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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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

• 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.

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.