BTW, in case anyone is interested in this over priced, over-hyped car I believe the dealership that posted was in Fairfield? Maybe Fairfield Ct?

 

It's also possible they had a buyer back out, offered the car for sale again, and got a new buyer.

 

Anything is possible, but the point is the dealer has a new car for sale. He seemed very excited about posting on motoring file about his car for sale. He said it was stock, but they were planning on adding on to it... what I don't know? A strut brace? JCW suspension? Frankly there was no hint that it was a back out. He said to call right away before they started to add on to it if you wanted to have imput or get it at MSRP. Suspiciously the post disappeared shortly after I read it. This kind of Corporate Hype gets my goat. Car dealers.... what do you expect?!

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the GP differentiated itself from the 2006 JCW in that it had the following:

*Same engine, but with GP-exclusive tuning (read boost setting).
*Special edition GP-exclusive aero kit (this includes underbody and wing).
*Special edition GP-exclusive wheels.
*R53/56 hybrid rear suspension.
*Factory rear seat delete.
*GP-exclusive gauge face(s).

Did I miss anything?

I happen to prefer the GP, myself, and find the WC50 more closely comparable to the MC40 SE, but I also find the WC50 a fair value and compelling.

If any GP owners have time, I'd love to read more about why you prefer your GP, with the understanding that no one, practically speaking, has driven the WC50.

 

I could be wrong, but don't the R56 cars have the GP under panels on them. They come with the GP rear arms standard.
Still at $40,000+, I don't thing so.

GP0088

 

The tradition of all limited edition factory hot rods like the Porsche GT3, GT2, Lotus Exige 240, Lamborghini Superleggera, etc, etc, has been to add power and strip weight which is exactly what Mini did with the GP. The result is the most powerful, stiffest and lightest production Mini ever built by the factory. While GP's exist in greater numbers than the WC50, and therefore are slightly less rare, I feel the GP the obvious choice for the true enthusiast. The R53 body is smaller and lighter than the R56 which is a huge advantage when trying to eliminate the dreaded penalty of extra weight. I look at the WC50 as a highly optioned (read: "heavy") JCW car with exclusive paint and trim, but not a serious factory lightweight. There is no way a WC50 could hang with a GP on "track days".

I own a Clubman S, a fully loaded 2006 JCW MCS Cabrio, and GP 1652 and, from my driving experience with all three cars, the GP is simply in a world by itself.

As an aside, Mini originally stated that the WC50 would be built in a limited edition of 250 cars, which I think really appealed to the Mini collector out there. With 2000 GP's built, the WC50 certainly was a much rarer car, and for those who value exclusivity the WC50 certainly had it. Now, Mini is issuing another 250 cars which reduces the rarity of the first 250 by half. if I had purchased one of the first 250 cars I'd be pissed right now. And where will it stop? Will Mini build a 1000 cars, 2000 cars.....?

GP owners know that only 2000 GP's were built by hand in Milan. There will never be more. I for one will be holding on to mine for a long time.

GP 1652

 

Great post.

Given the obvious differences between the "spirit" in which the GP and WC50 were conceived and built out, one has to wonder what MINI has in store for a R56 GP or similar.

 

I for one would love to see a GP version of the R56... "GP2" maybe.. ??

If Mini decided to build a new one I think they should follow the tried and true practice of light weight and more power. An R56 with 240 to 250 hp, carbon fiber hood, trunk lid and roof, aluminum suspension parts, lightweight front seats, lightweight wheels, simple radio and A/C systems, sunroof delete, heated seats delete, rear seats delete, etc, built in a limited edition of 2000 would be an exciting car and I'd have to add one to my growing stable of Minis.

 

If they did all that carbon fiber the car would be $50k. They would be be building a limited edition production model, not a track car.

 

Exactly my point... a R56 version of the 2006 GP would be a limited edition production car, as was the original. Building a track only car wouldn't make economic sense for BMW.

I disagree with your statement about the cost of carbon fiber parts... years ago they were extremely expensive but as more and more companies expanded into the design manufacture of CF parts, the costs associated have come down. The savings realized from eliminating unnecessary content (rear seats, auto air conditioning, sunroof, heated seats, sophisticated audio systems, etc) would allow the use of CF parts for weight savings and would allow for a 2010 version of the 2006 GP to be built and sold for a price point of around $40K depending on engine mods.

 

$40k is a lot ofr a mINI...

 

I agree and I would have a hard time convincing myself to spend that much but right now a MC50 is around that price and they're all sold, and a close friend just ordered a 2010 JCW MCS Cabrio with all the options and it lists, before tax, at well over $40K, so there are people who will pay that kind of money for either a rare edition or a fully optioned car.

In 2006 many people balked at the cost of a GP which was $31,500 and it was stripped down car. However all the cars sold and, speaking for myself, every time I fire it up and take it out it reminds me that it's worth every cent.

GP 1652

 

AGAIN they all aren't sold. Don't believe the PR HYPE. If you want one you will find one. Call your local dealer. So far since they announce all sold, I've heard of two dealers with cars for sale.

 

What Julian said. I know of two east coast dealers who have one coming and not spoken for. In addition to the one I'm getting So three dealers in all.

2009 Pepper White Clubman S Stock

 

No offense to the WC50, it actually is a good deal compared to other loaded JCW's, but there's no comparison between it and a GP, in my opinion. The only differences between it and a standard JCW are cosmetic. The GP, while having a similar or greater amount of significant cosmetic changes (unique color, wheels, etc), it had many performance-related changes as well... Power, suspension, brakes, intercooler, wing, wheels, rear seat delete, rear STB, etc.

I'd love to own either, but the GP is more "special", in my opinion, because it moved further away from a "regular" JCW than any other special edition MINI.



With the added torsional rigidity of the R56, is it really still the stiffest MINI? Is it lighter than a base R56 Cooper? I'm not trying to bash the GP by any means (as evidenced by my post above), I'm just wodering if you have sources to back that up. A comparison of weight and torsional rigidity among all the different models would be interesting.

 

The GP was 88lb lighter than R53, and R56 was a little heavier than R53.
As for "stiffness", all I know is the GP has about zero roll on corners, while the R56 has more. Likely suspension rather than just body structure, but it's the GP as a package that made it so great to drive. I don't think the WC offers that same "package" experience.

 

WC50 ftw, r56 ftw lol....yeah gp is was a performance package right? All the WC50 is is a loaded JCW with a special paint job.

 

According to Motoring File, an R56 is ~20lb lighter than a similarly optioned R53 (Source) and Edmunds claimed that the R56 Cooper S was 70lb lighter than it's predecessor (Source). If the R56 is slightly lighter, then I'd imagine a base R56 Cooper may be lighter than a GP with it's bigger brakes, iron-block engine, 18" wheels, etc.

Actually, upon further research, MINI USA puts the R56 Cooper manual at an "unladen weight" of ~2568lb, and MINI puts the GP at 2579lb "unladen weight" (source).

So, according to MINI, the GP is slightly heavier than a base R56 Cooper. That being said, it's still significantly lighter than any "S" or "JCW" car... I was just wondering if maybe it wasn't quite THE lightest factory MINI.


Yeah, I figured he meant torsional stiffness, which is hard to find info on, but if the question is suspension stiffness, I would imagine that the GP is the stiffest due to the stiff suspension AND relatively light weight.

 

I am a r-53r thru and thru but I have to admit that the r-56 losing 200 lbs over the front axel is a hell of a improvment over our cars . The improved weight bias is nothing to sneeze at. That being said the GP's are truly becoming a good value as several have sold in the low 20's locally.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

I've bought my last two MINI's from the same salesman, as soon as these were announced last year he sent me an email asking me if I wanted one. I looked over the spec...and saw that it has no extra horsepower. That equalled a "No thanks" answer from me. Paint job "limited editions" rarely hold more value years later. I don't believe the GP's have held value like some people thought they would, but for now, they're still MINI's only true limited edition that offered something you couldn't get totally from the parts catalogue.

 

Unless time has gotten the best of me.. and my age.

More then just engine tune, redone head, and injectors are bigger then stock JCW injectors.

final work done by the historic and now closed Bertone racing. That alown will make the unique and not able to be reproduced again.

Seat and interior trim unique to GP. ( more then just seats removed.)

Back in 06 when I was on the fence about getting a GP. I configured a 06 S with options as close to a gp as possible. Stock + JCW pkg, upgraded wheels, aero kit, heated seats,jcw spoiler. car came to $32k + so price was good so i went for GP

no regrets ever

 

+1

GP 1652

 

I'm not sure why people are balking at the price? My factory (no dealer add-ons) 2006 JCW stickered for $37k even not counting accessories. It had Navi, back-up sensors, full JCW suspension...pretty much every option but bluetooth on top of full carbon fiber dash, mirror caps, scoop, and rear spoiler (those WERE dealer-installed)

I'm looking for ANOTHER JCW (I regrettably sold mine) and have run across more than a handful of GPs that seem to be holding their value very well. Unfortunately, they don't fit the mold of what I'm looking for. They're very track/weight-proportionally oriented (read STRIPPED down) and I'm looking for one with the options like the one I had. I DO understand people's desire for the GP and its a beautiful car in its own right.

I've optioned out a new JCW that topped $45k for the options I'd want on a new one (to make it comparable to my previous one). Needless to say, I won't be spending that kind of money on a MINI, so I'll have to settle for a gently used, possibly less-optioned one.

$40k seems reasonable at first glance, but if its missing some of the key JCW components, I dunno...Is the panoramic roof available? That would be a deal-breaker for me.

 

Speaking of GPs, have you guys seen the GP with 256 miles listed on eBay? Buy it now is just under $36,000.

 

There's a big difference between spec'ing and purchasing YOUR $40K MINI, and paying the same for one that you did not spec - options you did not really want, missing a few you did ...

Plus, the WC50, like the MC40 before, is really just a regular MINI loaded with options - the GP was created with parts you could not get any other way, making it truly unique.