Your first G_P driving impressions - do tell

[salocin]

Yeah..... I know what you guys mean, the running in bit is quite fun, looking forward to just a few more revs and just a little more power. I almost miss it!

I have covered 2,050 miles now. Iam using most of the revs available but haven't pushed it above 6,500 rpms yet. No doubt about it this car is fantastic ... but you get used to it! So enjoy you're running in period it only happens once!!!

It's nice to drive a car that has abilities above your driving skills ... this is the case for me anyway, it feels safe that way!!

ENJOY!

[jeffers]

Quote: Originally Posted by spud130475 (original)

Looks better now its got my jcw carbon mirror caps & boot handle.

I was thinking about that for a long time - would love to see the pics too

[spud130475]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeffers (original)

I was thinking about that for a long time - would love to see the pics too

http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachmen...9&d=1158859351


http://www.mini2.com/forum/attachmen...0&d=1158859582

[venox22]

what is the suspension set-up on a GP??

I know it has the new model rear suspension arms, but does it come with the JCW suspension you can buy or does it have its own GP set-up??

[GBMINI]

The GP suspension set-up is nice

It uses the JCW suspension - but I'm guessing it's been "tuned" to the specifics of the GP (weight, wheels, etc)

[MCSDCWGP06]

I have done about 1500 miles to date and am now feeling more at home handling the GP. My main point about this wonderful car is the fact that it is like having a stacked rottweiller on a leash, it just keeps wanting to run away and take you with it and you really do have to pull on the reigns to keep it under control.

I have had a few people try to race me, but I ain't bitin! However today I avoided congestion on interstate 95 and came off onto a side road route 9 to keep the car and fun going. Whilst merging a dodge car with four teens came through, the driver, looked like Eminem, saw me and floored it. Notched the revs to 6k and followed him for a while then gave up when I relaised I was being taunted by Eminem in a cheap ass dodge. Not worth it, but it was funny that this kid wanted to race me. A switch kicked in and I became Stirling Moss for a few moments.

I have to say some people see the car in the street and point or wave, kids love it and are aways gazing endlessly at it. The subconcious seed that is MINI has been planted in their head, maybe they will buy one when they grow up?

[GBMINI]

I had someone in a very noisy ?focus? yesterday on 95/128 - came screaming up right alongside me on the right lane, and matched speed next to me. Presumably reacting to the GP spoiler on the back.
Stupid - heavy traffic on all lanes, and wet weather. Just ignored them. I guess they're reading about the "fastest production MINI" and want to test it - but I only want to drive it

[Jaydash]

Spud, do you have any pics of the C/F mirrors and boot handle taken from a little further away?

I've specced the mirrors, but not sure about the handle yet. Would like to get more of an idea by seeing more of the car with them on, if not a full shot of it. Cheers.

Also, did you get the Ipod kit yet and if so, where does the lead go? Anyone else got this on a GP - not sure whether to get it or to go for Harmon Kardon's aftermarket option... or Belkin's... or Icelink etc. I'm not planning on putting a glovebox on btw.

[ASTON]

driving home from work this morning,i had to use the heated rear screen for the 1st time to clear it. after about 30 secs i noticed that only the top half of the screen cleared and the bottom half didnt. its like only half of the heated screen is working. any one else had this problem?

[spud130475]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jaydash (original)

Spud, do you have any pics of the C/F mirrors and boot handle taken from a little further away?

I've specced the mirrors, but not sure about the handle yet. Would like to get more of an idea by seeing more of the car with them on, if not a full shot of it. Cheers.

Also, did you get the Ipod kit yet and if so, where does the lead go? Anyone else got this on a GP - not sure whether to get it or to go for Harmon Kardon's aftermarket option... or Belkin's... or Icelink etc. I'm not planning on putting a glovebox on btw.

Ive not got another picture from far away yet.
As for the ipod i gone a different way the sound i pritty crap because the head unit is about 4x15wats so ive just bought a alpine CDE-9850Ri head unit which has full speed ipod connectivity on it & also its 4x50wats which will make the speaker sound alot better & it solves the ipod issue the retail at £249 you can get on the net for about £185.
Not sure where iam going to put the lead but i think maybe into the glovebox then i can leave the ipod in connected.
Head units - CDE-9850Ri - Alpine - Europe

[salocin]

Unusual GP comparason.

I have a 130 mile round trip to my offices every week day. Whilst that is probably a trip to the local shops for those of you in the USA or Australia, it's a fair old trip in the UK.

It has meant that I have been able to run in my GP relatively quickly (three weeks from pick up to 2,100 miles). I finally managed to put it down last Friday and use my usual commuters, a T reg (2000) Golf TDI & an 04 MB 320CDI estate. It was a sunny day on Tuesday so the trip was done in my 40 year old Jag e type roadster.

A fair old mixture, perhaps giving me an opportunity to make this unusual comparason.

My route is A30 from Stockbridge joining the A303 at Micheldever which joins the M3 a few miles later. I am on the M3 until it ends at Sunbury.

Those of you who know it will probably agree that the A30 is a fast road on this stretch. It's quite challenging with varied road surface conditions and no dual carriageway sections. Being very straight there are multiple overtaking opportunities. I have concentrated my report on this road.

MCS JCW GP

Ordered on a whim after having such huge fun in a hired MINI One!

Without doubt the most exciting of the foursome which is not unexpected. On the A30 it needs concentration to drive it swiftly. Surprisingly little torque steer so it takes off like a rocket at any speed. Perfect for overtaking.

It needs concentration because it tramlines on some of the poorer road surfaces. I am getting to know the places where it's going to wander but that's not the point. I shouldn't have to! It can catch you out if you have one hand occupied on the gear shift whilst accelerating hard and hitting one of the bad areas of road.

In very wet weather it continues to hold the road like a magnet. I have had no aquaplaning experiences which includes a day of torrential rain where rivers of water were pouring over the road. In these conditions where perhaps the average speed is reduced to suit, the rear spoiler and heater element are ineffective in keeping the rear screen clear.

There are few bends on this section of road so the GP is perhaps not in its element. The uneven road surfaces not withstanding it is the best handling machine I have ever driven. The suspension set up is totally in tune with the car.

The comparison:


MB 320CDI Estate

An unemotional purchase purely to suit the requirements of an expanding family, two dogs and associated kit! Purchase choice driven by my personal dislike of the design of the new shape BMW.5 series.

One of the most suprising cars I have owned. Not at all the dowdy old mans car I had perceived it to be. It is a high speed cruiser par excellance. It can be anything you like! Fill it with screaming kids and drive it gently or take it to work and blast down the A 30 with aplomb! It does not have the Adrenalin injected excitement that the GP has, but it absorbs the uneven parts of this stretch of road without noticing them! As much fun, of course not!

I accept that with a more accomplished driver, or even when I am more experienced with the GP my conclusions would differ ... but at the moment the MB is the fastest of the four from A to B!!!!

The road surface being a big factor here.

VW Golf TDI

Old faithfull which does exactly what it says on the box! 75K miles and going strong, fast enough to keep you awake ...just! Does not compete with any of the others except to say that the cruise speed seems to settle within 10 mph of the GP in a much more relaxed fashion. All that and an average of 46 Diesel miles per gallon. Handles like a slug compared to the GP ... the one I should use everyday?? ... Absolutely not!

Jaguar 'E' Type Series 1 Roadster

Very difficult for me to be objective here, I love this car and it's been with me a long time! How can I compare a 40 year old sports car with a modern state of the art go Kart?

For those of you who know about 'E' Types I should explain that this is Eagle 2 from the Henry Pearman stable. Jeremy Clarkson drove this car for one of his video's voting it the best car of all time some years back ... of course he has since driven many more heavily modified Pearman Eagle Jags for Top Gear. Mine however is a bog standard matching numbers car. Rebuild completed in 1989 with the concession (I was persuaded) of uprated brakes, cooling and a blueprinted engine .... so just a well sorted 'e' type then. That's all.

The GP is quicker in every way, of course it is. However even by todays standards, the Jag is fast, very fast. The excitement and adrenalin rush comes from getting the performance down onto the road! Unlike modern sports cars, the Jag doesn't have ABS, LSD, DSC, electric windows, power steering, turbo charger, cruise control, mini-bar, diaper changing table or anything else!

What it does have is the ability to give you absolute satisfaction when driven well at any speed. It does need a certain amount of technique to get it right but when you do .. the wow factor is up there with the best ! Hanging the rear end out on an 'E' type is like nothing else on earth!

The GP screams and pops, the Jag snarls. Both are great sound tracks in very different ways but for me anyway, nothing beats a second gear slow cruise through a built up area in the 'E' Type, pure magic.

No the Jag doesn't have a radio!

Conclusions

I have to admit to being a one time Porsche 911 owner I still maintain that all petrolheads should own or drive one once in their lives .... but the 911 will never hold a candle against either the GP or 'E' type. It's not about top speed, it's about fun!

The GP is totally impractical compared with a JCW, especially if like me you have a family!
I had the choice and bought it anyway .... !

That having being said both JCW cars have such an excellent cash for fun exchange rate there is no contest! You can smile smugly to yourself with that thought next time medallion man in his new supercar passes you at 200 mph!!!!

1st equal (For very different reasons, they are very different cars) JCW GP and Jag 'E' Type Series 1.

These are my opinions only.

What's your comparison?

[GBMINI]

Sweet write-up - thanks

I'm very curious why GPMINI is so poor on wet roads; this is not the first time someones said they're fine in the wet - but this morning again, GPMINI was disappointing; skated sideways on the right hander into route 128, not enough to trigger DSC but enough to get my foot off the pedal. Normally I accelerate hard (my first fun of the day) but not today.
(note for safety concerns - this is a roundabout in the dual lane highway, so lots of space into the other lane and no other car close to me; but I'd still prefer the car to stay in the lane I select!)


Different tires would certainly eliminate the tramlining - the tread on the GP runflats seems aggressively designed to lock into lines in the road!

[mGP]

Quote: Originally Posted by salocin (original)

Unusual GP comparason.

I have a 130 mile round trip to my offices every week day........................

Excellent

Always great to hear an Open-Minded (although some may say biased- As you own one! ), Objective review from someone who has actually driven-and seen - the thing and has also had the privelege of driving a wide spectrum of other vehicles over the years to compare it against.

Makes a better read than "My JCW cost 'X' amount more than a GP, therefore it's automatically a better car, although I've never driven a GP!"
(granted it's not to everyones tastes-but that's an entirely different matter)

[mGP]

Well Salocin; after your little photoshoot which of the two; could you not resist to drive home???

And I pressume the other-half had the "Chor" of driving home the other one....

[salocin]

Quote: Originally Posted by mGP (original)

Well Salocin; after your little photoshoot which of the two; could you not resist to drive home???

And I pressume the other-half had the "Chor" of driving home the other one....

Nay lad that is home!!!

I am afraid Mission Control prefers the Merc

Some people ... eh?