Mini JCW to M2 ?

[halfpenny43]

Hi all - anyone gone from a JCW to an M2 ?

Any downsides ?
Similar running costs ?
Same fun factor but with more power ?

Currently have a 2 year old manual JCW with JCW with full carbon exterior parts, bluetooth exhaust, Mishimoto airfilter and Superchip pushing about 260bhp but have been offered a trade in against a 1 year fully spec'd M2 with DCT.

I'll get a BMW Sport bluetooth exhaust installed and carbon rear lip spoiler and kidney grills, sell the filter and superchip and look to get one for the M2.

Cannot see too many downsides . . . . .

[tjlees]

M2 is not manual so some of the fund will go

I'm seeing 37.5 mpg long term on the JCW 1.6 so running costs on the M2 will be higher and servicing will cost more.

However, its a proper straight six M car

[VvrooomM]

tjlees said:

M2 is not manual so some of the fund will go

I'm seeing 37.5 mpg long term on the JCW 1.6 so running costs on the M2 will be higher and servicing will cost more.

However, its a proper straight six M car

The M2 is a manual as standard, DCT is an option

[cerb4.5lee]

Only the heavier weight and the ability to use all of the M2's performance are the only downsides I can see in comparison to the Mini. As mentioned the M2 is available as a manual if you prefer cog swapping to the DCT.

RWD and a LSD will never fail to raise a big smile for sure!

[tjlees]

VvrooomM said:

tjlees said:

M2 is not manual so some of the fund will go

I'm seeing 37.5 mpg long term on the JCW 1.6 so running costs on the M2 will be higher and servicing will cost more.

However, its a proper straight six M car

The M2 is a manual as standard, DCT is an option

yep - but the one the OP is looking at is DCT

[mikeyscott]

Not driven an M2 yet, car I was driving tomorrow gone from BMW AUC site ???

Drove a JCW auto and loved it over my 135i earlier in the year. What stopped is was the £30k+ price on the car I drove.

Certainly felt like I could peddle it quicker and easier. I did drive one in Feb though

[Mj2k]

Just sold my F56 JCW with most options & the exhaust, although went M4 as the lack of special M2 bits just annoys me, even though it’s a perfect size. The M2 Comp solves all this, but was too expensive.

Certainly miss the volume on the exhaust, but a valve controller fixes that. Both the 2, but especially the 4 feel huge vs the mini. I was also running at 260bhp and whilst I was flooring the mini most days, I’m finding the 4 is quick enough without burying it. Possibly the mini is the car you will feel satisfied from wringing the neck of it more often.

On the plus side, neither the 2 or the 4 made me drive like I was 17 and ‘on a mission’ as much as the JCW did. Always made me exhausted on longer drives due to the 90% attack mode dynamic of the JCW

[cerb4.5lee]

Mj2k said:

On the plus side, neither the 2 or the 4 made me drive like I was 17 and ‘on a mission’ as much as the JCW did. Always made me exhausted on longer drives due to the 90% attack mode dynamic of the JCW

I would love a M4 big time, but maybe its me wanting to be 17 again(I'm 45) that I love my Cooper S so much, in that it makes me drive like a clown again!

Whereas Bmw's always make you feel grown up whichever model you have for me.

[Steve Rance]

The Mini is a real fun FWD car. I almost went the mini route as a FWD but went for a Clio Trophy instead as I prefered the chassis. You will find that the M2 is a very different car to drive in that its not a simple, turn in and floor the throttle and let the diff sort everything out experience which to be honest gets a bit boring in the mini after a while. The M2 will give you a lot more driving options and has - relative to the mini - an excess of power over physical grip which also adds another dimension. As a driving car the M2 has more to offer than the mini. If you are looking for an engaging and practical vehicle, you wont be dissapointed, but if you were driving the Mini hard, you will need to adjust your driving style to enjoy the M2. Its offers the option of driving as a typical Front engined/RWD, a Mid engined and even a rear engined style but definately not a FWD. If you turn in and mash the throttle, you will go into immediate and potentially terminal oversteer

[Avalyn]

I currently have a JCW (manual), my buddy has an M2 (DCT). We've both driven each others cars a fair amount.

It's a no brainer which one is quicker in a straight line, or round the bends really come to think of it.

It's also a no brainer which is more fun - that'll be the JCW, as I have 3 pedals and a stick. The JCW is also smaller, more kart like, quick enough and has enough power that you can't just put the hoof down, so needs to be managed. I have thought about having it mapped, but really it's quick enough as it is. You can have fun at lower, and legal speeds and it's just such a happy little car.

The M2 is a lovely car, it's too quiet for me though even with the upgraded exhaust. Quite frankly the JCW pro exhaust is nuts and make me smile like a child.

If both were manual I think it would be a close call ..

[JNW1]

Avalyn said:

I currently have a JCW (manual), my buddy has an M2 (DCT). We've both driven each others cars a fair amount.

It's a no brainer which one is quicker in a straight line, or round the bends really come to think of it.

It's also a no brainer which is more fun - that'll be the JCW, as I have 3 pedals and a stick.

If both were manual I think it would be a close call ..

I do understand why if someone's using the car as a daily driver - and commuting in traffic - they'd choose DCT for their M2 but if fun and driver involvement are the priority it's a manual gearbox all day long IMO.....

[mikeyscott]

Sold my 135i and planning on getting a 66 plate DCT M2, but tbh I loved the Mini JCW I borrowed in Feb, will be driving another.