Mini Cooper S JCW package vs S2000

[heelandtoe]

I am new to this website, but I had to respond to this, since I just had a HPDE track day with my JCW and my brother in his S2000. This has been a long standing question between two car nuts. We drove at Pacific Raceways near Seattle (Kent) WA. Although we did not race per se, we were on the track together, passed each other several times and compared notes afterwards. We both agree that the cars were so close in performance that it is really a matter of the driver. The JCW was very fast in the twisties, but loses on a long staightaway (slightly) due as much to aerodynamics and weight and anything else. In acceleratiom, the JCW has much more torque, despite the smaller displacement and it is exceptionally quick, keeping pace with the Honda. In very tight corners and especially on downhill sections (turn 3A at PR) the JCW has a decided advantage. In general, I think the Honda S2000 is the faster car due to it's RWD arrangement and better weight distribution, but the JCW is so competitive that it really comes down to the driver. My $0.02 for what it's worth, having driven both cars at speeds of 110-115 MPH on a track. We are not race drivers, but between us we have owned a bunch of sportscars (Me: 77 Porsche 911S 2.7, 74 BMW 2002, Him: 76 930 Turbo Carrera, Porsche 914 2.0, etc.).

[sleepe]

Driven a jwc supercharged Mini, not the turbo version...impressed, but as speeds increase around corners the car looses grip quickly

It really can't be driven at the limit comfortably like a rwd car can...never driven an s2000

[Chili Red]

Ive driven I Copper S, a JCW Cooper and an S2000 on track... The S2000 is a couple second a lap faster easily when properly being driven at the limit. The cooper is impressive for what it is (I own one), but its just not as quick as an S2000.

[CosmosMpower]

Originally Posted by Buz

If both cars are stock the S2000 would win except maybe an autocross.

S2000 will win even in an autocross. S2000 is in SCCA A-Stock, JCW Cooper S is in B-stock.

I've run both our S2000 and 09 Cooper S (it's not a JCW but it's not really that much of a difference) on a few different courses and the S2000 is a faster car in every way.

[usurbrain]

RWD vs WWD (Wrong Wheel Drive)... S2k wins....

[jwb4bb]

Both of my buddies who autocorss with me, have these cars and the S2000 is somewhere around 1 sec quicker than the JCW. But I might add that there could be a little difference in driver skill. The JCW does sometimes struggle with understeer out of a turn under throttle but the S2000 seems to struggle in the torque dept. I would be very intrested to seem them switch cars and run.

I am several seconds slower in my Elise but I am running on rain tires. AD07's soon!

[geezer]

Huh. I guess I'll be the contrarian here - I think a stock JCW cooper will out do a stock S2k on any track where the Coop can utilize its (big) midrange advantage.

It'll be handicapped out of sharp corners, but on the whole I think it's not nearly as handicapped by it's FWD layout as y'all might expect.

[MadMan Markiss]

Being a previous MINI owner, I would prefer the MINI over the S2000. The MINI has some wicked-fun attributes that the S2000 lacks. Ownership wise, I would choose the MINI. I've driven both.
As for the race, that would depend on the track......whether it had more corners than straights........and if we're still talking about equal skilled drivers here.
The JCW MINI has 210hp & 190lb torque, and a 0-60 of 6.5. The S2000 has 240hp and 160lb torque and a 0-60 around 5.5. They both pretty much have the same slalom speeds.
It would be an interesting race. Where the MINI lacks in HP it makes up in torque, and vise versa for the S2000. You can really throw the MINI around the corners a lot. I loved it.
Just my couple of pennies

[aschen]

I think people underestimate how good of a sports car the s2k is and over estimate the capabilities of the mini. Minis are great for essentially being a chuckable little hot hatch with quick steering. When you throw away the "for a fwd 4 seater" qualifiers it is not an epic sports car in absolute terms. I see stock power MCS struggle to put qown their power even with the LSD. There is as big of a gap between a MCS and an s2000 as their is between an s2000 and an elise imho. The JCW is better I am sure but it doesent help with the fundamental shortcomings of the car.......

[xtn]

Wow talk about resurrecting a three year old thread!