Dynamo - 2013 MINI GP2
Discussion
Enjoying other GP2 threads on here has made me think it's time for one on mine ... so here goes.
Bought in October 2015 as a replacement for my much loved R53 JCW, it had just 622 miles on the clock, having previously been owned by a collector. It has since had rather a change of lifestyle, with me adding around 12000 miles per year. We've been on road trips to Wales (several times), Cornwall, North Yorkshire, Scotland, and the Loire Valley (with a bit of Le Mans en route), plus many other MINI adventures both solo and with friends. And some track time too, with several visits to Goodwood, plus Castle Combe and Dunsfold.
In addition to all the above, the car is used as a daily driver. The first winter was interesting, running on the OEM Kumho V700As, best described as intermediates. These lasted just under 5000 miles, and were replaced with Kumho KU39s. Mixed feelings about these, they seem to be the opposite extreme in terms of durability, and are only now really showing signs of wear. Which rather makes me think that they're not soft enough for the car. So a set of Pilot Sport 4s may be going on soon.
No modifications yet, though I have an ITG air filter and Akrapovic downpipe waiting to go on. May also be looking for a second MINI next year, perhaps a Coupe, to take over daily duties and save the GP for the fun stuff. Which is hopefully going to include a trip down to the Alps, Northern Italy and Monaco next summer.
Bought in October 2015 as a replacement for my much loved R53 JCW, it had just 622 miles on the clock, having previously been owned by a collector. It has since had rather a change of lifestyle, with me adding around 12000 miles per year. We've been on road trips to Wales (several times), Cornwall, North Yorkshire, Scotland, and the Loire Valley (with a bit of Le Mans en route), plus many other MINI adventures both solo and with friends. And some track time too, with several visits to Goodwood, plus Castle Combe and Dunsfold.
In addition to all the above, the car is used as a daily driver. The first winter was interesting, running on the OEM Kumho V700As, best described as intermediates. These lasted just under 5000 miles, and were replaced with Kumho KU39s. Mixed feelings about these, they seem to be the opposite extreme in terms of durability, and are only now really showing signs of wear. Which rather makes me think that they're not soft enough for the car. So a set of Pilot Sport 4s may be going on soon.
No modifications yet, though I have an ITG air filter and Akrapovic downpipe waiting to go on. May also be looking for a second MINI next year, perhaps a Coupe, to take over daily duties and save the GP for the fun stuff. Which is hopefully going to include a trip down to the Alps, Northern Italy and Monaco next summer.
Great car,
Great story (saving it from being yet another collectors piece),
Great photography,
And... great descisions...
Great story (saving it from being yet another collectors piece),
Great photography,
And... great descisions...
NeilAndHisMini said:
...and Akrapovic downpipe waiting to go on.
You will NOT regret it - the change in sound is fantastic. While you’re under there, throw a Poweflex insert into the big end of the lower engine mount... best change I’ve made to mine. Enjoy! 
Having just reached 50000 miles, think an update is rather overdue.
Made the switch to Michelin PS4, have been very happy with them, and am now on a second set. The ITG filter, Powerflex lower engine mount, and Akrapovic downpipe are all now on, and make the already great driving experience even better. Though I don't think my neighbours appreciate the enhanced GP2 cold start flourish early in the morning.
No longer using it as a daily due to a change in work circumstances, but that suits me just fine, and makes it even better when taking it out for the fun stuff. Of which there has been plenty. The Euro road trip did happen last summer, all the way down to Modena and back, taking in the Stelvio and Col de Turini amongst other things. One day I may get round to posting the full write up. And Wales is always a happy hunting ground, with several solo trips as well as a long standing ambition achieved to lead a group All Of Wales trip for my club.
Downsides? In the last couple of thousand miles, the clonking coilovers problem has reared its head, so will see where I get with MINI when in for MOT next week. The Lohen refurb service may be an alternative. And yet more replacement decals are required, think I'm going to buy some extras this time to keep by for future use.
And as always, lots of photos have been taken.
Wales ...
Up north ... the road over Holme Moss.
Always good to get more than one together.
... and Europe.
Made the switch to Michelin PS4, have been very happy with them, and am now on a second set. The ITG filter, Powerflex lower engine mount, and Akrapovic downpipe are all now on, and make the already great driving experience even better. Though I don't think my neighbours appreciate the enhanced GP2 cold start flourish early in the morning.
No longer using it as a daily due to a change in work circumstances, but that suits me just fine, and makes it even better when taking it out for the fun stuff. Of which there has been plenty. The Euro road trip did happen last summer, all the way down to Modena and back, taking in the Stelvio and Col de Turini amongst other things. One day I may get round to posting the full write up. And Wales is always a happy hunting ground, with several solo trips as well as a long standing ambition achieved to lead a group All Of Wales trip for my club.
Downsides? In the last couple of thousand miles, the clonking coilovers problem has reared its head, so will see where I get with MINI when in for MOT next week. The Lohen refurb service may be an alternative. And yet more replacement decals are required, think I'm going to buy some extras this time to keep by for future use.
And as always, lots of photos have been taken.
Wales ...
Up north ... the road over Holme Moss.
Always good to get more than one together.
... and Europe.
Great update Neil, and pleased to see the shot of last year’s run-out in there - we’ve got to do a repeat before the summer is over!
Your point about the decals is well made too - my observation of the replacements is that they don’t last as well as the originals. The one I added 2 years ago is already losing its gloss and the damn car lives in the garage 99% of the time. Might be worth stockpiling a few myself.
Your point about the decals is well made too - my observation of the replacements is that they don’t last as well as the originals. The one I added 2 years ago is already losing its gloss and the damn car lives in the garage 99% of the time. Might be worth stockpiling a few myself.
A few thousand more miles over the summer, so time for another update.
Back to the supplying dealer in Shakespeare country for MOT and warranty work in August. They immediately identified the fault with the front coilovers, got the parts in and replaced under extended warranty the same day. I know some GP2 owners have struggled to get dealers to even admit the problem, and faced long delays and big bills, so very happy with this.
I was a little concerned about passing the emissions part of the MOT with the Akrapovic, but no problems. Free test as well, so got off very lightly, the only real expense was a new set of decals, which won't be going on til after the winter. Have a couple more minor cosmetic issues to sort out as well.
A couple more tracks ticked off the list, with a session at Mallory Park during the Mini in the Park show, then the big one, first drive on the Nurburgring during a club trip a couple of weeks ago. Missed out on the PH day at Oulton Park on Saturday due to ill health though.
And some words about a road trip, plus more photos of course:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Still good to get more than one together ...
Back to the supplying dealer in Shakespeare country for MOT and warranty work in August. They immediately identified the fault with the front coilovers, got the parts in and replaced under extended warranty the same day. I know some GP2 owners have struggled to get dealers to even admit the problem, and faced long delays and big bills, so very happy with this.
I was a little concerned about passing the emissions part of the MOT with the Akrapovic, but no problems. Free test as well, so got off very lightly, the only real expense was a new set of decals, which won't be going on til after the winter. Have a couple more minor cosmetic issues to sort out as well.
A couple more tracks ticked off the list, with a session at Mallory Park during the Mini in the Park show, then the big one, first drive on the Nurburgring during a club trip a couple of weeks ago. Missed out on the PH day at Oulton Park on Saturday due to ill health though.
And some words about a road trip, plus more photos of course:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Still good to get more than one together ...
Long time, no updates, but have just passed 75k GP2 miles, not to mention 20 years of MINI ownership, so here goes.
As with many of us, not a lot of miles were done nor fun had in 2020. In early March, just before the pandemic struck, we did our first autosolo in the GRRC event at Goodwood. Loved it, achieved my aim of not embarrassing myself or being last, but then had to wait over a year for another go. Two goes in fact, with both 2021 editions in close succession in the Spring. Third in class in both of them, and was so close to an overall top ten in the second.
After a whole year of no Wales, I was somewhat keen to revisit some favourite roads. So once lockdown was lifted and we were allowed back in, a plan was hatched for a day trip. I left home on the West Sussex coast at 0345 on an April Sunday and headed west. Met up with a friend and his JCW Clubman, and a cruise down a deserted M4 saw us onto a sunny but cold Black Mountain Pass by 0830. A lot of fun was had as we made our way north via the beautiful Elan Valley, but it came to an abrupt end at our coffee stop in Aberystwyth when I discovered a sharp bolt stuck in one of my tyres. The resulting slow puncture meant a very cautious and stressful journey home, but we made it. Around 650 miles in a day remains the most I've done.
A month or so later, Wales was open for stays, so I repeated the same south to north journey, this time solo on my way to a short break at a cottage in Snowdonia. Three days of driving those brilliant North Wales roads, visiting farm shops, and chilling out in the evenings. Bliss after not being able to do it at all in 2020. And fortunately no punctures this time.
Due to constantly changing rules and regulations, made no real attempt at another Euro roadtrip in 2021. So I did something I'd been wanting to do for years, and in late June headed north instead. Six days of fun started off with the North Yorkshire Moors and Dales, then the North Pennines including the absolutely epic Hartside Pass. Then finished off just across the border in southern Scotland, retracing the fantastic roads used in EVO Car of the Year 2020. That was as far north as I got, but a chat at a petrol station with a group of Porsche guys heading up to do the Highlands and NC500 gave me some inspiration for this year.
The GP has continued to be mostly reliable as the miles go on. The 2020 MOT had advisories all round for brake discs and pads, so the whole lot were replaced, then during our way home from the northern roadtrip last summer, the front right suspension developed a clonking noise. Thought it might be another coilover failure, but it turned out to be a broken top mount, which was replaced under extended warranty by Rybrook Stratford. Still go back there for warranty and MOT stuff as they've always given me excellent service. Usually get a decent courtesy car to go off and enjoy the Cotswolds too.
Maybe it's due to the car now being a weekend toy rather than a daily driver, but the current scoop surround decal appears to be holding up much better than its predecessors. Now have a bonnet dent to get sorted out though, the result of headbutting a pheasant during an early morning drive on our favourite West Sussex roads, so may have to replace the decal due to that.
Finally achieved a "generations" pic at the Omologato meet at GTO Engineering back in the summer. What are the chances at a small scale non MINI meet? Still think the GP2 is the best of the three ...
Some judicious eco driving on the way to and from Cornwall for a club trip during the fuel panic at the end of September saw a frankly ridiculous 520 miles range being displayed at one point. Who needs a sensible green eco car anyway?
The opposite extreme in terms of fuel consumption was seen during our second track outing of the year back at Goodwood at the end of November. Felt I was finally beginning to do the GP justice on track, especially in terms of late braking, and a lot of fun was had chasing, and in one case passing, supercars. Need to do some more this year, and maybe venture away from my favourite circuit and learn some new ones. Would love to try the Brands GP loop after experiencing it at a slower pace during one of the MSV Drive! events last Easter.
And also towards the end of the year, a friend who has long wanted a GP2 after rides in mine achieved his ambition after taking advantage of current second hand values and trading in his F56 Cooper S. So now there are often two, and sometimes three, of the tiny tarmac terrors out on those West Sussex roads together. Just need to get them together with a friend further north and her two to make five. Would finally top the four MDifficult gathered for the first and so far only PH GP2 meet and run back in summer 2018.
So it's still my perfect car really, and no real thoughts of changing it yet, if ever. It doesn't owe me anything, is holding its value, and there probably won't be anything like it again. Love the rarity factor too, have only ever seen one on the road in general driving. Had a few Alpine A110 drives in 2021, and loved it. And still want to try the inevitable GR Yaris, but either can wait a couple of years until my mortgage is paid off.
As with many of us, not a lot of miles were done nor fun had in 2020. In early March, just before the pandemic struck, we did our first autosolo in the GRRC event at Goodwood. Loved it, achieved my aim of not embarrassing myself or being last, but then had to wait over a year for another go. Two goes in fact, with both 2021 editions in close succession in the Spring. Third in class in both of them, and was so close to an overall top ten in the second.
After a whole year of no Wales, I was somewhat keen to revisit some favourite roads. So once lockdown was lifted and we were allowed back in, a plan was hatched for a day trip. I left home on the West Sussex coast at 0345 on an April Sunday and headed west. Met up with a friend and his JCW Clubman, and a cruise down a deserted M4 saw us onto a sunny but cold Black Mountain Pass by 0830. A lot of fun was had as we made our way north via the beautiful Elan Valley, but it came to an abrupt end at our coffee stop in Aberystwyth when I discovered a sharp bolt stuck in one of my tyres. The resulting slow puncture meant a very cautious and stressful journey home, but we made it. Around 650 miles in a day remains the most I've done.
A month or so later, Wales was open for stays, so I repeated the same south to north journey, this time solo on my way to a short break at a cottage in Snowdonia. Three days of driving those brilliant North Wales roads, visiting farm shops, and chilling out in the evenings. Bliss after not being able to do it at all in 2020. And fortunately no punctures this time.
Due to constantly changing rules and regulations, made no real attempt at another Euro roadtrip in 2021. So I did something I'd been wanting to do for years, and in late June headed north instead. Six days of fun started off with the North Yorkshire Moors and Dales, then the North Pennines including the absolutely epic Hartside Pass. Then finished off just across the border in southern Scotland, retracing the fantastic roads used in EVO Car of the Year 2020. That was as far north as I got, but a chat at a petrol station with a group of Porsche guys heading up to do the Highlands and NC500 gave me some inspiration for this year.
The GP has continued to be mostly reliable as the miles go on. The 2020 MOT had advisories all round for brake discs and pads, so the whole lot were replaced, then during our way home from the northern roadtrip last summer, the front right suspension developed a clonking noise. Thought it might be another coilover failure, but it turned out to be a broken top mount, which was replaced under extended warranty by Rybrook Stratford. Still go back there for warranty and MOT stuff as they've always given me excellent service. Usually get a decent courtesy car to go off and enjoy the Cotswolds too.
Maybe it's due to the car now being a weekend toy rather than a daily driver, but the current scoop surround decal appears to be holding up much better than its predecessors. Now have a bonnet dent to get sorted out though, the result of headbutting a pheasant during an early morning drive on our favourite West Sussex roads, so may have to replace the decal due to that.
Finally achieved a "generations" pic at the Omologato meet at GTO Engineering back in the summer. What are the chances at a small scale non MINI meet? Still think the GP2 is the best of the three ...
Some judicious eco driving on the way to and from Cornwall for a club trip during the fuel panic at the end of September saw a frankly ridiculous 520 miles range being displayed at one point. Who needs a sensible green eco car anyway?
The opposite extreme in terms of fuel consumption was seen during our second track outing of the year back at Goodwood at the end of November. Felt I was finally beginning to do the GP justice on track, especially in terms of late braking, and a lot of fun was had chasing, and in one case passing, supercars. Need to do some more this year, and maybe venture away from my favourite circuit and learn some new ones. Would love to try the Brands GP loop after experiencing it at a slower pace during one of the MSV Drive! events last Easter.
And also towards the end of the year, a friend who has long wanted a GP2 after rides in mine achieved his ambition after taking advantage of current second hand values and trading in his F56 Cooper S. So now there are often two, and sometimes three, of the tiny tarmac terrors out on those West Sussex roads together. Just need to get them together with a friend further north and her two to make five. Would finally top the four MDifficult gathered for the first and so far only PH GP2 meet and run back in summer 2018.
So it's still my perfect car really, and no real thoughts of changing it yet, if ever. It doesn't owe me anything, is holding its value, and there probably won't be anything like it again. Love the rarity factor too, have only ever seen one on the road in general driving. Had a few Alpine A110 drives in 2021, and loved it. And still want to try the inevitable GR Yaris, but either can wait a couple of years until my mortgage is paid off.
Looks good, sounds like it’s been enjoyed lots too!
I discovered the joys of the Elan Valley in 2020, it looked good in the pissing rain so I went back last year with my other half and it didn’t disappoint in the sun! The mountain road is lots of fun.
A friend bought a GP2 last year which I’ve been allowed to drive a bit including to a rather wet Lohen meet at C&M
I discovered the joys of the Elan Valley in 2020, it looked good in the pissing rain so I went back last year with my other half and it didn’t disappoint in the sun! The mountain road is lots of fun.
A friend bought a GP2 last year which I’ve been allowed to drive a bit including to a rather wet Lohen meet at C&M
So, another 11k miles have gone on since my last update in February. Mainly because I've been making up for lost time over the pandemic, and have been out driving it more or less every weekend since March. Might have been to Wales once or twice ...
A clean MOT pass in the summer too, and no further issues requiring attention. Had the opportunity to drive a friend's GP2 running a light remap for more torque, and well set up KW Clubsports, during a weekend trip to Wales in July. Both mods were very impressive in enhancing the already excellent driving experience, and now considering the same for mine.
The pheasant shaped bonnet dent was expertly dealt with by Richard the Dent Doctor. Always a pleasure to watch a master of their craft at work, and he even managed to save the scoop decal. So my spare remains untouched. Highly recommended if you need a similar service in the area between Guildford and East Grinstead and further south.
I don't know if this makes me a good or bad influence, but a further friend has just bought a GP2 after experiencing mine.
So now the possibility exists to get six of the little blighters together just among my friends. Something is at the planning stage ...
And two of them headed off to Germany and the Nurburgring at the beginning of September as a step back into European road trips for the first time in three years. A lot of fun was had, not least driving the track on a soaking wet surface in bright sunshine after a heavy downpour. A long way from being fast, but correcting slides and twitches, and judging putting the power down on a very slippery track made it the most enjoyable track session I've ever done. Just the pair of GPs were getting a lot of attention, so a planned return with four or five of them next year should be something else.
A clean MOT pass in the summer too, and no further issues requiring attention. Had the opportunity to drive a friend's GP2 running a light remap for more torque, and well set up KW Clubsports, during a weekend trip to Wales in July. Both mods were very impressive in enhancing the already excellent driving experience, and now considering the same for mine.
The pheasant shaped bonnet dent was expertly dealt with by Richard the Dent Doctor. Always a pleasure to watch a master of their craft at work, and he even managed to save the scoop decal. So my spare remains untouched. Highly recommended if you need a similar service in the area between Guildford and East Grinstead and further south.
I don't know if this makes me a good or bad influence, but a further friend has just bought a GP2 after experiencing mine.
So now the possibility exists to get six of the little blighters together just among my friends. Something is at the planning stage ...And two of them headed off to Germany and the Nurburgring at the beginning of September as a step back into European road trips for the first time in three years. A lot of fun was had, not least driving the track on a soaking wet surface in bright sunshine after a heavy downpour. A long way from being fast, but correcting slides and twitches, and judging putting the power down on a very slippery track made it the most enjoyable track session I've ever done. Just the pair of GPs were getting a lot of attention, so a planned return with four or five of them next year should be something else.
Long time no update, but reached a significant milestone last weekend, appropriately enough near Reims on the way home from an epic road trip to the Alps. There may be a write up to follow.
Still loving driving it, and no real wish to change. Had a good look at a GP3 at the local MINI dealer this morning, and still not remotely tempted.
No real issues to report either, other than the usual one with the knocking coilovers. The third set of Bilsteins are about to go, having seemingly reached the end of the line with the extended warranty I now have a set of KWs waiting to be fitted instead, as mentioned in my last update.
And as the only thing better than one GP is to get a few of the little terrors together for some fun, we now have a group of them on the south coast going out fairly regularly. Record so far is six, plus a GP1, to go to the excellent GP Mega Meet at Caffeine & Machine earlier this month. Fifty in total across all three generations!
Still loving driving it, and no real wish to change. Had a good look at a GP3 at the local MINI dealer this morning, and still not remotely tempted.
No real issues to report either, other than the usual one with the knocking coilovers. The third set of Bilsteins are about to go, having seemingly reached the end of the line with the extended warranty I now have a set of KWs waiting to be fitted instead, as mentioned in my last update.
And as the only thing better than one GP is to get a few of the little terrors together for some fun, we now have a group of them on the south coast going out fairly regularly. Record so far is six, plus a GP1, to go to the excellent GP Mega Meet at Caffeine & Machine earlier this month. Fifty in total across all three generations!
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