My JCW is the only car I have kept long term. Prices have gone silly here in Au but every time I think of flipping it I go for a drive and simply can't let go. It's waved goodbye to some nice cars over the years that were way more expensive and powerful but they didn't put a stupid grin on my face like the MINI never fails to do at any speed.
I did a road trip down to the south of France with some friends a few years ago. At the time I thought if I am going to drive through the French and Italian alps, I wanted to do it in a Porsche Boxster S. So I bought the cheapest Boxster at the time on eBay with the intention of selling the car after. 12 years on I still have that Porsche. Couldn’t bring myself to sell it. I have since replaced all suspension items, had the callipers refurbished. Spent £4k on it. Drove like new and was T boned on a roundabout having only covered 400 miles. Wrote the car off. I bought it back from the insurance company for £1200, then spent another £3500 on it, getting it back on the road. Twice this car has saved my life. I will never sell her!
dude.. the amount of effort you have put into this video is unreal!! actually genuinely enjoyed this video and maybe me and mrs will need to have a drive to south of France .. taking her abarth instead of my 55
Awsome Wonderful -Magical surfing on the crest of a wave of minimalism, think I could be a few laybys further up the mountain eating and ice cream in the morning sun waiting for you to catch up in my 306bhp 4WD clubman hehe!
Great place to be and ride, great car, great video, as always I should say... Thanks for your time and enjoy your stay in France ! Regards from Belgium ;-) I imagine that driving on the right side of our roads with a RHD car could be tricky especially when you need to overtake a slow truck.
Had a 2015 JCW and it was fun. Swapped it for a MK 8 Fiesta ST with the LSD and now has Mountune M235 ! Wipes the floor with my old mini ! Cheaper to run as well.
Great review. Now it's even better as it's also a review about great roads. I want to drive on route Napoleon! I like the Mini JCW, but I am a big fan of Abarth, so I won't change for a Mini, even if it's a nice car.
Did you see Petrol Ped's video tonight about a new L.E Abarth 595? I'm from the Mini camp and have never driven either an Abarth or a JCW MINI. My MINI is a 2020 Cooper S which is certainly quick enough for me. I recently found a fantastic road to throw my MINI around. I was laughing like I was demented, it was such a buzz. I did pause the video to look on Google Maps where Route Napoléon is and saw it's 956 miles from my home. I've never driven on the European mainland though. Not sure I'd like driving on the opposite side.
@@GenaF I am sure that the MINI Cooper S and the MINI JCW are fun cars. In fact I have own a Mini Coopers S a long time ago. I know that Abarths are far from perfect. I mostly agree with Petrol Ped's new review about the Abarth 595 Scorpionero. But among other things I like the sound of an Abarth.
@Stef thanks for this, just shown the wife and convinced her we do the drive in mini jcw conv & Abarth 595…do you have a route plan you can share please?
Absolutely lovely but I'm so happy with my 20 plate Cooper S. I prefer my analogue dashboard to the slightly offset to the side, digital dashboard. One thing I don't understand with this JCW is the light surrounds, fuel cap, front grille, side scuttles etc are ALL in black, yet they left the belt line in faux chrome. On my Cooper S, the belt line de-chroming was the first modification. My husband said it reminded him of a pilchard tin, the one which has a key to open. To me, it just looked like the zip on a suitcase and I hated it. I hated ALL of the chrome colour. If it had been real chrome like on my two classic Mini's I had whilst younger, I'd have loved it. I used to spend hours cleaning and polishing my chrome bumpers but any so-called chrome on modern MINI's is just shiny hideous plastic. One thing I would like to ask about the 21 JCW is does it have fake brrrm brrrm engine sounds piped into the cabin via the speakers? I'd like to know. I don't think my Cooper S does as it's very quiet inside the cabin and with its standard exhaust.
Yeah would prefer it with the belt line de chromed. If it was mine I would wrap it. Also it does sound like exhaust tone is coming through the speaker like in the bmw 1 series
@@StefABtv thanks Stef. I did wonder about the engine noise. I do wonder why they do it. It's a great video and I look forward to the others with this car.
@@StefABtv I just googled Mini's to see which had the piped engine noise and was very surprised to read it said the Cooper S from 2014. Now I am baffled as mine is a 20 plate yet I have never heard anything . I've only got the basic sound system with front speakers so I might get my husband to disconnect them to see if there is a difference. I always have to open my window if I want to enjoy my engine.
6ft 1 and I like them both for different reasons. Long journey/roadtrip the mini. For an absolute hoon and character I think the Abarth pips it but the mini is the overall better car in terms of build quality, interior but better doesn’t always mean more fun 🙌
This is fun. Last time my wife and I went wandering about the route napoleon in southern France was in September 2019. And really enjoyed some wonderful driving roads there in a rental Mini Cooper Convertible. Sadly, I had a blowout around one of the sweeping curves near Castellane. And these stupid hankook run flat tyres are just so unreliable it is not even funny. Why DOES BMW have to short change the consumer wit these foolish RFT’s? This is why in my old 2012 Mini Cooper S R56, which I drive daily in India, I have nice 205/55/16 Michelin Pilot Sports4 Tubeless tyres. It is also why I made my good friend here in India, who just bought a brand new 2021 facelift F56 Cooper S, change the tyres immediately from the factory fit useless Hankook RunFlats to Michelin Pilot Sports4 Tubeless in 205/45/17 size.
@@StefABtv me too!! Black, with red roof and some bonnet stipes. Gone for 17inch wheels as they design (for me) is nicer than the 18s, plus my old one has 18s and they destoryed my back. Tried to order Harmon Hardon as well but was told they have had to stop offering it due to lack of parts :( Love you videos.
Great review - the black with red roof and spoilers is my favourite combo. I am almost 40 and am looking at the JCW as a daily driver and companion for my 2017 Pajero 4wd (or Shogan as its called in Blighty) - Just wondering though whether the JCW is suitable by way of 'image' for an almost middle aged straight male who works in an office 😅😅
MINI to go fully EV by 2030 eh? So they're going to stop selling cars in Australia then? Of the planets 7 billion inhabitants only 1 billion have access to EV infrastructure. I call BS on all these claims.
It's everything a guy can ask for. Beautiful roads, a fun car, no traffic.
My JCW is the only car I have kept long term. Prices have gone silly here in Au but every time I think of flipping it I go for a drive and simply can't let go. It's waved goodbye to some nice cars over the years that were way more expensive and powerful but they didn't put a stupid grin on my face like the MINI never fails to do at any speed.
They are really cool things to drive aren’t they. Loads of fun!
loving my mini 2022 JCW convertible so much!!!
10 minutes and 18 seconds of cinematic car review perfection Stef! Bring on the Monaco lap…
Thank you buddy!
I did a road trip down to the south of France with some friends a few years ago. At the time I thought if I am going to drive through the French and Italian alps, I wanted to do it in a Porsche Boxster S. So I bought the cheapest Boxster at the time on eBay with the intention of selling the car after. 12 years on I still have that Porsche. Couldn’t bring myself to sell it. I have since replaced all suspension items, had the callipers refurbished. Spent £4k on it. Drove like new and was T boned on a roundabout having only covered 400 miles. Wrote the car off. I bought it back from the insurance company for £1200, then spent another £3500 on it, getting it back on the road. Twice this car has saved my life. I will never sell her!
This video deserves way more views! Amazing review - comme d’habitude.
dude.. the amount of effort you have put into this video is unreal!! actually genuinely enjoyed this video and maybe me and mrs will need to have a drive to south of France .. taking her abarth instead of my 55
Cheers buddy. The Abarth will be epic around those roads. Swap drivers regularly though as you don’t have cruise control lol
Great video Stef, beautiful scenery and plenty of get up and go. Thanks again for sharing your experiences. Regards, Bob M. South Wales
Cheers mate
Awsome Wonderful -Magical surfing on the crest of a wave of minimalism, think I could be a few laybys further up the mountain eating and ice cream in the morning sun waiting for you to catch up in my 306bhp 4WD clubman hehe!
It was an awesome morning drive. Want to go back and do it again!
A Stef ABtv production, epic!!!
Thanks dude!
many thanks😊
That thing sounds awesome 👌 and loving the camera angles
Cheers man
@@StefABtv well deserved man, I need to up my game with the angles 😅👍
Great place to be and ride, great car, great video, as always I should say... Thanks for your time and enjoy your stay in France ! Regards from Belgium ;-) I imagine that driving on the right side of our roads with a RHD car could be tricky especially when you need to overtake a slow truck.
Possibly why Stef got up and was ready to go at daybreak so as to avoid regular traffic
It’s not too bad to be honest driving on the right with a rhd. Lots of safe overtake points on that route if you need to.
Just about to get a 2024 JCW.. got my first mini in 2009 and now also own a 2022 S ☺ (100% agree with everything you say)
Seriously considering a jcw. Great video again!!
Thank you!!
What can I say? Another excellent video, makes me want to rush out and buy a MINI JCW, wait a minute there's one already on my drive, WOW!
Thank you so much!
Respect as always Steff🙏🙏🙏
Thanks mate
JCW world of fun Stef, welcome to the club!
They are awesome mate
Dont you miss having an old school H 6 speeds ? Your video is just pure joy to watch. Il do the same trip with my Cooper S (only in manual!!)
Yeah a manual is defo great fun but also the auto for a long trip is also pretty comforting lol
Wicked video, need to go back to the South of France!
Thank you!
PS4s on my F54 manual running over 260bhp brings a smile every time I get into it. More engaging than the JCW version!
Bet that’s fun!!
Well done got to have one 😂
Had a 2015 JCW and it was fun. Swapped it for a MK 8 Fiesta ST with the LSD and now has Mountune M235 ! Wipes the floor with my old mini ! Cheaper to run as well.
They are also good cars. Both are good fun
To be fair, if you mapped a JCW it would beat the fiesta. Both good cars though tbf, can’t go wrong with fast fords.
Nice intro video footage
Great Views!!
Yep!!
Great review. Now it's even better as it's also a review about great roads. I want to drive on route Napoleon!
I like the Mini JCW, but I am a big fan of Abarth, so I won't change for a Mini, even if it's a nice car.
Did you see Petrol Ped's video tonight about a new L.E Abarth 595?
I'm from the Mini camp and have never driven either an Abarth or a JCW MINI. My MINI is a 2020 Cooper S which is certainly quick enough for me. I recently found a fantastic road to throw my MINI around. I was laughing like I was demented, it was such a buzz.
I did pause the video to look on Google Maps where Route Napoléon is and saw it's 956 miles from my home. I've never driven on the European mainland though. Not sure I'd like driving on the opposite side.
Thank you 🙌🙌🙌
@@GenaF I am sure that the MINI Cooper S and the MINI JCW are fun cars.
In fact I have own a Mini Coopers S a long time ago. I know that Abarths are far from perfect. I mostly agree with Petrol Ped's new review about the Abarth 595 Scorpionero. But among other things I like the sound of an Abarth.
Hoping you see this and get back to me. What mount did you use for the front of the car video clips? Much appreciated if you can let me know. Cheers.
@Stef thanks for this, just shown the wife and convinced her we do the drive in mini jcw conv & Abarth 595…do you have a route plan you can share please?
I do mate. Will release the video soon 🙌
Great roads, great car. Did you do the red rock road as well?
Not this year mate
As an owner I can confirm its got launch control
Is JCW better than abarth 595 competizione?
Absolutely lovely but I'm so happy with my 20 plate Cooper S. I prefer my analogue dashboard to the slightly offset to the side, digital dashboard. One thing I don't understand with this JCW is the light surrounds, fuel cap, front grille, side scuttles etc are ALL in black, yet they left the belt line in faux chrome. On my Cooper S, the belt line de-chroming was the first modification. My husband said it reminded him of a pilchard tin, the one which has a key to open. To me, it just looked like the zip on a suitcase and I hated it. I hated ALL of the chrome colour. If it had been real chrome like on my two classic Mini's I had whilst younger, I'd have loved it. I used to spend hours cleaning and polishing my chrome bumpers but any so-called chrome on modern MINI's is just shiny hideous plastic.
One thing I would like to ask about the 21 JCW is does it have fake brrrm brrrm engine sounds piped into the cabin via the speakers? I'd like to know. I don't think my Cooper S does as it's very quiet inside the cabin and with its standard exhaust.
Yeah would prefer it with the belt line de chromed. If it was mine I would wrap it. Also it does sound like exhaust tone is coming through the speaker like in the bmw 1 series
MINI now offers a factory option on all new models for a black belt line
@@StefABtv thanks Stef. I did wonder about the engine noise. I do wonder why they do it. It's a great video and I look forward to the others with this car.
@@timvanrooyen ok thanks for that.
@@StefABtv I just googled Mini's to see which had the piped engine noise and was very surprised to read it said the Cooper S from 2014. Now I am baffled as mine is a 20 plate yet I have never heard anything . I've only got the basic sound system with front speakers so I might get my husband to disconnect them to see if there is a difference. I always have to open my window if I want to enjoy my engine.
Does the lack of LSD effect the handling?
was hoping for some exhaust cam audio, Stef
It’s in the video… 🤷🏻♂️ just not as long as you would like I guess
@@StefABtv 😆 ok was hoping for more pops and burbles. Does it sound different to a Cooper S in your opinion?
Haha yeah we don’t get them anymore. Only a few here and there old cars popped more
Hi ya love what your doing
Please be honest at your height what do you prefer
Mini or abarth
6ft 1 and I like them both for different reasons. Long journey/roadtrip the mini. For an absolute hoon and character I think the Abarth pips it but the mini is the overall better car in terms of build quality, interior but better doesn’t always mean more fun 🙌
Would you add pro exhaust collecting soon
?
If you can I would. It sounds good out the box but will sound better with an exhaust :)
@@StefABtv thanks for reply
This is fun. Last time my wife and I went wandering about the route napoleon in southern France was in September 2019. And really enjoyed some wonderful driving roads there in a rental Mini Cooper Convertible. Sadly, I had a blowout around one of the sweeping curves near Castellane. And these stupid hankook run flat tyres are just so unreliable it is not even funny. Why DOES BMW have to short change the consumer wit these foolish RFT’s? This is why in my old 2012 Mini Cooper S R56, which I drive daily in India, I have nice 205/55/16 Michelin Pilot Sports4 Tubeless tyres. It is also why I made my good friend here in India, who just bought a brand new 2021 facelift F56 Cooper S, change the tyres immediately from the factory fit useless Hankook RunFlats to Michelin Pilot Sports4 Tubeless in 205/45/17 size.
Why does the Clubman get 306BHP instead. I don’t understand that. Isn’t it just the estate version?
They have the GP version which has 306 bhp
@@StefABtv yeah I know but it makes no sense when they are both JCW models.
I ordered a new JCW on 15th May and its still not been delivered.
Originally August, then September, now expected November
Hopefully soon!!! It’s a great car!
@@StefABtv me too!! Black, with red roof and some bonnet stipes. Gone for 17inch wheels as they design (for me) is nicer than the 18s, plus my old one has 18s and they destoryed my back. Tried to order Harmon Hardon as well but was told they have had to stop offering it due to lack of parts :(
Love you videos.
Does it have pops and bangs?
Yeah some but not as much as the old cars.
Great review - the black with red roof and spoilers is my favourite combo. I am almost 40 and am looking at the JCW as a daily driver and companion for my 2017 Pajero 4wd (or Shogan as its called in Blighty) - Just wondering though whether the JCW is suitable by way of 'image' for an almost middle aged straight male who works in an office 😅😅
Definitely suitable! Get one :)
you could have slow down when you crossed the two bicycles...
we have our weekly Genting run in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If you make a trip down..do contact me. I drive a JCW 2017
Well that’s a hotel and a half - where is that?
Mougins near Cannes will have a video on the hotels cost and route we took coming soon 🙌
why do you keep showing the back?
What do you mean?
Second😂
Loool
My mum has the 2017 version, it’s almost the same car, but sounds a lot fruitier.
Yeah it will do as it’s pre opf
First
👏
MINI to go fully EV by 2030 eh?
So they're going to stop selling cars in Australia then?
Of the planets 7 billion inhabitants only 1 billion have access to EV infrastructure. I call BS on all these claims.