car purchase advice needed!

[minimax]

more PH advice needed (similar question on mini forum) - come on what do you think!

do I

1. buy a westfield

2. put a VTEC in the mini

3. put a 1380 in the mini & buy a locost

this is really annoying me as whenever I buy a car it's always on a wild impulse and I always end up regretting it! I have resolved to think it through so first stop PH - bought for cash so no probs about selling it & replacing it.

Thanks

[sparkey]

Buying on a wild impulse is the only way to go. I'd say that as you put the Westie as choice 1 then that's what you really want so get one.

Otherwise go for the 1380 mini and build a locost with a bike engine

[sparks]

Leave the mini alone (or is the current engine shagged?) and use the additional money to fund either the locost, or some other suitable PH machine.

If you need a new engine for the mini, just go down the scappy. Learn about the good old 'A' series by stripping it and doing some mods yourself.

Just a thought.

Sparks

[minimax]

problem is - I'm crap at mechanical things with engines + I haven't got anywhere to work on it - mini engine is great - £1,100 on engine rebuild 3 months ago.

I haven't the time to build a car so it must be fully sorted.

[plotloss]

If the Mini engine is good I would say leave it, but then you will always wonder!

Now I am biased as I want 200+bhp in my Mini so am going the VTEC route. On the whole though I think the Mini and Locost route is best...

Matt.

[chris.mapey]

Mini & Locost is the route.

Imagine the joy in driving up in the "sensible car" and it being a tuned Mini. Bloody brilliant.

What have you got that cost £1100 3 m ago?

My 1310cc with gearbox cost me £500 s/h. Going well so far, 84bhp on the Baldwin rolling road. New cam going in, then the gearbox - it's never ending....How do you plan to fund a Locost as well...!

Let us know what the choice is. Chris.

[minimax]

chris.mapey said:
Imagine the joy in driving up in the "sensible car" and it being a tuned Mini. Bloody brilliant.

now that is an excellent idea!

What have you got that cost £1100 3 m ago?

not a lot really - just a fairly standard mini whose mechanical bits are unlikely to go pop (touch wood) in the near future. I stripped the lay gear when "enthusiastically" dropping to 2nd, that cost £700 for a recon box + cross pin diff + semi compo clutch + whole host of other bits & pieces while they were on. total was £1,085.
Then there's the £1,500 I've spent on other bits - h/lamp conversion, various cables, petrol tank, steady bar, radiator, sump guard, etc, etc, etc, it very quickly mounts up

[minimax]

any ideas on engines/power/speed figures for westfields or locosts? I know they're quick but this will help me make up my mind

[lx993]

nah - got to be the VTEC mini, it's one of the most insane concepts on 4 wheels. Especially if you get a serious type R engine and it's knocking out 220 bhp. Mad.

I had an old mini with a 1380 MED engine once, it was hilarious fun but spent most of the time broken (not the fault of the engine, just the ancillaries and other bits). I can only imagine 220 bhp in a mini. Decent brakes and roll cage probably essential!!!!

[agent006]

Before graham.j gets in here, option 1.

[Big Chris]

I'd go with the westfield

[Byff]

Having just spent all that dosh on the engine of your mini, I'd be reluctant to pull it out for a Vtec.

So if I was you, I'd sell the mini and get a westie.

BTW, where's my other seat !!!!

[NikB]

Buy the Westie cos the Mini has a roof!

[chris.mapey]

How about a Pimilco body for the Mini VTEC ????

Open top, bloody light GRP (no rust) Rear beam conversion, coil over fronts, uprated KAD rear discs & 6 pot fronts, curley mouding carbon fibre dash, stack instruments, etc etc...

Ideal.

Or is this just MY idea of ideal......

Chris

[robp]

Mr Minimax (aka Fellow Cainer)

YOu surprise me with this obvious question;

Choose the rear-wheel drive / lightweight option (westfield).

Dont forget to let me have a go.

You might ask why I am posting at such a late hour, lets just say the venue of last weekends drinking action was revisited

By the way, save £99 for the trackday, will be booked this weekend

[Graham.J]

agent006 said: Before graham.j gets in here, option 1.

How did you know?????

Depends on how much you have to spend really, Locosts aren't exactly cheap, I know someone who's built a Locost and it's cost him roughly the same as it's cost me for my Westi.

So yes, Westfield and keep the mini!!!!

Edited to add: Or sell the mini and get a Westfield...........either way, get a Westfield!!

Me? Biased?..........BEHAVE!!!!

>> Edited by Graham.J on Saturday 29th March 03:37

[minimax]

Byff said: Having just spent all that dosh on the engine of your mini, I'd be reluctant to pull it out for a Vtec.

So if I was you, I'd sell the mini and get a westie.

BTW, where's my other seat !!!!

oh SH1T, SH1T & DOUBLE SH1T!!!! I'll try to get them for you today mate

[minimax]

robp said: Mr Minimax (aka Fellow Cainer)

YOu surprise me with this obvious question;

Choose the rear-wheel drive / lightweight option (westfield).

Dont forget to let me have a go.

You might ask why I am posting at such a late hour, lets just say the venue of last weekends drinking action was revisited

By the way, save £99 for the trackday, will be booked this weekend

99 of the queens best has been in the glovebox since you mentioned it, JIC !!