I want to address the modded JCW vs GP question that has been debated in a few threads and most of our brains along the way. For reference, I traded in a Much-loved 2010 JCW with sport suspension, factory strut brace and no other mods (except carbon bits which are always good for a few seconds) for my GP. I've driven the GP on the same track with stock wheels and Kumhos. I also drove a few 2013 JCWs on the lot while I was looking. I paid 38.4 with my USAA discount including window tint and an armrest. GPs can be had for the 37 K range now, especially near year end. Check out the 2013 GP Price Question thread for current details and thanks jrs66 for posting a spreadsheet with some prices and all locations of new GPs that are left at dealers. I saw a GP on the lot when I brought my JCW in for service and drove the GP home after driving it, parking it and overthinking it side-by-side with a few JCWs. A JCW with sport suspension and Recaro seats was the closed that I got. I couldn't get a JCW off the lot for less than that , especially if it had the comfort goodies. I'm aware that the GP was equipped with an $800 set of tires that last about 2-3 thousand miles and can't be driven in heavy rain, but I've since put Yokohama Advan Neova AD08 Rs on 17 in NM Engineering RSe05 wheels for comparison without the track tires (saving the rest of the Kumhos for the track in the spring). Bottom line is that the JCW and GP are close to the same price off the lot. Both are great cars that fit in slightly different niches.

My JCW rode more comfortably, but without aftermarket suspension revision it doesn't come close to the GP. Even without the track tires, the balance goes from understeer to neutral and the steering is even quicker. The JCW and my 2007 hardtop were great for my kids until they hit high school. The 2013s have very useful gadgets that were deleted from the GP like a rear wiper, cruise control, wheel buttons and auto dimming mirror. I doubt the weight saved was that significant, but it paid for the suspension, seat and brakes at the factory. I miss having the kids laughing in the back seat, but they've grown up. In 2007 when I bought my first MINI I made the right choice, and I'd make it again. A hardtop is a great car for a family with two younger kids. My daughter thought her mom was the coolest when she got to get out of the MINI at school.

The GP is a special chance to get the fastest stock mini out there if you like to drive fast at a track and don't have time/ability to mod. Time has moved on and I can get away with two seats. I understand that you can mod any S or JCW up (and I get that it's fun by itself), but I would argue that you'll blow by the 40 K mark pretty quickly and still not get as well integrated car. I was washing mine yesterday and thinking about all the stuff that came with it that would be expensive or impossible to add to my old JCW:

7.5 in. wheels vs 7. Full disclosure: I bought the NMs from Way Motor Works and put summer tires on them, snows went on the stock wheels for freezing/snow days at an extra $1.8K) I hate driving a fast car on pavement with snow tires as much as I love driving a MINI with snow tires in the snow. I've had a MINI as a daily driver in Denver for seven years and never had a problem or a boring drive in the snow.

Carbon Rear Spoiler $2-2.5K (one of the most viewed threads in GP talk as lots of people want one because they nailed the aesthetics)

Aero front spoiler/rear diffuser. About 250-300 each end-they've shown up at the aftermarket sites. The car looks badass from the back and it works beyond the aesthetics at 70-115 mph.

Recaro seats (necessary at the track) 2.25k option-there was a JCW that I drove while testing that had them. It was the same 37-38K that I paid and it didn't have many other options. Hard to emphasize how much more comfortable around town and better they are at speed than JCW seats.

The other contact points: fat wheel is perfect for the quick steering. Pedals in all MINIs are cutesy and junk for heel-toe shifting. Fixed by Rennline set ($215) installed this week.

Suspension. Hard to estimate but at least 1k to replicate, probably much more. It's tuned to the car and height adjustable in addition.

Red seat belts, fake bar and shift **** are cool and get you around the track faster, but seriously my favorite interior addition is the leather dash with the red stitching. The interior is IMHO the best looking in a mini and as nice as a lot of high end cars including BMWs that I've owned.

Brakes. 2-3K to add and then you have clearance issues with your wheels. They're also red but all colors make a huge difference in times at the track or avoiding an accident on the street.

Lightness $? It is lighter as a starting point than any mini and most cars, but not by as much as I would hope. It is my daily driver and I like ac and a decent stereo though.

Limited edition only makes a $ difference in resale and I didn't buy mine to sell it, Exclusivity such as it is does make it a little more special. Full disclosure again: I removed all the decals except the GP on the side as I think the suspension, brakes, aerodynamics and interior are what truly make it special.

For $37-38k this car has a lot of value for me over the JCW and I don't think I could find a way to replicate it. Why not a used Cayman, Corvette Z-06 or M3 you ask? Not minis. They're not go-carts and I guess I'm still a kid. You might be able to get me in a used Elise, but different price bracket even used. One I wrote that I had to get a little obsessive and checked Auto Trader (I usually buy cars 1-2 years old and get the top of the line engine, might be partly why I'm overthinking buying this one new) The Cayman and Z-06 are on my car bucket list with an air cooled 911, Lotus Elise, BMW 2002, Mark III Mini Cooper, SpecMiata and time to race. The Cayman S (have to get the best engine if you're going used or what's the point but Rs are still 60K+ and the S is such a great car) gets under $40K if you go over 30K and under 2009. The Z-06 is a great track car-2007 or earlier and over 30-40K miles. You could actually make BMW M, Porsche R/GT-R, Lexus F, Audi S, Mustang GT500, Corvette Z-07/Z-R1 vs GP argument that says the GP is one of the only factory cars where you can get a track model new for <$40K.

Just a few rambling thoughts from a car guy sedated after dental surgery. Definitely a lot of taste and opinion. I'm curious if anyone can think of any other good $40K comparisons, new or used. Any other intangibles you've noticed after driving your GP for a while?

 

Will you post a pic of the Rennline pedals? I agree the MINI pedals aren't all that great for heel-toe unless you're wearing just the perfect pair of shoes.

 

Here's a few pictures. They install easily and the stock brake and clutch covers could go right back on. The accelerator and dead pedal have permanent screw holes that won't cover up if you wanted to remove them. The brake is metal and hard to drill. I was surprised that the clutch pedal is plastic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrdavid...7638184606626/

 

wow... nice!

 

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I'm ordering the kit.

 

Thanks. Took a short trip around the neighborhood and much more solid feel and the brake is moved just close enough to the accelerator, especially with that red tab. My foot stays much more stable on the edge of the brake, too. I'd still like the gas to be a little more towards me or the brake farther away, but I'm comparing it to the M3 which is perfect. Taking it to the track tomorrow and I'll let you know how they really work. Also trying out the NM wheels with Yokohamas in comparison to the Kumhos on stock wheels. NMs are 5 lbs lighter, but the tires will be a lot less sticky.

 

Those rennlines look great.