Sections: In the Press | JCW Jul 24th, 2006 18 Comments Everyone’s favorite US based weekly automotive magazine gives us its take on the JCW GP. Fresh from driving the car at the recent press event in Italy, Greg Kable gives us his thoughts on the car and whether or not it’s truly worth the price of admission. Here’s an excerpt:
All good stuff. But in the end you have to ask yourself whether the extra $2,000 or so you’re asked to pay for the GP above the cost of the already pricey Cooper S Works is warranted. “Probably not,†is the honest answer. But that’s not the point. This car is not going to be bought on the strength of its performance or its appearance nor its terrific handling. No, it is the fact that just more than one-third of a limited total production run is bound for North America that has buyers falling over themselves to get in line. In fact, if you’re not already signed up, it’s already too late, according to Mini. That’s no great problem, though. With an all-new model just around the corner, the shadow cast by the GP isn’t likely to last all that long. BMW’s marketing department will see to that, we’re sure.
You can read the entire review here:
[ 2006 Mini Cooper S w/JCW GP kit ] Autoweek
MF Analysis
Unfortunatetly Mr. Kable doesn’t seem to be familiar with all the included components of the GP. The JCW Suspension and wheels would be worth well over $2000 on their own. And this is not to mention the lightened suspension and under-body aero work that truly sets this car apart.
Ian C. Jul 24th, 2006 Link
The claims of 120lb weight loss, and “more than one-third of a limited total production run is bound for North America” indicate the article is still not error free, although the hp/torque figures look OK, unlike most reviews!
j Jul 24th, 2006 Link
im kinda hoping that that color is later available as an option…. although now that im thinking, that probably wont be posible cuz then in would probably make the GP less special
Ian F Jul 24th, 2006 Link
Yep, I agree with Gabe. The suspension and aero kit alone exceed the $2000 difference, not including installation. The GP is a great deal, IMO. I’d get one if I could.
kevjandon Jul 24th, 2006 Link
you have to remember that there is a credit for most of the parts added or changed.
You turn in a set of 17’s and get 18’s.
Turn in stock shocks for JCW’s shocks.
No additional labor for these items, just a part swap which nets close to zero or a very little add.
No back seat saves money too and is almost a pure credit.
This is the point Autoweek is trying to make.
tony T Jul 24th, 2006 Link
When a journalist judges the ‘value’ of a special car over its normal everyday counterpart, they dont see the inherant value of the cost of optional parts fitted as standard to the special. OK
tony T Jul 24th, 2006 Link
When a journalist judges the ‘value’ of a special car over its normal everyday counterpart, they dont see the inherant value of the cost of optional parts fitted as standard to the special. OK, we know that to go get the JCW suspension at a dealership on your ’standard’ Works costs you, what, around $1000. To the journalist, thats irrelevant. And irrelevant to most other people who are not ‘educated’ in such things. The car has suspension, end of story. It doesnt have ‘$1000′ worth of suspension, it has suspension, which is slightly different from the standard offerring. Does anyone believe for instance that the net cost to BMW of fitting such suspension in the GP is $1000? No, not for a minute. In fact, its probably the same cost to BMW as standard parts. So, the fact that BMW charge more for the GP than a Standard Works but dont add the whole total of the optional cost doesn’t make for a saving by the buyer. Dont get me wrong, I too think the GP is a bargain in terms of fitted equipement, but it doesn’t work like that for 99.99% of the population of the planet.
Put it this way. You pay $2 for a glass of bottled water at a resturant. Does it have any more intrinsic value than a glass of tap water that you get from the ‘faucet’ at home…? No. Its just a glass of water. Once you take away the manufacturers profit margin, the cost serving it, the cost of transportation to the resturant, the cost of cleaning up after you, the cost of waiter service, the cost of packaging, it does no more than the glass of water at home. So it is to these ‘outsiders’ that dont appreciate the fact that the car has certain options that would cost you a lot more to add to a standard Works. You have to be slightly obsessed, in fact, quite obsessed, to see the value of a GP. In exactly the same way that you have to be slightly obsessed with anything that is in any way marketed as special.If we werent obsessed by things we dont really need, BMW would be out of business, and we would all drive Hyundayi’s.
Me, I’m just as obsessed and slightly unhinged as the next Mini nut.
Yegor H. Jul 24th, 2006 Link
Hey Tony, add me to the list! ;-)
Frank Jul 24th, 2006 Link
The JCW GP is a great value as a rare, linited edition, collector’s car. But when pitted against a more “mundane” JCW MCS it might not be such a hot value anymore.
Remember that with the JCW GP you don’t get a lot of the “popular” options that most MINI owners die for:
No Xenon headlights No Harmon Kardon No Sunroof No Automatic A/C No back seat No rear stereo speakers
And the list goes on and on. The JCW GP is tuned purely for performance and collectible car status and on that realm the GP is, then again, a great value.
But when pitted against a comparable specced to order MCS, the GP comes short in some areas.
For instance, the JCW GP doesn’t interest me because it lacks a rear seat, the numero uno requirement. I can get away with having just 2 doors, but can’t say the same if I can’t put people back there.
I think “Value” is in the eye of the beholder and the JCW GP falls in a category where the car due to its inherit rarity is considered to be a “must have” but for the everyday user the GP lacks some of the features that make the car more appealing to a greater audience.
nrkist Jul 24th, 2006 Link
the shadow cast by the GP isn’t likely to last all that long
Word. The R56 JCW will eat GPs for breakfast.
Greg W Jul 24th, 2006 Link
It’s all about being a “limited edition” that gives the car extra value. If you are lucky enough to secure one of these cars, the residual value will be more in years to come. I have just been reading an article about the 1953 Chev Corvette where only 300 were made – the 255 left of these are now worth a small fortune.
What is annoying is that car manufacturers sometimes label cars as “limited editions” and then proceed to umlimit production runs.
Greg W Jul 24th, 2006 Link
Previous comment continued… It is a pity that this “special” was not produced for a homologation reason for a racing or rally event where a certain number of cars have to built to comply with standard production class requirements. I could then understand the reasoning if the car was going to be used in the World Rally Championship or similar.
LMB Jul 24th, 2006 Link
And you know that how?
LMB Jul 24th, 2006 Link
My comment was to nrkist
nrkist Jul 24th, 2006 Link
Not to get too detailed, LMB, but I use psychadelic drugs and meditation to elevate my consciousness to the point where I can actually see into the future. I feel like crap the next day, but it’s totally worth it.
Mark Hendrie Jul 25th, 2006 Link
nrkist has it all wrong – whilst the new JCW will be a superior car when it comes to handling perhaps the GP will still have a trick or two left to teach the newcomer! Despite the fact that the GP will be heavier if you combine the suspension set-up with the aerokit it sounds as if the GP handles really well?
nrkist Jul 25th, 2006 Link
Ah, but the weight difference would allow you to carry, say… Schummie in the passenger seat and Jaun Pablo in the back of the new JCW for some live coaching. Try that in a GP.
Mark Hendrie Jul 25th, 2006 Link
If anyone could afford those lads for live coaching they would be driving a Zonda!
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