LOH's mini (2013 JCW-GP) adventure
Discussion
myles1972 said:
Looks very purposeful, does that. I'd be a little hesitant to do the 150mph stated, I am a coward though!
It does look the part, maybe a little OTT but thats what makes it i guess similar to the r26r garish in some peoples eyes but not to those who know what the cars about.I have been in a JCW at around 150 and was suprisingly stable
Good write up! I'm not usually a fan of mini's but given the rarity and how honest you've been its made for an entertaining read.
I'm not surprised esp is no match for a proper diff and given how much slower it is around the ring than a R26 it all seems to make sense. Although comparing it to an R26 maybe a little unfair given how much more raw and focused the R26 appears.
I'm not surprised esp is no match for a proper diff and given how much slower it is around the ring than a R26 it all seems to make sense. Although comparing it to an R26 maybe a little unfair given how much more raw and focused the R26 appears.
myles1972 said:
Looks very purposeful, does that. I'd be a little hesitant to do the 150mph stated, I am a coward though!
I think the 150mph, although not overly optimistic may take some achieving! If you watch the videos I posted earlier they have done extensive wind tunnel work to stabilise it (the flat underfloor, diffuser & wing reduce rear lift by 95%) but its gets to (an indicated) 135 surprisingly quickly. Then you grab 6th & it boggs down a bit although this was on an uphill stretch (of a private road of course!).jamieleehodgson said:
If you fancy a wee photoshoot with maybe a megane 265 that could be arranged... my cousin is a keen beginner photographer and loves cars!
Yeah that'd be great, nice to have done better photos than my crappy iPhone ones!Ordinary_Chap said:
I'm not surprised esp is no match for a proper diff and given how much slower it is around the ring than a R26 it all seems to make sense. Although comparing it to an R26 maybe a little unfair given how much more raw and focused the R26 appears.
It's only 4 seconds a lap at the nurburgring slower than the R26.R (mini gp posted 8:21 v's the megs 8:17), which over 14 mile ain't to much believe me, not in our ham fisted hands anyway 
I suspect the lack of LSD wont make that much difference to the time, the big loss to the megane is in the torque figures-the mini is almost 70 ft/lbs shy & torque gains you a lot especially on the back straight from bergwerk through kessalchen & up the high hut. The straight from flugplatz to schweidenkreutz is flat to down hill, the other big hill will be on the home straight so I guess that just means not lifting to make up any time under the bridge!
Mini is lighter by a good chunk though but it's that back straight I'm most looking forward to, if it can keep up with the megane there I don't think I'll lose anywhere else on the lap
Ah ok, I was going off the wiki times which the R26 is over 6 seconds quicker which would equate to a long distance between the two crossing the line.
Mini 8.23
R26 8.16.9's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgr...
Anyway I take your point its a long circuit so the R26 gets a long bit of track to pull out its advantage.
I'd be interested too see what you think of it on track!
Lee
Mini 8.23
R26 8.16.9's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgr...
Anyway I take your point its a long circuit so the R26 gets a long bit of track to pull out its advantage.
I'd be interested too see what you think of it on track!
Lee
Ordinary_Chap said:
Ah ok, I was going off the wiki times which the R26 is over 6 seconds quicker which would equate to a long distance between the two crossing the line.
Mini 8.23
R26 8.16.9's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgr...
Anyway I take your point its a long circuit so the R26 gets a long bit of track to pull out its advantage.
I'd be interested too see what you think of it on track!
Lee
Well it's always a bit iffy bigging up your car when there can be a little wiki decripency on the times (a case in point!) but that has the GP as faster than some pretty trick machinery-not bad for a little 1.6 hairdressers car Mini 8.23
R26 8.16.9's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgr...
Anyway I take your point its a long circuit so the R26 gets a long bit of track to pull out its advantage.
I'd be interested too see what you think of it on track!
Lee
Won't be long until the first track report though-booked oulton park for next month
Edited by LaurasOtherHalf on Monday 7th January 19:59
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Ordinary_Chap said:
Ah ok, I was going off the wiki times which the R26 is over 6 seconds quicker which would equate to a long distance between the two crossing the line.
Mini 8.23
R26 8.16.9's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgr...
Anyway I take your point its a long circuit so the R26 gets a long bit of track to pull out its advantage.
I'd be interested too see what you think of it on track!
Lee
Well it's always a bit iffy bigging up your car when there can be a little wiki decripency on the times (a case in point!) but that has the GP as faster than some pretty trick machinery-not bad for a little 1.6 hairdressers car Mini 8.23
R26 8.16.9's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgr...
Anyway I take your point its a long circuit so the R26 gets a long bit of track to pull out its advantage.
I'd be interested too see what you think of it on track!
Lee
Won't be long until the first track report though-booked outline park for next month
I really like the styling anyway, it looks very special compared to the normal models.
Have you a go-pro or similar for the track days? It would be good to see how it goes on the track!
All the best,
Lee
Every car I have is a hairdressers car 
Seriously looking at getting a go-pro, they make great footage. I've still got a roll cage mount from my old bullet cam but I think the rear bar in the mini may be a little low & all you'll see is that dinner plate of a speedo, I'll try & get something rigged up though & take some footage.
Seriously looking at getting a go-pro, they make great footage. I've still got a roll cage mount from my old bullet cam but I think the rear bar in the mini may be a little low & all you'll see is that dinner plate of a speedo, I'll try & get something rigged up though & take some footage.
LaurasOtherHalf said:
I think the 150mph, although not overly optimistic may take some achieving! If you watch the videos I posted earlier they have done extensive wind tunnel work to stabilise it (the flat underfloor, diffuser & wing reduce rear lift by 95%) but its gets to (an indicated) 135 surprisingly quickly. Then you grab 6th & it boggs down a bit although this was on an uphill stretch (of a private road of course!).
Big lift off oversteer and 135+mph within 24 hours of picking it up from the dealer?I quite like you.
That rear wing might cause some drag and to really come alive the engine will need more miles on the clock (the way you appear to be driving it that won't be too many more miles) then 150+mph on that big speedo should be easy (and simple to photograph).
I saw an indicated 146mph on my MK1 Cooper S and although the -private- road was narrow and bumpy it was fine at that speed.
jamieleehodgson said:
Yeah a freind has the JCW on an 11 plate and took me up the private airfield and had an indicated 147 and the GP is lighter and a little more powerful but that spoiler might counteract the extra power/ less weight
JCW 164mph:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bev4-K2Axg
cheddar said:
jamieleehodgson said:
Yeah a freind has the JCW on an 11 plate and took me up the private airfield and had an indicated 147 and the GP is lighter and a little more powerful but that spoiler might counteract the extra power/ less weight
JCW 164mph:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bev4-K2Axg
Just to add, reading through the press release on the car the car is timed at 8:23 at the nurburgring-not sure where I got 8:21 from but interestingly re the top speed, they claim that the GP has a lower drag than the standard car which is partly responsible for its higher top speed & (& I'm not joking here) a better fuel economy, I'm thinking of the planet obviously
In all the press releases they never mention downforce, just "reduction of lift" so I guess the spoiler is exactly that rather than a wing. If I get time I'll take a picture of it but when you see it it doesn't sit above the roof line:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lhgR5x0WiU&fea...
LaurasOtherHalf said:
jamieleehodgson said:
If you fancy a wee photoshoot with maybe a megane 265 that could be arranged... my cousin is a keen beginner photographer and loves cars!
Yeah that'd be great, nice to have done better photos than my crappy iPhone ones!Look forward to some drives out and track days with you this year.
Righty-ho,
Thought I'd post up a little "in progress" piece about the car as I had a nice run out in it yesterday
If you've kept up to date with the thread you'll know I ordered this car blind without a test drive or seeing one in the flesh (or metal so to speak). I did however test drive a standard JCW mini & on the day I had that I took it over hartside pass (not far from home) so it was with a little bit of luck I had plenty of spare time yesterday in which to go up there again, this time in the GP obviously
Now, you might also remember that I wasn't that impressed with the JCW so it is interesting as to how the GP compares in the areas that it found lacking.
First things first, the GP is a properly quick little car. I've taken a Porsche Cayman R over this route (in similar conditions) & there is no way this was any slower. In fact, it reminds me of my old MR2 Spyder in the sense that on these types of roads (windy country type roads) you simply wouldn't want to go any faster. It's the prefect power for its size which always means fun is on the cards in that you can absolutely wring its neck to the point where you just about feel on the edge. With something like the Cayman R or particularly with my old ZM coupe I felt you couldn't stretch their legs, with this you can use all the rev range & really work it hard.
Other good points are the tyres, which I was initially a little concerned about when experiencing lift off over steer. They seem to be running in nicely & getting more grippier although I'm always aware that at nearly 2000ft in January they might not be in their optimum operating temperature.
The "fake" LSD seems to be working better once ive gotten used to it a bit more too. Stamp on the throttle & torque steer will appear, but feed it in & you can actually feel it working. There are some wicked cambers on the pass & when you just start to feel the inside wheel give up traction it miraculously pulls itself in again. As well as a true LSD in a Renault? Probably not but I was really trying to make it come unstuck up there, again, I'll reserve judgement until I get it on some dry road with a bit of heat in the tyres.
Brakes-absurd stopping power & zero fade, I only triggered the abs when I was stamping on them to see where the threshold lay but I doubt you'd be able to do it without being silly in most types of driving.
Steering feel is still lacking at this early point. I may be being hard on it, afteral it's on track rubber & I was up at nearly 2000ft in wind & rain at something like 3 degrees but it still had that glassy feel & it was difficult to judge where the limit was. If it works better on track in heat it'll be a pay off worth taking for me but at the moment something in the equation isn't right. I tried it in sport mode but it left it feeling all gooey with unnecessary weight-not really pleasant but again the conditions were s
t so I'll cut it a little slack.
Any other bad points? There's an annoying buzz from the centre console that I'll have to have sorted & the gearbox almost wants to drag into second gear when cold- I've tried nannying it but it still just wants to do it if it feels like it & I'm certain its not just me. Oh & the hands free phone interface is crap. It works fine sound wise but it's counter intuitive to work the menu systems & I refuse to read the manual.
Apart from that it's all good most folk are very surprised when I tell them I'm driving a mini (one customer complimented my other half on it not knowing it was mine ) but everyone who sees it really likes the look of it.
Obligatory pics.....
Sorry they're a bit blurry, but it was hard enough to stand straight up there in that weather.
Thought I'd post up a little "in progress" piece about the car as I had a nice run out in it yesterday
If you've kept up to date with the thread you'll know I ordered this car blind without a test drive or seeing one in the flesh (or metal so to speak). I did however test drive a standard JCW mini & on the day I had that I took it over hartside pass (not far from home) so it was with a little bit of luck I had plenty of spare time yesterday in which to go up there again, this time in the GP obviously
Now, you might also remember that I wasn't that impressed with the JCW so it is interesting as to how the GP compares in the areas that it found lacking.
First things first, the GP is a properly quick little car. I've taken a Porsche Cayman R over this route (in similar conditions) & there is no way this was any slower. In fact, it reminds me of my old MR2 Spyder in the sense that on these types of roads (windy country type roads) you simply wouldn't want to go any faster. It's the prefect power for its size which always means fun is on the cards in that you can absolutely wring its neck to the point where you just about feel on the edge. With something like the Cayman R or particularly with my old ZM coupe I felt you couldn't stretch their legs, with this you can use all the rev range & really work it hard.
Other good points are the tyres, which I was initially a little concerned about when experiencing lift off over steer. They seem to be running in nicely & getting more grippier although I'm always aware that at nearly 2000ft in January they might not be in their optimum operating temperature.
The "fake" LSD seems to be working better once ive gotten used to it a bit more too. Stamp on the throttle & torque steer will appear, but feed it in & you can actually feel it working. There are some wicked cambers on the pass & when you just start to feel the inside wheel give up traction it miraculously pulls itself in again. As well as a true LSD in a Renault? Probably not but I was really trying to make it come unstuck up there, again, I'll reserve judgement until I get it on some dry road with a bit of heat in the tyres.
Brakes-absurd stopping power & zero fade, I only triggered the abs when I was stamping on them to see where the threshold lay but I doubt you'd be able to do it without being silly in most types of driving.
Steering feel is still lacking at this early point. I may be being hard on it, afteral it's on track rubber & I was up at nearly 2000ft in wind & rain at something like 3 degrees but it still had that glassy feel & it was difficult to judge where the limit was. If it works better on track in heat it'll be a pay off worth taking for me but at the moment something in the equation isn't right. I tried it in sport mode but it left it feeling all gooey with unnecessary weight-not really pleasant but again the conditions were s
t so I'll cut it a little slack.Any other bad points? There's an annoying buzz from the centre console that I'll have to have sorted & the gearbox almost wants to drag into second gear when cold- I've tried nannying it but it still just wants to do it if it feels like it & I'm certain its not just me. Oh & the hands free phone interface is crap. It works fine sound wise but it's counter intuitive to work the menu systems & I refuse to read the manual.
Apart from that it's all good
most folk are very surprised when I tell them I'm driving a mini (one customer complimented my other half on it not knowing it was mine ) but everyone who sees it really likes the look of it.Obligatory pics.....
Sorry they're a bit blurry, but it was hard enough to stand straight up there in that weather.
Sandy59 said:
Enjoying the write ups LOH as I have one on order.
You say you weren't really that impressed with the standard JPW, sounds like the GP is an improvement - does it justify the extra cost IYO ??
interesting question, but for me yes. i'll explain.....You say you weren't really that impressed with the standard JPW, sounds like the GP is an improvement - does it justify the extra cost IYO ??
as a value for money propersition you can look at it one way, a mini jcw spec'd up to the same would be almost as much (though not quite) but would have to do without the big brakes, the "gp mode" quasi-lsd, the coilover suspension, track tyres & wheels & the trick aero.
then there's the fact you won't get this engine until the new jcw is relesed (see the spec sheet on page 1 of this thread-it's very different to the current engine) & from what i hear on the mini forum there are long delays on the standard jcw because of this.
insofar as the GP being very different from the standard car all of the above is by the by, it's worth the premium as i think it's a much better car.
the tricky question is whether you feel it's good value for money full stop when you consider what other hot hatches are going for, & that's before you get into the thorny subject of second-hand.
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