MINI F56 GP3 order books have opened
Discussion
I've been on a pre-registration list with a local dealer but it seems like the order-books finally opened on Monday.
What have I learned so far?
Well, there's no more information on the car itself beyond the concept. There's no details on spec or the way it'll look, but also no details on the really important stuff like the price, the power, the lack-of-rear seats or even manual vs flappy-paddle.
Despite all that, the ask at the moment is for a non-refundable £1,000 deposit
to get on the order book. With no details I'm not taking the plunge yet.
I own one of the previous generation R56 GP2s of which a limited run of 2,000 were made. The UK originally only got 200 but other RHD countries failed to sell their allocations so the UK got approximately 45 extra cars. From what I remember, these were still available new from dealers for quite some time after launch, so supply exceeded demand last time around. For the GP1 there were approximate 375 UK cars.
The new F56 GP3 is supposedly going to be a 3,000 limited run, so logic suggests that perhaps 300 cars will be for the UK. Without knowing price & spec it's hard to say how supply and demand will work out this time.
One other interesting thing from the order form I've seen... dealers are being asked to capture details of 'Current or Previous MINI ownership' so maybe they're taking a leaf out of the Ferrari/Porsche book of using previous history as a tie-breaker if there's too much demand? Or maybe it's just for trade-ins
Anyway, if you're taking the plunge and putting down the deposit, let me know in the thread!
What have I learned so far?
Well, there's no more information on the car itself beyond the concept. There's no details on spec or the way it'll look, but also no details on the really important stuff like the price, the power, the lack-of-rear seats or even manual vs flappy-paddle.
Despite all that, the ask at the moment is for a non-refundable £1,000 deposit
to get on the order book. With no details I'm not taking the plunge yet.I own one of the previous generation R56 GP2s of which a limited run of 2,000 were made. The UK originally only got 200 but other RHD countries failed to sell their allocations so the UK got approximately 45 extra cars. From what I remember, these were still available new from dealers for quite some time after launch, so supply exceeded demand last time around. For the GP1 there were approximate 375 UK cars.
The new F56 GP3 is supposedly going to be a 3,000 limited run, so logic suggests that perhaps 300 cars will be for the UK. Without knowing price & spec it's hard to say how supply and demand will work out this time.
One other interesting thing from the order form I've seen... dealers are being asked to capture details of 'Current or Previous MINI ownership' so maybe they're taking a leaf out of the Ferrari/Porsche book of using previous history as a tie-breaker if there's too much demand? Or maybe it's just for trade-ins
Anyway, if you're taking the plunge and putting down the deposit, let me know in the thread!
It's probably worth mentioning that Autocar did have some spy shots, and MINI themselves have shared an image of the wing endplate, the exhaust tips and the wheels. Details here: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-goo...
I've also seen shots of a mule but that just looks like a Cooper S with a big wing on it. Still not enough for a deposit
I've also seen shots of a mule but that just looks like a Cooper S with a big wing on it. Still not enough for a deposit
Not intending to take the plunge yet. Still love my GP2 too much, and as you say information on the new car is still very sketchy.
May change my mind as more details become available, but will probably do what I did with the GP2; wait a year or so and buy a low mileage used one if I decide I want it.
May change my mind as more details become available, but will probably do what I did with the GP2; wait a year or so and buy a low mileage used one if I decide I want it.
My dealer called for the grand but said it was refundable "if the product doesn't meet your expectations around price or spec".
My GP2 is up for sale at the moment, if it goes I'll probably roll the dice but I said I'd want it on the right side of 40k with a manual gearbox and the response didn't exactly fill me with confidence.
My gut says this is going to be ALL4 2.0 306bhp 4 pot with DCT. The new M135i announced here today with a mini kit on and a silly exhaust would make sense from BMWs point of view, WLTP friendly too which is important.
I think the R56 gens "true" GP will end up being the JCW Challenge - so may take a look at one of those.
My GP2 is up for sale at the moment, if it goes I'll probably roll the dice but I said I'd want it on the right side of 40k with a manual gearbox and the response didn't exactly fill me with confidence.
My gut says this is going to be ALL4 2.0 306bhp 4 pot with DCT. The new M135i announced here today with a mini kit on and a silly exhaust would make sense from BMWs point of view, WLTP friendly too which is important.
I think the R56 gens "true" GP will end up being the JCW Challenge - so may take a look at one of those.
HorneyMX5 said:
I can't see it being AWD as there's no AWD Hatch to base it off. The AWD Clubman is a completely different floor pan and is much wider than the 3 and 5 door hatches.
Agreed, really don’t see that happening. Flappy-paddle-only feels more likely though, which would be a huge disappointment.Paid my deposit today and confirmed it is refundable - I saw the letter template from Mini to the dealers, which stipulates the deposit is refundable. It also states that this is just a pre-order so that Mini can gauge the interest levels and that no allocations will be given to the dealers until Q1 2020.
I’ve heard that Mini Cotswold are asking for a £5k deposit - ridicluous.
If anyone’s interested, I will be selling my JCW Challenge soon.
I’ve heard that Mini Cotswold are asking for a £5k deposit - ridicluous.
If anyone’s interested, I will be selling my JCW Challenge soon.
terryb said:
I’ve heard that Mini Cotswold are asking for a £5k deposit - ridicluous.
If they were they're not now, they're asking for £1000 refundable deposit as well, but it just seems to be for a place on their mailing list as it guarantees you nothing which coincidentally is the amount of information they can provide about the car or the process of getting one:Cotswold MINI said:
Dear X,
I would be more than happy to register your interest in the MINI GP.
At the moment, all we know is that there are limited build slots and that the car will be under £40,000, have a 2.0 litre 4-Cylinder engine and be over 300bph. To be on the official list of interest we need to take a refundable deposit of £1000 and then the official register will be sent out to you.
This won’t guarantee a build slot but puts you firmly in place to get one.
Please call me on X to discuss further options or reply to this email.
Kind Regards,
Cotswold Cheltenham MINI
Waiting list registration fees I can just about swallow but this is whole other level of nonsense!I would be more than happy to register your interest in the MINI GP.
At the moment, all we know is that there are limited build slots and that the car will be under £40,000, have a 2.0 litre 4-Cylinder engine and be over 300bph. To be on the official list of interest we need to take a refundable deposit of £1000 and then the official register will be sent out to you.
This won’t guarantee a build slot but puts you firmly in place to get one.
Please call me on X to discuss further options or reply to this email.
Kind Regards,
Cotswold Cheltenham MINI
FastShow said:
terryb said:
I’ve heard that Mini Cotswold are asking for a £5k deposit - ridicluous.
If they were they're not now, they're asking for £1000 refundable deposit as well, but it just seems to be for a place on their mailing list as it guarantees you nothing which coincidentally is the amount of information they can provide about the car or the process of getting one:Cotswold MINI said:
Dear X,
I would be more than happy to register your interest in the MINI GP.
At the moment, all we know is that there are limited build slots and that the car will be under £40,000, have a 2.0 litre 4-Cylinder engine and be over 300bph. To be on the official list of interest we need to take a refundable deposit of £1000 and then the official register will be sent out to you.
This won’t guarantee a build slot but puts you firmly in place to get one.
Please call me on X to discuss further options or reply to this email.
Kind Regards,
Cotswold Cheltenham MINI
Waiting list registration fees I can just about swallow but this is whole other level of nonsense!I would be more than happy to register your interest in the MINI GP.
At the moment, all we know is that there are limited build slots and that the car will be under £40,000, have a 2.0 litre 4-Cylinder engine and be over 300bph. To be on the official list of interest we need to take a refundable deposit of £1000 and then the official register will be sent out to you.
This won’t guarantee a build slot but puts you firmly in place to get one.
Please call me on X to discuss further options or reply to this email.
Kind Regards,
Cotswold Cheltenham MINI
Also interesting to read that they say the deposit won’t guarantee you a build slot - the official letter from Mini to the Dealer, states that the deposit “secures you a production slot” but will not guarantee a “specific production slot, as this will be dependant on the final specification of your vehicle”...
So, that implies to me that the spec could be configurable, which will be the first time on a GP. Also, that paying a deposit will get you a car - but no guarantee of placement - ie early or late allocation.
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