Tuesday 6th June 2017

Mini JCW GP: Spotted

Is the mad Mini's case any stronger now it doesn't cost nearly £30K?

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Can it really be more than four years already since the R56 Mini GP arrived? Time really does fly, but particularly so with the glut of great hot hatches that have arrived since then. PH drove the Mini GP before the Fiesta ST was on the scene and ahead of there being a decent Peugeot hot hatch again, for example. That's before you consider various Renaultsports, GTIs and Cupras that have also emerged since 2013.

Want attitude? You got it!

Still though a two-seat hot hatch remains fairly remarkable; it's a signal of intent that will appeal to as many as it will frustrate, the latter citing that it's not a proper hot hatch. Those arguments aside, there's plenty in the Mini spec to back up the overt looks and bare cabin: not only was weight reduced, but there was adjustable Bilstein suspension, track focused rubber and huge 330mm front discs with six-piston calipers as part of the GP package.

It drove just how you would want a souped-up Mini too as well, all flighty direction changes, frantic acceleration and boundless energy. It perhaps wasn't the most sophisticated hot hatch around, but it was a tremendous amount of fun. If our Ben's recent experience of one is anything to go by as well, then it remains a great little hot hatch.

Furthermore, it matches all the criteria you would typically require for a sound investment. Limited production, track focused, manual only, silly stickers - at any size or price, and with the right badge, those attributes seem to guarantee strong residual values. The arrival of an indirect replacement in the Mini Challenge appears to have done little to diminish those. It's adding the rear seats back in, must be...

Start the comments on two-seat hatches now...

This car seems a very good example of the GP, three years old and bang on average mileage. It looks tip-top actually, the outside unblemished and those chunky front seats only showing the slightest signs of wear. 'Pugnacious' is probably what you would call the overall aesthetic, ready and raring to take on all comers.

The price? £17,495, which is actually one of the cheaper GPs around - this one is £20K. See what we meant about values? Don't think this is some flash-in-the-pan example either, as even the most affordable version of the original GP - now more than 10 years old - is nearly £11,000. Evidently there are worse hot hatch investments around...

That's the Mini's problem though, isn't it? If you want a car to keep and enjoy for a while without losing much money, it's surely a very safe bet. For outright fun, however, could you do better? This Renaultsport Megane Trophy has a similar mileage to the Mini but also the very desirable Ohlins dampers and Akrapovic exhaust. There are even some daft stickers, in case you thought you might miss those by not having the Mini. You can get a supercharged GT86 for £15K too...

There are alternatives then, no doubt. The appeal of a fast Mini to both buyers and drivers should never be underestimated though, so don't expect this to hang around for long. And don't expect them to get an awful lot cheaper, either!

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MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS GP
Engine: 1,598cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 218@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 192@1,750-5,750rpm (207lb ft on overboost)
MPG: 39.8 (combined)
CO2: 165g/km
Recorded mileage: 36,000
Year registered: 2014
Price new: £28,790
Price now: £17,495

See the original advert here

[Birdster]

My last car was a MK7 Fiesta ST and now in a Golf R. Two different hot hatches. However a house around the corner has one of these now and it does look a lot of fun. Will have to be a second car if funds permitted.