Thursday 21st November 2013

Mini JCW GP Mk1: Spotted

Now down below five figures, surely this is the time for a mega Mini?

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Funny how appreciation of certain cars changes, isn't it? Reading through the 2006 Mini JCW GP first drive, the comments aren't exactly universally complimentary. Oh sure, a few liked it, but they were overwhelmed by responses such 'it does look cack', 'what a pile of anorax infested monkey sh***' and 'it's just another Mini'.

Spoiler did actually improve aero

Now, with the unveiling of the rather bulbous Mini Mk3 and the £25K plus needed for Mk2 GP, an original GP for around £10K is mighty tempting. It almost looks cute now when compared with the F56, all the features seemingly in miniature. Given the fundamentals of the first new Mini are now twelve years old, the styling has aged really well. Bar the red mirrors, I think the GP add-ons are fantastic.

Furthermore, with hot hatches now apparently having to cater for all, a small, fast and uncompromising Mini is even more covetable. There's a proper LSD, lighter wheels and a pair of excellent Recaros. All this stuff, plus the fact it was assembled by Bertone, further ballooned the JCW's new price beyond £22K but further enhance its enthusiast credentials secondhand.

You'll struggle to buy a hot hatch without some kind of forced induction in 2013. With the JCW GP, any notions of a supercharger being used on the grounds of efficiency and driveability are quashed by looking at the power and torque stats. The 218hp is made at 7,100rpm and 184lb ft arrives at 4,600rpm. It'll need thrashing to exploit its full potential, in the best Mini tradition. And all accompanied by that shrill, screaming supercharger whine.

Not pretty, but it's effective

The next batch of Cooper S models will undoubtedly be a giggle, but they'll struggle to match the original as refinement continues to be prioritised. Hang on, hasn't that been said before? Again, the benefit of hindsight makes the initial reception to the GP look perhaps a little harsh.

They are still pricey little things though. There are reputedly only 437 in Britain, of which six are for sale on PH. The most expensive of these is still £15K, having covered just 17,000 miles. This JCW GP looks fantastic at £10K though, being sold privately with an extended BMW warranty. The same money buys a Mk2 Cooper S JCW with fewer miles but, personally, there would be no contest.

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MINI COOPER S WITH JOHN COOPER WORKS GP KIT
Engine: 1,598cc supercharged four cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive with mechanical LSD
Power (hp): 218@7,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 184@4,600rpm
MPG: 32.8 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 207g/km
Recorded mileage: 52,142
First registered: 2006
Price new: £22,000
Yours for: £9,999

See the original advert here

 

[R66STU]

I pass one of these every day on my commute along the A303.. the guy really uses the car and must do a lot of miles as I have seen him at quite far points on my journey. had a very fun back lane chase with it across Salisbury plains in my wifes 09 smart brabus in the summer

[Kaizer]

There are a lot of excellent write up for the Mk2 GP from different mags.

However I wouldn't mind betting the MK1 GP is more fun than the MK2 GP, which I remember it wasn't that well received by the journos back in the days.

[Ved]

As much as I don't have much time for MINI, I think these are pretty great.

[Terminator X]

I owned a Cooper S for a while and hated it, is the GP significantly better than a S?

TX.

Edit - hate is perhaps a tad strong certainly wasn't as keen on it as I'd hoped ...

Edited by Terminator X on Thursday 21st November 10:58

[Soupie69uk]

A friend has one of these. Raced in the Cooper S championship before moving onto GT3s and loves his GP.

His has had the black plastics colour coded which I did not notice at first but makes it look a little nicer.

[r11co]

Like!

Is there any way of getting rid of those American spec. orange thingies on the wheelarches though?!

[rtz62]

SWMBO had a Cooper S, and hated it; handling was terrific, but seats where bordering on torture and the performance, even with JCW upgrade was a little flaccid (ok, so she used to ride an R6, so perhaps expected a bit much)
I tried to get her into JCW GP, but realising I was rising a divorce, I demurred.
She never 'got' and neither did I if I'm honest, the 2 seat approach, nor the 'marmite' looks.
Even if this was at £9 I don't think I'd be interested, as I'd be looking towards a 2 seat coupe or cabrio for the same money (TVR, S2000, Coxter spring to mid)....

[Vocal Minority]

I have been tempted by Cooper S's's's's in the past, but not at £10k.

I have heard some horror stories about these aswell, especially regarding the clutch, and the fact this has had a new one in only 52,000 miles does little to allay these fears.

[David87]

r11co said:

Like!

Is there any way of getting rid of those American spec. orange thingies on the wheelarches though?!

Indeed! I could never understand why the Mk1 JCW GP came with these! I've had my Mk2 for a couple if weeks now and absolutely love it.

[LivLifetotheMax]

I tend to like cars I've had, and appreciate their abilities. I had a (non GP) supercharged JCW and I LOVED it. The noise of the supercharger did it for me along with the pops and bangs from the exhaust on the over run. I had it for 2 years and did 60,000 miles in it, the only thing that was a concern was the cost to run... expensive run flats, exhaust systems and then the clutch/flywheel package that costs £1,000 in parts alone. I now have an Audi TTS which is actually a 'cheaper' alternative.

[R66STU]

LivLifetotheMax said:

I tend to like cars I've had, and appreciate their abilities. I had a (non GP) supercharged JCW and I LOVED it. The noise of the supercharger did it for me along with the pops and bangs from the exhaust on the over run. I had it for 2 years and did 60,000 miles in it, the only thing that was a concern was the cost to run... expensive run flats, exhaust systems and then the clutch/flywheel package that costs £1,000 in parts alone. I now have an Audi TTS which is actually a 'cheaper' alternative.

exhaust systems? if the exhaust rots out replace with stainless steel and never replace again. other than that im glad to hear you loved it as im thinking of getting one.

[Honsta]

Love mine.

[Antj]

all these need is some basic preventative service, i'd change Oil pump internals ( known issue) uprate brakes to the later 4 pots , store the heavy standard wheels for a set of 17 inch team dynamics and maybe a set of Kw's. If you can find a JCW challenege exhaust from the German Series then good to go.

although you'd have to love it seeing as though early Cooper S' are availabel for as little as £1500 for a rocketship miler. Miss the 4 i have owned,

The Gp will be a future collectable.

[M@1975]

Minis have an horrific reputation for reliability which I can back up, had 2 both spent more time being repaired than on the road.

My Cooper S was a lot of fun when it worked but it had a remap, coilovers, new spec brakes, polybushing, solid engine mounts, Decat, Janspeed manifold, JCW exhaust, decent ARBs, strut bracing etc. As a standard car it was pretty uninspiring, as a modded car it was great.

[54Kab]

R66STU said:

I pass one of these every day on my commute along the A303.. the guy really uses the car and must do a lot of miles as I have seen him at quite far points on my journey. had a very fun back lane chase with it across Salisbury plains in my wifes 09 smart brabus in the summer

Ha Ha.. I know who that is.. he may be along shortly to comment…

I agree with comments; the Mk1 is the best and already a classic

[cronk-flakes]

Having had the standard S JCW, I've had my eye on this exact advert for a little while now.

The only downside is the ride is a little too hard. You come to expect that from a performance model, but I found it was just stressful doing any kind of journey.

Oodles of fun, though!

[golfer99]

Just sold. Mint 11,000 miler for 14k . They are great fun and worth a drive , very useable and great fun.

[Alex Langheck]

Hmm, I’m tempted by a Mk1 Cooper S/ JCW, think it’s the supercharger that does it for me. I’m also tempted by the new Fiesta ST….

[VEA]

cronk-flakes said:

Having had the standard S JCW, I've had my eye on this exact advert for a little while now.

The only downside is the ride is a little too hard. You come to expect that from a performance model, but I found it was just stressful doing any kind of journey.

Oodles of fun, though!

Bahaha... just buy one, you know you want to

[Chipper]

These are already starting to become very collectible with a strong following. With the recent EVO car of the year awards placing the new GP2 in 6th and with only 200 ( or what is 300? ) produced for the uk market residuals will only get stronger.