Comments on: JCW GP Officially Going Up In Value

By: MotoringFile » Archive » NYT on the GP’s Value

MotoringFile » Archive » NYT on the GP’s Value — Thu, 01 May 2008 11:51:44 +0000

[...] first heard earlier this year on MF that the GP values may be on the way up. While we have yet to see hard evidence of that first hand, [...]

By: GP value - MINI2 - MINI Forum

GP value - MINI2 - MINI Forum — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:18:38 +0000

[...] GP value Has anyone seen this article which suggests that are beloved GPs may rise in value (at least in the US)? MotoringFile Â» Archive Â» JCW GP Officially Going Up In Value [...]

By: Dylan

Dylan — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:09:02 +0000

Do I drive it every day and get my kicks every day (while racking up the miles)? Actually use what I am paying for every month? Or, do I buy a Yaris for everyday use and “save” the GP for weekends only?

Cars are meant to be driven. Seriously, buy your car, drive your car, enjoy your car. Don’t “save your car” so that somebody else can enjoy it more than you did later down the track.

One of the guys I work with has a nice car, which he loves to drive. He’s buying a “work hack” so that he can drive that during the week and save ~200ks on the car a week. That’s like saving 10,000ks a year. If he keeps the car for 3 years…he’s saving about 30,000ks which at the end of the day, will increase the car’s value by bugger all. So hey, he might be able to sell it for a couple of grand more in 3 years…but he’s lost out on hours and hours of motoring fun…all so the next guy can enjoy the car more than he did. Don’t do it. Enjoy your GP – it looks amazing and I wish I owned one.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:00:13 +0000

Thanks for the clarification Gary – it’s been updated above.

By: Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:54:24 +0000

Sorry for the initial confusion: I gave Gabe this reference and must have garbled the source: It is actually the N.A.D.A. Classic, Collectible, and Special Interest Appraisal Guide, published by the National Automobile Dealers Association, and is a standard reference for auto appraisers. Gary Anderson

By: MINIAC

MINIAC — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:49:51 +0000

The GP that just sold on NAM for $26K is going to bring down those numbers a little.

By: Hans

Hans — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:03:23 +0000

I just sold mine GP(1630) for Ã¢â€šÂ¬35000,- (was new in Holland in 2006 Ã¢â€šÂ¬44000,-) There are to many GP’s for sale right now, only in Holland their are 10 GP,s for sale and in germany much more.. so the price will not raise for a while.. but i enjoyed every kilometer.. i really loved that car! But for a daily car for mine work i am better off with mine Clubman S right now.. and for the fun i still have the Dax Rush Cosworth that is the real funcar ;-)

By: greg

greg — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:55:53 +0000

Stock '05 MC. 49k miles. Sport,premium, cold weather,int chrome, pkgs,aux gauges. $14k. BRG w blk roof/bonnet stripes.

Since the warranty is almost toast it's time to mod. CAI/pulley/exhaust/Unichip.

Loving it.

By: c4

c4 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:23:45 +0000

Greg, what is the spec of the “new”’05 R53 S that you just purchased?

By: greg

greg — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:45:16 +0000

MiniMark. I think I’ll get in trouble trying too hard to sell the car here. However, I can send you pictures and full info if you send me your email address (gregzito@zitoinsurance.com). Or check Autotrader under Mini Cooper. There are two AB R56 JCWs. Mine is the one with PB leather/JCW suspension/18″ JCW wheels. Thanks Gabe.

By: GSKChicago

GSKChicago — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:08:58 +0000

Or, do I buy a Yaris for everyday use and “save” the GP for weekends only? Help! Really stuck here. The GP is so addictiveÃ¢â‚¬Â¦

Timmee… Not that my opinion matters to anyone; but I am a firm believer that cars are meant to be driven. If you are in a position – financially – to have more than one car, go for it. But at the end of the day, drive your car. I have a friend who owns over a dozen classic ars – gorgeous cars. I honestly don’t know how you pick which one to drive. He has his everyday driver and “plays” on the weekends, etc. If I had too many cars, I’d have a hard time choosing.

Don’t get me wrong – should I ever be fortunate enough to have that problem, I will figure out a way to suffer through.

Short version – Drive your car when and how you want to!

By: gokartride

gokartride — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:46:01 +0000

Great new for GP owners! If this and the R56 Challenge car are any indication, MINI is up to the task of putting some very unique (and potentially valuable?) MINIs out the door in addition to the production cars. Now and again, I’d expect more to see other interesting offerings in the years ahead. Start saving.

By: Alan Smithee

Alan Smithee — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:39:50 +0000

Has anybody ever heard of NABE?

By: MiniMark

MiniMark — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:35:57 +0000

At 2000 miles, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s for sale.

Pics, specs and price?

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:15:33 +0000

The R56 is a better car but it doesn't mean it's a better MINI. There is a common analogy in the Miata world that with each new model they become better car's but not better Miata's and that is what you are seeing here.

The R56 is lighter, faster, has more space and is more efficient but it doesn't have that raw connection from car to driver that enthusiasts seemed to love about the R53.

Is the R56 a better car for the masses? Of course...but it just doesn't have the feeling that a GP would and that's not a bad thing since if every MINI was like a GP I don't think MINI would sell nealy enough of them. Mike

By: Alan Smithee

Alan Smithee — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:38:48 +0000

It’s way, way too early to consider the GP as an appreciating ‘classic’. That will take decades. Keep in mind that it took the entire run of the original New Mini to culminate in the GP. The best of the R56 is yet to come. Unlike analogies used here on past BMWs, the R56 chassis is lighter, stiffer, and has the potential to be more powerful than any version of the R53. If the pinnacle of R56 development isn’t a better car than the R53 GP, then perhaps over time the GP will be considered a ‘classic’ and possess some collector value (I’ll use my own analogy here: Porsche 993C2S vs 996C2).

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:01:36 +0000

and the GP would be the E30 M coupe, more car than the 2002 tii.

Man you guys are really butchering my analogy :) If you follow what I was saying (and it's just my opinion) the GP would be the 2002 tii Turbo. The E30 M3 would be the JCW factory R56.

By: pbraun

pbraun — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:59:20 +0000

and the GP would be the E30 M coupe, more car than the 2002 tii.

By: c4

c4 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:51:47 +0000

The E30 M3 ended production in 1992. The E36 was an attractive car but had a cheap interior and was not a very reliable machine, so I have heard.

So when are you getting a GP? (Todd is not going to sell you his)

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:45:36 +0000

I spent some seat time in various E30 models throught the 1990's and the one that made the biggest impression was a friend's '94 (I believe) E30 M3 hardtop coupe. That car was to die for, literally. It was black, had a black interior and made the sweetest sounds of any Bimmer I can remember. In many respects, the R53 reminds me a lot of those E30s I had the opportunity to spend time with.

To me the R53 is the 2002 (I always thought it was a great coincidence that it came out in 2002). The R56 is the E30. A little larger, a little more refined, decidedly faster and great fun to drive. Maybe not quite at the same level of "purity" of the 2002 but a great ownership experience and a great drive.

The E30 coupe went out of production in '91 so that may have been either a late E30 or an early model E36. The E36 is still a fun car but it was a little heavier and not nearly as well made on the whole however.

Anyway how about that GP...