R99 Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 Hi all,Well, as I said in my introduction thread. I used to own a JCW MINI. I miss it every day, but I'm learning to love the GTI and I have to keep reminiding myself that I sold the MINI in order to save money! I owned it for just over a year, and I can honestly say it was an absolutely awesome car. However it also came with awesome running costs! It was costing me the earth to run; and my 300 mile per week commute meant that I was starting to feel the pinch. So I had to take the painful decision to let it go. To give you an idea it was costing £300 per month on finance and between £250-£300 in fuel ALONE! That's before you take into account the cost of insurance, tyres, brakes & tax spread across the year. I think I bought my dream car too young (I was 21 when I bought it) and I never realised the true running costs. So I intend to keep the Loop for 3 years or so and now I am finance free, save up until I can get myself something with similar power again. Golf R maybe?! So, the MINI:Exterior:JCW Aero Kit (complete)JCW Carbon MirrorsJCW Carbon Boot HandleJCW Carbon Rear ValanceJCW Side ScuttlesJCW brake ductsMINI CHALLENGE front splitterm7 Carbon Vortex bonnet scoopMINI Spot Lamps x 2 (black)Painted black headlamp ringsPainted black tail lamp ringsPainted black petrol filler capFlat black door handlesBlack bonnet stripesInteriorJCW Recaro Alcantara Seats & custom trimmed alcantara rear seatsJCW Alcantara Steering WheelJCW Carbon DashJCW Carbon Gear knob (Alcantara)JCW Carbon Handbrake (Alcantara)JCW Illuminating Door SillsCustom trimmed lower alcantara dashCustom trimmed alcantara driver & passenger arm restsAnthracite Roof LiningAuto-Dim Interior MirrorAutomatic Air ConditioningComfort AccessPanoramic Glass SunroofRain Sensor & Lights OnDarkened Rear GlassDynamic Stability ControlExterior Mirror PackVisibility PackPark Distance ControlFront Centre Arm RestFront Seat HeatingHeated Mirrors/Washer JetsMultifunction for S/Wheel In-Car EntertainmentHiFi Speaker SystemNavigationDAB Digital RadioBluetooth Telephone Prep Under The BonnetJohn Cooper Works Stage 1 Kit, which consists of:* Stainless sports exhaust* ECU Remap* Exhaust Manifold* Larger air box with cylindrical filter* Works badges front & rear (new style from Factory JCW)* 193 bhp* 185lbft (200lbft with overboost)I improved things by adding the following:* ITG cylindrical replacement foam air filter for the JCW Stage 1 air box* Factory JCW stainless sports exhaust* Forge intercooler hose (resonator delete) Wheels, Tyres & SuspensionFactory sports suspensionJCW 18" R105 in gloss blackJCW 16" Sports BrakesUniRoyal RainSport 2'sIt was a mammoth spec, costing the original owner a hefty £33.5k. Thankfully though, the joys of deprecation meant I only paid £17k for it. Anyway, so pictures and a couple of video's!Pictures: Video: and.... Hope you like, as I say miss the bloody thing on a daily basis! The joy of being a petrol head I guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfbr Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 Nice spec, Love the seats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyA Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 That's stunning, I have a real soft spot for the cooper s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitedog Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 (edited) I can see the amount gone into it and its ok, but for me one mini looks much like the next no matter what colour/wheels/decals are on it etc.Seats do look lovely though.Sorry, but mini's just aren't my bag baby....(maybe its because every mini i have ever been in has absolutely crippled my back after about an hours driving..and thats put me off them)P.s. love the first photo though with the sweeping country road. Edited April 2, 2010 by Whitedog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pro3mark Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 Loved the one i drove, feels like a proper driving car, and one feeling that you don't get with the Lupo, the feeling of moving that much weight fairly rapidly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 Mmmm yum! Love the first photo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R99 Posted April 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 Thanks guys, it was awesome. The Loop is a great car, but the handling really scares me sometimes on the same roads that the MINI used to eat up. I need a Whiteline ARB on it ASAP I think! I love that photo too, I was going to dig out the DSLR today and take the GTI to the same spot, but got distracted with other things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tombuttigieg Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 Had a lovely car mate, and have a lovely car now. Seems win win to me haha! Few tweaks and the GTI will make you smile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT_Aiiii Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 You didnt buy the MINI from Sytner Sutton by any chance did u? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R99 Posted April 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 I did indeed! Do you know the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT_Aiiii Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 Yeah i do, I carried out the used car check on it lol. Glad u liked it, it was a lovely car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R99 Posted April 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 (edited) Small world!James was the salesman I bought it off. I loved the car to bits, however as someone who must know MINI's pretty well, I'm sure you will agree they are not cheap to run in JCW form!In 3-4 years I will either go back to MINI with a JCW Clubman slammed on coils and some BBS LM reps or a Golf R. Edited April 2, 2010 by R99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT_Aiiii Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 Yeah they are very expensive. The JCW Clubmans are lush. The sound awesome aswell. Were currently running one as a demonstrator and it is amazing to drive.Ive just sold my Lupo and bought a Corsa SRi and was shocked at the running costs of that lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_225 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Looks pretty good that. Heard the JCW version is pretty awesome to drive. Can't knock your decision on saving money, pretty admirable really and the Lupi GTi offers a sensible but grin inducing change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cafcross Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 I love thse cars. A JCW would be the only one I'd buy tbh. The supercharger whine is just (hi Casper and Andy ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little rich Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defcon5 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Ive just sold my Lupo and bought a Corsa SRi and was shocked at the running costs of that lol.A Corsa C or D? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanSN117 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Sounds like the exhaust stem seals are ****ed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defcon5 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 Sounds like the exhaust stem seals are ****ed...This is not the thread you are looking for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike89 Posted April 3, 2010 Report Share Posted April 3, 2010 gorgeous. Cooper s and JCW'S are such a good car to drive, the cornering potential is unbeliveable, very tight and responsive. I never used to like them myself,(was always a classic mini person, aswell as my dad) However after my mum buying a cooper s with JCW kit, id definatly think about saving up the green to buy one Such a solidly built car and the looks have definatly grown on me....has quite a nice stance as standard aswell As you said im sure you regret selling it, but you could have done alt worse than buy a gti lol Wouldnt mind a GP either lol Pic of my mums mikey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~~ NeWbE LupO ~~ Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 my Jolly as you know i feel exactly the same, i'll have to upload that pic of my fucus RS and your JCW mini on here and we can cry together lol. The Lupo's will look far better side by side tho Your mini was lush and fluffin rapid, popped like nothing iv ever heard too! I thought the RS popped like a bitch till you took me out in it. I remember reading a post on here a couple of years back that said the lupo's could be "adapted" to run the mini super-chargers something we may have to look into in the future! Glad to see you on the forum pal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenson Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 the mini is gorgeous mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamiea7x Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 i thought the newer copper S were turbo's rather than supercharged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defcon5 Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 i thought the newer copper S were turbo's rather than superchargedCorrect, uses a PSA/BMW joint effort, won engine of the year a bit back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossB Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Awesome car! Can see why you miss it as I did things in a similar way to you - I had a 225 TT before my Lupo GTI, only had it a short time, fuel and insurance was expensive, would have cost a fortune to mod it, and I was always worried something would go wrong and cost me a fortune, so it had to go! I love the Lupo but at the same time really miss the luxury/spec/power of the TT, and just the general feeling of being in a coupe. That said, the Lupo is more fun to drive and throw about.I looked at the mk1 JCW's before I bought the TT, they were few and far between though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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