My friend Rick and I met when we worked together at Tesla. We found a number of common interests, including cars, music, and a love of writing. While I whittle away at this blogging thing Rick has taken a bigger leap and is working full-time on his writing now, but while his take on the great American novel is in progress he also has a blog for his extraneous writings. One of his recent posts about the one (car) that got away brought back memories of my "one." (click here for Rick's post)
I've written about my '87 M3 on these virtual pages before, and neither my passion for that car nor the regret I have from selling it have subsided. Now that the market for the E30 M3 is approaching air-cooled Porsche levels of crazy prices, my chances of picking up another one any time soon are slim-to-none. So it shall remain on my most-wanted list until such time as I can afford one again. In the meantime, I've added it to my automotive bucket list.
There are a number of other BMW products on my bucket list, including one which doesn't wear a blue and white roundel. When BMW bought and revived the Mini brand, things turned out pretty well. The first generation of the new MINI, known internally as the R53, is slightly raw but very direct and is among the best handling front-drive cars on the road. The last year of the R53 hardtop was highlighted with a special model called the Cooper S John Cooper Works GP, or just the GP for short. The GP is a distilled MINI experience with firmer suspension, more power, less weight and unique trim. Much like the GT3 fits into the Porsche line, the GP is a MINI for those who want the purest driving experience a MINI can offer. Only 2000 were produced, with only 415 coming to the United States. I've had opportunities to drive various R53 MINIs over the years, but never a GP. Even before I'd driven one, though, I knew I had to have one.
In my wanderings on the interwebs last spring, I found a GP for sale just a few miles away from home. I inquired. I checked it out. I drove it around the block. I made an offer. I didn't buy it. Then, over the Thanksgiving holiday, I found another one at auction on that great enabler of cool car junkies, Bring a Trailer. I decided to bid on it in the hope of picking up a deal. I diligently watched the auction and continued to bid, even setting my alarm to go off ten minutes before auction end to make sure I didn't miss this opportunity. When the alarm went off in the middle of the movie (Sorry Mr. Bond, it was time to bid) I discretely ran out of the theater. The bidding was still at a figure that would have been a legitimate steal and I stayed in it to the very end and I was victorious! But the thrill of victory was short-lived as I saw that the reserve was, sadly, not met. A less glorious victory was still in the cards, though. The seller reached out to me directly and we settled on a price just over his reserve, matching what I would have paid with the auction fee. It wasn't a steal, but it was a very fair price, less than the price I had offered for the local car six months prior even after I would have to pay to transport it from California to Texas. This one had less mileage, equal or better service history, and from the photos appeared to be in similar if not better physical condition.
It's in my garage now. I grinned and even giggled a few times the first time I drove it. I spent two hours today cleaning the glass, under the hood, the wheels, and the front brake calipers. The ride is firm, bouncy even, especially on the abusive terrain that passes for roads around Dallas. It is not quiet. The lack of a back seat creates a big box through which every bump resonates. But it is a pure, raw, unfiltered driving experience I've not enjoyed since I sold my beloved M3. The steering is beautifully weighted, torque steer is minimal and manageable, and pardon the cliche that is about to follow, but that firm suspension does deliver true go-kart handling. This combination of precise steering, light weight, progressive power and mechanical grip is not found in many cars, especially not in this price bracket. The GP was just over $30,000.00 when it was new, and low mileage examples like mine can be found in the mid-to-high teens.
The average driver on the road will dismiss it as just another little MINI, but those who know will give it a nod or even a thumbs-up. Mine resides alongside a 2010 MINI Cooper, a basic model which is a great little car in its own right, but the GP with its wailing supercharger and flat cornering is a whole different animal. It's a truly unique car, worthy to wear the name made great by its ancestors. It applies the principles of iconic sports cars to an otherwise humble little hatchback. It will be in my garage for a long time, hopefully a permanent fixture. I don't want to write about another one that got away...
Here's a little taste of what the GP is all about: 2006 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works GP - YouTube Video
There are a number of other BMW products on my bucket list, including one which doesn't wear a blue and white roundel. When BMW bought and revived the Mini brand, things turned out pretty well. The first generation of the new MINI, known internally as the R53, is slightly raw but very direct and is among the best handling front-drive cars on the road. The last year of the R53 hardtop was highlighted with a special model called the Cooper S John Cooper Works GP, or just the GP for short. The GP is a distilled MINI experience with firmer suspension, more power, less weight and unique trim. Much like the GT3 fits into the Porsche line, the GP is a MINI for those who want the purest driving experience a MINI can offer. Only 2000 were produced, with only 415 coming to the United States. I've had opportunities to drive various R53 MINIs over the years, but never a GP. Even before I'd driven one, though, I knew I had to have one.
In my wanderings on the interwebs last spring, I found a GP for sale just a few miles away from home. I inquired. I checked it out. I drove it around the block. I made an offer. I didn't buy it. Then, over the Thanksgiving holiday, I found another one at auction on that great enabler of cool car junkies, Bring a Trailer. I decided to bid on it in the hope of picking up a deal. I diligently watched the auction and continued to bid, even setting my alarm to go off ten minutes before auction end to make sure I didn't miss this opportunity. When the alarm went off in the middle of the movie (Sorry Mr. Bond, it was time to bid) I discretely ran out of the theater. The bidding was still at a figure that would have been a legitimate steal and I stayed in it to the very end and I was victorious! But the thrill of victory was short-lived as I saw that the reserve was, sadly, not met. A less glorious victory was still in the cards, though. The seller reached out to me directly and we settled on a price just over his reserve, matching what I would have paid with the auction fee. It wasn't a steal, but it was a very fair price, less than the price I had offered for the local car six months prior even after I would have to pay to transport it from California to Texas. This one had less mileage, equal or better service history, and from the photos appeared to be in similar if not better physical condition.
It's in my garage now. I grinned and even giggled a few times the first time I drove it. I spent two hours today cleaning the glass, under the hood, the wheels, and the front brake calipers. The ride is firm, bouncy even, especially on the abusive terrain that passes for roads around Dallas. It is not quiet. The lack of a back seat creates a big box through which every bump resonates. But it is a pure, raw, unfiltered driving experience I've not enjoyed since I sold my beloved M3. The steering is beautifully weighted, torque steer is minimal and manageable, and pardon the cliche that is about to follow, but that firm suspension does deliver true go-kart handling. This combination of precise steering, light weight, progressive power and mechanical grip is not found in many cars, especially not in this price bracket. The GP was just over $30,000.00 when it was new, and low mileage examples like mine can be found in the mid-to-high teens.
The average driver on the road will dismiss it as just another little MINI, but those who know will give it a nod or even a thumbs-up. Mine resides alongside a 2010 MINI Cooper, a basic model which is a great little car in its own right, but the GP with its wailing supercharger and flat cornering is a whole different animal. It's a truly unique car, worthy to wear the name made great by its ancestors. It applies the principles of iconic sports cars to an otherwise humble little hatchback. It will be in my garage for a long time, hopefully a permanent fixture. I don't want to write about another one that got away...
Here's a little taste of what the GP is all about: 2006 MINI Cooper John Cooper Works GP - YouTube Video
I feel your pain and euphoria! I also had an 1988 M3 that I sold the same day I listed it back in the early 90's. Didn't realize the gem that I had then. Anyways over the years I bought and sold several more cars, a 911 996 C4S, a 190 E 2.3, a few trucks and more. Then out of the blue I was searching for an 02-06 M3 and stumbled a upon a 2004 MC40th Anniversary JCW 210. High milage but good bones to restore. I'm very happy with it and it comes up second if I could have found a 2006 GP at the time. Enjoy your GP, Cheers!
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