Can you guys give me some insight on this? Thanks!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=149897

 

I would take the 06 JCW over the 09 any day, but the car has to be real clean. Mine was close to $35,000 when I got it new back in Sept 06 and it's been a pleasure ever since, now with 25,000 miles and that S/C whine

 

Won't comment on price of that particular JCW but will agree with above comment... R53 JCWs are very special cars indeed by any measure. The new factory JCWs, mind you, should be significantly faster (but be sure to spec JCW suspension else expect rolly-polly cornering and sit-on-its-*** acceleration) if you can stand the "packaging" they come in (speccing the aero kit is mandatory IMO).

 

Tough question, alot depends on do you prefer the SC engine over a turbo. As far as 06 JCW goes that may be just 1k high on price but if it fills the bill for what you are looking for and it is low miles. Also you can get a extended warrenty up to 7 years 100k miles for 1200-1550 depending on who you go with. All in all I prefer the Gen 1 interrior and sounds like a OK deal. UP to you. As you already know Minis are holdoing their value VERY WELL and a hot rod like the JCW more so. Good luck Cheers

 

It is a difficult decision and you need to ask yourself alot of questions.

I had an 2003 MCS that I performed all the normal mods (pulley, exhaust, ECU, CAI, BBK, sway-bar, etc..) so that it was comparable to a JCW because I would not play the dealer price for the JCW package. I like researching parts to use and working on cars so it was fun for me to modifiy the car. However, when I totalled that car I purchased a 2006 MCS GP with all the JCW stuff. I like the JCW vehicle better than my moddified MCS. Now maybe it is because I am comparing apples to oranges because the GP has better transmission gearing, LSD, and a little lighter. But the complete JCW package seems to be better than my selection of aftermarket parts.

The price of Minis right now is high because of the dealers being out of cars. This drives up the used car prices, especially at dealers.

I also live in California and paid $3000 mak-up on my 2003 MCS. When I was looking for a GP the CA dealers were asking from $3000 to $10000 markup. I found a dealer on the East Coast with no markup but I would have to pay shipping estimated at $1200. I offered a CA dealer $1500 markup (instead of his $3,000 markup telling them that I could get one shipped to CA for the equivalent price and the dealer excepted my offer.

I personnally like the looks and feel of the supercharged models better than the turbo models. I just drove a new MCS at MTTS and would rather have my GP.

I agree that the price is a little high but it is a good package. However, right now, I think it will be hard to find a much lower price for an equivalent vehicle. Do some autotrader.com research for your area to see the pricing. It does get difficult to compare Minis because of all the different options.

 

If I got a non-JCW car, it would be the turbo. I felt more power at lower RPMs which was real nice. The supercharger felt a little sluggish off the line until about 3k or unless I smashed on the pedal. Now, the JCW was definitely something else when I test drove it!

Ahh! Great write up. Exactly what I needed.

I know I can get a MCS for cheaper but I don't want to waste time and money modding the engine. The factory warranty on the JCW is what really attracted me. It's a car I can get and not have to deal with modfifying.

I can't find anything equivalent to this car. 07 MCS' (lightly optioned with about the same mileage) are going for about $24k-$25k. Then I'd have to dump more money on modifications.

I might just suck it up and go for it.

 

GO FOR IT, it sounds like this is what you have been waiting for. As far as the sluggishness until 3000 RPM that is a quick software fix for a tuner like RMW. This car will bring you years of enjoyment and is already factory modded so you can just enjoy. If you want/need and extended warrenty check around, I got one through my Credit Unions buyers service and it gave me 7 more years and up to 75,000 total miles for 1285.00. I did this as I plan on keeping my GP for a long time. Cheers

 

Ok I just looked at his ad again and it says JCW Tuning Kit (Engine and brake kit).

A little hard to see but you can see it on the bottom. Does this mean it's not a "complete" JCW? No injectors & cylinder head?

It has the badges, exhaust and WORKS door trim.

 

The Engine Tuning Kit DOES include those.

 

EDIT:

So what's the other kit they sell with the ECU reflash, CAI and one more thing? I thought that was the tuning kit.

 

Hey Stooken,
You have more pics? I mean I have more miles on mine and mine is def cleaner under the bonnet.

 

The intercooler cover could stand a good cleaning with Simple Green

 

That's the only other engine shot. Has everything for a factory JCW?

 

Stooken those items you mentioned are included just with this car it was installed at the factory not at the dealer. Also you got the JCW brakes which only came with the "factory" JCW. So when you picking her up? Cheers

 

Yup, a factory-installed "JCW Tuning Kit" in a 2006 MY car will have the larger injectors, flowed head, run a different engine map, have the CAI, etc. Adds up to very noticeable and smoothly delivered power bump all through the rev range, which i guess you know first-hand from your test drive.

Does the car also have the JCW suspension upgrade installed? This is a separate build option and i can't quite make it out in the small photo of the build sheet. If it does, even better. If not, easy to add (quite inexpensive from Morristown Mini, from example) if you want to take the handling up another notch and remain OEM.

 

I don't know! The price is a bit high but I can't get myself to stop looking at it. I had a smile on my face the entire test drive.

I just got the Certificate of Authenticity. It has a spot for the date and VIN number but it's blank. Is it usually like that?

I don't think it has the JCW suspension. The sticker just says "Combo #6, John Cooper Tuning Kit. JCW Engine Kit. JCW Sport Brake Kit. LSD" for a grand total of $6,300

How much is the JCW suspension?

 

Yea sometimes the certificate is blank dealer should have filled it in at delivery. The JCW suspension was a dealer installed option except on the GP. 1295.00 was the cost. You can still get it at any dealer.

 

 

Go for it!!

 

I've owned a '06 JCW for a little over 6 months now. It was traded in by the original owner for a Porsche 997. Poor guy didn't know what a downgrade it would be

I want to thank the other writers on this thread b/c I didn't get a chance to speak with the owner before I bought it. I hadn't realized that the JCW suspension needed to be added. The car has everything else that the $6200 package came with. He went further and added M7 front strut brace and USS kit, H-sport front camber plates and rear sway bar. I'm really spoiled. It was the first MC that I have driven for any length of time.

When I drove my first R56 MCS last week, I was pretty disappointed. Yes, it's more comfortable to drive around town. And yes, the engine is still tight for having less than 100 miles on the car. But as soon as I left the dealer's lot, I knew how special the R53 JCW's are. It reminds you how deliberately sporty it is tuned for, from throttle responsiveness, to the s/c whine and engine note.

John

 

Can you PM me how much you paid? Just want to compare numbers.

 

I also have a 2006 with the factory suspension added at the port prior to delivery. After delivery I had the M7 understrut system and Ireland Engineering fixed camber plates installed as well.

Worth every penny and a good thing to add. I don't have a rear bar yet but I think I will add one soon.

As far as the price it's a tad high, my thought would be about 1500.00, but not unreasonable as it was over 34 thousand when first sold.

Hope this helps...

 

Hi,
As the owner of an 06 with the suspension, I agree it's a tad high, but if it's as good as you say, and you really want it, go for it. I really love mine and have no thoughts of ever selling it. My .02.
Chuck

 

I replied to your linked thread but I've pasted my response here as well...

Where are you? Where is the car?

I looked at a car very similar to this one several months ago when I was shopping for mine and the seller wouldn't budge. Luckily I was looking at 2 and the other seller came down - and it was the car I wanted more anyway so it worked out. Personally, I much prefer the 06 to the 09 but I wouldn't pay that then, and I wouldn't pay it now. Thats easy for me to say as I already have one but I might have to reconsider given that the market is substantially tighter now than is was in May.

 

Wish I had 2 comparable cars so I could deal more.