JCW 2020 MINI GP Article
#726
04-26-2020, 06:54 PM
COVID 19 and MINI:
IMO many GP3 orders will be cancelled in the coming weeks/months for a host of different reasons. Unemployment in many parts of the world is expected to soon exceed that reached during the Great Depression, our stock markets are experiencing record sell-off's, and our financial institutions are getting assistance from the federal Government to remain solvent. Aside from this the average family in the USA only has enough savings to support them for 90 days. Without ongoing govt assistance our middle class families will become lower class in short order. Add to the mix that MINI dealerships have already struggled with slow 2019 sales, and now, because of this pandemic, showroom traffic has all but come to a standstill.
Supply and demand is the substance that drives our world economic system. When demand suddenly slows down, or stops, manufacturers/businesses must react by slowing/cutting production and lowering prices. I believe that not only are many GP3 buyers reevaluating their purchases, but BMW/MINI is reevaluating the structure of their business for the future. Will MINI dealerships be forced to turn unsold GP3's into cashflow by offering aggressive buyer incentives? I recall when the first GP1 came out. Everybody was crazy about it! However, some dealerships in 2008 still had brand new, unsold units on the showroom floor.
No one has a crystal ball to see what the future is going to bring in these uncertain times, but you can be fairly certain of one thing, BMW/MINI is in this to make money, and if the world market for GP3's should become negatively impacted by this COVID19, BMW/MINI will do something to limit their losses.
My sincere hope is for everyone here and their families to remain healthy. God Bless.
IMO many GP3 orders will be cancelled in the coming weeks/months for a host of different reasons. Unemployment in many parts of the world is expected to soon exceed that reached during the Great Depression, our stock markets are experiencing record sell-off's, and our financial institutions are getting assistance from the federal Government to remain solvent. Aside from this the average family in the USA only has enough savings to support them for 90 days. Without ongoing govt assistance our middle class families will become lower class in short order. Add to the mix that MINI dealerships have already struggled with slow 2019 sales, and now, because of this pandemic, showroom traffic has all but come to a standstill.
Supply and demand is the substance that drives our world economic system. When demand suddenly slows down, or stops, manufacturers/businesses must react by slowing/cutting production and lowering prices. I believe that not only are many GP3 buyers reevaluating their purchases, but BMW/MINI is reevaluating the structure of their business for the future. Will MINI dealerships be forced to turn unsold GP3's into cashflow by offering aggressive buyer incentives? I recall when the first GP1 came out. Everybody was crazy about it! However, some dealerships in 2008 still had brand new, unsold units on the showroom floor.
No one has a crystal ball to see what the future is going to bring in these uncertain times, but you can be fairly certain of one thing, BMW/MINI is in this to make money, and if the world market for GP3's should become negatively impacted by this COVID19, BMW/MINI will do something to limit their losses.
My sincere hope is for everyone here and their families to remain healthy. God Bless.
Due to cafe standards with a new bar set higher every year, BMW would not survive w/o the MINI brand to offset certain gas guzzling BMW lines they sell.....that said, MINI will be around for many years to come.
#727
04-26-2020, 07:08 PM
5th Gear
I have been shopping around for a nimble little speedster, my current JCW is a fun drive and I ordered the GP3, and paid the deposit, but I have heard nothing since I made the deposit. In the event I don't get one I am exploring other options although I really want the GP3 and with all the crap going on and time on my hands I have been checking out other possibilities. My first mini was an R56 JCW and traded it in on the F series one that I now have and love. I wish I had kept the R series, but I didn't. My current one has 64,000 hard miles on it and is still going strong. A proper beastie with dynoed power of 170 HP. It's a hoot, the GP should be better, but mini marketing tactics are bizarre and frustrating. So, while I am house bound it's time kill central. In the event I don't get the GP I have been shopping for a really stellar twisty mobile.
#728
04-28-2020, 01:35 PM
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Kev Spiers (04-28-2020)
#730
04-29-2020, 09:59 AM
A review of the GP3 is on the Autocar website.
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review...gp-2020-review
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review...gp-2020-review
Print edition came out today:
#731
04-30-2020, 11:26 AM
I'll be curious to hear more reviews on how it torque steers at speed. My 2008 JCW was a bit challenging to get off the line, but I learned its quirks. My 2016 JCW is much more controlled, but the power delivery in 1st gear has always felt detuned to me. The GP3 has enough power that I really want to know more about how it torque steers before committing to the purchase. From a start it doesn't bother me, but the last thing I want is a car I have to baby the acceleration with if I'm overtaking on the freeway.
#732
05-01-2020, 06:32 AM
I think that will depend on the condition of the road you are on. On some roads my JCW will have torque steer when I drop it into 3rd to pass someone. This is likely a malady of FWD cars in general. So, the GP will likely have some of the same.
I have noticed the “detuned” feeling in 1st gear. But in watching the tach closely that seems to kick in around 5 to 6k rpm, before the cutout at 6500. It also seems to be, in part, associated with having the traction control on (controlling wheel spin). I have just taken to shifting out of 1st around 5500 just to stay away from that. I know other people have just taken to turning the traction control off as soon as they start the engine.
I have noticed the “detuned” feeling in 1st gear. But in watching the tach closely that seems to kick in around 5 to 6k rpm, before the cutout at 6500. It also seems to be, in part, associated with having the traction control on (controlling wheel spin). I have just taken to shifting out of 1st around 5500 just to stay away from that. I know other people have just taken to turning the traction control off as soon as they start the engine.
#733
05-01-2020, 06:38 AM
I'll be curious to hear more reviews on how it torque steers at speed. My 2008 JCW was a bit challenging to get off the line, but I learned its quirks. My 2016 JCW is much more controlled, but the power delivery in 1st gear has always felt detuned to me. The GP3 has enough power that I really want to know more about how it torque steers before committing to the purchase. From a start it doesn't bother me, but the last thing I want is a car I have to baby the acceleration with if I'm overtaking on the freeway.
#734
05-01-2020, 09:50 AM
I very much doubt any of the current crop of fast MINI's have true torque steer, as in unequal length drive shafts like RS turbo's and the likes back in the day. I would expect its more pull/****** due to tyre grip or uneven road surface?
Regarding the "detuned" issue, I remember back when the R53 was launched that the ECU limited power in the first 2 gears to protect engine, drive train and tail wheel spin. Having driver the 306bhp Countryman i feel its limited certainly in the first 2 gears.
Regarding the "detuned" issue, I remember back when the R53 was launched that the ECU limited power in the first 2 gears to protect engine, drive train and tail wheel spin. Having driver the 306bhp Countryman i feel its limited certainly in the first 2 gears.
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bradstyle (05-01-2020)
#735
05-01-2020, 11:09 AM
My JCW pulls straight on a nice and flat road, but going over the crown of the road with gas on when passing someone can be an “experience”.
Also, does your Countryman have the mechanical LSD that the GP3 will have? That will help to control torque steer, even with varying road conditions.
#736
05-01-2020, 01:41 PM
Countryman was a loaner and the all4 JCW sorry no idea what diff, sorry. It didn’t matter what driving mode you were in, For 306bhp sure it’s fast but felt flat till you got to 60 plus and much the same as my JCW R56 was surprising from 70mph onward.
Have you ever driven a mk1 Golf GTI or Arbath, they sure are exhilarating in the first 2 gears.
Have you ever driven a mk1 Golf GTI or Arbath, they sure are exhilarating in the first 2 gears.
#737
05-01-2020, 02:00 PM
Speaking of Abarth...
...it would have been radmax awesome if MINI could have installed a dogbox like how Fiat did on their hardcore Biposto:
Given,
that was very costly at around a $10,000 option!
Don't think too many ticked the box, but I'm sure some did.
Don't see much owner videos on youtube with it fitted.
...it would have been radmax awesome if MINI could have installed a dogbox like how Fiat did on their hardcore Biposto:
Given,
that was very costly at around a $10,000 option!
Don't think too many ticked the box, but I'm sure some did.
Don't see much owner videos on youtube with it fitted.
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Kev Spiers (05-01-2020)
#738
05-02-2020, 07:43 AM
Neat article from Top Gear the other day.
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot...uld-you-choose
Lockdown restrictions prevented them from proper testing of GP3,
but they provide a nice gallery of pix with all 3 generations.
Cool to see them all together.
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot...uld-you-choose
Lockdown restrictions prevented them from proper testing of GP3,
but they provide a nice gallery of pix with all 3 generations.
Cool to see them all together.
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Zizik (05-02-2020)
#739
05-02-2020, 10:11 AM
Countryman was a loaner and the all4 JCW sorry no idea what diff, sorry. It didn’t matter what driving mode you were in, For 306bhp sure it’s fast but felt flat till you got to 60 plus and much the same as my JCW R56 was surprising from 70mph onward.
Have you ever driven a mk1 Golf GTI or Arbath, they sure are exhilarating in the first 2 gears.
Have you ever driven a mk1 Golf GTI or Arbath, they sure are exhilarating in the first 2 gears.
Nope, never have driven either. I find my R56S to not have any de-tune effect in 1st. That would have clearly raised its ugly head with the autocrosses I have done with it.
#741
05-02-2020, 12:31 PM
Last time I checked the conversion rate pricewise on the Quaife dogbox, it was around $11,000 USD
The shifter mechanism looks the same too, I wonder if Quaife makes that as well???
#743
05-02-2020, 04:15 PM
#744
05-02-2020, 06:54 PM
I think that the video may be of an Italian spec Challenge car which would explain it?
UK cars run Quaife, but perhaps rules are different in Italy and they run something else?
Went back and paused and squinted to see the company name:
Bacci Romano
https://www.bacciromano.com/en/
:
Same channel as the other video I posted has quite a few clips of Mini Challenge Italiano posted also.
#745
05-03-2020, 06:19 AM
#747
05-05-2020, 09:26 AM
Wait, for real?!?!?! Holy crap, hopefully that means I'll get a notification soon, too! Was it a phone call, an email or ? Also, which wave did you put your order in (previous/current GP owner, current Mini owner, Other)?
And just when I finally got over my unhealthy obsession of constantly refreshing my email searching for any kind of information from Mini, lol!
Congrats!!
And just when I finally got over my unhealthy obsession of constantly refreshing my email searching for any kind of information from Mini, lol!
Congrats!!
#748
05-05-2020, 09:51 AM
5th Gear
Wait, for real?!?!?! Holy crap, hopefully that means I'll get a notification soon, too! Was it a phone call, an email or ? Also, which wave did you put your order in (previous/current GP owner, current Mini owner, Other)?
And just when I finally got over my unhealthy obsession of constantly refreshing my email searching for any kind of information from Mini, lol!
Congrats!!
And just when I finally got over my unhealthy obsession of constantly refreshing my email searching for any kind of information from Mini, lol!
Congrats!!
Good Luck!
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Kev Spiers (05-05-2020)
#749
05-05-2020, 11:23 AM
OVERDRIVE
Well, amidst the crappy corona era I received the best news I have had in quite a while! I received confirmation that my GP 3 is scheduled for May production! I am silently hearing the Hallelujah Chorus in my mind right now! It will be a long wait for me, but I can live with that!