Thanks, Matt

Then I read about the GP early this spring. Made a lame excuse to the wife about having to trade in the old MCS after 4 years in order to maximise resale value (she believed me), and ordered the GP. I think I got one of only 10 or so in Switzerland (very low 3-digit number), picked it up last Friday. WOW! Even though I have to keep it under 4.5 RPM during the break-in period, you can tell that this is a significant step up from the MCS with JCW kits. It really is different.

Apart from being quite loud inside with noticeably increased road noise, the real difference is in the handling. As a racer of a classic MKII 1275 MCS (bored out to 1293cc) I loved the understeer. The new version, however, seemed absolutely neutral in handling. The GP seems to have a bunch of the understeer back – and it is twitchy! I love it.

Negatives – the standard package does not include xenon lights and it is very easy to overdrive the standard lights with this thing at night. The individual number on the roof looks as if it will peel off after a year of sunshine and some water hitting it at 250 km/h. I expected something better (paint instead of a set of digit decals). There is a number on the dash passengers side – and this is done right.

The only problem is the wife was quite pissed off when she got in and realised that our kid had to lay dangerously in the parcel compartment. I got a lot of stick for it being only a 2-seater. Oh well! Can hardly wait until the first 2000km are over.

ALL I CAN SAY IS GET IT.

IT’S GO-KART ON CRACK.

:)

ps. great review

Replace the wheels with almost anything else and it would be my dream car.

I have a 2002 MCS and a member of the “not enough money for a JCW” camp.

Can anyone possibly point me in the right direction to find after-market parts to make the MCS first gear low-end torque curve smoother instead of currently having to rev the engine and gradually ride and release the clutch (otherwise I experience a jolt into gear, followed by the low torque flat point before the car picks up in the higher revs of first gear)? Second gear and upwards seem much smoother compared to first gear dramas.

Or are my driving skills in dramatic need of improvement?!?

As I am mostly sticking to bolt-on mods and retaining the original parts I will have the ability to return it to stock JCW for resale if I ever need too. With the JCW kit, most of the performance mods I am doing are instead focusing on handling/suspension performance and appearance.

I ultimately went with the overpriced JCW package for the smoothness of the power. The way it pulls in every gear throughout the powerband as you and others have described. It just feels like a more complete package (as it should) than a car with the standard mods (CAI, exhaust, pulley).

Is it worth the money? Too subjective to say really. Am I pleased with it? Yes, unquestionably. To me it was the best starting point to mod with, yet retain the warranty & resale value. Ultimately, isn’t the individualistic nature of the MINI (and in turn it’s owners) what owning one is all about?

Frank Broadway

I have come across three used JCW cars in Toronto and Vancouver over the last few months and it appears that in these markets even though the car depreciates, the JCW package appears to retain full value (a couple of these were certified pre-owned at Mini dealers).

I agree that this would be a very personal choice. If you like to tinker, then adding various mods yourself is likely more appropriate. For myself, the JCW package will be the way to go!

Cheers,

Jake