What’s Your MINI Dream Garage?
As auto enthusiasts, we here at MF often debate the dream garage scenario. If you hit the lottery tomorrow, what three cars would you fill this mythical dream garage with? The caveat? It has to only be MINIs…
To get the ball rolling, here’s my person list:
- 2020 JCW Clubman. Yes this is my current daily and I’d have it as specced with the addition of 19″ JCW wheels for the summer. This is the ultimate daily driver/road trip car and I can’t imagine my life without it.
- 2005 R53 JCW. Mandatories are JCW kit, LSD and of course manual. One of my greatest regrets was selling basically this car.
- 2012 MINI JCW Roadster. As in the one we ran for a year. Simply put it was the most fun I’ve ever had in a MINI and made a surprisingly good daily.
What’s your top three? Let’s hear your thoughts below.
I have owned a ’08S 6sp, a 12S 6sp, a ’15S auto, and a ’19 JCW auto, all 2 door hardtops. I think my dream MINI would be an F56 JCW hardtop, auto, no sunroof, but loaded with everything, ’17” wheels, and the stock JCW suspension. And I would delete the rear seat and would want the new dashboard screen. The F56 screen sucks. The regular JCW hardtop engine is a sweet engine. It’s very smooth and loves to be revved, and still just sips gas.
I’ll go with you on two of those, but my number 1 would be a tastefully restored Mk 1 rally-prepped classic. My daily driver pick too would be a 2020 JCW Clubman, and then an R53 JCW (post-2005 facelift) for all the good times I’ve had with my various R50 Coopers (but with a little extra).
The one that never was: R58 JCW Coupe alongside my old 03 DS/W Cooper S with the R50 wheels. Oh, and a Singer 911 in Viper Green.
1) 2006 fJCW (currently own), but with some now mythical options: JCW leather dash and downtubes with red stitching, JCW leather steering wheel, black JCW recaros from the euro cars, and JCW suspension.
2) 2012 MINI Goodwood in Reef Blue
3) 2020 JCW Clubman fully loaded with the JCW Pro exhaust.
We have two of the three already: 2021 SE and 2020 JCW Clubman
For one more, I would say a low mileage 2006 R50 with a manual
1) 2012 R58 coupe, JCW aerokit, JCW rims, JCW brakes, sport suspension, loaded, own. Rally/track.
Got excited by Motoring file article in 2011.
2) 2014 F56 “S” JCW brakes and JCW tuning kit, loaded, own. Rally/track/daily.
Wished I had traded the F56 for a JCW hardtop, though I question the missing fog lights and the frontal look.
3) 2019 F57 base with 16″ rims, loaded, leasing.
daily car. Handling is fair on some roads. Like the voice navigation.
Since this is my Dream garage…
1.) 2012 MINI Roadster JCW painted Hot Orange/White, MINI SE Battery/Motor for maximum fun.
2.) 2005 R52 MCS Hot Orange/White (My Current MINI.)
3.) R55 Clubman MCS Hot Chocolate
1. F60 JCW 306 hp. It’s a little bit better for snowboarding and travelling in mountings
2. F54 JCW 306 for daily riding in the city
3. F57 JCW for summer vacation )
Well I have a 17 JCW F54, I wish I could put the 300hp engine in it but keep the manual. But I’d choose the manual over having more power so I’ll keep what I have.
I also have a 2006 JCW, but it’s a love hate relationship with the repairs it keeps needing. A recurring steering wheel shimmy under braking (new brakes, new suspension bushings, new shocks, and it keeps coming back) makes me not love it some days. But so far I keep at it (should’ve just kept my 2004 JCW but hindsight is 2020).
I think for a 3rd car I would do the electric one. It would be super for normal commuting.
I have decisions to make. With the current Clubman ending do I spec a new one for the long haul and give up the stick in mine? Do I hold onto it and wait for the next 2 door generation? I can’t go Electric until the range goes up or a charging network becomes a reality.