Most liked posts in thread: Saw this today......

I fixed that for you!

 

I drive cars for a local dealership group from their lot to auction, so I get in a LOT of different cars, many of which have a LOT of miles on them, but even so you can still get an appreciation for the difference in the ways various mfrs have tuned the driving and handling characteristics of their cars (not all of the cars we drive are high mile worn out pos)

The MINI steering and handling feel is significantly more precise than pretty much anything else I drive...and you can poopoo the electric steering assist and so on all you want, but spend some time behind the wheel and you'll realize just because it's different than what you've become used to doesn't make it bad - only different.

After spending the day behind the wheels of 10 or more cars, when I get in my MINI at the end of the day - the difference in feel is immediate and easy to see.

Walk a mile in their shoes, lads.....or drive 30 miles in their cars - and see.

 

It's not a true JCW, is it?

Came across this today on the other site. The body has an S badge, and the engine has a JCW tuning kit #. So, it's not a true JCW correct? He's passing it off and selling it as if it is. My knowledge of the 1st Gen JCW is limited.
"I'm absolutely not trying to stick anyone here, but this is an excellent Factory JCW build that deserves a decent price, and already in fair price territory. I invested expensively in the exterior, pro-active preventative maintenance (supercharger oil reservoirs and gaskets, and belt, for example), and despite those I'm asking half of what I paid for it, have only added < 4,000 miles a year. It has a strong price because it deserves a strong price. "
https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/minis-and-minis-for-sale/311040-priced-to-sell-rare-2006-factory-jcw-loaded-unmodded-and-well-maintained.html

 

Looks like the real deal to me. Nice car. Read the window sticker & you will see all the JCW stuff is there.

 

I'm learning alot about the first gen JCW's today. So I know in the 2nd gen world if you get a tuning kit on your S you get the badge on the engine. That's what's throwing me on this "JCW". Says Cooper S on the boot, has a JCW tuning kit badge on the engine, and when I decode the VIN it comes up as just an S. I may be wrong, but I'm getting an education along the way :cornut: The difference between gen's 1 and 2 are insane.

 

The car does have the S3AL JCW Package, it is a true factory JCW.

 

The first gen JCWs were all dealer add on kits until the '06. In '06 you could get either. The factory ones included the limited slip diff and the JCW front brakes. The other difference is the exhaust is one piece instead of the 2 needed for shipping the kit to dealers. The aero kit and the wing are really nice additions.

I paid $12,500 for my '05 JCW with 24k mi 4 years ago. That's with out the aero kit, brakes, or limited slip diff. So the price may be a little high. But if it's in as good of shape as claimed it could be worth it to the right enthusiast. It I was currently looking I'd check it out. Being a midwest car rust would be the main thing to check. Even if it was not driven in the winter.

 

While walking the dogs today, happened upon an Ariel Atom in the wild, just parked on the street. Over the years, I've seen the occasional supercar or other exotic around town, but I'd never seen an Atom before.

 

The JCW to get is a 2005 Dealer installed JCW or an early 06 JCW. Not the factory ones.

After that BMW/MINI bought John Cooper Works which was a separate company, they watered down the JCW brand to a sticker package, badges and a slight bump in HP via a very conservative ECU tune.

Early JCW's where dealer installed kits with performance parts like a better ported head, smaller SC pulley, LSD Diff and a ecu flash, still a mild tune, but not a just an "S" tune.

Some 2006 "S"'s got JCW parts undocumented from the factory at the end of the run to use up the SC and head parts they had in stock.

All later fJCW's ( f=Factory ) are just the same as "S" cars with no real custom performance parts added on. I do not believe a cold air intake is not really a Performance part.


So in the end all the current fJCW's are just high level trim packages with no real performance parts.

* The only true performance MINI the recently made was the GP 2 because it had coil overs, race tires and a few other weight saving performance parts but that's it.

Don't get suckered into buying a 2nd or 3rd gen factory JCW for rarity, performance or extra value because they are nothing really special unless you like stickers.

 

You need to buy this car NOW!

That is a rare early f JCW with all the real original JCW Performance parts and all the options. The JCW Kit and all the options are listed on the window sticker. LSD, Tuning Kit.....

I am not a fan of leather or the Chrono pack but that is a well optioned car. :cornut:

JCW cars are not limited like GP's. The only limit was how many they could sell. :lol:

 

The dealer installed JCW engine package included a completely different cylinder head, complete exhaust system, ECU, new supercharger with Teflon coated vanes and smaller pulley (14% IIRC)but the LSD was not part of the dealer installed package.

I had an 03 with the dealer installed engine upgrade package, there was a separate body kit too, which mine also had, painted to match. I did not get the suspension which was a further kit option.

My buddy has a factory 2006 JCW, all the engine mods done at the factory, which has a different air filter box (and a $60 filter in it!) but his JCW suspension package was done at the dealership....so even in 2006 they were still doing some dealer installed JCW upgrades.

 

Alfa Romeo 4C chillin' at the parking meter.

First time I've seen a white 4C. It looks better in red.

 

I guy where I live has a white one, looks great & sounds great.

 

The only problem with that first picture is that damn
FIAT in the background. Ruins the whole thing.

 

I agree with you, white is not the color for the 4C. The color on the Abarth in the background of the first pic would look good on the 4C.

 

Looks pretty sweet. I checked out their car builder for kicks. Only 164HP on the Abarth, and they want 2 grand for the racing stripe! :eek6:

 

They say the stripe is hand painted ..... that's a good gig for someone. :biggrin5:

 

Car doesn't bother me as much as the parking job.