I've been getting more and more interested in buying another MINI. I had an early 02 Cooper S, but we had problems with the dealership and the car. Sooo... lookin for a used car this time around. I've been learning more about the GP, and I'm pretty interested in one when the finances and time are right. It looks like everyone is modifying the car though - are there any stock GPs out there? I can see modifying a regular Cooper or Cooper S - heck, do whatcha want... but they didn't make very many of the GP cars! 10 or 15 years down the road I think it's going to be damn near impossible to find one that doesn't have neon under it or 18" woofers in the back...or a modified engine. :(

Do any exist?

 

I am no expert, but I would say that most of the GP cars are stock. Limited edition... resale value.

It is a shame, the ones that are modded are COOL!!!

 

But - with so few cars available, wouldn't it make more sense to keep the car stock? I bet for the cost of a Mini Cooper S and the difference in price you could make one faster than a GP. (shrug)

It's like taking a very limited classic (say, a 970cc S) and modifying it. It's just... yeah, you could, but why not modify something there are more of?

 

I'm stock and proud of it!

 

Yes, you can, but the GP still has styling cues that the S can't have.... yet.

If I got a GP, I would mod it becuase it is not a classic and it won't be for some time. There will probablly be 5 GP like models before the current GP becomes a classic.

 

Mine will be modded but tastefully! Nothing tacky or permanent. So incase they become huge collectors I can go back. They are an awesome car though. Just got back from picking it up 600 mile drive! Love N it!

 

I also collect watches and a common saying in WIS circles is "if you want to make a small fortune in watches you have to start with a large fortune". New cars are the same way with very few exceptions over the last 30 years.

Case in point; I got one of the first Ford SVO's back in 1984 (one of only 976 in silver). I modded it and drove the heck out of it for 20+ years. My good buddy has it now and is burning up the show and autocross circuit in the Southeastern US. That car has been giving big smiles for 24 years non stop and will for a long time to come. Bill Elliot's father (NASCAR driver) has an 84 SVO he bought new from the dealer and promptly put in storage. Today that car has only 3 miles on it and it's still not worth much more than he paid for it new in 1984.

I buy my watches to wear and my cars to drive and have never had a regret yet.

 

I enjoy my GP and changed a few things to fit my driving needs..

Installed a Pioneer GPS and new speakers because I hate to get lost and the stock one sounded pretty crappy. Put a JCW strut brace and Hockins chamber plates because will help with the weak stock strut expecially on autocross, put a large number on the windshield because I liked and it's my autocross number @ the local driving club, so I don't have to put magnetic numbers or use shoe polish every time I race. I also did a complete clear bra install because I want to preserve the paint .. did the window tinting because I like it, removed the child clip from the cargo bar and the cup holder because I don't use and don't like them...

Is my GP worth less because of these mods? I don't know and I don't care I like her and I am having a time of my life motoring her around and autocrossing a couple of times a month... I never bought a car thinking about the resale value of the money it will bring me if it became a rarity .. when I want invest I buy real estate not cars... but that just me...

I must say 'tho many people I know mod their MINIs and never take them to the track or autocross.. just drive them on the traffic and/or make the occassional trip which makes me think why in the world spend so much money for so little enjoyment ? But anyone can spend his/her money the way they like and so do GP owners..

 

I agree with you Latka. I have done only ONE mod that is non "mini" and that's the halo lights. I changed the grille to the JCW Aero grille, got the JCW steering wheel and installed the JCW strut brace. I don't think these changes make it "non-stock" though since they are factory JCW parts just like with any mini that has these upgrades. I have also kept all the other parts, including the stock lights. I would love to do more to the car engine-wise but am not going to touch anything else on the car for the reasons you state.

 

"Do" anything you want, just make sure it can be "undone".

 

My GP is stock except for the Alpine I Pod deck and the Alpine subwoofer in the back (Ya just gotta love the subwoofer!). I do have the stock head unit in a box in the garage so the car can still be completely stock.
The GP is so cool as is, that was the major reason why I bought it!

Brent
GP 1430

 

Whenever you're interested in selling, let me know.

 

I wouldn't limit yourself to just what you think is "stock". Like I said before, there may be people that add STOCK JCW parts, like I did. I'm not planning on selling mine, but if I did I can't imagine mine would be worth any less than someone else's GP. If anything mine would be worth more since the parts, like the grille and steering wheel will be virtually unused when you swap them back out.

 

Let me pose this question:
If you were to come across a Mini-S that has had the factory JCW engine kit installed at the dealer, would you consider that car to not be "stock"? Of course not. It's stock!! It was done using Mini parts that they sell FOR THAT CAR and installed by the dealer.

 

On the contrary, I believe most collectors to not treat any post-factory installed stuff (even if the parts are identical) as truly "showroom stock".

For example, (although I will never sell my JCW MCS) I had the JCW kit installed before I even took delivery of the car. It had 17 miles on it at the time. However, I do not think that it would be treated the same as an actual "factory installed" JCW for future collector purposes. By this measure, ONLY 2006 JCW MCSes can ever be truly "factory/stock" JCWs, and even then, some 2006 owners had the JCW kit put on later.

The key though is reversibility, and in my opinion, any GP owner would do themselves justice to keep all original parts and ensure that each and every mod they do is easily reversible back to the actual way it came from the factory, including removing something like the JCW steering wheel, as much as we may all love them! (I do)

Bottom line... if it isn't on the factory build sheet (what's the official name for those again?) for the matching VIN number, it isn't factory!

 

What I was originally asking about was stuff that can't be reversed. ... I wouldn't want to buy a car that had extra lights (that you had to drill out things for)... extra badges, and stuff like that. Suspension, exhaust - that's all reversable.

 

How much weight does the subwoofer add ? I saw a GP in Zandvoort with a huge subwoofer and the sound was divine but weight wise?

 

Hey wow! Someone who knows what they're talking about.

If you ever find a clown modding a 970 please let me know, I will personally go to their house and educate them.

My GP is stock. Completely stock. Only thing different from the day I bought it is the gas in it's tank, and the orange number on the speedo (+2000) in 9 months.

Good to know that you will be a stocker if you got your hands on one, because of that I do hope you find the one you are looking for.

 

I definitely agree with that. That's why I wouldn't want to mess with the stereo. The thought of having to cut holes or even take apart the interior to add something makes me uneasy. The lights I did simply replace the stock ones.....that's as far as I'll go.

 

Hey gus, nice sig, makes me want to do the same with my 4 cars! Are any of yours shared? i.e. wifies. Coz then I can make it 5 and her car is nice too!

Altho i need to ask, why the hell your MINI got a deutch plate? It's not made in Germany.... It's made in Italy.

 

It weighs around 20- 25 lbs., and is self powered (No amplifier to mount) so if you don't want the weight on a track day or what not you just unplug 3 wires and lift it out. It fits perfect in the well in the rear of the car. I built a small spacer to fill in the rest of the well next to it that is flush with the rest of the floor in the back that also holds it in place. The subwoofer has an angle to it and is about 2 inches taller than the floor in the front and 6 in the back.

 

Ok, I guess I can put away my MINI police badge for the day. Sounds like the vast majority of you are doing things that can be reversed.

I'm really torn though - when it does come time (probably 6 months or so if all goes well)... do I go 05/06 Cooper S... or try to get a GP? I bet with a better cylinder head, camshaft, and maybe a JCW supercharger I can make more power...but having one of only a few would be kinda fun.

Those stock GP wheels are hideous though.

 

Except for stuff you can't see, I am modding my MCS with OEM JCW, GP parts and dealer accessories. Just a personal style. By tomorrow, it will have an LDG tune to take full advantage of the OEM performance equipment.

Given the limited number of GPs, it will in the long run probably be best to leave it stock for future "classic car" purposes. All classic cars, but one that I can think of, will fetch far better values in 30 years, left in stock condition. There is one notable exception, and that is the Sunbeam Tiger. It was so heavily modified as a rule throughout the years that manyfolks are looking for the ones modded by the famous tuners of the time. I'm thinking the generic MCS will follow in that same tradition when the likes of Randy Webb, Eric @ Helix and John @ LDG rise to the renown of Carrol Shelby and Jack Roush.

In the meantime, however, if you have a heavily modded MCS, you can't give it away unless you return it to stock. (Yes, I know, an exageration)

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by camelpilot

Hey wow! Someone who knows what they're talking about. If

Thank God there are people left in the world who can’t keep their unsolicited opinions to themselves.

I’m sure Mr. "Clown" would be very appreciative for his education. I imagine Mr. "Clown" would thank Mr. “knows what they’re talking about” by informing him that he paid for his car/bike/whatever with his own hard earned cash, pays for the insurance, unscheduled maintenance, periodic service and gasoline from his own pocket, and when Mr. “knows what they’re talking about” wants to throw a few extra dollars his way, he may muster enough interest to give a damn what he thinks. Until then you may want to keep your pearls of wisdom to yourself.

There, I feel much better now!

 

Looks like you had a little trouble heeding your own advice, friend.