R53 JCW GP as a daily?
Discussion
I'm currently looking at one of these very very closely and was hoping to get a bit more personal experiences from you guys?
I currently own a 14' Fiesta ST-3, which is a great car and I do enjoy it a lot. However, I'm looking for something a little bit more special and this seems to tick all the boxes for me so far. Also the noises it makes are fantastic! Something my ST lacks.
The one I have in mind is sat at 40k miles, looks all in good nick. The car will be used as daily commuter, I'm not bothered about residuals/selling on price. Even adding another 30k miles the prices are still sat in the 9k-12k region anyway.
So what's it like to run daily, anything I should look out for in particular, big issues I need to be aware of etc?
I currently own a 14' Fiesta ST-3, which is a great car and I do enjoy it a lot. However, I'm looking for something a little bit more special and this seems to tick all the boxes for me so far. Also the noises it makes are fantastic! Something my ST lacks.
The one I have in mind is sat at 40k miles, looks all in good nick. The car will be used as daily commuter, I'm not bothered about residuals/selling on price. Even adding another 30k miles the prices are still sat in the 9k-12k region anyway.
So what's it like to run daily, anything I should look out for in particular, big issues I need to be aware of etc?
Absolutely fine as a daily. But, do you really need a GP if it's a daily? My point is, you can pick up a JCW with a higher spec than the GP for much less. Spend the change on suspension & engine mods to make it better than the GP.
GPs don't have Xenons etc which you might want on a daily.
The GP is a fabulous car - but you really need to want one to pay the price difference over a similar JCW 210.
GPs don't have Xenons etc which you might want on a daily.
The GP is a fabulous car - but you really need to want one to pay the price difference over a similar JCW 210.
Mafffew said:
I currently own a 14' Fiesta ST-3
Well the Mini will be quite a bit shorter for one thing 
I agree that you can spend a lot less on a JCW or even a bog standard R53 and upgrade it to perform as well as a GP, but you'll never get your money back at sale time. A GP should hold it's value well.
As for it's suitability as a daily, no reason why not if you don't need the rear seats and you're OK wth sub 30 mpg.
I ran my GP1 daily for two years. Was no trouble, it's still just a mini at the end of the day. I loved every minuet of it, though the ride is harsh, there quite noisy, need to remove the rear brace to fit something big in the boot and I found I always worried about where I parked it.
Make sure it's had the timing chain tensioner replaced.
If you don't mind basic motoring I would go for it, I'd have another in a flash! I could bang on for hours how great it was.
Make sure it's had the timing chain tensioner replaced.
If you don't mind basic motoring I would go for it, I'd have another in a flash! I could bang on for hours how great it was.
Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm set on a GP to be honest, it's a bit of a hard reason to explain to be honest. It just has that little bit more of a want factor that I can't put my finger on!
How is the road noise on motorways? Some of my commute is spent on the M40/M25, while road noise is irrelevant on the M25 (crawling all the time), the M40 flows well most of the time...
So far so good, although I'm struggling to look at it objectively! This thread is great - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
AdamGP said:
I ran my GP1 daily for two years. Was no trouble, it's still just a mini at the end of the day. I loved every minuet of it, though the ride is harsh, there quite noisy, need to remove the rear brace to fit something big in the boot and I found I always worried about where I parked it.
Make sure it's had the timing chain tensioner replaced.
If you don't mind basic motoring I would go for it, I'd have another in a flash! I could bang on for hours how great it was.
Harsh ride I'm used to in the Fiesta so that I'm not phased about, from a few impressions it sounds like it might be softer (without RFs)! I don't mind basic motoring, it's not Elise level basic that's for sure and I'll likely chuck in a new head unit. The one I'll be seeing this weekend has got a heated seats so at least the missus will be happy too. Make sure it's had the timing chain tensioner replaced.
If you don't mind basic motoring I would go for it, I'd have another in a flash! I could bang on for hours how great it was.
How is the road noise on motorways? Some of my commute is spent on the M40/M25, while road noise is irrelevant on the M25 (crawling all the time), the M40 flows well most of the time...
So far so good, although I'm struggling to look at it objectively! This thread is great - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I had RFT on the factory 18s and Federal RSRs on a set of 17s, ditching the RFTs was the best thing you can do, handles so much better, ride is less crashy and the road noise is reduced too, but there still fairly loud on long journeys, though I did have a janspeed manifold & decat, pops/bangs and the odd flame!!
Heated seats are standard from factory. A/C was the only no cost optional extra.
I think once you drive one you're mind will be made up, and instantly want one! I didn't find the GP2 felt as special as the GP1, that's how good it was to me, personally.
Heated seats are standard from factory. A/C was the only no cost optional extra.
I think once you drive one you're mind will be made up, and instantly want one! I didn't find the GP2 felt as special as the GP1, that's how good it was to me, personally.
Love my GP1, although while a switch from RFTs to Michelin PSS does transform the ride, you'll still need to be mindful of potholes, and the car even in standard form struggles with speed ramps
Non-xenon headlights and a stereo with no rear speakers are a bit lacking, and they do like a drink, but other than that it's a great little car. If you don't need room for more than one passenger then the missing rear seats are of no great consequence, plus there's a fairly good load area in the back without them
The pace these cars can maintain across your favourite stretch of road is phenomenal, especially in the twisties! Supercharger whine is very addictive too
Non-xenon headlights and a stereo with no rear speakers are a bit lacking, and they do like a drink, but other than that it's a great little car. If you don't need room for more than one passenger then the missing rear seats are of no great consequence, plus there's a fairly good load area in the back without them
The pace these cars can maintain across your favourite stretch of road is phenomenal, especially in the twisties! Supercharger whine is very addictive too
I'd say definitely go for it. I've had an R53 built for fast road / track and my current r56 JCW built for the same use and the minis are great all rounders.
A gp1 will be a very good daily and definitely has that special car feel. I think you'll genuinely enjoy owning one mate and values seem very steady which is a bonus.
A gp1 will be a very good daily and definitely has that special car feel. I think you'll genuinely enjoy owning one mate and values seem very steady which is a bonus.
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