I am in a position to purchase one of these cars. I actually just put in an order for the JCW. I had another dealer just call me and make me an offer on a GP that is hard to walk away from. I had sort of given up on the GP because I felt most of what I was paying for were things that were designed more for the track. I will not ever run this car on the track. I do like the idea of the extra performance and years ago I owned a Porsche RS America(should not have sold that car) and really enjoyed that car, never running it on the track either! Im trying to figure out if the upcharge over the JCW is worth it for a car that will be driven on the street. Thoughts greatly appreciated---------

 

Honestly, the GP is just a plain cool car with all of the bells and whistles out of the gates minus the navigation. Every other fit and finish on the car is high end MINI. I have a first Gen GP and I will probably own the second generation as well. Why dont you tell us the options you chose in the JCW and we can compare that with the GP and give you a better idea of which way to go

 

Model Code 13MC John Cooper Works Hardtop
Color A94 Midnight Black metallic
Upholstery ATP9 John Cooper Works Black Checkered Cloth
Options ZCW Cold Weather Package
313 Power folding mirrors
314 Heated mirrors and washer jets
494 Heated front seats
ZP2 Premium Package 2
403 Dual pane panoramic sunroof N/C
521 Rain sensor and auto headlights
534 Automatic climate control
1CA CO2 relevant vehicles
226 Sport suspension
3A2 Black headlight housings
522 Xenon headlights
655 Satellite radio with 1 year subscription
785 White turn-signal lights

 

I would guess that the final price of either choice is relatively close, no? More bells and whistles on the JCW, more performance orientation on the GP without a lot of bells and whistles, plus its a GP. Hard choice. Daily driver? Collector type? Sunday driver?

 

Im planning on driving it to work. My garage at home to a garage at work, short drive---which is to bad!

 

I too was faced with that choice. I ended up ordering and taking delivery of a JCW Hardtop on March 8th, 2013. Only options were chrome line interior, H/G sound system, and BRG metallic paint, with black top and mirrors. List price $32,300! I drive a lot of highway miles as we have family in both Colorado and Montana. My biggest objection to the GP (other than price) was it has no cruise control to keep me out of trouble. Plus the color in my opinion is just butt ugly, and I can't stand sticker decals on a car. I just couldn't justify the extra $ for the GP. Each to their own, but that's my story!!

 

For me the biggest dilemma with the GP is no sunroof. I also like to have the back seat to take my kids for rides, but no sunroof is a deal breaker for me. I don't like convertibles but I must have a sunroof. As far as justifying the upcharge for the GP2, its not that much more expensive than a JCW, we are not talking double the cost as its still only a little over $40k. Lets still be honest, its not a track car but a very capable car. A track car is not a comfortable car on the street. The GP has no roll cage or track brake pads among many other things I am sure. Most true track cars don't have functioning doors, interiors, windows, AC or heat, radios, passenger seat, etc...

 

In addition to Nav, the GP2 lacks several options that are available on a JCW.

 

I also owned an RS america for 5 years it was a great car but expensive to fix I had mine on the track for DE events etc it was a blast, while I had the RS America I had a 2006 GP this was the reason I eventually sold the RS. The new GP is a blast you wont go wrong with either of them. Like you I wish I never sold the RS america as they are going up in value.