LOH's mini (2013 JCW-GP) adventure
Discussion
In reality it's a bit too soon to say-I took the old man for a quick blast in the countryside in it and the wife out to a pub on a spring evening-both on the same day. Since then I've been driving the MINI and been out of the country so I won't see it until later this week.
First reactions are that it needs work! I've already ordered a whole raft of suspension and strengthening parts to be delivered for next week, it feels like a car that's been set up to drive over speed humps around town. But, you can just tell there is a great chassis to begin with.....
Good points
but I'm really liking it so far. I won't lie, it's a bit of a toy and an experiment to see how I can change the way it drives but I'm already looking forward to a summer of open top, cheap as chips fun 
First reactions are that it needs work! I've already ordered a whole raft of suspension and strengthening parts to be delivered for next week, it feels like a car that's been set up to drive over speed humps around town. But, you can just tell there is a great chassis to begin with.....
Good points
- gearshift
- steering feel
- engine rips ups the revs
- brakes make the minis feel like an on/off switch!
- geometry is set to s
t - scuttle shake over pot holes
- 4x4 ride height
- roll for each axle appears to be completely different
but I'm really liking it so far. I won't lie, it's a bit of a toy and an experiment to see how I can change the way it drives but I'm already looking forward to a summer of open top, cheap as chips fun 
This has been a superb thread right from the start.
Don't fully agree with some comments, I'm no mini fan boy, but I do appreciate any car for what it can or cant do.
The whole 'special' thing is very subjective. I've been lucky enough to own some absolutely superb cars including 2x 993's, 2x gt3's and various american things, but when I bought the gp2 I knew it was something 'special'. I changed it after 6 months as I tend to do for a dct e92 m3, but that just highlighted how good the mini was, so I bought the last delivery mile one just before Christmas. The only car I've ever bought twice.
All the best with the mx5, looking forward to another good thread getting off the ground.
Don't fully agree with some comments, I'm no mini fan boy, but I do appreciate any car for what it can or cant do.
The whole 'special' thing is very subjective. I've been lucky enough to own some absolutely superb cars including 2x 993's, 2x gt3's and various american things, but when I bought the gp2 I knew it was something 'special'. I changed it after 6 months as I tend to do for a dct e92 m3, but that just highlighted how good the mini was, so I bought the last delivery mile one just before Christmas. The only car I've ever bought twice.
All the best with the mx5, looking forward to another good thread getting off the ground.
This was an amazing thread that I read from start to end when I was looking for a 3rd car for fun at weekends to go with the Golf R and Audi A6 Avant BE. However I was surprised at the lack of love right at the end when you were so passionate about it from the beginning.
Anyway I had mine delivered today and took it out for a spin and con confirm there is a sense of occasion like I used to have from my Loti days.
Quick question. Did you adjust the suspension height? Apparently mine is set the middle. I want to take it lower so will probably drop it off at Lohans.
Also did you experience lots of torque steer on undulating country roads, mine like to jump from side to side on full beans which can be eye opening! Might be the tyres. I am ordering some Yoko AD08Rs.
Thanks,
Chris.
Anyway I had mine delivered today and took it out for a spin and con confirm there is a sense of occasion like I used to have from my Loti days.
Quick question. Did you adjust the suspension height? Apparently mine is set the middle. I want to take it lower so will probably drop it off at Lohans.
Also did you experience lots of torque steer on undulating country roads, mine like to jump from side to side on full beans which can be eye opening! Might be the tyres. I am ordering some Yoko AD08Rs.
Thanks,
Chris.
Glad you're enjoying your GP 
I think I mentioned in the thread somewhere I didn't ever adjust the suspension, personally I felt the settings straight out of the box were great though with such a stiff sidewall to the Khumos any lower and it's going to be a pretty hard ride I'd imagine!
Torque steer and chasing cambers is all part of the cars character I feel. It's a busy helm but it is what it is, the pseudo differential does work in some ways but as you'll find it's a reactive system rather than a traditional limited slip diff.
What I mean by that is that because it's just a computer program sensing when slip is happening you have to illicit some slip before it works, so it's never going to eradicate torque steer as it needs to happen first before the electronics can take over. It's better than nothing but it can't compare to a traditional lsd (IMHO).
There was much to love about the car as I'm sure you're about to find out, they really are little pocket rockets! In the end I probably can't expand however, much on what I've already written; It never really felt like a special car (although it was a very good one!) and MINI (the company not the dealership) pissed me off with their attitude and build quality. In two years the car had;
2 X oil leaks
3 X goes at solving a gearbox crunch
1 X replacement gearbox that never really solved the issue
1 X failure of ARB drop link
Plus, as described selling a limited edition of 200 uk cars is one thing but to increase that number by 50% some months after selling you the car put my nose out of joint. Petty maybe but it pissed me off all the same and took the edge off the experience.
Personally I feel that when you're buying a companies flagship and most exclusive product you should be looked after a bit. Don't think I'm getting on my high horse but people who do buy into the high end stuff tend to be unofficial brand ambassadors simply by association and other companies seem to recognise this. I'm not expecting much but MINI seemed to just sell you the car and that was that, no track days, no invitations to watch the MINI Challege Cup or anything, it's just different to how RenaultSport, Porsche etc go about things.
Maybe that's all a load of bks mind you 
but it's just some Sunday morning musings. Plus they tried to weasel out of replacing the tyre when the ARB drop link failed the rotters!
Funnily enough, MINI got in touch recently to see if I'd be interested in the new MINI Challenge & I must admit it does sound interesting but I don't think given the above I'll not have another MINI product. Shame really.
But despite MINI themselves, it was a great little car and I don't regret buying it for one second, especially considering all the happy times we had with it
The following car and it's adventures starts here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Link to the next one at the end of that thread!
I think I mentioned in the thread somewhere I didn't ever adjust the suspension, personally I felt the settings straight out of the box were great though with such a stiff sidewall to the Khumos any lower and it's going to be a pretty hard ride I'd imagine!
Torque steer and chasing cambers is all part of the cars character I feel. It's a busy helm but it is what it is, the pseudo differential does work in some ways but as you'll find it's a reactive system rather than a traditional limited slip diff.
What I mean by that is that because it's just a computer program sensing when slip is happening you have to illicit some slip before it works, so it's never going to eradicate torque steer as it needs to happen first before the electronics can take over. It's better than nothing but it can't compare to a traditional lsd (IMHO).
There was much to love about the car as I'm sure you're about to find out, they really are little pocket rockets! In the end I probably can't expand however, much on what I've already written; It never really felt like a special car (although it was a very good one!) and MINI (the company not the dealership) pissed me off with their attitude and build quality. In two years the car had;
2 X oil leaks
3 X goes at solving a gearbox crunch
1 X replacement gearbox that never really solved the issue
1 X failure of ARB drop link
Plus, as described selling a limited edition of 200 uk cars is one thing but to increase that number by 50% some months after selling you the car put my nose out of joint. Petty maybe but it pissed me off all the same and took the edge off the experience.
Personally I feel that when you're buying a companies flagship and most exclusive product you should be looked after a bit. Don't think I'm getting on my high horse but people who do buy into the high end stuff tend to be unofficial brand ambassadors simply by association and other companies seem to recognise this. I'm not expecting much but MINI seemed to just sell you the car and that was that, no track days, no invitations to watch the MINI Challege Cup or anything, it's just different to how RenaultSport, Porsche etc go about things.
Maybe that's all a load of b
ks mind you but it's just some Sunday morning musings. Plus they tried to weasel out of replacing the tyre when the ARB drop link failed the rotters!Funnily enough, MINI got in touch recently to see if I'd be interested in the new MINI Challenge & I must admit it does sound interesting but I don't think given the above I'll not have another MINI product. Shame really.
But despite MINI themselves, it was a great little car and I don't regret buying it for one second, especially considering all the happy times we had with it
The following car and it's adventures starts here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Link to the next one at the end of that thread!
Edited by LaurasOtherHalf on Sunday 26th June 06:52
LawRo86 said:
Hi LOH,
Great story about your GP. I've currently got an F56 JCW but have always had a GP2 'itch'.
What are your thoughts on going from an F56 JCW to a GP Apart from the obvious less torque, more refined etc.
Thanks!
As in the latest JCW? If I'm honest I can't really remember as I only had one for a short time as a courtesy car and probably only used it for getting to work and back. The only thing that stands out from memory was it felt like it had a much longer wheelbase and was thus less nimble, less chuckable.Great story about your GP. I've currently got an F56 JCW but have always had a GP2 'itch'.
What are your thoughts on going from an F56 JCW to a GP Apart from the obvious less torque, more refined etc.
Thanks!
I did think the interior a much nicer place to be mind you, the billy basic audio in the GP did wind me up a little.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
GokTweed said:
LaurasOtherHalf said:
My apologies on the above, I'm comparing the mini GP with the megane R26.R, not the Clio 200
So the clio 200 is lighter than the mini? the brakes do look good, if a little excessive, but they will be worthless if there's crappy rubber on the wheels Weight wise it's all a bit grey-mini released the weight figures of the GP as exactly the same as the standard JCW mini, there's probably a reason for this but what it is I don't know. Perhaps it's a legislation thing where a new kurb weight means new testing or reapplying crash tests etc may be needed, who knows?
However, all three cars are in the same ball park. The Clio 200 is a shade over 1200kg, the R26.R is 1230kg (without cage but with titanium exhaust) & the mini is 1220kg
Confusing things further, is in all mini's advertising blurb for the GP they mention an "DIN unladen curb weight" of 1160kg.
What's DIN unladen? It's the eu specific measurement of weight for a new car, comprising of the car obviously, all fluids & a 90% full fuel tank, all options ticked. No driver or cargo though, and although mini appear to be being pretty transparent by giving that weight for the car it's pretty hard to compare against others as I'm not 100% sure what "curb weight" they're giving. I guess I'll finally know about my car once I get it corner weighted.
So, all in all it's pretty safe to say its pretty light for a car that still has comfy recaro heated seats & a leather trimmed dash, or hediously overweight compared to the original depending on your point of view
Without looking into it further I can't tell you where all the weight saving has come from, rear seats can't weigh that much! Though by getting rid of them I suppose the rear curtain airbags will have gone, as will the strengthening for the rear seat belt points perhaps, but yet they have added weight back on, the rear brace I'm told us now structural so it will need extra metalwork, there's the front brace, all the new aero (flat underfloor & wing) & as I said, it still has a fairly substantial pair of front seats.
Where all this becomes interesting (hopefully anyway!) is in the driving
We've mentioned the huge brakes on the GP (incidentally I think they're pinched off the 1 series M cars, they look the same) & you mentioned the tyres. In the GP's case it comes on Khumo Ecstasa track based items, specifically designed for the GP (they'll be cheap to replace then), none run flats too in 17" diameter.
Where the mini gains performance over the Clio is also where it loses the the Megane-torque.
I think this is where the cars will differ the most as the mini has much less twist than the R26.R, will it be enough to make it feel slow against its lower weight? Obviously until we get both out on track I won't know but the first trackday at the nurburgring is booked for April so we won't have long to wait
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPnAtNbrygk was an interesting video and one that made me say F*ck it even if I only have it for a year at least Ive enjoyed myself!
The brakes are one of the standout things for me on the car - and have come in handy a few times (bloody speed camera vans are pesky things
) especially near where I live.terryb said:
I had mine remapped by DMS in Southampton and very impressed with the results. Took it from 240 standard to 280. How does it feel? There is a noticeable increase in urge all the way to the red line - helps to properly monster more powerful cars on the track - especially with the Kumho's and those mahoosive brakes.
I may consider doing more mods in the future to make more track friendly such as sports cat exhaust, lightened flywheel, bucket seats with harnesses and thinner Alcantara steering wheel.
If anyone hasn't taken theirs out on track yet, I can recommend going for it - awesome fun.
I bought mine had it a month (out of warranty obviously) and had it mapped by DMS. I may consider doing more mods in the future to make more track friendly such as sports cat exhaust, lightened flywheel, bucket seats with harnesses and thinner Alcantara steering wheel.
If anyone hasn't taken theirs out on track yet, I can recommend going for it - awesome fun.
For me personally It smoothed the power delivery out particularly at the lower end and gave a bit of extra top end grunt - Ive no idea what the actual power figure it has but in terms of perceptible feel it definitely feels much faster.
One downside is I run it in Sport and GP mode most the time and being a bit of a P*ssy and this being my first nippy car I have put winters on and the fronts are down to 2.8 mil and I put them on in early November!!! 4 months use just on the road and about 2,500 miles and I have nearly done a set of winter fronts - sod knows how (did have reallignment as well as tyres done).
Absolutely loving the car but the thing that drives me absolutely nuts is the 'media' system - I like to use my music off my phone, can't bluetooth stream so have to use a cable and I use the 'ipod' system which unfortunately seems to drop out back to the normal radio and go to the AUX setting - anybody else have this issue.
As for the car - I cannot fault it, the downside is it eggs you to drive like an absolute Tw*t, and you just fling it around the corners as you just know it has the grip to keep you on the road.
If I ever have to 'downgrade' I just don't know where I can go from here...
MDifficult said:
Gave up in my GP2 and bought an ‘AUKEY Bluetooth 4.0 Audio Receiver for Car’ from Amazon. Fits perfectly down by the USB and AUX slot for the car, works brilliantly with my iPhone and is auto on/off sensing. Oh, and about £20!
What about using bluetooth calling? As Mini obviously has a mic near the drivers mirror - if that sorts my streaming Ill do that as it drives me crackers - I have a cable for using the iPod system in fairness. (usb and aux slot) but as I say drops out too often
SiT said:
I properly LOVE these cars!!! Have they dropped much in value last year or so? Quick browse suggests £16-£18k for one at present.
Great great thread, read from beginning to end, steady stream of cracking car choices OP!!
Si
I paid a bit more with 18,500 Miles on the clock, freshly serviced. Hoping not to lose too much.Great great thread, read from beginning to end, steady stream of cracking car choices OP!!
Si
mattf93 said:
What about using bluetooth calling?
As Mini obviously has a mic near the drivers mirror - if that sorts my streaming Ill do that as it drives me crackers - I have a cable for using the iPod system in fairness. (usb and aux slot) but as I say drops out too often
It’s genuinely the best of both worlds, my iPhone connects to both the car (for calls) and the AUKEY for the Bluetooth music and knows which to use for what. Seriously, works exactly how you’d want it to (with iPhone at least).As Mini obviously has a mic near the drivers mirror - if that sorts my streaming Ill do that as it drives me crackers - I have a cable for using the iPod system in fairness. (usb and aux slot) but as I say drops out too often
Just get one - I promise you won’t regret it.
SiT said:
I properly LOVE these cars!!! Have they dropped much in value last year or so? Quick browse suggests £16-£18k for one at present.
Great great thread, read from beginning to end, steady stream of cracking car choices OP!!
Si
Had mine for over a year, pretty much been rock steady. Great great thread, read from beginning to end, steady stream of cracking car choices OP!!
Si
With the GP3 almost certainly being an auto with paddles, and good GP1s now on the rise, doubt they’ll drop much more.
mattf93 said:
steve-5snwi said:
Have you updated the software for bluetooth ? mine is a 2010 MCS and it will stream music wireless but doesn't pull artwork through. Although you cannot have audio and telephone wireless irc.
can you update the bluetooth to do that? Absolutely love the Mini GP. So much so that I'm on my second one lol.
For those wanting to use their phone to listen to music. Bag yourself one of these. I got one a couple of weeks back. One of my best purchases for the car -
ViseeO Tune2Air WMA3000B Bluetooth Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3ABHXY?ref=yo_pop_ma...
Anyway... It's a great handling car. Can't wait to get back on track!
For those wanting to use their phone to listen to music. Bag yourself one of these. I got one a couple of weeks back. One of my best purchases for the car -
ViseeO Tune2Air WMA3000B Bluetooth Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3ABHXY?ref=yo_pop_ma...
Anyway... It's a great handling car. Can't wait to get back on track!
The1Driver said:
Absolutely love the Mini GP. So much so that I'm on my second one lol.
For those wanting to use their phone to listen to music. Bag yourself one of these. I got one a couple of weeks back. One of my best purchases for the car -
ViseeO Tune2Air WMA3000B Bluetooth Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3ABHXY?ref=yo_pop_ma...
Anyway... It's a great handling car. Can't wait to get back on track!
What tyres is your car on? For those wanting to use their phone to listen to music. Bag yourself one of these. I got one a couple of weeks back. One of my best purchases for the car -
ViseeO Tune2Air WMA3000B Bluetooth Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3ABHXY?ref=yo_pop_ma...
Anyway... It's a great handling car. Can't wait to get back on track!
Ive not yet had mine on summer tyres properly (had some summers with 2 odd mil of tread so not exactly grippy
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