| sorry, but to compare the GP and R56 is a touch silly imho. You buy a GP if you want a focussed mini, you buy a GP if you have no need for rear seats, you buy a GP if you want exclusivity........
You buy an R56 if you want a quick, comfortable, excellent car. It is more useable, looks better (I do find a GP looks a touch Halfords special, not special) and the engine is a more useable one on the road.
The fact the GP will return circa 25mpg compared to 35mpg + for the 56 would put me off too, but then again, I do 30K a year........ | 
