White Roof Radio 657: The GP Has To Be Special
A shorter than normal show this week that is also oddly shaped. Trying to get something while the gettin’ was good. Todd and Gabe were available for about 45 minutes, so one short show it is! Quite a bit more GP talk, along with questioning the difference in power output for the GP models. Gabe is pro, Todd and I are con. What say you? If you are looking for the random JCW GP video I mentioned, you can find that over at YouTube.
Quick reminder gang; we know you really enjoy using Facebook. Here’s the thing; when you leave those awesome comments over there, it’s like talking in an empty room. Nobody sees those comments. Gabe doesn’t see them. Todd doesn’t see them. I don’t see them. MINI and MINIUSA don’t see them. If you want your voice to be heard, make sure you are leaving those comments at White Roof Radio or MotoringFile
Once I purchased my R50, and then my R56 JCW, I was hooked. MINI had me as a loyal customer. Then I got the bad dealership experience, then the issues with the car, then the cost went up. The change in looks (both inside and outside) with the F56 was the last straw. I will keep my highly modified R56 weekend toy and spend my dollars on something else in the future for my daily driver.
<p>Once I purchased my R50, and then my R56 JCW, I was hooked. MINI had me as a loyal customer. Then I got the bad dealership experience, then the issues with the car, then the cost went up. The change in looks (both inside and outside) with the F56 was the last straw. I will keep my highly modified R56 weekend toy and spend my dollars on something else in the future for my daily driver.</p>
<p>I am the original owner of a 2009 fJCW Clubman. I drove a new R-Countryman several years ago, and was impressed by how much of the MINI feeling had been retained. However, the car didn’t interest me because I have no need for a larger 4-door vehicle. If I were to add a vehicle, it would have been a JCW Paceman. Always liked the lines of the Paceman much better. It is not unlike the Land Rover Evoque, in my estimation. The Countryman continues to be, well, just fat looking.</p>
<p>I have no intention of getting rid of my Clubman as there is nothing that appeals enough to replace it. The new GP would be interesting from a performance standpoint, but no manual is a buzzkill as I’m 70 and have never owned an automatic across 8 vehicles I have owned. While I could do without a back seat (wife and I are empty nesters), the stiffening bar across the back interferes with cargo usage. It would mean that I couldn’t use it in the same way as my Clubman, therefore it could only be an addition and not a replacement.</p>
<p>I agree that a JCW should be a JCW should be a JCW. If it isn’t going to be the same, then it needs to be designated something different: JCW, JCW+ or something like that. Feels like an unnecessary source of confusion.</p>
<p>While I clearly understand the vagaries of the small car market in general and the rollercoaster-like changes, I do sincerely believe that MINI/BMW has lost the connection with the enthusiast part of the customer base. They are trying to sell the car like any other small car and that bypasses just about everything that makes a MINI a MINI. The question is, can MINI right the ship?</p>
<p>Regarding the lawsuit, I think the marketing part is significant. I think MINI has been deficient in this area. I don’t know how much this will play into the proceedings, but it does seem to be a shortfall to me. I would also wonder how much MINI’s forcing/coercing dealers to expand their facilities in the last few years impacts this. Also, it is unfortunate that the policy is that you can’t consolidate with with a non-BMW dealership. That seems to be a short-sighted policy, and as with the dealership bringing the lawsuit, it will leave an area uncovered. Looks like a Lose/Lose to me…</p>