MotoringFile JCW GP Update

Sections: JCW GP | Reviews Dec 5th, 2006 18 Comments

The official MotoringFile GP press car was finally delivered this Monday after a slight delay due to the recent snow storm. Apparently press cars don’t go anywhere when they have 14″ of snow on them.

I won’t go into too many details about the car and my experience so far here as I’m working on a larger series of review later in the week and next week. However I do want to point you the flickr page that will be documenting the week with continuously updated with photos of the GP.

[ Pictures: One week w/a JCW GP ] Flickr

Written By: Gabe

http://gskchicago.blogspot.com/ GSKChicago

Good pics – making me all the more eager to read the upcoming review. Fortunately, it’s been dry here the last few days. As long as you can avoid the un-plowed areas to avoid scraping underneath the car.

Does the GP ride any lower than a 2005 with stock 17′s?
http://www.dickdavid.com dickdavid

Did it actually need a jump start?
B.J.

Did I see 7960 miles on the clock already?
revwillie

17 degrees? Brrrrrr.

Let us know if the stock tires leak air at such cold temps. Two of my euphorias have been losing 5psi a day in the 30-40 degree weather we’ve been having.
Edge

I’d be less worried about air loss than I would be about the tires turning rock hard in the cold temps. Summer tires in cold weather – bad combo!

Just last week I had my JCW wheels (with the exact same tires that come with the GP) removed and my winter set put on. HUGE difference in ride and performance on cold nights. For starters, the winter tires don’t shudder loudly when accelerating quickly, because they aren’t rock hard!
James

It was be interesting to see what you can add to the plethora of GP reviews we have already read.
http://www.twistybitz.com/ TWISTYBITZ

Just look’n at the pics makes me frick’n cold! I have never been in temps colder than 30Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Âº.

Got to have a shotgun ride in Dan Skorcz’s GP 2 weekends ago here in SoCal, all I can say is WOW! I wish I had the bucks to get one. There isn’t much comparison to my ’04 MCS, hands down the GP is a better car. I have a really short review at my blog.

Here yesterday… 78Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Âº…. Sorry, stay worm and be careful out there. ;Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬)
FrankInMiami

My local MINI dealer has 2 brand new JCW GP’s for immediate delivery. Problem is each one carries a $10K mark-up from MSRP.

I believe they have GP roof numbers 1397 and 1007.

I sat inside 1397. Very nice car but it is fairly simple looking inside. The stereo is the European headunit not the Alpine boost unit we have been getting here for so many years. The seats are nice, but I was expecting something more along the lines of Recaros.

The car looks beautiful otherwise.

2 caveats….

No rear radio speakers, although you can see the “cavities” for each rear speaker mounted on the inside of each rear C-pillar

No rear wiper. What’s up with that?? MINI didn’t expect people driving this car in the street in the rain? They should have relocated the rear wiper to the top portion of the rear hatch glass, hidden underneath the massive rear spoiler.

This car is very simplistic, equipment wise. For those of you who love sunroofs, Xenons and automatic A/C buttons, you won’t find those in the JCW GP. This car’s philosophy is “Less is more” and I like it.

Also this car has no front or rear fogs. Another glaring factory omission IMHO.

I think I am going to go back to test drive it in the weekend. Car has 7 miles in the odo.

This car is perfect for Miami. Right now our temperature is 75F and 60% humidity, not a cloud in the sky!

If it weren’t for the $10K mark-up and the lack of a rear seat bench (I needed for the wife and baby), I would probably have jumped on it.

One interesting tid bit, speaking of children, is that the JCW GP allows you to “safely” carry an infant car seat in the front passenger seat. First of all, the passenger side airbag is automatically disabled (This feature has been offered on MINIs since January 2005 production) when you place the baby car seat. What is interesting, is that the rear metal bar that runs the width of the car behind the front seats, has a teether (latch) connection behind the fron passenger seat, so you can attach the car seat to this teether. Not bad at all, but still doesn’t cut it as I need an extra seat for the wife.

If anyone is interested in coming down to Miami to pick up a brand new JCW GP, send me an e-mail and I’ll hook you up with the Motoring Advisor at my local dealer.
http://www.twistybitz.com/ TWISTYBITZ

Frank,

the items you mentioned got a “What’s up with dat?!” from me also. My friend & GP owner here in SoCal Dan Skorcz talked about that also and also thought it was odd that MINI lightened an already rear end light car and didn’t seem to lighten the front end that much. We also didn’t understand why that bar behind the seats wasn’t made strong enough for a race harness.

An 1007, really, wow, I had heard there would be no “007″. That would be the one I’d kill for.
bluzeke

LIGHT THAT SUCKA UP Gabe . . .

. . . and MELT that SNOW! ;-)
Lorien
FrankInMiami,

I am owner of GP #1986 in Italy.
1. There are rear fog lights in my GP (comes standard in Europe)
2. There are Ricaro seats in my GP (comes standard in Europe)
3. The spoiler and overall design seem to keep the back window in good shape even without rear wiper. Have had times where it would be nice, but 99% of the time its ok without it. strange I know.. but its fine.
still you guys in the US did get “special” floor mats :)

The car is divine btw. driving it is simply FUN. no other way to put it. did you take it out for a test drive?
FrankInMiami

Lorien:

Not yet. I am looking forward for a test drive. I know I am going to want it after driving it, but the hefty price and no back seat will make sure to keep this car away from me. ;)
Edge

With 7 miles on it and their $10K markup, I’ll be surprised if they let you test drive it, to be honest!
THE ITCH

Oh my get that Gp out of the snow and in a heated garage next to mine. I really doubt that you will be able to run the car thru it’s paces in those conditions. If it starts to snow again you’ll be driving a snow plow. The car is really exceptional tho and you really have to drive one for a while to appreciate how good a job MINI really did. I get a kick out of some of the comments that I read from people that have not had the pleasure of driving one. This is one car that truley is a sum of the parts. It truley is a great street car as it comes from MINI, that is if it’s not snowing :). Have fun Gabe, Steve

FranklmMiami wrote: No rear radio speakers, although you can see the ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œcavitiesÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â for each rear speaker mounted on the inside of each rear C-pillar

FranklinMiami Actually what you are looking at are the covers for what used to be the rear sealt belt location not rear speaker grills.
FrankInMiami

Yeah, good luck to me ;-)

Since I am not a “celebrity” like Gabe, I think it will take a little more effort/convincing for them to toss me the keys.

But….

They need to remember that I am #1 in their waiting list for a ’08 Clubman wagon.

It cuts both ways.
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http://www.zoomco.net neal

much to my suprize I found myself buying #1095 from a dealer in Chicago after putting my wife’s name on a list last April. We traded her 04 S in with 34k miles. We paid $34,500 and recieved trade in allowance of $18.5k We love the car so far, although it has it’s share of rattles that are either part of the weight reduction package or needing some adjustment. I did receive a letter and new window sticker from Mini stating that the 6 speaker option was really not and an apology. I called Mini and they offered to install the JCW front strut tower bar at no charge and give me $250 towards service and parts. The strut bar makes a difference in the rigidity of the suspension and really should have been part of the program from the beginning. Some folks in the US are getting $40k for an undriven GP. We will drive ours and keep in for a while. This is my wife’s car & I drive an 01 Mcoupe with the S54 engine. My advice, get one, get in and go. njs

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