GP1 or GP2?

[MrTickle]

Pondering the purchase of a Mini GP. Torn between throwing £20K at a GP2 or £13K at a GP1.

I have plenty of experience of R53 and R56 JCW cars, but not the GP models.

Thoughts from the PH massive?

[sad61t]

Drive both and see which you prefer.

Sorry this is so anodyne, I've not driven either but prefer the looks of the GP1. I gather they are quite different in nature and it would depend a lot on what you want out of the car. The insurance costs for me were eye watering and they'd be even worse now I've made a no-fault claim on my motorbike policy (which despite NCD protection on both policies, different brokers and a totally different vehicle class, shoved my car policy up by 20%. )

[CarsOrBikes]

If you've made a no fault claim it shouldn't even be going through your policy, they use the same agencies we public do, so will have maybe farmed it out, and they are ripping you off. I'd explore moving the claim to a non fault company directly and withdrawing it from your insurers, but it's probably too late if much money is paid out already.

Back to Mini, the GP2 is a much nicer looking car and no doubt more comfortable, it has evolved better than the MCS, but I'd still buy an R53 and put 7k into making a stonger motor still, and not the putty French engine in the 2 which can be tweaked, at peril from what stories are out there. The R56 onwards cars are just a continuation of a fashion exercise imo, and we were just lucky to have been given the early S/C car, which like the original old Mini, had more potential at the first side rad model for performance changes.

Anyway, the charger noise is nice, you know you have something different.

[MrTickle]

OK, thanks for replies. Sounds like my opinions between the R53JCW and the R56JCW that we owned will be the same in the GP cars.

I am leaning towards a low mileage well looked after GP1.

[addz86]

I'm on my second GP1 now, I'd like a go in a GP2 but doubt if it'll be 10k better

[Rockape762]

Not had a GP1 but I had a tuned R53 JCW (220 HP and coilovers) and currently drive a GP2.

R53 - better noise with supercharger, more direct steering. Brakes awful.

GP2 much better than R56 JCW. Makes you want to drive everywhere like you're on a qualifying lap. Outstanding brakes. Lot quicker round a track than some very exotic metal. Oversteer on demand. Great exhaust note and great fun.

[terryb]

GP2 + cheeky remap = 280bhp

[jogon]

terryb said:

GP2 + cheeky remap = 280bhp

I imagine that is rather epic. One thing I enjoy about my current mini jcw is how you can drive it rather close to the limit quite comfortably on the road. Stick on some Michelin Pilot Super Sports and the grip is immense.

An extra 70hp would be incredible. Off to the PH classifieds I go!

[Mr Cooper]

GP1...I don't think they'll depreciate much more. Future classic! The GP2 on the other hand will, in my opinion, be found for less than a GP1 in the future, they took MUCH, MUCH longer to sell through the dealers. I don't think they're as special.

[irish boy]

Gp2's are absolutely fantastic things. I bought one in '12 and loved it. Made the mistake of selling up and buying a e92 m3 edition which was not in the same league as a drivers toy. Especially the brakes. Sold it privately before Christmas and found a delivery mile gp2 in Manchester, don't intend to sell it any time soon as I now realise what I've got and it can't be replicated without spending a whole lot more.

Read this, great thread.....


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


And watch this from 4 mins to 6 mins.....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eT4WXokoAx0

[The1Driver]

Test drove a GP1 some 3 years ago. At the time I owned a Corsa VXR (forgive me). And I absolutely loved it. It's aggressive pace and the sound of the supercharger was tremendous.

Fast forward to May of last year. I picked up my first car. Two and a half years later after getting rid of the last.

The car I got was the M135I. Loved it for a short while... Then I became bored and started looking up the GP2.

Next thing I knew I had part ex'd the Beemer for one lol.

I bloody love it. The track tyres (kumho) are amazing in the dry... Unfortunately, they don't last long. My are currently on their way and. Shall be replaced with Pilot Super Sports. They won't be as grippy in the dry. But will last a lot longer and I'll be way more confident in wet conditions.

I took road trip with friends to beachy head a couple weeks back (over that extremely wet weekend). I Had two tense moments lol. Whereas the other cars (M3, 1M and M135i) experienced no such moments. all three of them were running Pilot Super Sport rubber.

Anyway, I think either will make a great purchase.

[Marchutch]

Have a read of this for inspiration re a GP1:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Much easier to get to 280 ish bhp on an GP2, and it is a much comfier car, but it depends what you want from it!

[MrTickle]

Cheers.

I should add that this would be purely a car to put a smile on my face. I have another one for the long boring stuff.

Just a hoon down B-roads to work (only 10 miles) and weekend fun. Trips up and down the M6 would be covered in the barge.

[79TurboS]

MrTickle said:

Cheers.

I should add that this would be purely a car to put a smile on my face. I have another one for the long boring stuff.

Just a hoon down B-roads to work (only 10 miles) and weekend fun. Trips up and down the M6 would be covered in the barge.

I have a GP2 and it will definately put a massive smile on your face, so much fun. Ride/handling is superb with a firm ride withouth being harsh/crashy and steering is also fabously direct with a kart like feel. Go for it