[wiggis]

Which would you buy?

I'm looking for short distances back road blaster and have the option of one of these three to replace my R56 Cooper.

Advice?

[Snowie]

No contest

GP all the way

However I am biased

Snowie

[Scrogg]

I'm looking at exactly the same options wiggis. I need something to have fun in at weekends before driving a rep-mobile all week drives me mad

So far, the GP is top of the list!

[Will_'S']

I'd have to say if you just want to get in something and drive the GP is the best choice by far but if you want something to modify and make your own then i'd say the R56s.

[minicabrio]

I'd either go for a GP... or for something to tinker with, an R53

[aid]

GP ALL THE WAY

if i could justify the two seats id have one

and if you like tinkering then just clean it and look after the engine

[Fin]

GP, it's the badger's nadgers

[OneDriver]

Who says you can't tinker with a GP! hehe

Hmm I'd hit the GP - it's such a rare car that you'd be crazy to give up the ownership experience of owning one. I guess you will need to be able to cope with 2 seats though!

[MaTTy_P]

Thats the only factor that puts me off 2 Seats

I have to have at least 3 seats for me and the parents

[CC07ERS]

Get the GP you will not lose too much money on it , think of it as an investment.

[Paul]

GP, 100% positively no doubt the best MINI you can get from a dealership.

[coded2112]

GP all the way, looks better than the new car and goes like a scolded rabbit!

Great fun never stop smiling when i am driving 13500 miles of pure fun!!

[antonyc31]

Def the GP if was my choice

However I dont agree about it being an investment

Like almost any other car it will depreciate and you will lose money on it

Then who cares as you will have fun and thats the reason for buying one at the end of the day

[ALD0]

Mmmmm

I think a high specced Cooper D outof all them!
Although GP would be close, or High specced S (R53) so you get lovely supercharge noise

[Tonyt3]

GP = £20000
R56 S = £17000
R53 S = £10000 + £3000 tuning......

Cheapest option, 240bhp R53 for around £13000.

Thats a lot less than a new car.


I'd have the GP though.

[dneal]

I don't think that anyone has mentioned it yet, but I'd get the GP.

[bainy1]

GP. You'll not regret it

[wiggis]

Quote: Originally Posted by bainy1 (original)

GP. You'll not regret it

Well ... now I have a real issue.

I have test driven a S JCW GP and an R56 Cooper S and of course my own R56 Cooper.

In a straight line, I would say that the S JCW GP is the same performance wise as the R56 Cooper S - just delivered with a lot more sound and fury. No doubt that round the corners or on a track, the S JCW GP would out handle the Cooper S. What surprised me most is that neither the R56 Cooper S or the JCW GP was significantly faster than my R56 Cooper until the speed went over 35 mph - at which point the difference was much more evident. The pull from 35 mph to 70 mph was great in both the S cars.

So ... I can get an R56 Cooper S with the options I want for £19,500, or for £3,000 more I can get one of the very last R53 JCW GP's made. Against the JCW GP was the relative harshness of the handling and the lack of back seats.

I wonder which will be worth more 3 years from now ? Or should I just wait for the R56 JCW GP ?

[Paul]

I thought you wanted a MINI for fun in the twisties, in which case the GP is the one I'd go for.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

To help answer the question, why do you want to swap from the R56 Cooper?

Tigger.