I have done some research on the GP's and thought I knew quite a bit about them, but I was talking to a few owners who told me that the reported "218hp" is more of a Gentlemen's agreement and that they boast numbers in the high 200's. Anyone know if there is any truth to that statement?

I know they are rare and hard to come by, but does anyone know what you would expect to pay for one if you did find one? I would look at the going rate, but in that case I would know what the 1 or 2 fs are going for, and I would probably buy one

 

After doing a bit more research, I found that one just sold a week ago on this site for 15k :(

I am thinking the true value is anywhere from $19-25k or so.

BUT I would still like to know on the power question if anyone knows?

 

Ask the people in the GP forum driving the GPs, bet they'll have an idea..

Here is a vid of a RMW tuned GP, unsure of mods but probably a smaller pulley. Guy says it did 204 Whp so who knows what that equates to?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPy7q5TNDsc&NR=1

 

Brent,

I would also like to get some more info here.

Why buy an R53 GP when I can buy an R56 JCW and make more power, have brembos, etc. I personally could careless if its limited edition, I am all about straight forwardness.

I just dont think its worth the price, especially when stock they dyno 194whp/164wtq. An R56 MCS can do that with a tune and a dp.

 

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I will post the sheets later, the results were not as good as it will end up being once I get the new header & exhaust from LDG. (This will happen soon) With the stock header, 16% pulley, Scheik cam, CAI and Cosworth head the car intially dynoed at 194 whp. Once John had finished setting the engine up it jumped to 208.33 whp, with his new header/steel cat and exhaust the car will be in the 220 whp range. The car runs beatifully now, it is very fast and has incredible torque .
They had previously dynoed a GP, but did not tune it, it produced 170 whp.

 

I recently picked up a real nice one with 15,000 miles on it I paid $22000- The car has had an RMW tune and it is 204 to the wheels nothing else done to the engine. The GP is a Special wee Car as there were only 415 sent over to the USA this is my second one. just got back from the Dragon and I had a blast.

 

Thank you to all. As soon as I started reading more on the GPmini forum and looking around online I saw that this guy was blowing smoke. I guess it is easy to tell people how nice and fast your car is when you know they have no clue.

I like the r53 body more than the 56 and if I could get a GP for the same price as a R56 jcw than I would, but I am not going to rush into anything either.

 

The GPs are getting older (now 5 years old) so there seems to be more and more for sale. It should be a good time to buy a GP. One of the reasons for the little higher prices on the GPs than a same year JCW is that many GPs have low miles.

 

Speaking of GP RMW Tuning, I saw that YouTube video and now want the tune!

As for the fellow who said he just wanted performance and didn't care about the collect-ability, I totally agree. But you'll realize that there is something special about the way BMW tuned and designed the GP to be a little more track ready than any regular JCW. You will only realize this after you drive a GP. It took a whole 30 secs for me to decide if the GP was for me. And this is after owning and driving many M cars over the years.

I think the GP is pretty civilized right now, but I kinda want to squeeze a few more HP out of it if its possible with just a tune to get 18-20hp then thats awesome. Kind of like how BMW does it with engine mapping with the P400 and P500 modes in my M5. Squeezing 100hp extra hp at a push of a button. So I know you can get a few more out of the GP with some tuning.

 

The nice thing about choice is.... choice.

Lets talk stock cars. ( streight forwardness ) And personal experiance. Having had 7 MINIs in the house since 02, I have some good seat to speak from.

Why a R53 over 56? Personally, just the raw feel of the car. Handles better out of the box and just plain more fun to drive.. For a daily driver, and dont care about twistys and hate a choppy ride, a 56 is probably a better choice. It becomes a personal choice. Or maybe the choice is Turbo or Supercharger preferance.

GP or R56 JCW. Well, just talking out of the box specs. The GP has more HP. BUT, the JCW will take it off the line... only up to about 4000rpm then the turbo starts to drop out... THAT is when the GP is just starting to dance. 3800rpm to 6500rpm is a thrill and smile maker, and will pull on the JCW. Not to mention the adrenaline sound of the supercharger whine. Nothing better.

Worth the money? Depends on how much you have to spend. The GP is still the most unique New MINI made to date. Its more then just the lack of Brembos.. ( btw, the brake work just fine ) Just the fact the it was built in Turin Italy by Bertone racing, not in Oxford, alone makes it worth a dollar more then any other 06 MINI out there.. Even 2 dollars or more to some people. Lighter weight, panned undercarriage, light weight R56 rear swing arms ( only r53 with them ) one off body aero kit ( that was actually designed for its purpose ) and is fuctional. It is the most " in tune with itself " MINI. STOCK.

I will not get in to Modded ones, that has as many skewed directions as the MINI configurator at MINI USA site.

At the time the GP was released, It was best bang for the buck. ( for the lucky few ) It was $31500.00. Before buying, I configued a comperable JCW car ( as close as possible option for option ) and it came out to 33000.00. Ok, granted, you get a back seat in the regular JCW. But I have taken out anyway.

In the wholesale world today, the GP has a value of 2000 higher value than a streight Cooper S JCW. And from that point, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. ( milage and condition of couse will alter the #s)

My referances: 02 Cooper, 04 Cooper S (modded) , 04 Cooper S ( unmodded). 06 JCW GP. 06 Cooper S JCW, 07 Cooper S JCW, 08 Clubman S ( modded )

 

edited to save argument about this.

Personally.. R56 JCW > R53 GP

I would almost bet a bolted r56 jcw will walk a gp.. but whatever helps people sleep at night.

Its a mini.. its not a special edition porsche so its really only worth something to those who decided to purchase it in my eyes.

Its like the 20th gtis and things of that nature.. not worth any extra than a regular gti is now a days..

 

I too would almost bet.... But until having owned both, I dont have to.

And yes, its a MINI, not a Porsche. Thats why I have it! ( and yes, I could afford either, so it was a choice )

PS. I dont buy cars for collector value. Thats for millionaires. But do for value. With 15yrs as a wholesaler, I learnd the differance.
PSS. bolted JCW? sorry, not up on that term. Is that stock as I am talking?

 

Intake, exhaust, tune, fmic on an R56 JCW and you have about the fastest stock turbo mini you can get. Which is going to be faster than a lot R53s including the GP.

 

Got ya..as per the beginning of the converstion. Im talking stock. Throw money at it, you can buy all kinds of power. Randall Smalley ( RSR motorsports here in AZ had their GP just tuned,pully,and intake to 250whp.) I will stick with my comperison converstions on the stock cars. GP wins. ( once again, let me emphisize, I have had both.. at the sametime, same house, same drive way ) and my wife and I race like Hart to Hart. ( you will not understand that one unless you are in your 40's.)

Now, lets throw money at it... Those who have been around this forum for years will understand,,, I will take that forum challange...( Ill take R53 for $600 Alex! ) Do you want to put the modded R56 JCW and put up against the modded R53 TC's? The ones I know personally were pushing 350whp to 400whp. Those all street legal, daily drivers. Not going to touch the MINI USA drag car and 500+ hp. ( ok, thats way out there ) Hey, its all in the money... buys you happiness and speed...

Oh, and to me, Its not all about speed I can get for the money. Its the lack of speed for my money. My personal favorite performer I have... is 260 HP .. 0-60 in a minute or so.. has 2700.00 coilover suspension, CAI, no brembos, no wings, and at at its best at 5mph. And hands down, the best vehicle I have owned in years...

 

This is all fine and dandy as long as you can keep it on the road!!

 

Each time I read one of these internet comparisons of the GP vs another MINI it seems that most of the negativity comes from someone who has never spent some seat time behind the wheel of one. Some people may not like the fact that the GP has no back seats or limited sound deadening but I have yet to hear of someone who has been unimpressed with the performance and handeling out of the box. Listen to azminiman, who has extensive experiance in a several different MINI configurations. The GP is indeed a special car with a total package, designed by BMW, that works much better than the list of bolt on parts would suggest.
I have driven lots of different MINI configurations in both R53 and R56 and when it is all said and done I would not trade my GP for any of them. For me I have made the right choice and will be enjoying it for a long time.
Steve

 

i still dont think your GP will out handle my R56 with its current suspension.

But whatever makes people happy.

I just love how some GP owners have lied about their power ratings.

 

Dude seriously? You come off as having some inferiority complex. Have you ever driven a GP? Let's get that part straight first. Then we can talk.

 

The GP outhandles the R56 with a stock suspension HANDS DOWN (the R56 has a softer steering feel that doesn't help it as well). The only conceivable way you would say otherwise if if you haven't driven a GP.

 

I had really got board with this.. But come to realize.. DOOD, you really do not know your MINIs... your like a child on a play ground.. Are you gonna now say " well, my mom can beat up your mom! "

You do realize that the GP for the most part has the R56 JCW suspension components. Oh obviously not...but with a stiffer sway bars. The stuts are virtually the same JCWs, just different mounts. But the R56 has much more body roll..

Plus, havent heard anyone mention their stock GP power ratings... If I recall correctly, we are were compairing the stock R56 JCW to a R53 GP. and you keep going on your NAaaaNaNaNAAAaaa ( insert thumbs in ears, flair out fingers, wave them back and forth and stick toung out ) comebacks. Us GP owners ARE happy. As for me, I am very happy with our GP,and our 06 MCS JCW,and our FJ, and our Scion Xb. But I will accomodate you, I will give you this.. YOUR R56 can royally kick my FJs butt, and run rings around my Xb. so there! you win.

 

LOL,, just noticed boosted's joined date on the forum...gotta love a ROOKIE.
But welcome... better late then never!

 

Just thought I'd throw this fact in there in favor of the GP, in the handling department, it has a tuned aero kit AND full under body panels to smooth air flow. ....and while I'm typing... no sunroof or rear seats to reduce weight, oh, and no auto A/C or Xenon's also to reduce weight. The GP is more than just an R53 S with some extra decals.

 

hahahah, I think everyone scared him off...maybe he's looking for a GP to test drive. Hopefully he has the funds b/c there is gonna be some heartbreak once he realizes the GP is about 10x more fun than any other factory mini out there. So fun that I haven't driven my M5 in 2 weeks.

 

@Boosted
Calm down Tiger Blood YOU WIN!! we get it.

Yes YOU WON if that makes you happy Adonis.
Now we can all go to sleep.

I could tell which forums you previously lurked.

 

Love your MINI not its status…


Owner GP 0395.