Comments on: R56 JCW Accessories Coming Next Spring

By: Pedro

Pedro — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:49:24 +0000

If putting something on your car that is more cosmetic than functional makes you a poser, than technically everyone that buys an '07 MCS is a poser for having a fake hood scoop...

I say put what you want on your car...

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 16:56:10 +0000

I think this has been the most entertaining thread I have ever read on this post! Talk about polarization!. Personally, I would be inclined to remove any JCW badges and run as a “Q-Ship”. However, if the guy in the Cooper S beside me (or Cooper for that matter) wants to put a JCW badge or “accessory” on his car, all the power to him. He’s obviously having fun, despite being labeled a poser by others. I think “fun” (and marketing, of course) is what Mini intended…it certainly sells cars. I’m not suggesting the purist agree with this. Far from it! If people were’nt so opinionated, this forum would be boring. Long live the posers!

By: MauiMac

MauiMac — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 05:14:23 +0000

markus, would you mind poster a Hi-Res image of “the new JCW Aerokit”? Thanks in advance!

By: alpinamike

alpinamike — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 23:13:31 +0000

The problem is that it will happen , the e36 M started it all. De baged or not, people will do things to make their car look like something else, maybe that is the breed and MINI is about making things “your Own” as long as it is a MINI or a BMW, thats it!. Opps sorry, is a Vtec classic a classic, yes-its just had a update:). I think everyone has their own opinion, you just have to take things with a grain of salt. Some people want to spend money on the engine and some like the outside to look more or less like something else.

By: isellem

isellem — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 20:08:22 +0000

i wonder if its the JCW aero kit… or just the regular aero kit. If you look at the current jcw brochure all the cars have the aero kit… but its not a jcw aero kit

By: MotoringFile » Archive » R56 JCW Accessories Sneak Peak

MotoringFile » Archive » R56 JCW Accessories Sneak Peak — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:04:05 +0000

[...] No word on pricing or exact release date but as we mentioned previously, expect a spring of 2007 availability and prices similar to those found with the R50 and R53. Big thanks to Markus for the link. [...]

By: Rocketboy

Rocketboy — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 11:22:32 +0000

Wow, it’s the invasion of the piss and moaners. Sorry, JCW is not just the kit, but also the brand name of the line of accessories. Having JCW accessories does not make you a ‘poser’ if you do not have the engine mod. It’s you’re fault that that you assume that if someone has a JCW wheels, or a JCW dash, etc, that it has the JCW engine mods. If I replace my MINI shift knob with a Momo one, does that mean I’m a poser for not having a Momo modified motor? Or if i have a MiniMania skid plate, does that mean I’m a poser for not having the MiniMania engine kit?

By: Eelke

Eelke — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 08:11:26 +0000

Yup, that’s what I said, it’s all about marketing :) However, for that marketing scheme to work, names are not important. What it’s all about is that they wanted to cash in on the Cooper name. When it’s down to the name (imagine identical cars, except for white roof), would you rather have a Mini Cooper or a Mini Seven (for example). How about the guy next door? But as I said, who can blame them, really? They already did much better than Rover did the last few years in terms of doing “the right thing” with the Cooper name. But we digress…

By: Drewski

Drewski — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 21:44:21 +0000

Of course, there are all kinds of possible reasons to not do this.

It's all about the marketing behind it all...And it all makes sense if you think about BMW's marketing schemes for US models: Base model, Larger/Higher output engine model, and then a somewhat limited production premium model (the M, of course).

By: Eelke

Eelke — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 11:34:44 +0000

If we want to get really nit-picky, historically, only the suped up versions of the Minis were Mini Coopers, so technically does that make all us new MINI owners posers since we all carry the Cooper name on our cars?

Well, just about everywhere but the US market, there is the Mini One, so that does make the Coopers the "souped up" versions. With the R56, it will even no longer be possible to get a One up to the same level of a Cooper with just a software upgrade, because its engine will be smaller (1.4). Which I suppose is a good thing for the Cooper name.

However, I do think the Cooper name has devalued over the years. This devaluation was probably at its prime between 1996 and 2000 when the difference between a "normal" Mini and a Cooper was a white roof, white bonnet stripes and white side mirrors, and the difference between a Cooper and a Cooper S ("sportpack", in some markets) were bigger wheels, bigger wheel arches, (two additions which actually made the car slower because of more weight and more drag) and some extra gauges in the dash. Take special note that there were no technical differences.

So, Mini actually has taken steps in the right direction again, although I do think that the current positioning of the Cooper is still not quite right in terms of doing the name justice. I think the Cooper should be much closer to the S in terms of power (140 BHP turbo? For early Minis, Cooper used to be the magic word, S was icing on the cake - the magic now all seems to be in that single letter). This would leave some room between the One and the Cooper for another model that takes the 120 BHP engine they are planning for the Cooper, but doesn't bare the Cooper name (Seven would be a nice name for such a model - One, Seven, Cooper, Cooper S :)).

Of course, there are all kinds of possible reasons to not do this. Gap between MC and MCS not big enough for people wanting the S, gap between One and Cooper too big but no market for yet another model, etc. My point really is, I think those are all reasons the marketing department came up with (had they had a will to do the right thing in a historical sense, the Cooper would have been Seven all along, Cooper S had been Cooper, and Cooper S JCW had been Cooper S - but they chose to cash in on the Cooper name, and who can blame them?). The fact the R56 Cooper is getting a 6-speed gearbox just like the S is actually a step in the right direction.

By: markus

markus — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 05:38:16 +0000

the new JCW Aerokit:

By: GPMINI

GPMINI — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 04:18:31 +0000

I predict the R56 JCW is going to kick ass, particularly when not outfitted with $400 carbon fiber sun visors…

By: RedRocket

RedRocket — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 18:26:26 +0000

I look at from the perspective that by the time the JCW engine kit is out I will have already narrowed down what accessories I want on my car. C’mon guys and gals, MINI drivers are half full people not half empty. Just look at what we drive. It took allot of faith and character to surf against the wave of public popularity in term of motor vehicles when choosing what we will drive.

By: MiniJCWGP

MiniJCWGP — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 15:33:45 +0000

Hey GPMINI, your right on the steering wheel – JCM just says it is “Not suitable for road use” not that it is not street legal. Yes, the JCW performance bits are high-priced when compared to some of the general after-maket stuff. But then you have to remember that the mods are all engineered by masters in the race performance parts field, road tested in multiple MINI mules, re-engineered, re-road tested for a year or more by BMW/Cooper until they are as right as they can make them – all the perf parts working together for top performance, then finally released AND warrantied by the factory. Not just bits and bobs that a small speedshop put together in the back room, then dyno tested once or twice, independent of any other mod – with no coverage, other than for that part (and pretty much a given that adding the mod cancels your MINI factorhy warranty). That’s the reason for the premium cost – premium developent/design/testing/warranty, not just the JCW logo.

By: GPMINI

GPMINI — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 04:28:47 +0000

DonÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t you have to have JCW, BEFORE you can add most JCM components?

No, you don't, actually. But I wasn't knocking JCW performance upgrades (although they are bloody ephing over-priced) just their silly bling bits.

And things like the JCM steering wheel are track only - not even street legal.

No airbag on that wheel, but still legal.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 15:32:22 +0000

Much ado about badging

By: MiniJCWGP

MiniJCWGP — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 13:15:43 +0000

GPMINI: Huh?? Don’t you have to have JCW, BEFORE you can add most JCM components? So you I guess you have to be a poser first, to add the JCM mods?? And things like the JCM steering wheel are track only – not even street legal.

By: MauiMac

MauiMac — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 03:59:13 +0000

Gabe, will the JCW engine kit make use of the NON-functional bonnet scoop?ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â¦

By: GPMINI

GPMINI — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 22:21:45 +0000

This debate is pointless. All JCW “accessories” are poseur material. Period. JCM stuff is the real deal. Check out the steering wheel, shift knob, spoiler, brake ducts, etc. Makes the JCW stuff look like totally rice.

By: Avitor

Avitor — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 22:16:59 +0000

Weren’t the Tritecs also used in non-US Neons and PT Cruisers?