Comments on: Factory JCW: Your Questions Answered

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:25:43 +0000

Any news yet on a part number for the R113..?

By: MiniMark

MiniMark — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:19:52 +0000

Woj Feb 12th, 2008

Gabe: your article last week made it sound as if it would a complete vehicleÃ¢â‚¬Â¦now the story has changedÃ¢â‚¬Â¦any explanations?

The only bit of the 'story' that changed was DSC and LSD were removed from the specs.

Mac, any chance of answering the question on when this new blacker black will be available? If it's in the next 12 months it would definitely cause me to hold off on ordering.

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:36:25 +0000

Have they fixed the problem with the cold weather start-up hullabaloo? It sounds like the engine will explode.

By: Woj

Woj — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:02:59 +0000

Gabe: your article last week made it sound as if it would a complete vehicle…now the story has changed…any explanations?

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:47:19 +0000

I thought that too, Jim … of course, our GP one is better ;)

By: jimskater

jimskater — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:54:39 +0000

Is it just me, or does the R113 wheel look like a doubled-up GP wheel?

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:46:03 +0000

Or you could read the report from last week. The details are all there.

By: Woj

Woj — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:06:01 +0000

In reading all of these posts, it appears as if we will all have to wait until the Geneva auto show to really learn what the auto will truly offer….

By: lavardera

lavardera — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:07:43 +0000

Whoa – shouldn’t that post be broken up with a continued–> link?

By: cct1

cct1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:19:09 +0000

Ketan, if I were you, I’d go stage I, LSD, JCW suspension and maybe, depending on budget, consider the JCW brakes (0r aftermarket if you’re not concerned with warranty). Best bang for the buck, probably come in less than the factory JCW, and best overall setup IMHO–handling will be great everyday and for the track, and you’re not losing much by not getting the extra HP–you’d be faster spending the extra money on a high performance driving school or two. HP, without handling, is more of an american muscle car setup–its really not playing to the MINIs strengths. If money is no object, then get the factory setup–but you’re going to have to throw in the suspension too. That’s what I’d do personally, but if I had a set budget, I’d go stage I, LSD, suspension–that car would do better on the track than stage II and brakes. With the MINI, its all about exit speed, and the suspension will help you more with that than the extra HP.

One concern with the factory JCW is torque steer–we’ll have to see how bad it is. And if you’re still learning on the track (I am; I’m going to hold off on a more powerful car than what I have now–R53 JCW– until I’m significantly better on the track), the stage II may be a bit much to handle.

For daily driving, you probably won’t notice a huge difference between stage I and stage II–torque is the same, HP higher–probably more noticeable on the track than around town. We’ll have to wait for the reviews, but that’s my best guess.

I’d wait until all the final pricing is in; you never know, the Stage II may come in under what everyone’s guessing, but right now the stage I setup with the handling upgrades looks like the best bargain.

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:37:27 +0000

I would go after the JCW dealer kit with a suspension upgrade, either to the sport or the JCW. Could spend the additional money saved making the Mini you own.

By: Ketan

Ketan — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:11:16 +0000

I would like to get your guys opinion on this: I am planning on using my Mini as a daily driver and I would do a track day but it would be once in a blue moon. I like the performance but is it worth the expense of a factory kit if you are going to use our car simply for daily driving? I am having a hard time deciding and I just wanted to get some opinions.

By: robble

robble — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:35:40 +0000

And keep in mind theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re using an upgraded transmission and clutch and they still didnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t want to push the torque much higher than 200ft lbs.

That sounds ominous to me.

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:19:24 +0000

There will be a backseat in the Factory JCW.

By: nuvolari

nuvolari — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:43:41 +0000

So, IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve heard a rumor that there will NOT be a rear seat in the Factory JCW. Any truth to that?

Let us hope not.

By: MiniMark

MiniMark — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:41:09 +0000

Mac Feb 11th, 2008

there will be a new black - lets put it that way. it wont be a jet black and it wont be a comsmos/astro or metallic black - expect something in between!

YES! But when when when?

By: Pipe

Pipe — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:20:18 +0000

So, I’ve heard a rumor that there will NOT be a rear seat in the Factory JCW. Any truth to that? What would that mean to the Clubman and Convertible?

By: Woj

Woj — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:27:42 +0000

I still do not understand the concept of offering a “factory” JCW with more power, better clutch and transmission yet with no LSD. This appears as yet another method of generating more money for the Mini coffers. Offering a “complete” car from the factory made sense, offering a stripped base car and forcing everybody to pay lots of money for the additional essential parts is just another money stealing venture. Arghh!

By: fdavid

fdavid — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:25:38 +0000

The R109′s is the best looking set I think. I think the R113′s might work to visually fill out the wheel base but they seem a little clunky.

By: c4

c4 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:21:52 +0000

A John Cooper Works Clubman could well be in my future. But I ain’t selling my R53 for one. In fact I am thinking of keeping it for-eva.