.
t! 
To bring some closure to the thread. I drove a standard S, a couple of JCWs and a couple of Works 210s.
I settled on the second Works 210 that I saw. Low mileage, moonwalk grey. The only problem is that I've not driven a manual for over a year and getting back used to the 3rd pedal is proving challenging!
Overall I preferred the ride to the JCWs, that will be down to 17s and the non-runflats. Brakes, as pointed out, could be improved but not really an issue & could be sorted at a later date if needed. Now just looking forward to getting some miles under my belt & getting to know the car better.
I settled on the second Works 210 that I saw. Low mileage, moonwalk grey. The only problem is that I've not driven a manual for over a year and getting back used to the 3rd pedal is proving challenging!
Overall I preferred the ride to the JCWs, that will be down to 17s and the non-runflats. Brakes, as pointed out, could be improved but not really an issue & could be sorted at a later date if needed. Now just looking forward to getting some miles under my belt & getting to know the car better.
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