Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Carlton
I factory ordered a 2003 for my wife. As soon as she saw the car, she was all-in. Picked Silk Green with a matching roof and it had nav, the minilite type wheels, and nav. Fun car, but the non-turbo CVT sucked. Paid $3,000 over MSRP at the time, then got King Kong money for it a couple of years later. Like this, except the wheels:
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I read a Car and Driver article about the new Bini in 2002-03 and drove to the nearest dealership to check them out, test drive one.
I ended up putting a deposit on a 2003 JCW that was built to my exact specs. No sunroof, and whatever other options I chose back then, not much. I wanted a simple car that was light and nimble. I remember I ordered the checkered roof vinyl.
I took delivery of a Mini Cooper S (not JCW) and had ordered the JCW kit (dealer installed) so I had to wait a couple of months to get the kit installed. I got to drive that car as a MCS then as a JCW and see / feel transformation.
I have to be honest, the best transformation was losing the S-Lite Rims and run flats, then putting on a set of lightweight rims and performance summer tires.
This was my 03 JCW
*edit* Found a pic with the Kosei K-1 rims on it.
A few years ago, I found a 06 JCW with 80K miles on it for $8K. I purchased it but was uneasy as it was a rust belt car. The rear brake lines ended up rusting out. I had to replace them. Then I noticed one day while washing waxing that there were rust bubbles working their way up from down low. We decided to get an i3 at the time so I just sold it for what I paid for it after driving 2 years and 10K miles.
I really liked this shade of blue. I remember the guy that bought it taking it for a test drive, he was mind blown how quick it was. That is my concern with this one, I feel like it will be underwhelming with 42 less HP than the JCW.
