[I Am Canadian]

Hi All,

Kind of annoyed with MINI Canada and need to vent to the MINI World. As most of you know, the JCW GP was not made available in Canada. In light of that, MINI Canada announced the release of 64 Limited Production, JCW Competition Package cars. Late model '06's with a full complement of JCW bits (inside and out), exclusive numbering, and more (see here: http://motoringfile.com/2006/07/04/d...cial-editions/ )

I have my deposit on one of these. My issue is with regard to the complete lack of hype, marketing, media build-up, etc that is completely opposite to the events surrounding the release and delivery of the 2000 GPs. I know these aren't the same "apples" and I am not expecting a parade, but I wish MINI Canada could do more. You can't find a single mention of this package on MINI's national website here. Now I am feeling that with the impending R56 and the uniquely awesome GP, this limited edition Competition Package isn't so special. Sure I will have 44 of 64, but is that all? How do the MC40 owners feel about the exclusivity of their rides? Maybe this will help me out. Your thoughts and comments are most welcome.

[Claire_S]

hwy its not all bad your car will be even more RARE and exclusive. in years to come who knows

[Lawrothegreat]

what do you know, with the whole world the first two replies are from sorry old Plymouth, GB. Anyway onto the post:

It is my personal opinion that the GP model could have been aesthetically speaking, far better planned, and therefore from the choice of a GP or a fully-specced JCW I would choose the latter anyway so feel pleased. It won't have the hype but that makes it far classier. This is not to say the GP isn't worth having, because it clearly would be an exceptional MINI to own.

[R1]

Must admit that Competition Package MINI actually sounds a better buy than the GP. It does sound a bit like the spec of my MINI.

[MINIAC]

I don't see the JCW Sport Brake Kit listed for the Competition Package

[mr.abulia]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIAC (original)

I don't see the JCW Sport Brake Kit listed for the Competition Package

The JCW Sport Brake Kit is part of the JCW kit in Canada, and is therefore included in the car.

[mr.abulia]

Canadian,

From an exclusivity point of view, we will have some of the most exlusive minis in the world in the JCW competition package cars. Only 64 came from the factory kitted like this! Of course, the complete lack of hype and the fact that they did not offer any special paint scheme, wheels or similar means that our resale will probably be exactly the same as any other MCS with JCW package: the suspension, steering wheel, folding mirrors and interior JCW accessories will likely have the same depreciation factor as any other mini: total. There will be the odd buyer who is interested in the car because it is a limited edition and superbly, but I don't think they will pay more for it. There are just too many "limited edition" cars of different makes sold in Canada, and without a lot of press to tell people why this one is special, and more importantly without anything visible to show people that it is special, nobody will care.
That being said, I have trouble believing that the GP resale is going to be THAT much better than the regular mini either. Yes, it is a keen package, and yes, its been hyped... but there are 400 of them in the US alone, and 2000 total. That means that there will always be demand over the next few years. It will only be once the cars are older and if the new coopers become collectibles that people start paying a lot more for a used GP than a regular mini with similar options.

[Paul]

The difference, from what I can gather, is that the GP is a special edition car, made for a certain purpose, partly built in a different country, using parts and options not available off the shelf.

The other limited editions, such as the MC40, Canadian "Competition Pack" etc, is that they only seem to have unique badges and stickers. Everything else can be bought by any other MINI owner. This is why they'll possibly suffer from a lack of hype, they don't need the media to drive them, as they drive like a MINI with various options. The GP doesn't, it's a different kettle of fish.

[xtremepsionic]

Hype or not, the competition package is just a storming deal to get all those extras for much lower cost.

[Humourl3ss]

I was rather cheesed off that there was never any mention made by either of the salesmen I bought my two MINIs from. No post, no email, no link on the www.mini.ca website. Nothing. I'm the prime candidate for this sort of car, but I guess there's no desire on their part to sell it to me.

[mr.abulia]

Quote: Originally Posted by Humourl3ss (original)

I was rather cheesed off that there was never any mention made by either of the salesmen I bought my two MINIs from. No post, no email, no link on the www.mini.ca website. Nothing. I'm the prime candidate for this sort of car, but I guess there's no desire on their part to sell it to me.

The lack of advertising also irked me: I was lucky in that I just happened to be near the showroom and popped in to admire the cars and look into the regular 'S' special edition car. There was a salesman who I had been dealing with for a while, on and off, and who knew I was looking for a JCW car at some point, but he had never made an effort to contact me. And despite my being a regular visitor to Mini.ca, I had never seen a mention there either. If the fact that there was a regular 'S' special edition hadn't been disclosed on this board, I probably wouldn't have even gone into the showroom that day to see what I could find out about it!

[Humourl3ss]

Exactly.

So now I'm torn between trading in my MCS in 18-24 months on an R56 (I won't go through first year teething issues again, thanks!) or driving a GTI for the next ltitle while. The CP edition would've been a great "bridge" car to carry me over two years.

[mr.abulia]

Well, if you're still interested in a CP as a 'bridge' car, I believe there are still some out there that remain unsold. Your SA may be able to locate you one... but if not, I'm pretty sure there is someone in the Canadian Forum who can help you make it happen.

[shrekone]

is there any pics of what this will look like

[CoolJamJar]

Lack of advertising hype probably comes down to $$$$.
For 64 cars, the cost to market them would be extremely high per car, so it was probably seen as uneconomical.
Anyway, if you have your name down for one, no problem!
If they had advertised them, you may have missed out....
Anyway, I would much prefer a full JCW factory car than the GP.

[mr.abulia]

Quote: Originally Posted by shrekone (original)

is there any pics of what this will look like

Unfortunately not. I am assuming that the cars will look exactly like Aerokitted MCS JCW cars in Chili Red/White roof, Hyper Blue/Black roof and Astro Black colours (as those are the only available colour schemes). The only other thing we know is that they will have their sequence number (3/64, etc.) written on the tachometer, and there is rumour of other badging. The interiors will look pretty standard in cloth or leatherette (depending on order) and with or without sunroof (depending on order), but will all have the JCW alcantara steering wheels, the JCW alcantara shift knobs and the JCW alcantara parking brakes.

[faster,Tobias!]

Quote: Originally Posted by Humourl3ss (original)

Exactly.

So now I'm torn between trading in my MCS in 18-24 months on an R56 (I won't go through first year teething issues again, thanks!) or driving a GTI for the next ltitle while. The CP edition would've been a great "bridge" car to carry me over two years.

Humourl3ss,
Are you in Toronto? As of last week, MINI Downtown had 5 of 5 cars left, Oakville 4 of 5, and Vaughn West (used to be Brampton?) 2 of 3.
I think the problem in a lot of dealerships is that the information isn't always passed on from managers to the SA's, and unless they are self-motivated they won't find the information out for themselves. Sad, really. By the numbers they have left it doesn't look like they are telling anyone!

[Humourl3ss]

See, this is what drives me nuts. Two months after the intial non-announcement, and if what you're saying is true, there's some metal still to be moved. I can't see how this is a cost issue - MINI has my email address and I know at least one of the two salesmen I've dealt with before still works at one of the locations you mentioned. The marginal cost in time/effort to contact me is as close to nil as one can imagine - and updating a website surely costs less than those silly magazines they keep sending me.

Not to take it all out on you, of course.

[mr.abulia]

It is kind of silly. A simple website update would have been pretty cheap (a picture or two and a few words were all that was needed; figure a day's worth of man hours total. Woo!) and would have guaranteed that all the cars were sold by now. In the interim however, this is good news for you! We're starting a red/white CP car club, and you're welcome to join. Of course, I may be in the astro black CP club myself... still undecided