Mini GP2 daily driver
Discussion
Sandy59 said:
Great cars, but do they all have noisy tappety sounding engines, especially noticeable when you lift the bonnet with the engine running ??
I know mine does but apparently it is normal ??
Having actually got four of them in the same place at the same time, I can safely say they all have that slightly tappety sound at idle. Around the front at least I know mine does but apparently it is normal ??
I love these. A very rapid car indeed. For anyone who hasn't seen the YouTube clip
Here's one giving a BMW M5 F10 a run for it money at the Nordschleife.
Superb 8min clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FTjiWjotoA
Here's one giving a BMW M5 F10 a run for it money at the Nordschleife.
Superb 8min clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FTjiWjotoA
The GP Mk I is just as good ( I say that not having been in a GP Mk II but essentially both are similar in being old school manuals without being covered in electrics and are small with plenty of punch) and 80kg lighter if Google isn’t pulling a fake news stunt on me. I bought the Mk I to replace my e39 M5 which was 400 bhp and 1825kg. I loved the M5 on the autobahn and open road although in town it was like new cars these days ie too big.
Unfortunately whilst cars are supposedly becoming more efficient their weight is ever increasing. Additionally manufacturers seem to be unwilling to knock out cars with minimal standard options anymore along with lightweight interiors and not covered in electric sh#t.
Pip
Unfortunately whilst cars are supposedly becoming more efficient their weight is ever increasing. Additionally manufacturers seem to be unwilling to knock out cars with minimal standard options anymore along with lightweight interiors and not covered in electric sh#t.
Pip
Still miss driving mine, one of the best hot hatches of all time to drive imho.
As an ownership experience it was a total let down unfortunately but that’s MINI for you.
I’d love to try one with a proper lsd fitted as on track it was the only weak spot (Apart from perhaps the seats and comedy shaped gear leaver!), the pseudo diff just couldn’t react quick or consistent enough.
Drove all around Europe in ours, surprisingly practical for a two up euro tour with no back seats and could keep up with genuine super cars up Cols and Passes with its tiny footprint and turbo punch. Furthest we got was Monaco on our honeymoon.
Had to laugh about the tappety sound, never has a car sounded so s
t from the front but so fantastic from the rear! The standard exhaust was great, I remember racing an old stbox Punto down the Italian side of the Barnadino Pass with both of us trying to use the brake pedal the least, and all you could hear was tyre squeal and bangs from the MINI exhaust.
Great memories...
As an ownership experience it was a total let down unfortunately but that’s MINI for you.
I’d love to try one with a proper lsd fitted as on track it was the only weak spot (Apart from perhaps the seats and comedy shaped gear leaver!), the pseudo diff just couldn’t react quick or consistent enough.
Drove all around Europe in ours, surprisingly practical for a two up euro tour with no back seats and could keep up with genuine super cars up Cols and Passes with its tiny footprint and turbo punch. Furthest we got was Monaco on our honeymoon.
Had to laugh about the tappety sound, never has a car sounded so s
t from the front but so fantastic from the rear! The standard exhaust was great, I remember racing an old stbox Punto down the Italian side of the Barnadino Pass with both of us trying to use the brake pedal the least, and all you could hear was tyre squeal and bangs from the MINI exhaust.Great memories...
Tappety noise? They all do that sir! 
But the rest more than makes up for it.
We did a Euro road trip all the way down to Modena and back in September. Epic fun, and even parked outside the Pagani factory the GPs were getting attention. Memories to last a lifetime.
Would still like to arrange another PH GP2 meet and run out sometime, as the one MDifficult organised back in the summer was excellent.
But the rest more than makes up for it.
We did a Euro road trip all the way down to Modena and back in September. Epic fun, and even parked outside the Pagani factory the GPs were getting attention. Memories to last a lifetime.
Would still like to arrange another PH GP2 meet and run out sometime, as the one MDifficult organised back in the summer was excellent.
Great morning for a blast over Beachy Head before the traffic hits...
LaurasOtherHalf said:
Still miss driving mine, one of the best hot hatches of all time to drive imho.
As an ownership experience it was a total let down unfortunately but that’s MINI for you.
I’d love to try one with a proper lsd fitted as on track it was the only weak spot (Apart from perhaps the seats and comedy shaped gear leaver!), the pseudo diff just couldn’t react quick or consistent enough.
Drove all around Europe in ours, surprisingly practical for a two up euro tour with no back seats and could keep up with genuine super cars up Cols and Passes with its tiny footprint and turbo punch. Furthest we got was Monaco on our honeymoon.
Had to laugh about the tappety sound, never has a car sounded so st from the front but so fantastic from the rear! The standard exhaust was great, I remember racing an old stbox Punto down the Italian side of the Barnadino Pass with both of us trying to use the brake pedal the least, and all you could hear was tyre squeal and bangs from the MINI exhaust.
Great memories...
I followed your eurotrip thread with great interest a few years ago. I think it kept the idea of a Mini in the back of my mind As an ownership experience it was a total let down unfortunately but that’s MINI for you.
I’d love to try one with a proper lsd fitted as on track it was the only weak spot (Apart from perhaps the seats and comedy shaped gear leaver!), the pseudo diff just couldn’t react quick or consistent enough.
Drove all around Europe in ours, surprisingly practical for a two up euro tour with no back seats and could keep up with genuine super cars up Cols and Passes with its tiny footprint and turbo punch. Furthest we got was Monaco on our honeymoon.
Had to laugh about the tappety sound, never has a car sounded so s
t from the front but so fantastic from the rear! The standard exhaust was great, I remember racing an old stbox Punto down the Italian side of the Barnadino Pass with both of us trying to use the brake pedal the least, and all you could hear was tyre squeal and bangs from the MINI exhaust.Great memories...
Got the K&N in today. Can't believe how much of a difference it has made to the noise. Certainly more than it did to my 1.2 Corsa a few years ago 
More induction bark under load and lots of whooshes from the blowoff valve not bad for £50 
Shame I can't properly test it with the weather we have right now but so far so good
I also had to get the left hand undertray replaced today as I managed to break it driving through a deep puddle I hadn't seen (oops...). I suspect it may have already been damaged and the water was the final straw but it's a lesson learned either way...
Did highlight a slight problem with the GP though. It sits so low you can't get a standard trolley jack underneath I couldn't even get my arm underneath to have a poke about at the tray. So you have to use the bottle jack to get it up a bit and then a proper trolley jack to get it the rest of the way
Oh well. It looked pretty good against all the F56 JCWs the dealer had outside - the GP has much more stance about it.
More induction bark under load and lots of whooshes from the blowoff valve not bad for £50 Shame I can't properly test it with the weather we have right now but so far so good I also had to get the left hand undertray replaced today as I managed to break it driving through a deep puddle I hadn't seen (oops...). I suspect it may have already been damaged and the water was the final straw but it's a lesson learned either way...
Did highlight a slight problem with the GP though. It sits so low you can't get a standard trolley jack underneath
I couldn't even get my arm underneath to have a poke about at the tray. So you have to use the bottle jack to get it up a bit and then a proper trolley jack to get it the rest of the way Oh well. It looked pretty good against all the F56 JCWs the dealer had outside - the GP has much more stance about it.
Yessss. Happy to see another GP2 thread.
I've had all sorts of "fun" cars in last few years, but cannot shake my want for a simple little GP2. Just something about them isn't there
Loving all the pics on here - hopefully will be able to join in shortly in the future.
I was very close to buying one 2 years ago. A very nice example with lohen stage 2 etc. It was absolutely epic fun - i ended up getting a newer JCW which was a mistake, good car but dull in comparison.
Took my GT4 round europe last year and was a bit too much imo. Too noisy, no sound deadening, low, hard - GP2 i think would be alot better suited.
I've had all sorts of "fun" cars in last few years, but cannot shake my want for a simple little GP2. Just something about them isn't there
Loving all the pics on here - hopefully will be able to join in shortly in the future.
I was very close to buying one 2 years ago. A very nice example with lohen stage 2 etc. It was absolutely epic fun - i ended up getting a newer JCW which was a mistake, good car but dull in comparison.
Took my GT4 round europe last year and was a bit too much imo. Too noisy, no sound deadening, low, hard - GP2 i think would be alot better suited.
The more I drive this car the more I understand that it's really meant for light track use rather than pure road driving. It's quick enough that I don't really take it beyond about 4.5k rpm on the lanes because it starts to really take off past that point!
It also suffers a bit with tramlining, made worse by the damp weather we've had lately. I think the chassis can handle higher speeds than I'm willing to take it to on the road, but not much more power. I don't think I'd see much benefit in getting a remap.
The brakes are way OTT for road use too. I think if you're using them in anger regularly then you're a bit of a mentalist. I'm not complaining - just an observation.
For some reason it comes with the rear cupholder still in place. Turns out it is a perfect size for those McDonalds treats...
It also suffers a bit with tramlining, made worse by the damp weather we've had lately. I think the chassis can handle higher speeds than I'm willing to take it to on the road, but not much more power. I don't think I'd see much benefit in getting a remap.
The brakes are way OTT for road use too. I think if you're using them in anger regularly then you're a bit of a mentalist. I'm not complaining - just an observation.
For some reason it comes with the rear cupholder still in place. Turns out it is a perfect size for those McDonalds treats...
Hi Guys,
What is the going rate for these at the moment...and how likely are they to come up for sale (I notice only 1 on PH classifieds at the moment)?
I'm considering downsizing....but still want a fun car, and the GP ticks all the boxes for me. Just want to know how realistic getting one is.
What is the going rate for these at the moment...and how likely are they to come up for sale (I notice only 1 on PH classifieds at the moment)?
I'm considering downsizing....but still want a fun car, and the GP ticks all the boxes for me. Just want to know how realistic getting one is.
Spiritual_Beggar said:
Hi Guys,
What is the going rate for these at the moment...and how likely are they to come up for sale (I notice only 1 on PH classifieds at the moment)?
I'm considering downsizing....but still want a fun car, and the GP ticks all the boxes for me. Just want to know how realistic getting one is.
They seem to go as cheap as £13k for one with high miles (50/60k ish) or poorly modified. £15-£16k for a typical 30k mile one in good condition, and then price goes up as mileage comes down. The decent modifications don't seem to really add value, but don't really detract from it either. The only thing that really ramps the price up is if it's fitted with the Recaro Works seats. Super-rare and easily add £2k to the price. What is the going rate for these at the moment...and how likely are they to come up for sale (I notice only 1 on PH classifieds at the moment)?
I'm considering downsizing....but still want a fun car, and the GP ticks all the boxes for me. Just want to know how realistic getting one is.
There's typically 4 or 5 for sale in the country at any one time, so some choice if you're prepared to travel! Hope that helps.
This generation Mini is a still a very engaging drive. I test drove the R56 and F56 JCW back-to-back before deciding on the former, as it offered much more feedback and involvement.
Opted for the GP2 in the end as I didn’t need that rear seats and they come as standard with some great options, not least 6 pot front brakes!
Out of the box the performance is ample and on track it’s great; however, if track days are your thing, the electronic diff can get caught (proper LSD would be a great upgrade) and standard road pads will disintegrate, so performance pads and brake fluid are a must. Recaro seats again are ok for road use but a set of upgraded Recaros (Pole Positions) would be a must for regular track day use.
These are extremely entertaining cars with strong residuals too. If you can forgo rear seats I wouldn’t hesitate to entertain one. Only other car worth considering at similar money, which is equally accomplished and special is an R26.R. The Renault is even more focused and the suspension has a degree of compliance that the Mini can only dream of. The Mini though has far more charm and is a more complete road car and a better daily proposition (it has seat belts for starters let alone heated seats).
Brilliant cars.
Opted for the GP2 in the end as I didn’t need that rear seats and they come as standard with some great options, not least 6 pot front brakes!
Out of the box the performance is ample and on track it’s great; however, if track days are your thing, the electronic diff can get caught (proper LSD would be a great upgrade) and standard road pads will disintegrate, so performance pads and brake fluid are a must. Recaro seats again are ok for road use but a set of upgraded Recaros (Pole Positions) would be a must for regular track day use.
These are extremely entertaining cars with strong residuals too. If you can forgo rear seats I wouldn’t hesitate to entertain one. Only other car worth considering at similar money, which is equally accomplished and special is an R26.R. The Renault is even more focused and the suspension has a degree of compliance that the Mini can only dream of. The Mini though has far more charm and is a more complete road car and a better daily proposition (it has seat belts for starters let alone heated seats).
Brilliant cars.
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