Will the GP ever return?

[teapea]

Hi, I dont own a mini but i have always had a fancy for the JCW GP cooper S,

does anyone know if they'll ever produce them again?

[Supermega]

I cant see it at happening at the moment, They have only just released the Works car. :-)

[teapea]

i see, i have never driven a new mini, think i shall try and book a test drive in a JCW

[JimmyJCW]

The JCW is a hoot dude, but its worth trying an old school GP. They're like chalk and cheese really.

Horses for courses, but the GP is much more fun IMO.

[teapea]

cool, im gonna get a test drive in one, i currently have a vx220 turbo which is just a road legal go cart

cant help thinking the JCW is gonna feel a little bit slow,

[JimmyJCW]

The new JCW will feel slow. Its more BMW than the GP. One of thoes cars where you don't realise how fast you're going untill you look at the spedo.

The GP is much more hard core and feels faster than it is. More bang for ya buck i think.

[FlintyGP]

Judging by BMW's decision to cancel the CSL version of the M3 (in favour of the more environmentally friendly & sensible, not at all knobbish, conservatively styled X6 - which i hear now comes with free two finger sign for the back screen, saying f off to the rest of the world, i'm the ultimate c*ck and i bought this purely as an illustration of my wad) I doubt they will built another GP, or any other lightweight sports focused editions in the pursuit of the 'ultimate driving machine'.

BMW must have swapped Mr Bangle for styling from the 80's. Garish, arrogant and & irrelevant.

Their attitude of ignoring the demands of their customers and moving away from the sports cars we aspired to and lusted after as kids is probably why BMW showrooms are losing out massively to other 'supposedly inferior' manufacturers. Because they waste money on pointless image statements like the X6, they cut costs in other customer focused areas like after sales service, warranties etc etc etc

Back on track with the thread, the GP is excellent, probably the ultimate fast MINI IMO, including the new JCW which maybe faster in a straight line, but is a further departure from the original Mini ideas of small, light, agile and fun.

[okgo]

Not that I know of, there are a couple of special edition jobs in the pipe but not performance focussed ones.

The new JCW is a great laugh, and is a very quick car that can be used for everything.Not too loud, easy to drive if you want it to be. The old ones are the opposite and I actually don't really like the way the old ones drive..

[teapea]

thanks for replies guys, this is what i'm thinking i want something more practical than my vx220, i currently have 2 cars, and wanting to go down to one, but still be able to use it for trackdays ect, gotta love lightweight cars, why im attracted to the GP

called in at local bmw dealer today, asked to see a sales person, had to wait round for ages while i could see them chatting upstairs then came down and i said i was interested in a JCW and he gave me a leaflet and pretty much pushed me out of the door


will go to another dealer next week, being 22 is no fun lol, always seems to happen to me, maybe i just look scruffy or something

didnt realise theyd canceled the CSL, that's a shame, i have always liked the CSL one of the few BMW's i would want to own

agree on the X6, its a hideous looking thing, which ones uglier though the X6 or the Cayenne ? maybe we should have a poll lol

Edited by teapea on Tuesday 16th December 23:37

[Cooldudeoli]

Hey teapea, I find myself really attracted to the GP myself, looks an awesome little car. I'm 18 myself, and I get the same response as you when going into dealerships, they instantly ask "can I help you" as if your blind and wandered into the wrong showroom haha! Can't really blame them though as they get dozens of young dreamers who come in and just waste time, then when someone actually does have the cash, they can't insure it. We're really a salesman's nightmare :P
Have you managed to compare a GP to the new JCW yet?
Ollie

[teapea]

no, not yet, keep meaning to go to a different dealer, i had the same thing with honda

i went to the one in Scarborough and they practicially pushed me out the door, however the one in Hull i cant praise highly enough they were really helpful, although i didnt buy a civic type R in the end, i wouldnt hesitate to go in again.


I think it depends on the dealer / sales person at the end of they day, a lot of them expect you to buy there and then and if not then you can fk off as far as theyre concerned.

I told the sales guy at honda that i wouldnt be buying right now as i wanted to test drive a focus st and vxr astra first and he was fine with it and took me out with a test drive all the same, which is the way it should be !

the whole point of the a test drive is to decide on the car you like.

at 18 though i would image you would have problems with insurance though, what would insurance be like on a GP / JCW?

have you thought about a fiesta ST? theyre pretty good for insurance

I'm finding myself really drawn to the forthcoming focus RS so hanging fire for a while

Edited by teapea on Monday 5th January 15:55

[Cooldudeoli]

Yeah I know what you mean. I'm on a trade policy, and my private cars are added to it, so insurance isn't a problem really. Yeah I've had a look at the Fiesta ST, doesn't stand out enough for me, as everyone with a 1.2 fiesta puts the stripes and kit on...haha! Thats just my opinion though.

[Cooldudeoli]

Oh yeah btw, had a Civic Type-R (previous model) did enjoy that, now I got a Touareg so miss the fun of a sporty hatch

[teapea]

thats a family car! what made you buy that?

how many people have mini ones with JCW badges on though :P ?

[Cooldudeoli]

Haha! It dont look too family tbh :P got some 20" Alloys etc etc! I dunno fancied a change had an Alfa GT (Italian cars, being Italian cars I decided to sell). Yeah I know what you mean about the JCW badge! That the good thing with the GP I suppose, no one can copy. Do you know if there anyway of putting 2 seats or anyone sitting back of a GP? As I never seen one in person.

[tobybmw535i]

Hi Tom one of my mates had a gp works it was awsome and sounded great but i cant help that think you would suit a bmw m3 better
will talk to you at the next meet.

Toby

[dodgydave]

cooldudeoli, There is no chance of putting seats in the back of a GP, the floor of the boot is raised by a good few inches over the front seats.Also there is a strut brace across the middle in the back. What it does give you though is a fantastic size boot area.You can get a person in the back, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[Cooldudeoli]

Thanks for the info Dave I see, suppose its best to treat it like a 2 seater sports with a very spacious boot then.

[teapea]

thanks Toby, lol, they do look nice, someone in works car park had one but i never realised how rare they rare at the time, interesting about the boot being raised, would be a big boot :P

[Rakey]

Cooldudeoli said:

Haha! It dont look too family tbh :P got some 20" Alloys etc etc! I dunno fancied a change had an Alfa GT (Italian cars, being Italian cars I decided to sell). Yeah I know what you mean about the JCW badge! That the good thing with the GP I suppose, no one can copy. Do you know if there anyway of putting 2 seats or anyone sitting back of a GP? As I never seen one in person.

No its not possible to put seats in the back of the GP, as well as physically putting them you'd then need to reclassify it with the DVLA and get your insurance to cover it, not worth it.

As for will there be another GP, never as good as the one that there was. The rawness has gone from the MINI now, the noise of the supercharger just adds to the drama of the GP, it won't be replicated for a good number of years if ever.

Oh and as for Italian cars, just remember the GP was assembled in Italy, which could explain why the paint flakes off the front bumper LOL!