GP 2 Revealed at last...

[Gismo]

Two of these for sale 2nd hand on minicherished already...

Just not good value for money, as we all know, we could easily take a basic JCW and turn it into the same beast, albeit without the paint and stickers, wheels don't count cause folks like to change them

[Stewart]

I always figured that because it has bespoke tyres it would cost a fortune to replace them. Although can you not just put normal good quality tyre on the GP2?????

It’s a lovely Toy to have tucked away for weekend fun all the same and stands out of the crowd.


But if you said any keys to MINI no charge I'd take the Hatch Works with all the toys. But thats down to me not ever owning a Works and not wanting the most Hardocre MINI out there that would be wasted on me.

[ELFMAN]

Alan, of course you could produce an R56 JCW 'GP-alike' by going to adjustable coilovers and big brakes, and if you could get the aero undertray etc. I reckon it's one of these cars which - like the GP1 - is a bit more than the sum of its parts. My R53 JCW 210 was a 'GP' under the bonnet and the arches and was a fab thing, but there's something about the factory GPs which is unique and not attained by simply replicating the mechanicals.
Re. Tyres - If I had a GP, it just wouldn't be out in the snow, end of

[Gismo]

Appreciate what you're saying guys, but, i can't justify the cost of it, if money was no object then sure i'd have one as well..................
I'm trying to think of where i live is there a road that has more than one twisty in 5 miles, erm nope

For me the cost is virtually the same as a fully loaded FJCW

[weefossy]

Alan, you've summed it up. There is not a great deal of difference in the cost of a GP2 and a fully loaded FJCW with all the bits added. But as Euan has said, there is something special about having a GP2 and it should hold its value better than an equivalent modified FJCW. I'm sure the cost of William's GP2 and Andy / Lenore's JCW would have been very similar and they all got what they wanted / needed.

[ELFMAN]

Appreciate what you're saying guys, but, i can't justify the cost of it, if money was no object then sure i'd have one as well. I'm trying to think of where i live is there a road that has more than one twisty in 5 miles, erm nope. For me the cost is virtually the same as a fully loaded FJCW

Alan, I think if we're being honest, most things MINI are quite hard to 'justify' cost-wise - it's really up to the individual as to what they can afford and how far they want to go. Some folks will be willing and able to 'go large' straight away, others will go for what they're financially 'comfortable' with, and some folks will go without in other areas to get into the MINI Adventure. So whether you spend £3K or £30K, the thinking behind the purchase is universal - we buy them because they're f*ing great to drive, they still look cool (some cooler than others right enough ), and we get to go on NMS runs (on lovely twisty roads) with our pals, which for me is PRICELESS!

For the record, if I had £29K to spend on a MINI, 'loaded' FJCW Vs the GP2 - I'd have the GP2 without a minute's hesitation. I've never been one for 'toys', but a 'focussed' car on a great road's a buzz I'll never 'tyre' of!

[Stewart]

For the record, if I had £29K to spend on a MINI, 'loaded' FJCW Vs the GP2 - I'd have the GP2 without a minute's hesitation. I've never been one for 'toys', but a 'focussed' car on a great road's a buzz I'll never 'tyre' of!

Says the guy with the Garage and the rather smart second car as a daily driver. But your right it’s down to individual wants and tastes. If I bought a GP beast it would have to be a second car and be able to be tucked away at night under cover and behind closed doors and I’d probably never drive it hard enough to appreciate all the magic that came as standard from MINI tweaking it. Plus I’d still drive it like a nun just to annoy the feck out of everyone.

But as I followed and I say that loosely Rob’s car round the Highlands the thought had crossed my mind for the sheer thrill and enjoyment it was the best car for what we were doing. If anyone had said swap keys with anyone for a try I'd be sitting in those killer GP seats. I totally understand that if a new Works pulled in I’d think – very nice but the GP would probably get a bit more Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh yeah that’s for sure due to the fact it’s a rare beast.

[Mon the fish]

See, I'm the opposite - I had the chance to buy a GP1 new back in 2006, but it was no different mechanically to my 2 year old car. So I saw no need to sell, spending money on a car that drove the same. Just didn't make sense to me.

[ELFMAN]

Says the guy with the Garage and the rather smart second car as a daily driver

Sorry Stewart, I know you didn't mean anything negative, but to be honest if my Mum was still alive and my Dad could get in and out of my Works seats, the R56 WOULD be my daily driver - as it was intended to be. So my alleged 'automotive largesse' is as much a product of unfortunate family circumstances as it is of my petrolhead tendencies or being able to afford two cars (and two road taxes, and two insurances, and two petrols etc etc) It's a financial balancing act, and like everyone I'm sure, I'd much rather have a healthy family, a daily-driven MINI and lower costs!
Apologies for probably sounding more annoyed than I am - raw nerve!

- - - Updated - - -

See, I'm the opposite - I had the chance to buy a GP1 new back in 2006, but it was no different mechanically to my 2 year old car. So I saw no need to sell, spending money on a car that drove the same. Just didn't make sense to me.

I do agree with you, but even if I wanted one, I couldn't afford the GP1 at the time so just 'built' one over a few years into my R53! Like you, I loved my car as a sort of 'GP in disguise' - it was probably just as good to drive, even if it didn't have the GP kudos. It was also great because it was a bit of a 'sleeper' - apart from the Playmini....

[Stewart]

Apologies for probably sounding more annoyed than I am - raw nerve!
..

Sorry if that annoyed it was just a light hearted comment. I ruled out that I could never get the Mega seats as my Mum would either get stuck in them or destroy them going in and out. The softer sports seats did the trick. I stopped going on about the speaker she seem to like to kick as she gets in as it was a lost cause. How it’s stood up I don’t know. Anyway apologies it was less related to finances/circumstances and more a case that for me without a second car and a nice warm place to park the new GP to keep it good I’d never have one as its just too nice a car to leave on the drive and I'd get annoyed crashing about pot holes in it every day.

Ewan you could have easily packed in the MINI and just ran your Pug and I think its nice you kept somthing that you deseved in the MINI. I'd like to think my Dad looked down on the day I got my MINI and thought "Good for him he's finally got his MINI" I actaully got my MINI after a rough few years of caring for a member of my family with terminal Cancer and Duncan posted up a picture of his Blue Cooper and that very night I thought life is too short not to have something nice for a change. Few weeks later one Silver Coop was up the drive. I don’t grudge people anything that’s never been my style!