MINI Cooper Coupe JCW 2012 Test Drive & Car Review by RoadflyTV with Ross Rapoport
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Host: Ross Rapoport
Vehicle: 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe JCW (John Cooper Works Package)
Base Price:
Price as tested:
Engine: DOHC 16v 1.6 inline four-cylinder Turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Horsepower:
Torque:
0-60 MPH: 6.1 seconds
1/4-mile time:
Warranty:
To see additional pictures and the window sticker for the 2012 MINI Cooper Coupe JCW, visit: roadflytv.com
Roadfly.com - www.roadfly.com
Car Forum - www.roadfly.com...
RoadflyTV - / roadflytv
Facebook - / roadfly
Twitter - / roadfly
IMDB - www.imdb.com/ti...
This is hands down one of the best car reviews I've ever seen. So much emotion on top of the hard facts. Great shots, sounds, perspectives. Ross definitely knows how to review a performance vehicle.
I have a JCW hatchback version of this car. You are spot on describing the way it drives. This thing loves you if you throw it around. I've had just one moment ever coming close to losing front grip, easily cured by lifting the throttle, giving me oversteer. Beautiful car!
I own this exact car in burnt orange with black strips. Unlike muscle cars I've owned in the past this car is more like a sup'ed up go cart for adults! The cornering and agility is crazy combined with surprising quick bursts of speed...all I can say is "I love driving this car!!!"
Why? Why can't you say other things? Did the three witless exclamation points wear you out?
@@gregp103 What's your issue asshat?
@@ideacrafter You've proved your own point. You are out of ammo.
I had a Mini Cooper S as a company car for 4.5 years. The longest trip one way I ever did in it was 1260 miles! Even when I got back I had to go for another drive!
A word of warning. You WILL drive like a nutter. It just makes you do so..which is why I love it :)
I bought a 2014 JCW and sold it in 2019. I miss it most every day. It was everything and more that he says in this video,
Late comer to this video but you did a great review. I have a 2014 JCW Coupe in Chilli 🌶Red & Silver White. Of the seven MINIS I've owned it's by far the best. Drives, steers, handles & puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.
Yea Charlie this is without a doubt one of the BEST videos to come out of your shop. The passion that Ross has for THIS car..... wow. And Ross, Keep doing what you're. Because you're doing it VERY well.
I work for BMW! And yes we own mini and Rolls Royce! I work at the plant where we used to build the z3 and z4. We currently are building the x3,x5 and x6 sav in spartanburg sc.
One of the best sounding inline 4 motors.
Great Job Ross. From beginning to end, you did a good job of keeping the audience feeling involved in this segment. The speech at the end was a great way to end the review. You gotta redo the new 3 Series. PLS!!!
Ross, you've done an excellent job transferring your feelings into words. I have also driven the Cooper Works version, and I agree that it is a very capable sports car. BMW did its homework, but too bad its quite expensive.
spectacular review ross! had me and my dad (whos in the market for a mini) smiling the whole time! love how you were throwing the car around the whole time. very entertaining to watch.
I love my JCW hardtop and I enjoyed your video a lot, you captured a lot of the feelings I have every time I drive my JCW MINI :)
Ross - you really captured and shared with us the viewers the essence of MINI JCW by describing this car in motion - I felt as if I drove it myself :) -Great job everybody on the team ;)
Now that's what I call a super review! I've never owned a mini nor driven one, but Ross is kicking me to the dealership to try it out.
i just purchased this car from a private owner. Love the review awesome job!
Nice review. The Mini just howls. I can tell Ross really likes this car. It looks like a lotta of fun.
By far one of the best reviews ive seen!!!
I have the jcw coupe black with red stripes and round extra spot lights on grill. It is a totally awesome car. I've had a bmw m4 and mercs but this mini is spot on. it's a pocket rocket. The best fun I've ever had from a car and I'm a petrol head.
I already favorited it.. I keep watching this video. Partially because ross is a great reviewer and also because I love that car's exhaust note
One of your best reviews yet! And looks like you had plenty of fun doing it too! I'd love to own one of these for sure. Something to aspire to, I guess.
Love my R56 MCS! My last car was a 400+ hp E39 540i and my MINI Cooper S is way more fun.
Great review. One of the best reviews on a Mini Cooper I've seen so far!
great review as always Ross....Actually i tested a Mini Cooper before and it was one of the most fun car to drive.
Great review. If I didn't love my car, I would definitely take a look at the mini, based on your review.
I do think your review is professional and has a broad range of knowledge and driving. Car sounds great.
Best car review I have ever seen.
I wish the demo was better looking.
Just bought a red one of these little beauties same year model, after owning a 2009 Suzuki Swift I wont know myself!!
I can't think of any review that's had me grinning from ear to ear while watching (Ross is awesome!). Early on I was thinking "he really likes this car" and that could very well be the understatement of the year. Looking forward to Ross getting behind the wheel of the Mini Roadster JCW to hear his direct comparo to the Mazda MX-5 (roadster to roadster).
Ah man you told everyone about the secret box! This is the coolest car I have ever owned, I love driving it. Mine is the Cooper S hatch but its pretty close to this car and mine is even the same color and graphics as the one in video.
The Standard Suspension in the jcw is already superb. The extra Sport Suspension doesn't make the Car lower, it. just makes the Car Rock Hard. Took Mine without it and i am happy.
Another great review, Ross. Nice job as always.
great review and well presented. I also like the fact that your coming from the same philosophy as i am on that i own a 06 Civic Si and have for the last 6 years believed it was my perfect car for what i wanted (high revving, pocket rocket ish) but man, i took a Cooper S Coupe out today and found my self ordering a 2013 Cooper S Coupe in lightning blue w/the navi.
Your second "sentence" needs a machete taken to it.
Thanks for a great review. And by the way: if you think the MSRP of $38,000 is a lot - here in Norway it costs over twice as much! Why is that, you ask? Well, when you add more than 100 % tax on the car when it is imported, that will happen. Do you think we have cheap gas since we produce a lot of crude oil? You'd be wrong. Current gas price here is now $9.94 pr. gallon. Why? Well, it's that tax-thing again... So thanks for the video. This gave me the feeling of riding a MINI - for free :-)
Excellent review, well done Ross!
Another fantastic review Ross!!!
the best review i like to watch is for Ross that for sure .. SO thank you Ross :-)
Hi Ross. I have a 2007 mini Cooper S. I test drive the copper S with the sports suspension and found it very punishing. I got all the performance options for the car except for the sports suspension. Additionally, I believe the jcw mini Cooper is faster then the mini coupe due to the weight difference....And you get a back seat as well. I love my mini Cooper S (has an amazing 6 speed manual) and I believe you can't get a car that's more fun to drive.
Ross, Great review ! I saw your reviews on BMW and Mustang and for you to give the Mini such high praise, it must touch you at an emotional level. Mini will be on my short list in 2014 as the engine will be upgraded from a 1.6 to a 2.0 ltr turbo. Hopefully we will see a 2.0 ltr diesel.
You Luck Son Of A Gun, You get a chance to drive such a fantastic cars! I envy you! This mini may not have power and 0 to 60 to back it up but is one of the most fun cars to drive, This thing is sooo toss-able and fun to drive!
One year later of owning a 2013 MINI Cooper S Coupe, I have to say I still love her just as much as I did the day I first got her. This car is still amazing. Upgraded exhaust to a 3" downpipe (ALTA JCW) and added a JB+ tune.
So much fun!! If you like driving and only need 2 seats; this is your car. Also, add the JCW Spoiler; it completes the full design. See my channel for vids/exhaust/etc.
Can this mini be upgraded to have some interior features of a 2015?
Great review Ross, keep up the great work, always love your reviews!
I like Ross's reviews. I may get a JCW and will swap out the tires for non run flats.
Looked like this car demanded more attention to the road as you were reviewing it. Must be a fun car to toss around.
great review, ross. now i'm keen to test drive one of these JCW minis. though i don't think i'd make the purchase just yet because of that insane price tag.
Awesomely honest and engaging! Not a fan of the torque steer that it seems you were experiencing. Looks and sounds good though!
Awesome review for an awesome car. Wish it looked a bit better though. Not exactly to my taste looks-wise but when you get behind the wheel and have that much fun, who cares what it looks like.
best car review ive seen all month top notch work :)
id love to see Ross review the BRZ next
Got a JCW Roadster since 3 weeks. Really funny to drive. It has quiet alot of torque and power, but its not that "unbelievable". I call this car "funplastic". Lost my frontsplitter at 230km/h (143mp/h) 2times O_o
Nice review! I bought one of these a couple of weeks ago and really enjoy it!!
Was it reliable?
Guys, if you like the review please "Favorite" it by using the "+ Add to" drop down menu up near the like button. Ross did an awesome job on this review and so did the production crew.
-Charlie@RoadflyTV
Great review. You're right on the money, I've always thought of it like a front wheel drive BMW M car! I test drove one some months ago but I own a 2012 Cooper S. It's quite a little devil too if you ask me!. Cheers!
Well ....I have a x3m competition.....and just bought one of these as well, that is how much I enjoy driving it. So I have the luxury of both, I wanted a 911 which I drove but it's stupid expensive compared to this, and this car honestly filled my need for fun that I wanted in the 911, it's that much fun to drive, and my x3m comp, is a beast with 500hp and very high tech, but my coupe now being simple and raw with a 6 speed manual is a blast and comfortable to drive. Lots of torque even in 6 on the highway don't need to downshift to 5 or 4 surprisingly. And a used one is about 13k Canadian, tons of bang for the buck.
Great review. This guy is good.
you really think he's a bad reviewer! he's one of the best on roadfly along with emmy
nice cooper
just ordered mine last week, exactly the same but all in black with red mirrors :)
Ross, thank you for another great review. You're the best reviewer @roadfly.
What is your current car?
I dont like Minis, but this car is a huge exception i like everything about it ,maybe 1 day i can drive one of these
very good review ross. your comments were really on point and well said. this video really conveyed what other automotive journalists have been saying... that minis are more than the sum of its parts in that they're both raw and refined. most reviewers, though, said that the sport suspension is unreasonably firm yet you recommended it? is it really ok or only for hardcore enthuiasts living by well paved roads?
Thank you very much! :-)
-Charlie@RoadflyTV
I agree about the "more than the sum of its parts" analysis. That's what made the Miata the best-selling roadster in history. Unfortunately, the Miata costs less than the Mini Coupe JCW, and offers more smiles per mile. Couple that fun factor to the Miata's ENORMOUS fanbase and clubsport network, and the Mini has no hope of competing.
The Countryman is all wheel drive, and is available in JCW spec. It's a bit heavier with 4 doors though.
He was really tearing up the streets with that mini. Nice car I just hate the inside to many circles for me feel like I'm trap in a clock lol.
ross is good as chris harris when it comes to car vids
Best test driver.
i've got a JCW, this is a very accurate review !
Ross, the price for your test car is crazy. But have you considered the regular Cooper S hatch? If you don't go too crazy on the options, then the price can be more reasonable. You can always get the brakes from the JCW later from the parts dept. Or I'm sure you can strike up a deal on a JCW hatch sitting on a dealer's lot.
Nice little hot rod. It sounds very nice. Have they improved the reliability? Great review Ross.
Ross you finally see the light :)
There's a very broad range of small, lightweight cars. Also, you've gotta give a price range. Do you want FWD, RWD, AWD? Mini Coopers are fun but are a tad expensive. But there are a lot of choices, you just gotta narrow it a bit.
Sweet little car with an awesome sound. But MSRP is still wicked high. Off to the MINI website to see what they have a little bit cheaper.
Well, sometimes I think of Ross as Robot Ross since he is often monotone and low-key serious. (Sorry, Ross!) But it looks like he's letting himself have a little more fun lately. A lively car like the Mini helps bring out the lively Ross. Charlie should buy Ross a Mini so he can drive it before every review and be all pumped up.
Mini!!! FTW!!!!
Fun to drive can come at the cost of mpg and price, and people have different ideas of what "fun" is, etc, but Mazda 2 should probably be high on your list. Same segment has stuff like the Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent, Ford Fiesta. Elantra and Focus and Mazda 3 are one step up. Pretty much every review you'll hear people say Mazdas are the most fun. ymmv. If you want a mini-SUV sort of thing, check out the Kia Soul. It's fun in a different sort of way.
"I've never driven a mini of any kind"???? How'd you get chosen to do the review!?
And yet it's your first review that doesn't suck. Maybe you should review cars you're unfamiliar with more often.
Really clear review!!!! I love your vidoes!
beautiful review
Its bad to have to pay extra for things now in 2012 always is standard BUT I LOVE IT !
I would love to see you drive the JCW GP2! I hope you do drive it on the same roads!
Great review man
Agree with you that on the face of it $38K seems like quite a bit for this kind of car. But...we haven't driven it yet so who knows. Very curious about why this car was produced. I wonder if it's not like the ITR, and it was produced to win a particular racing series.
Ross Rapoport, you should have reviewed the BMW 1M. Roadflytv always do a great job with there reviews. p.s. Please let Ross Rapoport review the new BMW M5.
Is a mini cooper good for a first time driver?
Super review.
Great review!!! Goober camera angle at 07:34 though lol
This is not my kind of car any longer (AWD convert), but I have to admit it is intriguing and I can see where the fan base would be. They're holding onto the big round dial too long, and they wouldn't need an active wing if the car had kept the normal roofline. But...hilarious nonetheless and I can very well understand the fan base. Always love seeing cars of this nature hit the road. Is this a homologation special of some kind?
The MINI has Massive Fanbase bigger than the Miata
Have you heard of MINI UNITED?
The MINI has over 50 years of heritage and how many races has the Miata ever one
When I'm in VA next week Ross visiting my sis, I'll bring u car shopping and let u pick out your new Mini Cooper Works S
Just so ya'll know, that Mini has now joined venture with Peugeot. Any Mini models from 2007 onwards till the current date, Peugeot makes their engines! It is no longer fully made by BMW. Peugeot engines are known to have issues after 3 to 4 years of usage.
The 01-06 Mini's were supercharged. The new ones are turbocharged.
Great review. However, now I think I'm dissatisfied with my '12 Mini S Hatch. But thanks!
I can understand why people would buy a Miata or FR-S/BRZ over a faster Mustang. There's something appealing about extreme agility over raw power. That decision has become tougher nowadays, since the V6 Mustang doesn't handle too much worse than a Miata, but offers a hell of a lot more power for less money. I can't see how the Mini coupe makes a case for itself: At $32,000 it is competing with the Mustang GT (212 more hp, more practical, RWD) and BRZ (better handling, more practical, RWD).
likely Pepper White. Press cars with black stripes are Pepper white. Red roof and stripes are White Silver metallic.
Awesome Review!
Yes!
Ross IS a john cooper mini man.
very good speaker
Funny you say that. You don't know anything about MINI's...they've been around since 1959-2000 by BMC. Yes, BMW owns them, but the body of the car is built in the U.K. and the engine is built in Germany. But John Cooper's son is the main person who BMW looks to, to help them build the car the way MINI's are supposed too. Just giving you some information so you know:-).
Compare with miata? Or those argument wos to big or those mini work that well..
Sold.
Nice!!! what a car..!
This is why I watch TOP GEAR