R56 Will I be happy with a manual S?
#1
Will I be happy with a manual S?
I bought an automatic 2010 MCS a year and a half ago. I was driving 2+ hours/day in the city, so the automatic worked great. I had always driven automatics, and didn't think I was missing out on anything.
A few months ago I bought a sports motorcycle. Absolutely fell in love with the idea of having full control over everything in my transmission. Now I want that in my car. I have been increasing disappointed with the poor performance and hard shifting of my automatic. Currently looking at getting a manual 2012 MCS. Can do the swap fairly cheap.
I guess my question is, will I be happy with "just" a stick S? I've heard so many people rave about the JCW and I'm wondering if I'm going to be disappointed going from an Auto S, to a Motorcycle, and back to a Manual S.
Thing is, I'd had to buy a used JCW, there's just no way I'm going to pay more than $30k for a car.
So what does NAM think? New 2012 MCS, or a used 2009-2011 JCW?
A few months ago I bought a sports motorcycle. Absolutely fell in love with the idea of having full control over everything in my transmission. Now I want that in my car. I have been increasing disappointed with the poor performance and hard shifting of my automatic. Currently looking at getting a manual 2012 MCS. Can do the swap fairly cheap.
I guess my question is, will I be happy with "just" a stick S? I've heard so many people rave about the JCW and I'm wondering if I'm going to be disappointed going from an Auto S, to a Motorcycle, and back to a Manual S.
Thing is, I'd had to buy a used JCW, there's just no way I'm going to pay more than $30k for a car.
So what does NAM think? New 2012 MCS, or a used 2009-2011 JCW?
#2
I can't really speak to the S vs. JCW dilemma, but I can't imagine that you would be disappointed with moving from auto to manual, especially given your remark about having total control over the vehicle. To me, there's simply no comparison. I hope to never have to drive another automatic in my life.
#5
I was faced with the same dilemma as you about 6 months ago. For me, it was either go with a new 2011 S (w/ JCW body kit), or a used JCW. I found an 09 with only 14k miles and went with that. After test driving both, it was a no-brainer as to which I'd rather drive. If you settle for something, you may find yourself not totally happy and wondering what it might have been like; just like you are now. The only way to find out is to drive them both. I'm willing to bet after you drive a JCW, your mind will be made up. I don't know how I'll ever live without Brembo's again .
#6
What do you guys think of this JCW? Versus a new 2012 MCS?
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false
#7
If you like the look, save a bunch of money and buy used. As for the Stick vs. Manual issue, you will never look back. The Mini has a very sweet and accurate stick shift and even driving in traffic is never a bother. My other car is a VW with an automatic/tiptronic and its nice but still not as fun as a stick.
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#8
$10,000+ off sticker for one year of depreciation? Seems like a awfully low price. Either priced to move and a pretty good deal, or it's a dealer buy-back/lemon/wrecked. I wish that would have been available when I was looking. I'm not too far from Austin and would have heavily considered it if it checked out. FWIW, I paid almost $25k (dealer paid $23k as a trade-in and offered a pretty fair trade-in price on my 05 S) for my 09 with only a little more mileage than that and a few more options and that was the best deal at the time on a JCW within 500 miles of DFW.
Last edited by muzak; 12-27-2011 at 01:13 PM.
#9
I literally cannot drive automatics anymore. I get bored and do irresponsible things to keep myself entertained.
An MCS is more than enough, but the JCW just gives it that extra "oomph" that I think the car should have. It's a completely different animal, but it's also not as smooth or forgiving IMO.
I'm also selling my fairly modded '09 JCW around June if you want to think about it and wait!
An MCS is more than enough, but the JCW just gives it that extra "oomph" that I think the car should have. It's a completely different animal, but it's also not as smooth or forgiving IMO.
I'm also selling my fairly modded '09 JCW around June if you want to think about it and wait!
#10
I literally cannot drive automatics anymore. I get bored and do irresponsible things to keep myself entertained.
An MCS is more than enough, but the JCW just gives it that extra "oomph" that I think the car should have. It's a completely different animal, but it's also not as smooth or forgiving IMO.
I'm also selling my fairly modded '09 JCW around June if you want to think about it and wait!
An MCS is more than enough, but the JCW just gives it that extra "oomph" that I think the car should have. It's a completely different animal, but it's also not as smooth or forgiving IMO.
I'm also selling my fairly modded '09 JCW around June if you want to think about it and wait!
I'm waiting to see the new "shortened" WRX STi, myself.
#11
I literally cannot drive automatics anymore. I get bored and do irresponsible things to keep myself entertained.
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Advise to OP: go with NEW 2012. Be kind to yourself - you work hard, you deserve it. Configure it the way YOU want it. (going Manual can be thought of as giving your left leg something to do, heheh)
#16
I prefer manual not just for the control but for the feel of the engine always being directly connected to the wheels. I hate all the slipping through the torque converter that happens even in good automatics.
I drive in Chicago traffic all the time and honestly the clutch is so light it really doesn't bother me.
I drive in Chicago traffic all the time and honestly the clutch is so light it really doesn't bother me.
#18
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I can't speak to the JCW but I do plan to add the kit to my car this summer as I could always go for more power.
I test drove a 2012 MCS auto and it was fun to grab the paddles and zoom through the gears. But I went with a manual and haven't looked back. Its a blast to tell the car when I want to change gears, burn the gas and not worry about it.
All my friends have told me for years that swapping your own cogs was a blast and it sure is. This is from a guy who has never driven a manual till the last 60 days and loving every drive! I'm also told a MINI is one of the easiest manuals to drive.
I test drove a 2012 MCS auto and it was fun to grab the paddles and zoom through the gears. But I went with a manual and haven't looked back. Its a blast to tell the car when I want to change gears, burn the gas and not worry about it.
All my friends have told me for years that swapping your own cogs was a blast and it sure is. This is from a guy who has never driven a manual till the last 60 days and loving every drive! I'm also told a MINI is one of the easiest manuals to drive.
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You can't get an after market tune for a 2012 MC or MCS, they have a locked ECU. Also a JCW tuning kit on an MCS is not the same as a factory JCW, lower HP and torque, doesn't have the JCW's heavier duty clutch and tranny, and doesn't have the JCW's bigger Brembo brakes. By aftermarket tune I'm refering to a "plug and play" tune like the Alta AccessPort or the Dimsport. Those do work on 2011 and earlier MC and MCS, but do not bring them up to factory JCW numbers. They do still work on a factory JCW.
#23
I loveeee my mini and love the community and modding my baby but some of those JCW with the tuning kit and exhaust, etc .. gets kind of expensive and then you kind of think about other options when the car comes close to 40k ...
my advice is go with a nice S model that you like or create your own from scratch and just put a bunch of aftermarket parts in it. this still comes out cheaper and some after market parts are better then OEM ... its a great car either way and a better community as you know.. that my 2 cents, its a win win situation though
my advice is go with a nice S model that you like or create your own from scratch and just put a bunch of aftermarket parts in it. this still comes out cheaper and some after market parts are better then OEM ... its a great car either way and a better community as you know.. that my 2 cents, its a win win situation though
#24
You can't get an after market tune for a 2012 MC or MCS, they have a locked ECU. Also a JCW tuning kit on an MCS is not the same as a factory JCW, lower HP and torque, doesn't have the JCW's heavier duty clutch and tranny, and doesn't have the JCW's bigger Brembo brakes. By aftermarket tune I'm refering to a "plug and play" tune like the Alta AccessPort or the Dimsport. Those do work on 2011 and earlier MC and MCS, but do not bring them up to factory JCW numbers. They do still work on a factory JCW.
No change from the 2011 to 2012. They went to new engine in 2011, not 2012. As far as the kit yep, you get less but also pay less, $2000 vs $6000+. I've still got less than $30,000 invested in my loaded 2011 MCS with JCW stage one kit.
Heres what Alta Accessport website says
2011-12Cooper S / Clubman S (NOT COMPATIBLE, currently in devolopment, email for questions)
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