RE: PH Heroes: Mini JCW GP Works
Discussion
Arun_D said:
Very capable cars these. I do enjoy driving my gf's GP, which she's had for a few months now (no doubt she'll post about it when she sees this thread). Plenty of fun behind the wheel and decent amount of poke. Ride was very crashy, but greatly improved once she ditched the runflats.
Alas, it doesn't quite stack up to my old R26.R, which dynamically has the GP licked, which probably isn't suprising to people here. In terms of straightline speed, it's probably very close, but of course it's not what these cars are about.
In comes the gf!Alas, it doesn't quite stack up to my old R26.R, which dynamically has the GP licked, which probably isn't suprising to people here. In terms of straightline speed, it's probably very close, but of course it's not what these cars are about.
Yep I totally adore my GP after moving on from my frustratingly slow Fiesta ST.
I actually thought I had made a bit of a mistake buying the car due to its ride at one point, but I was stunned to find the difference was SO much better when I ditched the run flats.
The way it just wants to go and go through any of the gears never fails to make me smile or surprise some third lane cruisers when they come up behind me.
Compared with Arun's R26.R yes it would have my GP licked all day long on track etc and I loved that R (with the titanium exhaust Hellbound!) and perhaps yes there are some out there who will think it doesnt deserve its PH Hero status but it fits the bill of what I wanted (small, powerful, something with a s/c & unusual) so its my perfect little car for now
kambites said:
So you can take that bar out? That makes the car make a bit more sense, at least you can use it for tip runs. 
yuphttp://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=RE92&...
kambites said:
moskvich427 said:
Never realised these were only 2 seaters... a Boxter would be my preferred choice.
Elise for me, unless I needed a two seater with a decent boot in which case I'd go for a Z3MC. 
I thought you were all about the "purity" of driving, I think you might be a bit disappointed with a Z3MC unless looking at it whilst it`s parked or spinning the rear wheels at a surprisingly low speed in 2nd gear in the wet!
I`ve had one, loved it and would quite like another but it`s not for the kind of driving that you can do in one of these GPs or an R or an Elise / Exige
don logan said:
Have you driven a Z3MC?
I thought you were all about the "purity" of driving, I think you might be a bit disappointed with a Z3MC unless looking at it whilst it`s parked or spinning the rear wheels at a surprisingly low speed in 2nd gear in the wet!
I`ve had one, loved it and would quite like another but it`s not for the kind of driving that you can do in one of these GPs or an R or an Elise / Exige
Yeah, I've driven one. It's not really my kind of car, but it's much closer than any MINI that I've driven. I don't like the way MINIs drive at all. I've never understood why people rave about them so much. I thought you were all about the "purity" of driving, I think you might be a bit disappointed with a Z3MC unless looking at it whilst it`s parked or spinning the rear wheels at a surprisingly low speed in 2nd gear in the wet!
I`ve had one, loved it and would quite like another but it`s not for the kind of driving that you can do in one of these GPs or an R or an Elise / Exige
kambites said:
Yeah, I've driven one. It's not really my kind of car, but it's much closer than any MINI that I've driven. I don't like the way MINIs drive at all.
I actually keep considering buying an original Mini, something very slightly modified but non flarey arched with the small rear lights and old style grille!(and cable operated doors)
vetteheadracer said:
Had the pleasure of driving one around the Adria circuit in Italy and then Monza at night, fantastic little car.
I'm biased, but I will have a GP one day, been lucky to passenger one, and it was absolutely wonderful. I have also driven an R53 JCW (which had been lightly fettled, putting out 230~bhp), a really lovely car to drive.
Nice article, although the mileage thing seems a bit strange, I saw one for sale about 6 months ago with just 2k miles from new.
I own a GP and use it everyday.
I just don't know where this car gets it's grip from, it's sticks to the tarmac like it's glued on.
Not the best mpg you would like, I'm getting 27mpg at the mo, but If I wanted economy I'd have bought a diesel.
I have yet to drive this car and get out without a big grin on my face.
It's not to everyone's taste but I love it.
The whine from the supercharger is awesome above 3,000rpm and the burble of the exhaust on overrun is just as good.
A great car for blasting along country roads but it also a good car for long runs, the full leather Recaros and cruise control see to that type of driving.
I plan to keep this car for as long as is practicable.
Absolutely stunning.
I just don't know where this car gets it's grip from, it's sticks to the tarmac like it's glued on.
Not the best mpg you would like, I'm getting 27mpg at the mo, but If I wanted economy I'd have bought a diesel.
I have yet to drive this car and get out without a big grin on my face.
It's not to everyone's taste but I love it.
The whine from the supercharger is awesome above 3,000rpm and the burble of the exhaust on overrun is just as good.
A great car for blasting along country roads but it also a good car for long runs, the full leather Recaros and cruise control see to that type of driving.
I plan to keep this car for as long as is practicable.
Absolutely stunning.
roystinho said:
I'm rather the opposite. The last few cars I've had have been Renaultsports, but not because I particularly like the brand (which I do as an aside), but because whatever my requirements for a car were the Renaultsport version came out on top.
Examples
I had £7k for little fun hot hatch 2009 - Clio Trophy (does it need explaining)
Wanted something a bit bigger and newer in 2010 when Jnr came, but still fun - Clio 200. Looked at MCS, Corsa VXR and segment above (Astra, Golf, Megane), but nothing beat it for outright fun within the parameters I needed.
Wanted a cheap track car - Clio 172 for £1500. Again at price nothing came close for fun, though 106 GTis came close. Plus cheap parts.
Wanted something a bit different as a weekend car - Clio V6. Had lots of choice, Elise/Exige, Z3MC, Z4MC, Boxsters etc. Clio has incredible noise, not a fiddly/leaky as an Elise, not as ruinous on servicing as the BMWs or Porsche and hopefully not too bad in the depreciation stakes.
Anyway, I digress. I think the GP is deserved as a hero car. I define 'hero car' as one I would take a sceond look at when it drove past which would happen with a GP
There's a Clio 182 Cup on sale not that far from me for about £2.5k with 70k on the clock. It's very clean and I'm tempted. But I'd never dump £7k on one, even if it is a Trophy. I'd only end up getting all anal with it and send off the dampers to get rebuilt and before you know it I've spent quite a bit of cash for no worthwhile reason. They're good when they're cheap and not complete sheds.Examples
I had £7k for little fun hot hatch 2009 - Clio Trophy (does it need explaining)
Wanted something a bit bigger and newer in 2010 when Jnr came, but still fun - Clio 200. Looked at MCS, Corsa VXR and segment above (Astra, Golf, Megane), but nothing beat it for outright fun within the parameters I needed.
Wanted a cheap track car - Clio 172 for £1500. Again at price nothing came close for fun, though 106 GTis came close. Plus cheap parts.
Wanted something a bit different as a weekend car - Clio V6. Had lots of choice, Elise/Exige, Z3MC, Z4MC, Boxsters etc. Clio has incredible noise, not a fiddly/leaky as an Elise, not as ruinous on servicing as the BMWs or Porsche and hopefully not too bad in the depreciation stakes.
Anyway, I digress. I think the GP is deserved as a hero car. I define 'hero car' as one I would take a sceond look at when it drove past which would happen with a GP
The Clio V6 is great, but not the best handling car. It's a bit of a myth that its a fab track tool. It's not. The interior is poor and you're only really getting it because it's a little special with great residuals. Which is a worthy reason in itself.
I'm a fan of Renaultsport and the people at Dieppe do great things. But as an all round package, a used Mini JCW takes some beating. That's if you like the looks of course, which is down to personal taste. It's not as if the Clio 200 is a looker, far from it. The 197 had a much nicer shape, but poorer build.
Having opined as much as I can at 8am, the reality is the best buy is the car that gives you the most smiles per gallon, whatever that may be. For some people, that could be a Citroen 2CV. Others may prefer a MX5.
I know, that's a controversial opinion to put on Pistonheads!
I have to admit to being a fan of the original Cooper S and actually prefer it to the newer one as the supercharged engine is more responsive, sounds better and it's a bit different from the flood of turbocharged hot hatches around these days.
However the GP I don't like for two main reasons, the very chintzy looks which do it no favours whatsoever and the fact that it has no back seats. I am forever puzzled by why someone would got to the bother of ripping the rear seats out of a hot hatch, surely the whole point of them is to be practical as well as fun to drive. If you are going to be restricted to 2 seats there are MUCH better drivers cars available.
If it were my money I'd buy a standard Cooper S and mod it. You can pick up a decent one for half the price of a GP nowadays, spend £1k on a remap\puley upgrade plus an LSD you have a car as good as a GP but with rear seats.
However the GP I don't like for two main reasons, the very chintzy looks which do it no favours whatsoever and the fact that it has no back seats. I am forever puzzled by why someone would got to the bother of ripping the rear seats out of a hot hatch, surely the whole point of them is to be practical as well as fun to drive. If you are going to be restricted to 2 seats there are MUCH better drivers cars available.
If it were my money I'd buy a standard Cooper S and mod it. You can pick up a decent one for half the price of a GP nowadays, spend £1k on a remap\puley upgrade plus an LSD you have a car as good as a GP but with rear seats.
Good point but for me I wanted the GP from day one but could never afford one new.
I have no need for rear seats as I am normally alone in the car.
There are no rear seats as to save weight, the GP is only 1bhp per ton less than a 350Z, but there is a rear seat conversion that some have fitted to turn it into a four seater.
Not many have gone down this route because it does change the car too much from the original spec.
As others have said if we all liked the same cars The World would be a boring place to live.
Long live our freedom of choice.
I have no need for rear seats as I am normally alone in the car.
There are no rear seats as to save weight, the GP is only 1bhp per ton less than a 350Z, but there is a rear seat conversion that some have fitted to turn it into a four seater.
Not many have gone down this route because it does change the car too much from the original spec.
As others have said if we all liked the same cars The World would be a boring place to live.
Long live our freedom of choice.
CiderFex said:
Good point but for me I wanted the GP from day one but could never afford one new.
I have no need for rear seats as I am normally alone in the car.
There are no rear seats as to save weight, the GP is only 1bhp per ton less than a 350Z, but there is a rear seat conversion that some have fitted to turn it into a four seater.
Not many have gone down this route because it does change the car too much from the original spec.
As others have said if we all liked the same cars The World would be a boring place to live.
Long live our freedom of choice.
That's interesting. Is it a big job to add the rear bench? I'm thinking everything's already in place regarding seat belt fixings and whatnot? I have no need for rear seats as I am normally alone in the car.
There are no rear seats as to save weight, the GP is only 1bhp per ton less than a 350Z, but there is a rear seat conversion that some have fitted to turn it into a four seater.
Not many have gone down this route because it does change the car too much from the original spec.
As others have said if we all liked the same cars The World would be a boring place to live.
Long live our freedom of choice.
I think a GP with proper rear seats wouldn't detract from the appeal of it as some people would want the option to seat four. And you could always remove them if you wanted to return it back to standard.
To fit rear seat you would need to weld the seat brackets in, add normal rear trim panels, seat belts, normal c pillar covers, add other seat brackets and then seats.
Not worth it, just get a JCW and mod it the engine is basically the same bar a map and inter cooler, body mods can be purchased to get the same look
Not worth it, just get a JCW and mod it the engine is basically the same bar a map and inter cooler, body mods can be purchased to get the same look
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