What Do you Want MINI USA To Add to the JCW?

Sections: JCW | MF Poll | R55 (Clubman) | R56 (Hatch) | R57 (Conv.) Feb 1st, 2010 71 Comments

(This article is specifically about the US-spec MINI JCW and not the version that comes with the aero-kit elsewhere in the world)

Last year we gave you our take on the factory JCW and why it wasn’t selling as well as it could be nationwide. For a quick recap we basically said we’d keep the drivetrain just is and focus on making the car look for unique while offering a sportier suspension standard.

Now it’s your turn.

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Update: Due to (un)popular demand we took out the JCW Wing from the first choice.

(Obviously one option miss here is subtract $1000 off the MSRP. However that’s just not plausible given the residuals MINI will need to protect of all the current JCW factory cars out there. )

Written By: Gabe

Brian

The point about the Focus RS is a good one. 325 lb/ft of torque and according to Motor Trend torque steer isn’t a problem.

MINI can do better and create a proper JCW. Im not bashing the current JCW, but its seems like its a tweaked “S”. Even though the S is great, The JCW should be a different car.
Brian

that guy

The Aero Kit is necessary. The car can’t look like just another “S” car. In the case of BMW, if you want an //M car you, have to pay for it; therefore you pay for the best and it LOOKS like paid you for it too. Same thing for the JCW there should be a noticeable visual distinction.
Colby

The engines on my ’02 and ’06 MCS’s weren’t what I wanted out of the box for street driving, so I added a 17″ supercharger pulley, etc. to improve the power. On the other hand my ’09 MCS is peppier from the get go and while I haven’t felt a pressing need for more power in every day driving it would certainly be appreciated. JCW performance takes off at about 4,000 rpm’s and below that it’s pretty much equivalent to an S model. MORE POWER IN LOWER GEARS is the only thing that would motivate me to spend the extra $$$$ on a JCW. Whatever is done to appearance won’t make me love the car any more than I already do.
Mark
How about incorporating many of these ideas & making more JCW equipment standard or as factory installed options:
- JCW aero kit standard or as a factory installed option
- Sport suspension standard with JCW sport suspension a $500 factory option
- JCW steering wheel, CF dash & wing as factory options
- A unique color choice (the Connaught Green was a great suggestion) & some optional unique exterior graphics
None of these should cost much to implement (color excepted) and would easily add value to the existing JCW car sold in the USA.
that.guy

@Brian In your opinion.
Mighty Mowse

How about printing JOHN COOPER WORKS on the tail pipes like the stage one JCW?

That’s just bizarrely cheap they stopped doing that. It was very cool.
Alan Smithee

^ I agree.

Tacky plastic add-ons with more fake scoops is not the answer.

The bones need to be improved; diff, suspension, seats. Wild paint and body kits are not what makes a high performance car.
Brian

@that guy Actually, in 50% , or the majority of peoples opinion. The poll speaks for itself.

Anyways, I’m not saying this to argue. Its just a given that a “special” sport factory car, like as the JCW, should have looked different than an S. The aero kit is one way to accomplish that; a way which most people agree with. There are other ways too.
Don Hopings

“Due to (un)popular demand we took out the JCW Wing from the first choice.”

Agreed. The wing looks like something Boy Racer would put on the back of his ’98 Honda Civic…
JonPD

Here is a good place to start, produce a performance car that is on the hot hatch list again. MINI has all but disappeared out of most European magazines anytime hot hatches are discussed. A trend that is sure to follow in the US as more hot hatches come to the states.
http://www.facebook.com/ron.myers Ron Myers

I voted:

JCW Suspension standard – It’s suposed to be a performance variant, why would you opt for less performance-oriented suspension?

Unique color – Give JCW buyers something that distinguishes their cars from the garden-variety MCS. But, let them decide if they want the full-on body kit and wing or not.
that.guy

@Brian. 50% of MF readers can’t be wrong… Personally, I only care about how the car drives and don’t want to pay for a skin job. Just my opinion.
Hoover

The aero kit is just a little too “fast and furious” for my taste. I only like it on black cars. I prefer to drive a wolf in sheep’s clothing, with perhaps a few glimpses of the fangs (different exhaust, color schemes, badges, etc.). I think the poll demonstrates, once again, that MINI owners value the ability to customize. Offering packages (e.g., Aero kit package, carbon fiber package, interior package) as no-cost options to include for the premium price paid makes a lot of sense, and makes the price a little easier to swallow.
Ian F

I also voted for the aero kit and suspension, however, I would ask for better seats and a LTW option if I could.
Bill in Iowa

I voted……

A true hi performance Mini, or JCW should have a look of it’s own. Preferably something other than the current JCW aero look, give it something unique, as this is suppose to be a unique Mini. Have a functuional hood scoop. I’m tired of car makers putting a phoney hood scoop on their cars. If you are going to have separate, unique wheels, at least put something in the 15 lb. range, something light. 22 lbs per wheel i rediculous. JCW suspension should be strandard for this car. From people that have opted for this suspension, they say that it is actually much better than the sport suspension in the comfort area.

Seats: There is no reason why Recaro seats couldn’t be standard here, as Mitsubishi EVO has them for an option, and they DO HAVE AIRBAGS with them.

For the money that Mini is asking, and the dealers that will not deal down on them, for that $30K, one would think that you’d get something for your money. When VW comes out with their GTI-R series this summer, with a fully optioned all wheel drive car with 270 hp, and with an asking price of $32K, or thereabouts, that’s going to put a big hurt in the Mini JCW, trust me on that.

Lastly, get rid of the rattles that seem to be in all Mini’s. Where is your quality control? One shouldn’t have to go back to dealers for these fixes with a car of this price range. Afterall, it’s not the $1500 car of the 60′s anymore. So, Mini, get with the program. I’m one of those that will be in the market in late summer or the fall. Do you want my business?
MatthewW

I’m baffled by how many MINI fans think the JCW suspension option should be standard on the JCW. Baffled.

How many JCW buyers opt for that upgrade historically? How difficult is it to take off and “downgrade”?

MINI’s not going to include JCW sus a no charge, of course, so making it an option offers several benefits to the company.

For example, MINI can allow the buyer to “tune” the feel of their new MINI; not everyone has the same driving habits and needs.

Making it an option seems like a very obvious thing to do.
Mark

@ MatthewW – I think that you are missing the point that for the steep cost difference to move up to the JCW you should get a higher performance suspension as standard. Additionally, making the JCW Sport Suspension a cost option also saves the the buyer the added expense of buying two sets of suspension components & paying for uninstallation/installation. Surely the component cost for the different suspension levels can’t be too drastically different as to cost BMW/MINI drastically more per car.
MatthewW

@mark, excellent points. They’re valid and convincing, and you are probably right about it all.

But would you have the same opinion if, for example, MINI told you 60-70% of JCW buyers did not buy the JCW sus upgrade? Have those figures been discussed somewhere?

My take on it is simply that the option for tuning the ride should be there, even on the JCW.

For what it’s worth, just this evening I had a chat with a friend about the MINI. He recently test drove one, but didn’t think he could live with the ride. He went with another manufacturer. I can only imagine what he would have thought about the JCW suspension.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=157700491 Ronald Campbell

I like all the carbon fiber accents the best. CF hood scope and rear hatch strip thing make it look awesome.
Mark

@MatthewW – I’d probably say your friend is too soft and should probably look at an Accord (just kidding BTW).

One of the distinguishing features of a MINI (any version) is its performance handling. With a JCW there is an even greater expectation of increased performance for the price premium and product positioning.

I think that more people would take the JCW sport suspension if it was offered as a factory installed option, simply because of the potentially drastic price and convenience difference involved.
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