I have had my eye on the JCW hardtop for sometime now. I will have around $30k to spend. I plan to use it as a daily driver plus track and auto-x occasionally. So my question is would you buy a new JCW for that price or branch out and buy a used something else that may be a little better/higher end. Ex. BMW 135i, Cayman, Boxster, Corvette C6, etc. Your thoughts, thanks.

 

omg, I was in the same spot as you.

For me it was either the JCW, 128i with everything, or 135i with nothing.

I test drove all of them, but ended up with the JCW because of the gas mileage. Where I live everyone's about being green.

This is the most fun car i've ever driven. it's like a toy you can toss around. My previous car was a 2001 540i 6-speed, and I got bored with it.

 

I bought a JCW after having a 986 and recently buying a 987 Boxster. My aim was something fun and far from boring.

I favor the JCW for everyday driving for its fun and push from the turbo, but dont really see it as a track car. Its steering leaves much to be desired.

987 has spot on steering, linear power delivery and is finely balanced but after years of driving is boring and too relaxing to drive

987 has rarely been driven since taking JCW delivery

Thought about the VW GTI but it was too sedate and the DSG auto did not work for me. Had a Clio Sport before and thought it was better to drive than the GTI.

Thumbs up for the JCW!

 

How about a used JCW: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-jcw-mini.html

 

Miss my clio cup

 

My wife's 2010 S is WAY more fun than my 2008 BMW 135 ever was. Much more involving in everyday situations. I have a JCW Clubman on order because of her! I think the only time I will miss the 135 will be in high-speed passing situations (over 70 mph).

 

I say go for the new JCW.....

 

The only thing I find as tempting as a JCW, is a lightly used Lotus Elise. Can't get much more hardcore than that.

 

Actually, I agree with you too haha. One of my friends just bought an 05' Elise....its pretty insane, it's a legit race car....

 

yeah the elise is in the running also but , not sure if i could live with it as a daily driver....i will for sure try one out before i decide.

 

As a daily driver I think you will probably be happier with the JCW. My friend doesn't use his as a daily driver, and I don't think I could deal with a car like that as a daily driver. My JCW puts a smile on my face everyday, and I always notice people staring....

 

most cars in comparison seem to be on sedative pills after you drive a JCW. i think how they programmed the spike in the lower rev range helps with the entertainment too.

hope they improve on the steering in the next gen JCW. lane changes or 90 degree turns dont inspire confidence as they do with other cars - some understeer then numb then oversteer (could be a FWD thing? but takes getting used to). twisty roads are fine though and the whole package is quite entertaining.

Driven an Elise before and i dont think i could drive it everyday. Didn't seem to be built too well and a bit hard riding. Climbing in and out didn't phase me, although it is an interesting exercise.

Just doing the numbers for power to weight and i dont think many cars come above the JCW's 5.35kg per fttq making it a very fast car when rolling. 335i, 130i, 135i, 987S, WRX, GolfR, TT, SLK350 are all around this mark. Others which are higher would be SLK55, 911 turbo, Focus RS, WRX STI..

Anyhow, a car for plenty of smiles

 

power delivery for many modern cars seem increasingly electric like - too linear and either on or off. refinement perhaps but not entertaining

 

RU serious - Vette

As a JCW owner (of sorts) a regular MCS is everybit as capable. The JCW premium just isn't worth it IMHO

 

i might also add that on hot days these turbo cars dont make as much power thereby not being as sweet to drive

Audi RS4 suffers the same in non ideal whether (twin turbo engine). N/A engines dont have any issues regardless of weather

something to consider should you experience hot summer days..

 

on that note i do not know why the JCW with the throughly reworked engine only adds 30hp and 10 ft lb torque at the wheels as shown by the dyno threads on NAM

either the 1.6T is a ticking time bomb or there is more potential to be had with the JCW. whilst i imagine it is the latter, there doesn't seem to be much info compared to remapping a golf for more power

on a positive note though, the JCW brakes outbrake a Boxster 987 S. i believe they outperform a 911 too. 318mm fronts i think for a 1130kg car. other cars with brembos are 320mm whilst weighing 20-30% more.

 

Its not that throughly reworked. More pwr is def available. But for mass market, warranty, and emisions

With MINI, clever marketing played on classic nostalgia. Take the lastest Camden/Mayfair... trim packages C-MON But the marketing of exclusivity (which is different from reality of exclusivity) brings $$$$$. And people buy it up. Time will tell, hopefully JCW appreciates. But its also essentially mass produced with no cap on yearly or model (as far as I can tell).

 

JCW...

 

I had a friend who used his as a daily driver - hardcore track guy, but he said it was definitely a challenge. It's so low to the ground, car lights are aimed right at your mirrors, plus you're low enough to get blasted with rain sprayoff directly.

The Elise is definitely one of the more insane choices you can make (Ariel Atom being at the top of the chart). The JCW is waaaay more practical and still boatloads of fun.

Sure wish they would come out with a GP version for the 2nd gen.

 

Ralphie,

No offense but you obviously haven't taken your JCW to the track. I track mine fairly regularly and I assure you that I have embarassed many porsche, Corvette and other performance cars.

Not saying it's the fastest or best out there but the last time I left Roebling, I had 2 Porsche guys come up to me afterwards and ask what the hell I had in that thing... I lapped them consistently.

Here's me passing one of the guys I mentioned earlier...




I didn't even mention this one....















All in fun, all in fun....

Mark

 

great stuff guys, keep it coming. anybody see any drastic differences as far as track-ability with a JCW Clubman instead of hardtop?

 

I wouldn't necessarily consider a HPDE a gauge of car vs. car capability.

 

weight

 

I haven't tracked the clubman, but I wouldn't guess there would be a huge difference. Most of what tracking is... is increasing skills. So from that stand point, who cares. If you enjoy the car and it handling characteristics then race the heck out of it. It should perform much like the coupe. Few of us are actually allowed to "pass". Autocross for example is a timed event with cars paced out so that you will not catch up. I end up about midway in the timed events with the local Porsche club. I assure you that at my level it is more about driving capabilities than it is the car.

 

Just wondering, why not?