Mini GP2 daily driver
Discussion
The other day I noticed the GP2 was overdue an oil change. I don't have the space or tools to do it safely myself (trolley jack doesn't even fit underneath) so looked into supplying the oil and filter myself and getting the garage down the road to do it for me.
The cheapest I could find the stuff online was £55 and I guessed it would be around £20-30 labour.
Thought I'd just check the main dealer and they do it while you wait for £79 - and I don't need to piss about waiting for a delivery. Result! Though if you want the pollen filter done as well it's an extra £40! Think I'll manage that one on my own thanks
Had to get a new can of tyre sealant too. The old one expired July 2017. Good thing I didn't need it...
Also, a friend from work is going to be racing in some Mini Challenge events this year. He was showing me some videos on YouTube, it was kinda cool to see where the styling cues for the GP came from. I'll happily admit I was pretty ignorant til now. A couple of pics I found of the launch back in 2010:
The cheapest I could find the stuff online was £55 and I guessed it would be around £20-30 labour.
Thought I'd just check the main dealer and they do it while you wait for £79 - and I don't need to piss about waiting for a delivery. Result! Though if you want the pollen filter done as well it's an extra £40! Think I'll manage that one on my own thanks
Had to get a new can of tyre sealant too. The old one expired July 2017. Good thing I didn't need it...
Also, a friend from work is going to be racing in some Mini Challenge events this year. He was showing me some videos on YouTube, it was kinda cool to see where the styling cues for the GP came from. I'll happily admit I was pretty ignorant til now. A couple of pics I found of the launch back in 2010:
Bit of a thread revival, however, given they are so difficult to find for sale (and even more so for sale in NE Scotland!) then I thought I'd ask about the driving position in a GP2.
An ex of mine had an R53 Cooper and it was a fantasticly low driving position, really great at making you feel part of the experience. But sadly driving her car is the start and finish of my Mini-based experience. So I was wondering if the GP2 has a similarly low-slung seating position because all the other indications and articles I have read would suggest it could be a great option for me at the moment and knowing that I'll not be perched on top of the seat as per 90% of newer cars would make me feel happier about organising some viewings of cars which are hundreds of miles away from me.
An ex of mine had an R53 Cooper and it was a fantasticly low driving position, really great at making you feel part of the experience. But sadly driving her car is the start and finish of my Mini-based experience. So I was wondering if the GP2 has a similarly low-slung seating position because all the other indications and articles I have read would suggest it could be a great option for me at the moment and knowing that I'll not be perched on top of the seat as per 90% of newer cars would make me feel happier about organising some viewings of cars which are hundreds of miles away from me.
RS Grant said:
Bit of a thread revival, however, given they are so difficult to find for sale (and even more so for sale in NE Scotland!) then I thought I'd ask about the driving position in a GP2.
An ex of mine had an R53 Cooper and it was a fantasticly low driving position, really great at making you feel part of the experience. But sadly driving her car is the start and finish of my Mini-based experience. So I was wondering if the GP2 has a similarly low-slung seating position because all the other indications and articles I have read would suggest it could be a great option for me at the moment and knowing that I'll not be perched on top of the seat as per 90% of newer cars would make me feel happier about organising some viewings of cars which are hundreds of miles away from me.
I’ve good news for you!An ex of mine had an R53 Cooper and it was a fantasticly low driving position, really great at making you feel part of the experience. But sadly driving her car is the start and finish of my Mini-based experience. So I was wondering if the GP2 has a similarly low-slung seating position because all the other indications and articles I have read would suggest it could be a great option for me at the moment and knowing that I'll not be perched on top of the seat as per 90% of newer cars would make me feel happier about organising some viewings of cars which are hundreds of miles away from me.
The seat goes really low, and the car itself is pretty low to start with. I’m 6 foot and I get down into my GP2.
For comparison, the racing seats in a Biposto Fiat 500 (the fiat equivalent to the GP2?) were a full 6 INCHES higher than the MINI when I measured them.
The low dash top of the MINI means you can just wind the seat right to the floor - no worries. Fiat.. not so much
Unfortunately I've put the Mini up for sale now. Had a great time with the car and it was all I expected it to be, and more.
The front dampers let go mid way through last year so had those refurbished at Lohen, replaced the rear bushes to fix the knocking that all R56s suffer with, replaced a brake light bulb housing as one of the connectors had corroded slightly, and that's it. It has been totally faultless, even barely burning off any oil in the time I've had it - for some reason I was expecting to need to top it up every couple of months. Long term average of over 36mpg too, short journeys and spirited driving included.
I need something more practical. I've got into mountain biking and while I can transport the bike in the GP, it involves using a suction roof rack and it's a bit of a faff, not to mention a security concern (near £4k bike that I'm not keeping an eye on while I go get something to eat is a bit of a worry).
Hopefully the sale will be fairly quick, and then I'll be looking at a Seat Leon ST Cupra 280/290, in manual guise, for the poke and the LSD, but also being able to toss the bike in the back and not worrying about suction cups holding 22kg at 70mph...
The front dampers let go mid way through last year so had those refurbished at Lohen, replaced the rear bushes to fix the knocking that all R56s suffer with, replaced a brake light bulb housing as one of the connectors had corroded slightly, and that's it. It has been totally faultless, even barely burning off any oil in the time I've had it - for some reason I was expecting to need to top it up every couple of months. Long term average of over 36mpg too, short journeys and spirited driving included.
I need something more practical. I've got into mountain biking and while I can transport the bike in the GP, it involves using a suction roof rack and it's a bit of a faff, not to mention a security concern (near £4k bike that I'm not keeping an eye on while I go get something to eat is a bit of a worry).
Hopefully the sale will be fairly quick, and then I'll be looking at a Seat Leon ST Cupra 280/290, in manual guise, for the poke and the LSD, but also being able to toss the bike in the back and not worrying about suction cups holding 22kg at 70mph...
Sorry to hear you're selling up. I've just handed back a Cupra 300ST that i used for bike carrying duties as well, would recommend a test drive as it was a great all round car but will be nowhere near the level of involvment compared to the GP. Worth noting manuals have been noted to have weak clutches that cant handle the torque for longer terms.
I am considering a late R53 JCW from a friend for the OH (I now have a Focus estate for aforementioned bikes) and the idea of a Seasucker or similar is playing on my mind. Have you found it ok?
I am considering a late R53 JCW from a friend for the OH (I now have a Focus estate for aforementioned bikes) and the idea of a Seasucker or similar is playing on my mind. Have you found it ok?
Chrispee said:
Sorry to hear you're selling up. I've just handed back a Cupra 300ST that i used for bike carrying duties as well, would recommend a test drive as it was a great all round car but will be nowhere near the level of involvment compared to the GP. Worth noting manuals have been noted to have weak clutches that cant handle the torque for longer terms.
I am considering a late R53 JCW from a friend for the OH (I now have a Focus estate for aforementioned bikes) and the idea of a Seasucker or similar is playing on my mind. Have you found it ok?
I don't expect any car I own from now on will match the GP for fun to be fair. The state of the roads in the south east atm makes it difficult to really use it anyway. I figured the Cupra would be the closest I get can to a dynamic car in estate form - relatively light compared to others, the LSD for traction, and reasonable running costs. I am considering a late R53 JCW from a friend for the OH (I now have a Focus estate for aforementioned bikes) and the idea of a Seasucker or similar is playing on my mind. Have you found it ok?
Fun is lower down my priority list anyway, since discovering mountain biking and the freedom to go as fast as you dare as you throw yourself off small cliffs with no plod to tell you off
The Seasucker has objectively worked brilliantly. They recommend sticking one cup on glass but the GP doesn't let you do that with how steep the windscreen is, and the lack of a sunroof, and the bike is physically too big to hang from the rear window. Then Mini's are renowned for very thin metal on the roof so the bike wobbles as the roof bends in an out as you go over bumps, which 1) could cause problems with the paint/roof, especially in hotter weather, but also 2) makes me worried about how well the suction is holding (there are orange bits on the cups that tell if they are losing suction but you can't see them on the GP!). And although it is quick to put on and off, you have to be methodical with making sure the cups are clean and stored properly so they don't degrade, and you clean the paint with quick detailer each time you use it to maximise the strength of the hold. And then as I mentioned, if you go round the corner to get something to eat, your bike isn't secured with anything (other than not having a front wheel) so I never felt too comfortable with it.
tl;dr can't fault the Seasucker but isn't for me (or for Minis imo)
The GP is gone. Had no interest in it as the car was keyed a few weeks ago, with the wrap on there it makes things difficult as you need to take the wrap off to fix the paint, then replace the decals. I don't have the time or interest in sorting it just to sell so I ended up trading it in for a pretty rough deal, but I'm glad to be shot of it tbh. There was no such thing as a relaxing drive in the GP and it had started to grind on me after nearly 15000 miles of what was mostly good fun.
This is the replacement, a Cupra 280 estate in dynamic grey. It's way faster and yet way more comfortable than I was expecting. I won't bother with a thread for it so I'll just put up a photo to close this thread off (yes it needs a clean)
If anyone wants a GP2 there will probably be a fairly cheap one appearing near Bristol/Newport in the not too distant future (hopefully scratchless).
This is the replacement, a Cupra 280 estate in dynamic grey. It's way faster and yet way more comfortable than I was expecting. I won't bother with a thread for it so I'll just put up a photo to close this thread off (yes it needs a clean)
If anyone wants a GP2 there will probably be a fairly cheap one appearing near Bristol/Newport in the not too distant future (hopefully scratchless).
Quick question from a potential GP2 owner to current GP2 owners.
Mine will be a daily, so just wondering on MPG and Service Schedules if people can advise? I know its not something you should consider when buying a car like this, but I need to make sure my fuel bill isn't going to double as I do quite a few miles.
Mine will be a daily, so just wondering on MPG and Service Schedules if people can advise? I know its not something you should consider when buying a car like this, but I need to make sure my fuel bill isn't going to double as I do quite a few miles.
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