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Mike's MINI R56 GP2
- Thread starter MiniMike20
- Start date
MiniMike20
Well-known member
Overdue update on this one - Done about 7500km in it since I got it so here are some thoughts.
The GP2 is not a normal MINI and its ownership experience has not been normal or for that matter, particularly great. I should insist on clarifying that the term "great" has an emotional range of hmm great and oh wow great and when I say great I mean its been alright, its been decent, its been good - But, it has been incredibly underwhelming.
In owning 5 of these cars there is an assertion that the GP series of MINIs should be absolutely bonkers and for the GP1 that is certainly quite true - That was a stupid little car and it was excellent at being stupid and entertaining. The GP2 should be every bit as entertaining and stupid except MINI asked the M department at BMW to co-develop it over a period of nearly 4 years, at the ring.
The GP2 is therefore not stupid or entertaining - It is clinical and it is precise and it really really really bores me to absolute death.
Hear me out - The suspension does not break your back. Its firm, its a bit bumpy but its not Clio RS levels of harshness. The exhaust, unless cold started is quite tame despite there being no back seats and the only time it burbles or pops is when it is specifically in Sport mode. The build quality is excellent, its the last year of manufacture. Hell, its been completely solid mechanically too. Not a single chain noise, not even a squeak out of the motor.
Practically its been wonderful too. The lack of back seats makes it the most practical car I have ever owned - You can throw anything in there, from multiple suitcases to dogs and despite reasonably high fuel consumption (11L/100km) it has been fairly effortless to own.
So, why is it boring me to death? Simple. Its too good.
It has zero personality whatsoever. It is a weapon, it is a scary little bubble shaped terrorist of a car that requires you to constantly be outside of your comfort zone to enjoy it. In GP Mode where it mimics a Limited Slip Differential it will put all 160kw and 300+ Nm down effortlessly with the wrong tyres on it. The brakes, off the E series Gen M135i are unreal, they stop on a dime and they feel incredible, giving confidence to a chassis that no car this size should exude. The steering is faster, the turn in is sharper, the balancing is sublime.
It chased a bunch of Porsche's at a run just after I got it - It sits in a corner in a biblical manner, the seats are gorgeous, the interior feels bespoke and unique, the rev-range is silly, it pulls to the redline and the gear change is dealt with effortlessly, not an ounce of lag or delay. It is, simply put an absolute work of art, but its boring as all hell to daily.
The only problem is, you need to be doing 180+ to upset it and there is no world in which I can do those speeds outside of a race-track in Cape Town. I took this car over Helshoogte three times and at 170+ in the one sweeping bend I decided I do not have the balls or the audacity to drive it faster - Why should I, it just never seems to find a limit despite every car review saying this chassis setup is twitchy and snappy... Maybe it is but I am not going to do 200km+ to make it behave like that.
As a daily drive the GP2 is the most boring MINI I have ever owned. It is too special, it is too rare, it is too precious, it is too good at being the race car it believes it is for it to be any fun on a daily basis and as such I fell out of love with it very quickly. The regular S and JCW trim models heel and toe, the regular Cooper can be pushed to its max and still be completely safe while leaving a grin on your face. That easily accessible MINI character, the playful nature, the pocket rocket feeling the regular models permeate from their very core is completely detached in the GP2.
I had no idea what to do with the car and I was fairly vocal about my disdain having spent so much on a vehicle that didnt really tickle me or make me froth at the mouth - So I chucked my dogs in the back and I drove it to JHB where I fell in love with it. In fact, I fell in love with it the moment I left the Huguenot Tunnel.
You see, they spelt GP wrong. This little car loves a road trip and that got me thinking to my earlier reading on the car and I noticed a familiar trend in Europe and the States - Load your GP, drive to the track, track your GP, drive home and if possible, do it with other GP owners and within three hours on the road, 4 degree ambient temp just rolling through the Hex River mountains and out onto the N2 this car stole every bit of my heart.
Seeing a traction control light as I snap change into 4th gear, bombing it from 100 to 180 in seconds and then feeling those excellent brakes work. This car loves a journey, this car adores a winding back road with no destination. This car desperately wants to cruise at 180 and then be absolutely hammered around a mountain pass before chilling with cars way bigger and more powerful than it knowing damn well it gave them all a fright - It is the ankle biter in the ring with the bulldogs and it is that environment, where you can maximize the chassis, the Bilstein suspension and let it all come together that this GP2 is a legend.
It lives in JHB now. Where the on-ramps have become race-courses, the back roads have become stomping grounds and where its close to more tracks than ever before. I truly love this little MINI, it is exquisite, it not supposed to be this good but it is and it doesnt belong in Cape Town and its certainly no daily driver if you, like me, have the attention span of a goldfish.
As I type this, its stored in a basement, in the dark, probably talking shit about me and planning its escape - And I would not have it any other way.
M3boi
Well-known member
Overdue update on this one - Done about 7500km in it since I got it so here are some thoughts.
The GP2 is not a normal MINI and its ownership experience has not been normal or for that matter, particularly great. I should insist on clarifying that the term "great" has an emotional range of hmm great and oh wow great and when I say great I mean its been alright, its been decent, its been good - But, it has been incredibly underwhelming.
In owning 5 of these cars there is an assertion that the GP series of MINIs should be absolutely bonkers and for the GP1 that is certainly quite true - That was a stupid little car and it was excellent at being stupid and entertaining. The GP2 should be every bit as entertaining and stupid except MINI asked the M department at BMW to co-develop it over a period of nearly 4 years, at the ring.
The GP2 is therefore not stupid or entertaining - It is clinical and it is precise and it really really really bores me to absolute death.
Hear me out - The suspension does not break your back. Its firm, its a bit bumpy but its not Clio RS levels of harshness. The exhaust, unless cold started is quite tame despite there being no back seats and the only time it burbles or pops is when it is specifically in Sport mode. The build quality is excellent, its the last year of manufacture. Hell, its been completely solid mechanically too. Not a single chain noise, not even a squeak out of the motor.
Practically its been wonderful too. The lack of back seats makes it the most practical car I have ever owned - You can throw anything in there, from multiple suitcases to dogs and despite reasonably high fuel consumption (11L/100km) it has been fairly effortless to own.
So, why is it boring me to death? Simple. Its too good.
It has zero personality whatsoever. It is a weapon, it is a scary little bubble shaped terrorist of a car that requires you to constantly be outside of your comfort zone to enjoy it. In GP Mode where it mimics a Limited Slip Differential it will put all 160kw and 300+ Nm down effortlessly with the wrong tyres on it. The brakes, off the E series Gen M135i are unreal, they stop on a dime and they feel incredible, giving confidence to a chassis that no car this size should exude. The steering is faster, the turn in is sharper, the balancing is sublime.
It chased a bunch of Porsche's at a run just after I got it - It sits in a corner in a biblical manner, the seats are gorgeous, the interior feels bespoke and unique, the rev-range is silly, it pulls to the redline and the gear change is dealt with effortlessly, not an ounce of lag or delay. It is, simply put an absolute work of art, but its boring as all hell to daily.
The only problem is, you need to be doing 180+ to upset it and there is no world in which I can do those speeds outside of a race-track in Cape Town. I took this car over Helshoogte three times and at 170+ in the one sweeping bend I decided I do not have the balls or the audacity to drive it faster - Why should I, it just never seems to find a limit despite every car review saying this chassis setup is twitchy and snappy... Maybe it is but I am not going to do 200km+ to make it behave like that.
As a daily drive the GP2 is the most boring MINI I have ever owned. It is too special, it is too rare, it is too precious, it is too good at being the race car it believes it is for it to be any fun on a daily basis and as such I fell out of love with it very quickly. The regular S and JCW trim models heel and toe, the regular Cooper can be pushed to its max and still be completely safe while leaving a grin on your face. That easily accessible MINI character, the playful nature, the pocket rocket feeling the regular models permeate from their very core is completely detached in the GP2.
I had no idea what to do with the car and I was fairly vocal about my disdain having spent so much on a vehicle that didnt really tickle me or make me froth at the mouth - So I chucked my dogs in the back and I drove it to JHB where I fell in love with it. In fact, I fell in love with it the moment I left the Huguenot Tunnel.
You see, they spelt GP wrong. This little car loves a road trip and that got me thinking to my earlier reading on the car and I noticed a familiar trend in Europe and the States - Load your GP, drive to the track, track your GP, drive home and if possible, do it with other GP owners and within three hours on the road, 4 degree ambient temp just rolling through the Hex River mountains and out onto the N2 this car stole every bit of my heart.
Seeing a traction control light as I snap change into 4th gear, bombing it from 100 to 180 in seconds and then feeling those excellent brakes work. This car loves a journey, this car adores a winding back road with no destination. This car desperately wants to cruise at 180 and then be absolutely hammered around a mountain pass before chilling with cars way bigger and more powerful than it knowing damn well it gave them all a fright - It is the ankle biter in the ring with the bulldogs and it is that environment, where you can maximize the chassis, the Bilstein suspension and let it all come together that this GP2 is a legend.
It lives in JHB now. Where the on-ramps have become race-courses, the back roads have become stomping grounds and where its close to more tracks than ever before. I truly love this little MINI, it is exquisite, it not supposed to be this good but it is and it doesnt belong in Cape Town and its certainly no daily driver if you, like me, have the attention span of a goldfish.
As I type this, its stored in a basement, in the dark, probably talking shit about me and planning its escape - And I would not have it any other way.
You're still an idiot for taking it to Joburg.
MiniMike20
Well-known member
You and I both know I was going to end up in jail in Cape Town if I left it here - Its too fast for what it is and Cape Town sucks for it - Every nice road is one Renault Kwid away from being ruined all the time and that's besides the never-ending traffic and congestion. It had to go, its way happier there.
MiniMike20
Well-known member
I also have a bunch shit sitting in its boot that I bought that I have not fitted to it...
Black LCi 2 MINI Badges
Black Door Handles
Black Fuel Cap Cover
2x New JCW Badges (as the red washes out on them)
Lower Engine Mount
Rear Anti-Roll Bar Bushes
Its joining some other MINI's on Saturday to go on the dyno - I do hope its stock, because the way it lights the fronts up on the very greasy JHB roads in third gear is hilarious if it only has 160kw.
Thanks for the lovely comments everyone - I have not driven it in two weeks so I am frothing to fetch it from storage on Saturday and rag it.
Black LCi 2 MINI Badges
Black Door Handles
Black Fuel Cap Cover
2x New JCW Badges (as the red washes out on them)
Lower Engine Mount
Rear Anti-Roll Bar Bushes
Its joining some other MINI's on Saturday to go on the dyno - I do hope its stock, because the way it lights the fronts up on the very greasy JHB roads in third gear is hilarious if it only has 160kw.
Thanks for the lovely comments everyone - I have not driven it in two weeks so I am frothing to fetch it from storage on Saturday and rag it.
MiniMike20
Well-known member
If anyone is attending the MINI United Event on the 7th September, say hello - The car will be on display on behalf of MINI South Africa.
I changed the Badges to the new split wings Piano Black Badges this weekend.
Replaced the JCW Emblems with new ones.
Added Black Door Handle Covers.
Did a Black Fuel Filler Cap.
Hopefully the touch up paint arrives from Germany today and then I can send it off for a detail before next week - Also been struggling to figure out if I am okay with a non-dealer workshop fitting my OEM anti roll bar bushes (Rear) and Lower Engine Mount. They not faulty, they just common parts that I bought from MINI in Cape Town but have not had a chance to get fitted.
Also want to change the Gearbox Oil on it - That I got from Ravenol though. Reckon it should all be done at a dealer? I will only be using OEM parts on this car, even if it bankrupts me, so makes sense to let the dealer be the only one to work on it?
Thoughts?
I changed the Badges to the new split wings Piano Black Badges this weekend.
Replaced the JCW Emblems with new ones.
Added Black Door Handle Covers.
Did a Black Fuel Filler Cap.
Hopefully the touch up paint arrives from Germany today and then I can send it off for a detail before next week - Also been struggling to figure out if I am okay with a non-dealer workshop fitting my OEM anti roll bar bushes (Rear) and Lower Engine Mount. They not faulty, they just common parts that I bought from MINI in Cape Town but have not had a chance to get fitted.
Also want to change the Gearbox Oil on it - That I got from Ravenol though. Reckon it should all be done at a dealer? I will only be using OEM parts on this car, even if it bankrupts me, so makes sense to let the dealer be the only one to work on it?
Thoughts?
MiniMike20
Well-known member
The car attended MINI United this past Saturday which was honestly just a mess.
We arrived early as requested and security sent us down this very dodgy little gravel road (despite my arguing with him) at which point a rock took out my drivers front sidewall... Nice fat hole, it went flat immediately. So we drove into the venue with a fully deflated tyre (keeping in mind this meant my car was scraping its belly on everything) and then had to figure out how to get the wheel to a tyre shop to replace the tyre.
For some odd reason, the GP has a full jack and spanner kit. Not sure if the previous owner bought it but I was thankful for its existence and I managed to find a single Goodyear Asymmetric F1 at Tiger Wheel and Tyre close by so borrowed a car and went and had a new tyre fitted..... Waiting for the 2nd one to arrive tomorrow hopefully - R6k down the drain as the current set of 4 were brand new 7000km ago.
The parade was poorly organized, we ended up asking club members to fill in where they didn't have the right models or enough cars and it lasted all of 4 minutes at which point we had enough and left. The car was filthy from the moment it arrived. There was no dedicated place for it to park so once it had the tyre replaced it sort of just sat in the middle of nowhere - Pretty much the only car on show besides the current models.
Overall a complete waste of time - Wish we had not bothered.
We arrived early as requested and security sent us down this very dodgy little gravel road (despite my arguing with him) at which point a rock took out my drivers front sidewall... Nice fat hole, it went flat immediately. So we drove into the venue with a fully deflated tyre (keeping in mind this meant my car was scraping its belly on everything) and then had to figure out how to get the wheel to a tyre shop to replace the tyre.
For some odd reason, the GP has a full jack and spanner kit. Not sure if the previous owner bought it but I was thankful for its existence and I managed to find a single Goodyear Asymmetric F1 at Tiger Wheel and Tyre close by so borrowed a car and went and had a new tyre fitted..... Waiting for the 2nd one to arrive tomorrow hopefully - R6k down the drain as the current set of 4 were brand new 7000km ago.
The parade was poorly organized, we ended up asking club members to fill in where they didn't have the right models or enough cars and it lasted all of 4 minutes at which point we had enough and left. The car was filthy from the moment it arrived. There was no dedicated place for it to park so once it had the tyre replaced it sort of just sat in the middle of nowhere - Pretty much the only car on show besides the current models.
Overall a complete waste of time - Wish we had not bothered.
///M Individual
Well-known member
Damn sorry bud. That was so unnecessary.
Mini's marketing is not aimed at the enthusiast , they are aiming for a completely different segment - more hip and happing lifestyle vs petrol heads.
Did you at least enjoy the bands ;-)
MiniMike20
Well-known member
Lets face facts about the MINI brand.
In 2011 in peak second gen hype and euphoria, where MINI made its name in South Africa a Cooper was R220k and an S started at R280k. A MINI one was R174k.
Come 2016/2017 you could buy a 3rd generation car for R400k max in a fantastic spec, in a 5 door with the S motor.
Enter 2024 and the base price on a Cooper (new name for the hatch) C is R700k. The car is in its 3rd facelift despite being sold as an "all new" MINI - Its still an F series chassis and identical drivetrain. What disheartened me at the show was meeting the new SE Electric, on the J01 Platform which is an all new MINI chassis (albeit a GWM Geely platform) and you can tell its new. It looks brilliant, it feels fresh and inventive. The fact that MINI is selling a 2014 car in 2024 for 3x the price it ever cost just for base spec is diabolical and it reflects clearly as MINI sales globally is down nearly 20%. Park the F66 and the J01 next to the other, its shameful how MINI is selling a badly proportioned car next to what is actually the new car and making customers pay what they are for it,
So the brand has to change. It cant be chic, sexy and fun and individual with a small premium like it was in 2011. It cannot appeal to a target market who favour driving experience over guaranteed future values and favored trims and rose gold accents because MINI is now the iPhone of the auto world. It has to be built like a German car with enough British coolness to draw a crowd, refined like one and have zero personality because MINI is now no longer an expression of your individuality - MINI is now an accessory to match your projected self image which makes it no different to buying a Louis Vuitton or a Prada product.
People need to know you got dope cash and style but every single one of these cars looks the same in the same way you can recognize a LV print from a mile away, the spec options in 2011 had over 500 combinations just for the interior - Now you have 3 combinations.
MINI in 2024 has to look premium, feel premium and cost premium money else it wont sell - You don't get a gear lever anymore. You can only get paddles if you spec a JCW Trim or buy an actual JCW. The countryman JCW has some value proposition but even then its only because its less expensive than an identical engine and trim level in an X1 or Audi Q2/3 or GLA/GLB. Engines, gearboxes, everything is the same as a 2017 car except now you have the stupid Oled screen which is impossible to use and vegan leather.
Honestly, I get why the festival was a mess - Because the brand is a mess, it doesn't cater to its existing market who is a repeat buy market - Most MINI owners have had several MINI's. Bought into the 2nd gen, bought into 1st gen countryman and are now maybe on a current Countryman and have gone from wanting a hot racer to a family vehicle but it no longer attracts a younger market wanting performance and rally heritage - Hell I do not know what the brand is anymore but its not the MINI I fell in love with and price wise I will never get into a current MINI.
So really, the bands at the show were the least of my concern, even if I only recognized one of them and Roger Goode.
In 2011 in peak second gen hype and euphoria, where MINI made its name in South Africa a Cooper was R220k and an S started at R280k. A MINI one was R174k.
Come 2016/2017 you could buy a 3rd generation car for R400k max in a fantastic spec, in a 5 door with the S motor.
Enter 2024 and the base price on a Cooper (new name for the hatch) C is R700k. The car is in its 3rd facelift despite being sold as an "all new" MINI - Its still an F series chassis and identical drivetrain. What disheartened me at the show was meeting the new SE Electric, on the J01 Platform which is an all new MINI chassis (albeit a GWM Geely platform) and you can tell its new. It looks brilliant, it feels fresh and inventive. The fact that MINI is selling a 2014 car in 2024 for 3x the price it ever cost just for base spec is diabolical and it reflects clearly as MINI sales globally is down nearly 20%. Park the F66 and the J01 next to the other, its shameful how MINI is selling a badly proportioned car next to what is actually the new car and making customers pay what they are for it,
So the brand has to change. It cant be chic, sexy and fun and individual with a small premium like it was in 2011. It cannot appeal to a target market who favour driving experience over guaranteed future values and favored trims and rose gold accents because MINI is now the iPhone of the auto world. It has to be built like a German car with enough British coolness to draw a crowd, refined like one and have zero personality because MINI is now no longer an expression of your individuality - MINI is now an accessory to match your projected self image which makes it no different to buying a Louis Vuitton or a Prada product.
People need to know you got dope cash and style but every single one of these cars looks the same in the same way you can recognize a LV print from a mile away, the spec options in 2011 had over 500 combinations just for the interior - Now you have 3 combinations.
MINI in 2024 has to look premium, feel premium and cost premium money else it wont sell - You don't get a gear lever anymore. You can only get paddles if you spec a JCW Trim or buy an actual JCW. The countryman JCW has some value proposition but even then its only because its less expensive than an identical engine and trim level in an X1 or Audi Q2/3 or GLA/GLB. Engines, gearboxes, everything is the same as a 2017 car except now you have the stupid Oled screen which is impossible to use and vegan leather.
Honestly, I get why the festival was a mess - Because the brand is a mess, it doesn't cater to its existing market who is a repeat buy market - Most MINI owners have had several MINI's. Bought into the 2nd gen, bought into 1st gen countryman and are now maybe on a current Countryman and have gone from wanting a hot racer to a family vehicle but it no longer attracts a younger market wanting performance and rally heritage - Hell I do not know what the brand is anymore but its not the MINI I fell in love with and price wise I will never get into a current MINI.
So really, the bands at the show were the least of my concern, even if I only recognized one of them and Roger Goode.
MiniMike20
Well-known member
Which is why I bought this GP2 - Because its the last great this brand is going to produce that I can afford and its the best MINI this brand has produced and comes with a string of nostalgia, joy, core memories and moments all experienced in the multitude of MINI products I have owned.
Now that's a sweet ride, congrats! I recently picked up my first mini (2021 Countryman S) and I'm impressed by the build quality and overall driving experience have never driven a mini before. I can only imagine what this feels like to drivePicked up a dream purchase on Saturday.
Its a 2013 MINI Hatch John Cooper Works GP. Its on 71 000km.
MiniMike20
Well-known member
Hi All,
The little GP is for sale - Reminder its a 2013, now with 80 066km on the clock.
www.autotrader.co.za
Its a 9/10 car but its been driven and enjoyed, if you are looking for 10/10 this isnt it. I would argue its one of the neatest I have seen, its beautifully documented (100% dealer kept with a ton of preventative maintenance) too. I had the gearbox oil and lower engine mount changed 50km ago by the dealer as well, its got 7000km till its next service only.
Selling for R380k and a tiny bit negotiable - Vehicle is in JHB. Keep in mind the GP is a garage queen (its done less than 1000km since October last year as an example).
Equally and unfortunately, my partner and I were in a very serious car accident last week and my perspective for things with 4 wheels has changed dramatically and part of that is saying goodbye to this little fella. R10k finders fee for a successful sale.
The little GP is for sale - Reminder its a 2013, now with 80 066km on the clock.
MINI Hatch John Cooper Works GP for sale in Boksburg - ID: 27886471
Used 2013 MINI Hatch John Cooper Works GP For Sale - R 380 000 - ID: 27886471
www.autotrader.co.za
Its a 9/10 car but its been driven and enjoyed, if you are looking for 10/10 this isnt it. I would argue its one of the neatest I have seen, its beautifully documented (100% dealer kept with a ton of preventative maintenance) too. I had the gearbox oil and lower engine mount changed 50km ago by the dealer as well, its got 7000km till its next service only.
Selling for R380k and a tiny bit negotiable - Vehicle is in JHB. Keep in mind the GP is a garage queen (its done less than 1000km since October last year as an example).
Equally and unfortunately, my partner and I were in a very serious car accident last week and my perspective for things with 4 wheels has changed dramatically and part of that is saying goodbye to this little fella. R10k finders fee for a successful sale.
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