Test drove the JCW last week, was lame compared to the 200, i have heard the GP is great.
This was my right up on a mini site.
Hello, i bought a FF clio sport 200 +cup in september, got a great deal, 17.5k list down to 15k before all the reviews etc. Now i have always loved the JCWs and recently i had a bee in my bonnet to look to off load mine in the next 6 months and get the mini.
Before i drove it i had read about all the hype etc, and also they hold their value which is good for me as when i leave home (Im 22 and cant leave my mum due to family issues) i would be able to off load the car and it wouldnt have lost too much unlike the 200.
Anyway i test drove the JCW yesterday and I have to be honest, it was good but it wasnt as good to drive as the 200.
The steering was alot lighter than the 200 even in sport mode and it understeered. It also didnt sound as good as the 200 even tho it is turbo'd which i didnt expect. The ride was alot softer too which i didnt like.
Interior wise well it was not 8k better than the 200 and neither were the seats whcih i found didnt support you enough.
I then said this to the sales man and let him have ago in mine and agreed completely about my points (steering etc).
What the mini does have going for it is non chav image, great resale price and quality image and fantastic MPG (i average about 22 mpg in the 200 as it is NA)also its not a renault.
What it doesnt have is the road connection whcih i have been told the SC'ed GPs had whcih i have never had a go in.
Many mini fans i know say since the new JCWs came out, it has lost its soul which i thinks a bit deep however it doesnt have the fun factor or the ability of the 200. Mini statistics can say what they want about being faster on paper but you really cant throw it around like the renault.
Im not a renault fan boy, just the JCWs isnt all its cracked up to be whcih is a shame.
