R56 or GP

[Keith-P]

I'm looking into buying either a GP or a newer style R56 cooper S.
Interested to hear peoples opinions or if anyone has owned both? I have owned R53 cooper S' before and always enjoyed them.
Is the R56 a huge step on from the R53?

[Alex_MCS]

Personally I'd go for the GP, would be hard to beat the fun of chucking one down a good road. Seems that people who've driven both the R53 and R56 just say they're different, more of a sideways step than a forwards step. The R53 is more fun to drive (supercharger whine ), the R56 is more refined, drinks less petrol and has more grunt. Depends what you're after really.

Edited by Alex_MCS on Monday 10th August 20:53

[Keith-P]

Thanks for that Alex, really just to be used as a decent second car. GP appeals to me but I can imagine the R56 more to my wife. I will keep looking!

[dodgydave]

I've had my GP since new, coming up to 3 years now.
I think it is a fantastic car, and as long as you don't need more than two seats,
I would thoroughly recommend one. In fact I like having much more storage space in the boot.

Also it feels great to have the top of the line car, and you will rarely see another on the road.

[sad61t]

Keith-P said:

Thanks for that Alex, really just to be used as a decent second car. GP appeals to me but I can imagine the R56 more to my wife. I will keep looking!

Or both...

I would be inclined to the GP. There are plenty of R56s about, but customisation options are still limited compared to the R53s. And anyway, even if you get a R56 you'll still be hankering after a GP...

[RKDE]

The R56 is more of a motorway car and has lost very much its go cart feel, the GP or R53 is fun and that supercharger sound will make you know which on to go for

[Rakey]

I have both a R53 GP, and an R56 MCS

The GP has so much more grin factor than any other MINI, the drive, the looks, its just so much fun.

The R56 is an everyday car for me, its lost its character, the rawness that the R53 used to have, its a refined new car, that looks like a mini. Its great on motorways, its good on fuel, and I use it for those things.

But if I want to have more fun on a drive then I always take the GP without hesitation

[Floof]

neither, buy an R53 S (again) for 7-8K and spend the rest making it a hell of a lot better than the GP or R56S.

• 283.4bhp R53**