Talk to me about classic mini's
Discussion
I'm currently running one as my everyday car- not the most reliable vehicle you could wish for!.
Its like motoring 25 years ago; ice inside the windows, frozen door locks, bump starting, jump starts, rust, damp, noisy, bouncy, crap winsdscreen wipers.
can I drive it without grinning like a fool though? not a chance.
get yourself on this for more info http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/
Its like motoring 25 years ago; ice inside the windows, frozen door locks, bump starting, jump starts, rust, damp, noisy, bouncy, crap winsdscreen wipers.
can I drive it without grinning like a fool though? not a chance.
get yourself on this for more info http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/
I'm 6'3" and loved driving my Cooper 35SE which I bought new in 1996. I still have it but haven't used it for years.
Personally I would avoid the airbag cars. They were nice inside, comfortable and quiet, but slow compared to the previous one. I used to work for Rover main dealers and often drove both types. The later one has narrower seats and if you're a large frame, the top seat belt mount might dig in your arm constantly, and in standard form the top speed is achieved in third. That was because after September 30th 1996 they were designed to meet noise emissions, which meant the side mounted fan, and hole for it was deleted, and they had to put a very long final drive in, so when it was driven on the noise test, it would pass.
I had two Cooper Sports, one new, one used. There were actually two types. They looked the same though. A Cooper, with a Sports pack option, or a Cooper Sports. It depended on how you ordered them and was available at the factory. It was hard to tell the difference, and it used to show up on our warranty computer WCS2000, but most can't tell. The option car was an alteration after the car body was made, the other was made that way. If I recall, you could tell by feeling the front of the front wheel arches, the altered one was nibbled away and rough, the other was smooth. I think there was a tiny difference on some of the rear subframe, and somewhere on the front
Still they were very popular, and most didn't care, then there was also no choice. It was a new car, and very overpriced at about 12k towards the end. Also the convertible in the early 90's also over 12k. It's academic these days as most have been messed about with. The very last Cooper Sport 500, was a bit of a joke really, nice looking, but had a plaque in the glovebox saying it was one of 500 built to the original Issigonis design, which of course it wasn't. The original had a side mounted radiator and fan, no airbags, and that was a significant change. It was the same basic shape, so perhaps that's what they meant.
The very first thing I would do if you didn't want to modify it, and had bought a post 1996 car, would still be to fit the final drive and speedo drive gears from the model before.
Yes they rust immediately. Although they can easily be rebuilt into a very nice, more rust resistant car, which will take some serious investment. Cars are very expensive now though anyway. I would rather have a Mini rebuilt, than buy one of the ugly microcars around now. I always remember a friend of mine, had a 1,000cc Mini Racing, which was remarkably, undersealed, and the floor remained in great condition. Still he rebuilt it so it was the same finish underneath as on top. It's what people do.
Films like the Italian Job and The Bourne Identity do a lot for the fond memories of those that had them, or the prospective owners too. They generally aren't considered a fast car. Mine would drive right off the speedo.
They are actually a fun motorway car if you have one that has been nicely retuned, other cars hassle you in your slow car into the middle or nearside lane, then a few minutes later, off you go and reel them in, and passing them in a Mini frenzy, which is just funny all day long.
I really wish someone could take the department of transport to task over the implied safety of them. There are these other microcars on the road with rear seat occupants with their heads pretty much on the rear screen, worse than the Mini, they could be strengthened in some ways, but there's no going back realistically. The best way is but an old one, and build your new car from it wit a Heritage shell. They have become a rip off now, but it's the best start for someone who doesn't want the hassle of finding a bodyshop that can deal with the rust properly for the long term, there are bigger rip offs there I suspect.
If mine doesn't get sold to someone that appreciates what it is, I will probably do what the family have suggested, and keep it. But I might buy a Heritage shell still, and turn back time. Then use the other for a track menace, and my Daughters can annoy bigger toys around Oulton Park and Ty Croes. A big 'if' though haha.
Mine at the Nurburgring :-)
Personally I would avoid the airbag cars. They were nice inside, comfortable and quiet, but slow compared to the previous one. I used to work for Rover main dealers and often drove both types. The later one has narrower seats and if you're a large frame, the top seat belt mount might dig in your arm constantly, and in standard form the top speed is achieved in third. That was because after September 30th 1996 they were designed to meet noise emissions, which meant the side mounted fan, and hole for it was deleted, and they had to put a very long final drive in, so when it was driven on the noise test, it would pass.
I had two Cooper Sports, one new, one used. There were actually two types. They looked the same though. A Cooper, with a Sports pack option, or a Cooper Sports. It depended on how you ordered them and was available at the factory. It was hard to tell the difference, and it used to show up on our warranty computer WCS2000, but most can't tell. The option car was an alteration after the car body was made, the other was made that way. If I recall, you could tell by feeling the front of the front wheel arches, the altered one was nibbled away and rough, the other was smooth. I think there was a tiny difference on some of the rear subframe, and somewhere on the front
Still they were very popular, and most didn't care, then there was also no choice. It was a new car, and very overpriced at about 12k towards the end. Also the convertible in the early 90's also over 12k. It's academic these days as most have been messed about with. The very last Cooper Sport 500, was a bit of a joke really, nice looking, but had a plaque in the glovebox saying it was one of 500 built to the original Issigonis design, which of course it wasn't. The original had a side mounted radiator and fan, no airbags, and that was a significant change. It was the same basic shape, so perhaps that's what they meant.
The very first thing I would do if you didn't want to modify it, and had bought a post 1996 car, would still be to fit the final drive and speedo drive gears from the model before.
Yes they rust immediately. Although they can easily be rebuilt into a very nice, more rust resistant car, which will take some serious investment. Cars are very expensive now though anyway. I would rather have a Mini rebuilt, than buy one of the ugly microcars around now. I always remember a friend of mine, had a 1,000cc Mini Racing, which was remarkably, undersealed, and the floor remained in great condition. Still he rebuilt it so it was the same finish underneath as on top. It's what people do.
Films like the Italian Job and The Bourne Identity do a lot for the fond memories of those that had them, or the prospective owners too. They generally aren't considered a fast car. Mine would drive right off the speedo.
They are actually a fun motorway car if you have one that has been nicely retuned, other cars hassle you in your slow car into the middle or nearside lane, then a few minutes later, off you go and reel them in, and passing them in a Mini frenzy, which is just funny all day long.
I really wish someone could take the department of transport to task over the implied safety of them. There are these other microcars on the road with rear seat occupants with their heads pretty much on the rear screen, worse than the Mini, they could be strengthened in some ways, but there's no going back realistically. The best way is but an old one, and build your new car from it wit a Heritage shell. They have become a rip off now, but it's the best start for someone who doesn't want the hassle of finding a bodyshop that can deal with the rust properly for the long term, there are bigger rip offs there I suspect.
If mine doesn't get sold to someone that appreciates what it is, I will probably do what the family have suggested, and keep it. But I might buy a Heritage shell still, and turn back time. Then use the other for a track menace, and my Daughters can annoy bigger toys around Oulton Park and Ty Croes. A big 'if' though haha.
Mine at the Nurburgring :-)
I've had one as my first car since 2013 and it's great fun! Honestly makes me smile everytime I drive it, and most other people who seen me in it on the road. It's something different to the usual stuff people my age are driving (19) and has taught me a lot in terms of maintenance.
Me and my girlfriend are 6" and we fit fine, if there's anyone in the back thought not sure they'd say the same.
Me and my girlfriend are 6" and we fit fine, if there's anyone in the back thought not sure they'd say the same.
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