GP3 order thread
Discussion
Iknownothin said:
What are your thoughts on the car now you are a week in?
I am really impressed with it and it is a stunning car to drive. The car is very quick as well and seems as quick as my previous BMW M140i.The only issue as people has mentioned is the collection of stones in the side spats.
kevs said:
That’s 174 mph thereabouts he’s doing, wow
JamTart said:
Just out of interest. Of those who have cancelled orders, have you been able to get your deposit back?
I was told my deposit was refundable at the time of placing order and it also states it in the email correspondence. I am going ahead with the car but if i had cancelled i would have insisted on my full deposit being returned. Denso
Evo review in!
https://www.evo.co.uk/mini/202813/mini-jcw-gp-2020...
A not bad 4 stars
"Some cars flow down a road and work with the driver, but as things stand the GP feels a little too much like a car fighting with itself and its pilot, entertaining only in small doses."
https://www.evo.co.uk/mini/202813/mini-jcw-gp-2020...
A not bad 4 stars
"Some cars flow down a road and work with the driver, but as things stand the GP feels a little too much like a car fighting with itself and its pilot, entertaining only in small doses."
ghiblicup said:
Evo review in!
https://www.evo.co.uk/mini/202813/mini-jcw-gp-2020...
A not bad 4 stars
"Some cars flow down a road and work with the driver, but as things stand the GP feels a little too much like a car fighting with itself and its pilot, entertaining only in small doses."
It's like Topgear and Evo reviewed two different cars. One has it as a boringly competent fast hatch whilst the other has it as needing constant input as it's so lively, maybe a bit too lively.https://www.evo.co.uk/mini/202813/mini-jcw-gp-2020...
A not bad 4 stars
"Some cars flow down a road and work with the driver, but as things stand the GP feels a little too much like a car fighting with itself and its pilot, entertaining only in small doses."
Either way I've decided to go for it and I get it tomorrow so I'll know which was the closest description soon enough.
Iknownothin said:
It's like Topgear and Evo reviewed two different cars. One has it as a boringly competent fast hatch whilst the other has it as needing constant input as it's so lively, maybe a bit too lively.
Either way I've decided to go for it and I get it tomorrow so I'll know which was the closest description soon enough.
Once you have had it a few days, please share your thoughts as mine is due next week. Either way I've decided to go for it and I get it tomorrow so I'll know which was the closest description soon enough.
Denso
So it's day two with the car, actually less than 24 hours but I've now done about 100 miles in it so what are my thoughts. I think it's bloomin brilliant!
My main concern after reading reviews such as the Topgear one was that it was a sanitised marketing product and would have lost some of the fight of other fast minis. Thankfully that's not the case, this is as much of a nutter as previous GPs and the JCW Challenge. It's rabidly fast once on the move and has quite astounding levels of traction. Booting it at 30 you'd think that front tyres had running spikes because it just digs in and off you go. Also good news is that this engine likes to be revved out. I always found the B48 in the standard JCW to be a bit boring at the top end, not really much point in pulling beyond 4-5-5k really but the GP3 is more like the turbo engine in the GP2 in that it's rewarding to extend it up the rev range. This was the biggest single dissapointment when I went from the GP2 to the JCW Challenge so happy we are back to something that like to be revved out.
Another point to mention is that we have the same engine and gearbox in our Countryman, this was also another reason I wasn't sure about going ahead as at the top end it can be a little lethargic. Guess what, in a car weighing 400Kgs less it's a completely different beast, zinging right around the rev range and making a much nicer noise as it goes. For me the exhaust note is actually pretty good, nice deep rumble but not massively intrusive either inside or out.
Things to note if you are coming from a rwd manual something or other. This car is firm, it has a super active diff which means there is plenty going on through the front wheels if you are pushing on. The diff literally fires you out of corners which is good but just off centre and on full throttle you can feel the torque being shifted backwards and forwards across the front axle meaning it always needs correction. If you are used to a pure steering experience get ready for something very different. As sone summarised, it's fast but quite unruly in the process, just what I and many others are after.
On ride quality it is stiff, you do feel every broken surface but at the same time there is compliance that I think was missing from both the JCW Challenge (as you might expect with it's race spec Nitrons) and GP2. I'd commute in it but in the same way I'd happily commute in an Elise, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It does mean it corners flat, grips hard and is predictable. Seems to be fine over broken surfaces for lateral grip but not something I've test that much as yet.
Auto is OK, paddles do the job, changes are quick, down shifts seem to be snappy. Left in auto or sport auto it can be a little indecisive but I think that's as much down to me. For example floor it, spot something, back off for half a second and floor it again by which point it's changed up in that half a second and you don't have the drive you wanted. So reacts well when well signposted by the driver. It doesn't have the other worldly ability of the Porsche PDK to know exactly what you are thinking but it does the job. This is very much a personal vewi obviously but with everything going on at the helm not having to take your hands off the steering is a real boon, it's that quick and unruly down a B road.
Final points are it looks better in real life than in the photos, the interior has some nice special touches that lift it. The steering wheel seems way to big, others have already replaced it with the JCW pro wheel which I'm gong to look into. It definitely moves the goalposts in terms of performance from the GP2 and GP1 both of which are also fantastic cars which also means its limits are quite high for normal roads, both good and bad depending on where you live and what roads you drive on a daily basis.
Hope that helps those that are on the fence
My main concern after reading reviews such as the Topgear one was that it was a sanitised marketing product and would have lost some of the fight of other fast minis. Thankfully that's not the case, this is as much of a nutter as previous GPs and the JCW Challenge. It's rabidly fast once on the move and has quite astounding levels of traction. Booting it at 30 you'd think that front tyres had running spikes because it just digs in and off you go. Also good news is that this engine likes to be revved out. I always found the B48 in the standard JCW to be a bit boring at the top end, not really much point in pulling beyond 4-5-5k really but the GP3 is more like the turbo engine in the GP2 in that it's rewarding to extend it up the rev range. This was the biggest single dissapointment when I went from the GP2 to the JCW Challenge so happy we are back to something that like to be revved out.
Another point to mention is that we have the same engine and gearbox in our Countryman, this was also another reason I wasn't sure about going ahead as at the top end it can be a little lethargic. Guess what, in a car weighing 400Kgs less it's a completely different beast, zinging right around the rev range and making a much nicer noise as it goes. For me the exhaust note is actually pretty good, nice deep rumble but not massively intrusive either inside or out.
Things to note if you are coming from a rwd manual something or other. This car is firm, it has a super active diff which means there is plenty going on through the front wheels if you are pushing on. The diff literally fires you out of corners which is good but just off centre and on full throttle you can feel the torque being shifted backwards and forwards across the front axle meaning it always needs correction. If you are used to a pure steering experience get ready for something very different. As sone summarised, it's fast but quite unruly in the process, just what I and many others are after.
On ride quality it is stiff, you do feel every broken surface but at the same time there is compliance that I think was missing from both the JCW Challenge (as you might expect with it's race spec Nitrons) and GP2. I'd commute in it but in the same way I'd happily commute in an Elise, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It does mean it corners flat, grips hard and is predictable. Seems to be fine over broken surfaces for lateral grip but not something I've test that much as yet.
Auto is OK, paddles do the job, changes are quick, down shifts seem to be snappy. Left in auto or sport auto it can be a little indecisive but I think that's as much down to me. For example floor it, spot something, back off for half a second and floor it again by which point it's changed up in that half a second and you don't have the drive you wanted. So reacts well when well signposted by the driver. It doesn't have the other worldly ability of the Porsche PDK to know exactly what you are thinking but it does the job. This is very much a personal vewi obviously but with everything going on at the helm not having to take your hands off the steering is a real boon, it's that quick and unruly down a B road.
Final points are it looks better in real life than in the photos, the interior has some nice special touches that lift it. The steering wheel seems way to big, others have already replaced it with the JCW pro wheel which I'm gong to look into. It definitely moves the goalposts in terms of performance from the GP2 and GP1 both of which are also fantastic cars which also means its limits are quite high for normal roads, both good and bad depending on where you live and what roads you drive on a daily basis.
Hope that helps those that are on the fence
Iknownothin said:
So it's day two with the car, actually less than 24 hours but I've now done about 100 miles in it so what are my thoughts. I think it's bloomin brilliant!
My main concern after reading reviews such as the Topgear one was that it was a sanitised marketing product and would have lost some of the fight of other fast minis. Thankfully that's not the case, this is as much of a nutter as previous GPs and the JCW Challenge. It's rabidly fast once on the move and has quite astounding levels of traction. Booting it at 30 you'd think that front tyres had running spikes because it just digs in and off you go. Also good news is that this engine likes to be revved out. I always found the B48 in the standard JCW to be a bit boring at the top end, not really much point in pulling beyond 4-5-5k really but the GP3 is more like the turbo engine in the GP2 in that it's rewarding to extend it up the rev range. This was the biggest single dissapointment when I went from the GP2 to the JCW Challenge so happy we are back to something that like to be revved out.
Another point to mention is that we have the same engine and gearbox in our Countryman, this was also another reason I wasn't sure about going ahead as at the top end it can be a little lethargic. Guess what, in a car weighing 400Kgs less it's a completely different beast, zinging right around the rev range and making a much nicer noise as it goes. For me the exhaust note is actually pretty good, nice deep rumble but not massively intrusive either inside or out.
Things to note if you are coming from a rwd manual something or other. This car is firm, it has a super active diff which means there is plenty going on through the front wheels if you are pushing on. The diff literally fires you out of corners which is good but just off centre and on full throttle you can feel the torque being shifted backwards and forwards across the front axle meaning it always needs correction. If you are used to a pure steering experience get ready for something very different. As sone summarised, it's fast but quite unruly in the process, just what I and many others are after.
On ride quality it is stiff, you do feel every broken surface but at the same time there is compliance that I think was missing from both the JCW Challenge (as you might expect with it's race spec Nitrons) and GP2. I'd commute in it but in the same way I'd happily commute in an Elise, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It does mean it corners flat, grips hard and is predictable. Seems to be fine over broken surfaces for lateral grip but not something I've test that much as yet.
Auto is OK, paddles do the job, changes are quick, down shifts seem to be snappy. Left in auto or sport auto it can be a little indecisive but I think that's as much down to me. For example floor it, spot something, back off for half a second and floor it again by which point it's changed up in that half a second and you don't have the drive you wanted. So reacts well when well signposted by the driver. It doesn't have the other worldly ability of the Porsche PDK to know exactly what you are thinking but it does the job. This is very much a personal vewi obviously but with everything going on at the helm not having to take your hands off the steering is a real boon, it's that quick and unruly down a B road.
Final points are it looks better in real life than in the photos, the interior has some nice special touches that lift it. The steering wheel seems way to big, others have already replaced it with the JCW pro wheel which I'm gong to look into. It definitely moves the goalposts in terms of performance from the GP2 and GP1 both of which are also fantastic cars which also means its limits are quite high for normal roads, both good and bad depending on where you live and what roads you drive on a daily basis.
Hope that helps those that are on the fence
Great write up, thanks. Did you get the car on PCP and if you did can you share the APR, i thought some on hear quoted they got 3.9% APR. My stealer says it is 5.9% only :red card:My main concern after reading reviews such as the Topgear one was that it was a sanitised marketing product and would have lost some of the fight of other fast minis. Thankfully that's not the case, this is as much of a nutter as previous GPs and the JCW Challenge. It's rabidly fast once on the move and has quite astounding levels of traction. Booting it at 30 you'd think that front tyres had running spikes because it just digs in and off you go. Also good news is that this engine likes to be revved out. I always found the B48 in the standard JCW to be a bit boring at the top end, not really much point in pulling beyond 4-5-5k really but the GP3 is more like the turbo engine in the GP2 in that it's rewarding to extend it up the rev range. This was the biggest single dissapointment when I went from the GP2 to the JCW Challenge so happy we are back to something that like to be revved out.
Another point to mention is that we have the same engine and gearbox in our Countryman, this was also another reason I wasn't sure about going ahead as at the top end it can be a little lethargic. Guess what, in a car weighing 400Kgs less it's a completely different beast, zinging right around the rev range and making a much nicer noise as it goes. For me the exhaust note is actually pretty good, nice deep rumble but not massively intrusive either inside or out.
Things to note if you are coming from a rwd manual something or other. This car is firm, it has a super active diff which means there is plenty going on through the front wheels if you are pushing on. The diff literally fires you out of corners which is good but just off centre and on full throttle you can feel the torque being shifted backwards and forwards across the front axle meaning it always needs correction. If you are used to a pure steering experience get ready for something very different. As sone summarised, it's fast but quite unruly in the process, just what I and many others are after.
On ride quality it is stiff, you do feel every broken surface but at the same time there is compliance that I think was missing from both the JCW Challenge (as you might expect with it's race spec Nitrons) and GP2. I'd commute in it but in the same way I'd happily commute in an Elise, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It does mean it corners flat, grips hard and is predictable. Seems to be fine over broken surfaces for lateral grip but not something I've test that much as yet.
Auto is OK, paddles do the job, changes are quick, down shifts seem to be snappy. Left in auto or sport auto it can be a little indecisive but I think that's as much down to me. For example floor it, spot something, back off for half a second and floor it again by which point it's changed up in that half a second and you don't have the drive you wanted. So reacts well when well signposted by the driver. It doesn't have the other worldly ability of the Porsche PDK to know exactly what you are thinking but it does the job. This is very much a personal vewi obviously but with everything going on at the helm not having to take your hands off the steering is a real boon, it's that quick and unruly down a B road.
Final points are it looks better in real life than in the photos, the interior has some nice special touches that lift it. The steering wheel seems way to big, others have already replaced it with the JCW pro wheel which I'm gong to look into. It definitely moves the goalposts in terms of performance from the GP2 and GP1 both of which are also fantastic cars which also means its limits are quite high for normal roads, both good and bad depending on where you live and what roads you drive on a daily basis.
Hope that helps those that are on the fence
Denso
Iknownothin said:
So it's day two with the car, actually less than 24 hours but I've now done about 100 miles in it so what are my thoughts. I think it's bloomin brilliant!
My main concern after reading reviews such as the Topgear one was that it was a sanitised marketing product and would have lost some of the fight of other fast minis. Thankfully that's not the case, this is as much of a nutter as previous GPs and the JCW Challenge. It's rabidly fast once on the move and has quite astounding levels of traction. Booting it at 30 you'd think that front tyres had running spikes because it just digs in and off you go. Also good news is that this engine likes to be revved out. I always found the B48 in the standard JCW to be a bit boring at the top end, not really much point in pulling beyond 4-5-5k really but the GP3 is more like the turbo engine in the GP2 in that it's rewarding to extend it up the rev range. This was the biggest single dissapointment when I went from the GP2 to the JCW Challenge so happy we are back to something that like to be revved out.
Another point to mention is that we have the same engine and gearbox in our Countryman, this was also another reason I wasn't sure about going ahead as at the top end it can be a little lethargic. Guess what, in a car weighing 400Kgs less it's a completely different beast, zinging right around the rev range and making a much nicer noise as it goes. For me the exhaust note is actually pretty good, nice deep rumble but not massively intrusive either inside or out.
Things to note if you are coming from a rwd manual something or other. This car is firm, it has a super active diff which means there is plenty going on through the front wheels if you are pushing on. The diff literally fires you out of corners which is good but just off centre and on full throttle you can feel the torque being shifted backwards and forwards across the front axle meaning it always needs correction. If you are used to a pure steering experience get ready for something very different. As sone summarised, it's fast but quite unruly in the process, just what I and many others are after.
On ride quality it is stiff, you do feel every broken surface but at the same time there is compliance that I think was missing from both the JCW Challenge (as you might expect with it's race spec Nitrons) and GP2. I'd commute in it but in the same way I'd happily commute in an Elise, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It does mean it corners flat, grips hard and is predictable. Seems to be fine over broken surfaces for lateral grip but not something I've test that much as yet.
Auto is OK, paddles do the job, changes are quick, down shifts seem to be snappy. Left in auto or sport auto it can be a little indecisive but I think that's as much down to me. For example floor it, spot something, back off for half a second and floor it again by which point it's changed up in that half a second and you don't have the drive you wanted. So reacts well when well signposted by the driver. It doesn't have the other worldly ability of the Porsche PDK to know exactly what you are thinking but it does the job. This is very much a personal vewi obviously but with everything going on at the helm not having to take your hands off the steering is a real boon, it's that quick and unruly down a B road.
Final points are it looks better in real life than in the photos, the interior has some nice special touches that lift it. The steering wheel seems way to big, others have already replaced it with the JCW pro wheel which I'm gong to look into. It definitely moves the goalposts in terms of performance from the GP2 and GP1 both of which are also fantastic cars which also means its limits are quite high for normal roads, both good and bad depending on where you live and what roads you drive on a daily basis.
Hope that helps those that are on the fence
Thanks for that, it's exactly the kind of actual driving impression I've been waiting for. As a GP2 owner I've been very much on the fence and somewhat sceptical about the new car, but your words and the EVO review have made me think it might be for me.My main concern after reading reviews such as the Topgear one was that it was a sanitised marketing product and would have lost some of the fight of other fast minis. Thankfully that's not the case, this is as much of a nutter as previous GPs and the JCW Challenge. It's rabidly fast once on the move and has quite astounding levels of traction. Booting it at 30 you'd think that front tyres had running spikes because it just digs in and off you go. Also good news is that this engine likes to be revved out. I always found the B48 in the standard JCW to be a bit boring at the top end, not really much point in pulling beyond 4-5-5k really but the GP3 is more like the turbo engine in the GP2 in that it's rewarding to extend it up the rev range. This was the biggest single dissapointment when I went from the GP2 to the JCW Challenge so happy we are back to something that like to be revved out.
Another point to mention is that we have the same engine and gearbox in our Countryman, this was also another reason I wasn't sure about going ahead as at the top end it can be a little lethargic. Guess what, in a car weighing 400Kgs less it's a completely different beast, zinging right around the rev range and making a much nicer noise as it goes. For me the exhaust note is actually pretty good, nice deep rumble but not massively intrusive either inside or out.
Things to note if you are coming from a rwd manual something or other. This car is firm, it has a super active diff which means there is plenty going on through the front wheels if you are pushing on. The diff literally fires you out of corners which is good but just off centre and on full throttle you can feel the torque being shifted backwards and forwards across the front axle meaning it always needs correction. If you are used to a pure steering experience get ready for something very different. As sone summarised, it's fast but quite unruly in the process, just what I and many others are after.
On ride quality it is stiff, you do feel every broken surface but at the same time there is compliance that I think was missing from both the JCW Challenge (as you might expect with it's race spec Nitrons) and GP2. I'd commute in it but in the same way I'd happily commute in an Elise, it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It does mean it corners flat, grips hard and is predictable. Seems to be fine over broken surfaces for lateral grip but not something I've test that much as yet.
Auto is OK, paddles do the job, changes are quick, down shifts seem to be snappy. Left in auto or sport auto it can be a little indecisive but I think that's as much down to me. For example floor it, spot something, back off for half a second and floor it again by which point it's changed up in that half a second and you don't have the drive you wanted. So reacts well when well signposted by the driver. It doesn't have the other worldly ability of the Porsche PDK to know exactly what you are thinking but it does the job. This is very much a personal vewi obviously but with everything going on at the helm not having to take your hands off the steering is a real boon, it's that quick and unruly down a B road.
Final points are it looks better in real life than in the photos, the interior has some nice special touches that lift it. The steering wheel seems way to big, others have already replaced it with the JCW pro wheel which I'm gong to look into. It definitely moves the goalposts in terms of performance from the GP2 and GP1 both of which are also fantastic cars which also means its limits are quite high for normal roads, both good and bad depending on where you live and what roads you drive on a daily basis.
Hope that helps those that are on the fence
Gassing Station | New MINIs | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff