Morris Minor - not as fun as I thought it would be
Discussion
I bought a very tidy Morris Minor around a year ago, which has since had £3000 spent bringing it up to scratch mechanically by a trusted specialist, and given the nod and a slap on the roof.
Having previously enjoyed 80s classics, I was expecting it to be everything that they are, only more so. I'm only 36, so I don't have much nostalgia for 1950s cars but I was hoping to enjoy it for the noise, mechanical engagement and overall driving experience.
Unfortunately I was wrong. Everything about it feels rough and reluctant and fragile even. It isn't much fun to tool around in. The driving position is awkward and the controls are very vague.
I was expecting it to be s
te in a good way, but sadly it's mostly ste in a ste way. I'm not blaming it for being what it is, I'm just surprised that it's not more fun. On paper, it should be, and all the youtube retrospectives made driving them look like an absolute hoot.
Thankfully, my wife (who it was bought for primarily) adores the looks and the vibe, and isn't too bothered about anything else.
Just to be clear, I've no axe to grind. The point of the thread? Tell me I'm wrong, I suppose, and that 50s cars are brilliant - or tell me I'm right and the 80s are indeed the sweet spot. Interested to know what others think.
Having previously enjoyed 80s classics, I was expecting it to be everything that they are, only more so. I'm only 36, so I don't have much nostalgia for 1950s cars but I was hoping to enjoy it for the noise, mechanical engagement and overall driving experience.
Unfortunately I was wrong. Everything about it feels rough and reluctant and fragile even. It isn't much fun to tool around in. The driving position is awkward and the controls are very vague.
I was expecting it to be s
te in a good way, but sadly it's mostly ste in a ste way. I'm not blaming it for being what it is, I'm just surprised that it's not more fun. On paper, it should be, and all the youtube retrospectives made driving them look like an absolute hoot.Thankfully, my wife (who it was bought for primarily) adores the looks and the vibe, and isn't too bothered about anything else.
Just to be clear, I've no axe to grind. The point of the thread? Tell me I'm wrong, I suppose, and that 50s cars are brilliant - or tell me I'm right and the 80s are indeed the sweet spot. Interested to know what others think.
I've only ever driven one 1950s-designed car and that was a Citroen DS21.
I absolutely adored it and was astonished that it felt just like a modern car to drive. The performance was fine, the gearchange light and precise, and the brakes better than many modern cars. Only the heat coming through the bulkhead and gently warming my feet, plus the faint ' old car oily smell' gave it away that it was older than me!
I absolutely adored it and was astonished that it felt just like a modern car to drive. The performance was fine, the gearchange light and precise, and the brakes better than many modern cars. Only the heat coming through the bulkhead and gently warming my feet, plus the faint ' old car oily smell' gave it away that it was older than me!
Bennet said:
I bought a very tidy Morris Minor around a year ago, which has since had £3000 spent bringing it up to scratch mechanically by a trusted specialist, and given the nod and a slap on the roof.
Having previously enjoyed 80s classics, I was expecting it to be everything that they are, only more so. I'm only 36, so I don't have much nostalgia for 1950s cars but I was hoping to enjoy it for the noise, mechanical engagement and overall driving experience.
Unfortunately I was wrong. Everything about it feels rough and reluctant and fragile even. It isn't much fun to tool around in. The driving position is awkward and the controls are very vague.
I was expecting it to be ste in a good way, but sadly it's mostly ste in a ste way. I'm not blaming it for being what it is, I'm just surprised that it's not more fun. On paper, it should be, and all the youtube retrospectives made driving them look like an absolute hoot.
Thankfully, my wife (who it was bought for primarily) adores the looks and the vibe, and isn't too bothered about anything else.
Just to be clear, I've no axe to grind. The point of the thread? Tell me I'm wrong, I suppose, and that 50s cars are brilliant - or tell me I'm right and the 80s are indeed the sweet spot. Interested to know what others think.
You're not wrong.Having previously enjoyed 80s classics, I was expecting it to be everything that they are, only more so. I'm only 36, so I don't have much nostalgia for 1950s cars but I was hoping to enjoy it for the noise, mechanical engagement and overall driving experience.
Unfortunately I was wrong. Everything about it feels rough and reluctant and fragile even. It isn't much fun to tool around in. The driving position is awkward and the controls are very vague.
I was expecting it to be s
te in a good way, but sadly it's mostly ste in a ste way. I'm not blaming it for being what it is, I'm just surprised that it's not more fun. On paper, it should be, and all the youtube retrospectives made driving them look like an absolute hoot.Thankfully, my wife (who it was bought for primarily) adores the looks and the vibe, and isn't too bothered about anything else.
Just to be clear, I've no axe to grind. The point of the thread? Tell me I'm wrong, I suppose, and that 50s cars are brilliant - or tell me I'm right and the 80s are indeed the sweet spot. Interested to know what others think.
You just had unrealistic expectations based on your age, and no previous experience of similar classics.
Expecting a 1950's car that was really designed in the late 40's, to drive like a 1980's car is somewhat naive.
Good job the missus likes it.
The driving experience can be very much improved on them, with suspension kist etc., but you don't say whether the 3k spent was on upgrades or just OEM spec repairs?
All OEM spec parts.
Suspension, diff, some engine adjustments. (Can't quite remember without getting the bills out.) Disk brakes, as well.
It wasn't so much that I was expecting it to be "just like" an 80s car, but I think I was expecting that the older I went, the more basic, direct and mechanical everything would feel, and with even less refinement it would all add up to maximum involvement and more fun.
I don't hate the thing, and it is what it is.
Suspension, diff, some engine adjustments. (Can't quite remember without getting the bills out.) Disk brakes, as well.
It wasn't so much that I was expecting it to be "just like" an 80s car, but I think I was expecting that the older I went, the more basic, direct and mechanical everything would feel, and with even less refinement it would all add up to maximum involvement and more fun.
I don't hate the thing, and it is what it is.
Back in the late 1970's my Sister bought a Moggy 1000 as a first car.
I was used to MG Midgets an Hillman Imps. Was amazed at the amount of body roll in the thing as I nearly had it on it's side at the first tight left hander....
(As an aside, my Dad bought a VW Beetle 1300, couldn't believe the amount of understeer at the roundabout at the top of the street. I'm going right, I'm trying to go right, sod it, straight on....)
I was used to MG Midgets an Hillman Imps. Was amazed at the amount of body roll in the thing as I nearly had it on it's side at the first tight left hander....
(As an aside, my Dad bought a VW Beetle 1300, couldn't believe the amount of understeer at the roundabout at the top of the street. I'm going right, I'm trying to go right, sod it, straight on....)
aeropilot said:
Bennet said:
I bought a very tidy Morris Minor around a year ago, which has since had £3000 spent bringing it up to scratch mechanically by a trusted specialist, and given the nod and a slap on the roof.
Having previously enjoyed 80s classics, I was expecting it to be everything that they are, only more so. I'm only 36, so I don't have much nostalgia for 1950s cars but I was hoping to enjoy it for the noise, mechanical engagement and overall driving experience.
Unfortunately I was wrong. Everything about it feels rough and reluctant and fragile even. It isn't much fun to tool around in. The driving position is awkward and the controls are very vague.
I was expecting it to be ste in a good way, but sadly it's mostly ste in a ste way. I'm not blaming it for being what it is, I'm just surprised that it's not more fun. On paper, it should be, and all the youtube retrospectives made driving them look like an absolute hoot.
Thankfully, my wife (who it was bought for primarily) adores the looks and the vibe, and isn't too bothered about anything else.
Just to be clear, I've no axe to grind. The point of the thread? Tell me I'm wrong, I suppose, and that 50s cars are brilliant - or tell me I'm right and the 80s are indeed the sweet spot. Interested to know what others think.
You're not wrong.Having previously enjoyed 80s classics, I was expecting it to be everything that they are, only more so. I'm only 36, so I don't have much nostalgia for 1950s cars but I was hoping to enjoy it for the noise, mechanical engagement and overall driving experience.
Unfortunately I was wrong. Everything about it feels rough and reluctant and fragile even. It isn't much fun to tool around in. The driving position is awkward and the controls are very vague.
I was expecting it to be s
te in a good way, but sadly it's mostly ste in a ste way. I'm not blaming it for being what it is, I'm just surprised that it's not more fun. On paper, it should be, and all the youtube retrospectives made driving them look like an absolute hoot.Thankfully, my wife (who it was bought for primarily) adores the looks and the vibe, and isn't too bothered about anything else.
Just to be clear, I've no axe to grind. The point of the thread? Tell me I'm wrong, I suppose, and that 50s cars are brilliant - or tell me I'm right and the 80s are indeed the sweet spot. Interested to know what others think.
You just had unrealistic expectations based on your age, and no previous experience of similar classics.
Expecting a 1950's car that was really designed in the late 40's, to drive like a 1980's car is somewhat naive.
Good job the missus likes it.
The driving experience can be very much improved on them, with suspension kist etc., but you don't say whether the 3k spent was on upgrades or just OEM spec repairs?
I've spent rather more than that on my Riley One-Point-Five (once touted as a successor to the MM) and it's nowhere near how an 80's car drives - nor would I want or expect it to be - for example, torsion bars, leaf springs and lever-arm dampers just aren't going to provide a comparable ride.
Riley Blue said:
Aeropilot pretty well sums up what I was thinking: until we know how the three grand was spent it's difficult whether your expectations were reasonable.
The only reason for mentioning the £3k was to demonstrate that it's been to a specialist and put into (what I believe to be) good order. I'm told all is as it should be, and therefore I'm getting the bona fide Morris Minor experience. I was anticipating PHers telling me I to check X Y or Z, if I started a thread saying I didn't think it was that great to drive.Bennet said:
The only reason for mentioning the £3k was to demonstrate that it's been to a specialist and put into (what I believe to be) good order. I'm told all is as it should be, and therefore I'm getting the bona fide Morris Minor experience. I was anticipating PHers telling me I to check X Y or Z, if I started a thread saying I didn't think it was that great to drive.
I've always been a huge classic fan, and even earned my living from them for a while. But there's a reason why a lot of (not exclusively) British cars of the 50s and 60s are referred to as 'porrige'. They were built to be accessible (cheap) in a time when the aspiration was just to own a car, not to own a better car.In my experience people who enjoy things like MMs do so for the nostalgia and cameraderie, not for the dynamism. Bear in mind most owners of 'accessible' classics buy cars that had an impact on them when they were young because dad/neighbour/local businessmam had one.
You need to drive it more. If I've not driven my '60s classic for a bit, it feels crap until I've acclimatised (by driving it for a few hours), then it feels fine and is great. The more I drive it the better it gets. My '80s classic feels a bit plasticky and rattly until I've acclimatised, but in other respects is better than my modern car (Ie better ergonomics, easier to see out of etc). The simple fact is that cars of the '80s are a world apart from those of the '50s, but cars of the '80s not so much different from modern ones.
Our Moggie was a heap of junk, but great fun.
Our Moggie was a heap of junk, but great fun.
Bennet said:
The only reason for mentioning the £3k was to demonstrate that it's been to a specialist and put into (what I believe to be) good order. I'm told all is as it should be, and therefore I'm getting the bona fide Morris Minor experience. I was anticipating PHers telling me I to check X Y or Z, if I started a thread saying I didn't think it was that great to drive.
I think your wife has worked out the strong points! Driving experience and handling not being amongst them!Should've bought an Elan!
I had a Minor and now have a 1963 Mk1 Mini. Driving it is pleasant, to me anyway, but compared to any modern car it is ste. Slow, uncomfortable, noisy, draughty, poor heater, poor headlights. But on a sunny summer's day fabulous. Realistic expectations of a car from a different time.
te. Slow, uncomfortable, noisy, draughty, poor heater, poor headlights. But on a sunny summer's day fabulous. Realistic expectations of a car from a different time.Doofus said:
Bennet said:
The only reason for mentioning the £3k was to demonstrate that it's been to a specialist and put into (what I believe to be) good order. I'm told all is as it should be, and therefore I'm getting the bona fide Morris Minor experience. I was anticipating PHers telling me I to check X Y or Z, if I started a thread saying I didn't think it was that great to drive.
I've always been a huge classic fan, and even earned my living from them for a while. But there's a reason why a lot of (not exclusively) British cars of the 50s and 60s are referred to as 'porrige'. They were built to be accessible (cheap) in a time when the aspiration was just to own a car, not to own a better car.In my experience people who enjoy things like MMs do so for the nostalgia and cameraderie, not for the dynamism. Bear in mind most owners of 'accessible' classics buy cars that had an impact on them when they were young because dad/neighbour/local businessmam had one.
"You need to drive it more. If I've not driven my '60s classic for a bit, it feels crap until I've acclimatised (by driving it for a few hours), then it feels fine and is great. The more I drive it the better it gets."
Exactly that. I have owned my 60s classic for 20+ years but the last years it was parked in a shed because. When I pulled it out a few weeks ago to go to a classic meeting I thought I am going to sell it. It feld old, and shimmy, and I was afraid to use it hard. Then later on the day after a big long ride I began enjoying it again and know why I will NOT sell it. Since then I have been using it as much as possible (leaving the modern parked), every time with a big smile on my face. Not afraid to throw it in the corners again and make full use of the revs. It then feel quite quick but I know objectively this is not the case - any cheap modern car can run rings around it. But without the fun!
Car is a Hillman Imp by the way
Exactly that. I have owned my 60s classic for 20+ years but the last years it was parked in a shed because. When I pulled it out a few weeks ago to go to a classic meeting I thought I am going to sell it. It feld old, and shimmy, and I was afraid to use it hard. Then later on the day after a big long ride I began enjoying it again and know why I will NOT sell it. Since then I have been using it as much as possible (leaving the modern parked), every time with a big smile on my face. Not afraid to throw it in the corners again and make full use of the revs. It then feel quite quick but I know objectively this is not the case - any cheap modern car can run rings around it. But without the fun!
Car is a Hillman Imp by the way
Yertis said:
You need to drive it more. If I've not driven my '60s classic for a bit, it feels crap until I've acclimatised (by driving it for a few hours), then it feels fine and is great. The more I drive it the better it gets. My '80s classic feels a bit plasticky and rattly until I've acclimatised, but in other respects is better than my modern car (Ie better ergonomics, easier to see out of etc). The simple fact is that cars of the '80s are a world apart from those of the '50s, but cars of the '80s not so much different from modern ones.
Our Moggie was a heap of junk, but great fun.
Exactly as how I see things. Our Moggie was a heap of junk, but great fun.
You need to adopt your driving style considerably when jumping from a modern car into a 50's 60's classic. After some time it becomes second nature and much more enjoyable.
Unsurprisingly 1980's cars feel more similar to modern cars, which is one reason I don't find them particularly appealing. They're not different enough.
Doofus said:
But there's a reason why a lot of (not exclusively) British cars of the 50s and 60s are referred to as 'porrige'. They were built to be accessible (cheap) in a time when the aspiration was just to own a car, not to own a better car.
In my experience people who enjoy things like MMs do so for the nostalgia and cameraderie, not for the dynamism. Bear in mind most owners of 'accessible' classics buy cars that had an impact on them when they were young because dad/neighbour/local businessmam had one.
This absolutely. They were a step up from push bikes, motorcycle combinations or three-wheelers. Getting from A to B was the priority.In my experience people who enjoy things like MMs do so for the nostalgia and cameraderie, not for the dynamism. Bear in mind most owners of 'accessible' classics buy cars that had an impact on them when they were young because dad/neighbour/local businessmam had one.
Bennet said:
I bought a very tidy Morris Minor around a year ago, which has since had £3000 spent bringing it up to scratch mechanically by a trusted specialist, and given the nod and a slap on the roof.
Having previously enjoyed 80s classics, I was expecting it to be everything that they are, only more so. I'm only 36, so I don't have much nostalgia for 1950s cars but I was hoping to enjoy it for the noise, mechanical engagement and overall driving experience.
Unfortunately I was wrong. Everything about it feels rough and reluctant and fragile even. It isn't much fun to tool around in. The driving position is awkward and the controls are very vague.
I was expecting it to be ste in a good way, but sadly it's mostly ste in a ste way. I'm not blaming it for being what it is, I'm just surprised that it's not more fun. On paper, it should be, and all the youtube retrospectives made driving them look like an absolute hoot.
Thankfully, my wife (who it was bought for primarily) adores the looks and the vibe, and isn't too bothered about anything else.
Just to be clear, I've no axe to grind. The point of the thread? Tell me I'm wrong, I suppose, and that 50s cars are brilliant - or tell me I'm right and the 80s are indeed the sweet spot. Interested to know what others think.
What a fanastic review. I laughed out loud reading this. Yes, they are a bit of a shock. You have to drive them 100% of the time, set your expectations accordingly and compensate continually for what doesn't work properly.Having previously enjoyed 80s classics, I was expecting it to be everything that they are, only more so. I'm only 36, so I don't have much nostalgia for 1950s cars but I was hoping to enjoy it for the noise, mechanical engagement and overall driving experience.
Unfortunately I was wrong. Everything about it feels rough and reluctant and fragile even. It isn't much fun to tool around in. The driving position is awkward and the controls are very vague.
I was expecting it to be s
te in a good way, but sadly it's mostly ste in a ste way. I'm not blaming it for being what it is, I'm just surprised that it's not more fun. On paper, it should be, and all the youtube retrospectives made driving them look like an absolute hoot.Thankfully, my wife (who it was bought for primarily) adores the looks and the vibe, and isn't too bothered about anything else.
Just to be clear, I've no axe to grind. The point of the thread? Tell me I'm wrong, I suppose, and that 50s cars are brilliant - or tell me I'm right and the 80s are indeed the sweet spot. Interested to know what others think.
Nostalgia, for when cars were ' s
te ' really helps...! Glad your wife likes it..!My father has a late Minor with a few mods (discs, telescopic shocks, front anti-roll bar, etc.) but no major changes. I find it an absolute hoot to drive, it's certainly easier to drive than my '65 Mustang, and probably more fun.
What is it you don't like about it? I would say try a few un-intrusive mods to sharpen it up a little without changing the character of it. As older cars were more basic small mods have a bigger effect.
As to '80s cars being the high-point...I had an XR3i cabriolet which I sold 3 years ago (never had one in the day but had one for a few years as a classic). The Minor had better steering, the gearchange was better, parts availability was better, better economy, it didn't give much away in comfort, etc. I liked the XR3i but am not blinkered enough to think '80s cars are better as classics. '80s cars are generally easier to live with but applying that logic gets you straight back to buying a brand new car. If you're comparing an '80s BMW M3 to a Minor then maybe a '50s Lancia or Alfa might have been a better bet?
What is it you don't like about it? I would say try a few un-intrusive mods to sharpen it up a little without changing the character of it. As older cars were more basic small mods have a bigger effect.
As to '80s cars being the high-point...I had an XR3i cabriolet which I sold 3 years ago (never had one in the day but had one for a few years as a classic). The Minor had better steering, the gearchange was better, parts availability was better, better economy, it didn't give much away in comfort, etc. I liked the XR3i but am not blinkered enough to think '80s cars are better as classics. '80s cars are generally easier to live with but applying that logic gets you straight back to buying a brand new car. If you're comparing an '80s BMW M3 to a Minor then maybe a '50s Lancia or Alfa might have been a better bet?
GoodOlBoy said:
Yertis said:
You need to drive it more. If I've not driven my '60s classic for a bit, it feels crap until I've acclimatised (by driving it for a few hours), then it feels fine and is great. The more I drive it the better it gets. My '80s classic feels a bit plasticky and rattly until I've acclimatised, but in other respects is better than my modern car (Ie better ergonomics, easier to see out of etc). The simple fact is that cars of the '80s are a world apart from those of the '50s, but cars of the '80s not so much different from modern ones.
Our Moggie was a heap of junk, but great fun.
Exactly as how I see things. Our Moggie was a heap of junk, but great fun.
You need to adopt your driving style considerably when jumping from a modern car into a 50's 60's classic. After some time it becomes second nature and much more enjoyable.
Unsurprisingly 1980's cars feel more similar to modern cars, which is one reason I don't find them particularly appealing. They're not different enough.
Back in the late 90's and into the 2000's I used spend time driving a lot of wartime military vehicles, Jeeps and 6x6 lorries and such like, including pre-war motorcycles.........and it was the massive difference to anything then new that made it fun, having to adapt driving techniques pretty alien to most stuff then about.
OP needs to persevere with it, and try not to compare with anything else. Remove modern brain when turning key and insert a 1950's or 60's version of your brain, and enjoy.
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