I bet the GP has improved ECU tuning, too. Just a guess!

 

1,920 cars built worldwide. Hemmings motornews has a pristine one advertised for $235,000. No. Not a GP. A 1970 Plymouth Superbird. Total worldwide production: 1,920 cars. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the GP's will be worth the same 30 years from now. Probably not enough of an upgrade in performance over JCW for that. However, I'm sure the vast majority of those 1,920 'Birds were sold in the US. Only 415 GP's will be.

The Superbird is one of the rarest muscle cars ever built, extremely difficult to get a hold of one. I'd submit that a 2000 car run, 415 in the US is not a large amount of cars. Even (dare I say it?) rare.

Bottom line, I could care less. I bought a GP 'cause I wanted the GP. I'm just saying there are a lot of cars out there with productions runs higher than 2000 that are worth a lot of money today.

 

The GP has no rear seat. If you don't need one and have a GP-sized budget, there are far more interesting cars out there. For example...

 

Or perhaps...

 

And let us not forget...

 

And then there is always...

 

Don't get me wrong.... I like all the cars you listed but I just see maintenance costs triple......while not a cheap as the Miata to mod and play with, the Mini is...... relatively cheap to "mod and play with"......

as far as the GP as an investment..... I am not much one for "instant classics" ... I saw the pace car "Vette" (forget what year) go for rediculous money when they were introduced and people putting them away..... the market never materialized..... I think the GP has some very cool parts and I want some for my car..... if you are not a tinkerer and want a "done Mini" then I think it is very nice.....certainly gets my respect.....but buy it to drive the snot out of not as an investment.... I had a friend buy two Vipers for that reason and had a hard time getting rid of them..... but I also bought Cisco at some un-Godly price, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

what is cool about the GP is from the factory the car will 4 wheel drift....in what looks like a very controllable fashion..... love the aluminun sus parts....like the spoiler..... like the rear brace...... thinking of painting my mirrors a deep blue....GP inspired.....

 

I have never owned a Mini before but a couple of friends of mine have always spoken very highly of the car and labeled it as a VERY FUN car.

Fast forward about 2 years. I walk into my BMW dealership and MINI is next door. So I go and take a look at some Minis and I decide to test drive a Cooper S automatic (6-speed wasn't available for testing). I immediately fell in love with the car! What a fun ride! The salesman tells me about the JCW version and I immediately start ordering one. But then I see a brochure of the GP and ask about it. Unfortunately the dealership was sold out in advance.

Needless to say the GP caught my eye and it was a no brainer. This was a fun car to have and I didn't care about the lack of backseats, it would not be my daily driver anyway. I contacted another dealership and I was able to get a spot on the list.

Now, the GP has a bit more horsepower than the JCW and has exclusive exterior/interior and body details. For me, it looks fabulous. I couldn't care less if the HP difference is not that much. I am not buying this car based on HP, but on the FUN factor for sure! And the GP is just so much better looking than any other MINI IMHO.

I own a E39 M5 and a E60 M5 and I am afraid I may end up wanting to drive the GP a lot more! So indeed, it is not about the speed. I am sure I will have a blast driving the GP and I just love the looks.

 

NOW you're talkin'!!!! That car just amazes me - one day I'll have one. I think if ***** wonka came up to me and said I could either have an Mcoupe or a GP, I'd probably take the Mcoupe.

mb

no clue why it would be ***** wonka - just go with it.

 

No problem. I'm with you.

 

Art,
If you know of a dealer who has a GP for sale - not like the ones in cars.com or overpriced ebay seller -,please let me know: I am seriuos. We would like to buy another one as one GP is not enough for two drivers...


La Strega, proud owner of these two Little Ones

 

I read that some of the power comes from a redesigned intercooler and ECU changes.... what is the difference in the IC?

 

The intercooler has a couple of extra air channels through it - it's deeper towards the back of the car

 

Larger IC about the size of an Alta or bigger. Lighter weight also.

 

way bigger differences, you over flatter the GP, not to put down the GP owners out there.....JMO

 

I don't think it's that big.

 

Enjoy your GP skin jobs while you can. The R56 JCW is coming, and it will take no prisoners.

 

Yes! Only two years to go - but when that car comes, make sure not to look at what's then coming because you'll never buy anything then.

 

Well put lad. I figure I'll get a season or two out of the GP and by then...... well, we know what's comming don't we.

 

I predict just over one year, actually. Fall 07.

 

Like I said, "a season or two"

 

"Believe me, it's going to be effing brilliant."

 

I'm not sure why I am tempted to add to this constant whining about what might be better than a GP and why someone shouldn't have one, always by folks who've never even ridden in one but:

The GP is a great little car that was a bargain compared to what a comparably equipt MINI would've been at the time. Everyone I met who bought one thought it was a no brainer.

The constant whining about horsepower is so tired. Horsepower is only relevent if you can use it. Yes there can be huge HP MINIs, are they useable for daily dirvers? no. I drove a massive HP 2006 Dodge Charger recently, terrible car.

The package is much more than the whole, put a GP at high speed (120mph+) and it all becomes very clear. The aero package is awesome and I just hope that the engineers find more ways to bring the technology to future MINIs.

There is a huge benefit to a factory engineered and warranted package. Mods are fun but I think everyone worries, at least a little, "did I screw up my car?" My car is bullet proof for 50K miles and maybe more. No worries. Even Bertone made a few bad moves in the assembly of these cars. Did the owners have to worry that their bigger IC voided the warranty? No way! Just go back to the dealer.

The Monterey delivery option was car junky heaven!

The wheels, wing and body kit are all unique and if you pick up ANY car-mods, hotrod or tuner mag you will see that unique is what we seek. I am fine with the 1/2000 level of unique. I don't need to drop $100K for a SEMA quality custom job.I want a driver not a show queen.

My car is Fun, Draws Attention, is a good Value, has depreciated not at all,
was all of these things right out of the box(instant gratification), has solid support, puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. That in my experience is very very rare in the world of cars.

To each his own but this time around the GP has everything I want so I got lucky and got one. Next year is next year. Besides, I'll toss it all out when they really fulfill the promise made when I was a little kid in the 60's....

I WANT MY FLYING CAR! lol :-)

 

To each his own. Exactly. Some people are into aluminum finished cargo brace bars. And that's okay.

 

I always figured that only Santa or Chuck Norris would be the ones with the power and generousity to offer us a GP. Do you think maybe Oprah will be giving away GPs on her show this year?