Minis - I get it now, I finally get it!
Discussion
They've always been a topic of controversy and stubborness for me have Minis. I've always thought they looked nice and that they may be different to drive, but I never got why people were so fascinated with them or why they have such a huge following....Well now I do!
Today I drove a Mini Cooper Sport 1.3i that had just 18k on the clock. It's the first Mini I have ever drove, and boy was it fun. It is easily the most fun car I have ever driven! The controls are all heavy and awkward, but it didn't bother me in the slightest! It was direct, nippy, and surprisingly quick upto 60. I loved it so much, that I am now looking at DoneDeal.ie. Mint examples are 2-3k over here, which seems very cheap! I must resist temptation after recently collecting my newly purchased RB5. The missus won't be happy a Mini Cooper ends up on the drive too!
Anyone else fascinated with these little beautys?
Today I drove a Mini Cooper Sport 1.3i that had just 18k on the clock. It's the first Mini I have ever drove, and boy was it fun. It is easily the most fun car I have ever driven! The controls are all heavy and awkward, but it didn't bother me in the slightest! It was direct, nippy, and surprisingly quick upto 60. I loved it so much, that I am now looking at DoneDeal.ie. Mint examples are 2-3k over here, which seems very cheap! I must resist temptation after recently collecting my newly purchased RB5. The missus won't be happy a Mini Cooper ends up on the drive too!
Anyone else fascinated with these little beautys?
I didn't get them either, until i was a passenger in one wizzing around a town and lanes... Now i can see why my friend has 3!
nothing comes close to what it feels like, and its the same with older cars in general... Spitfires, GT6s, midgets and other old metal all make you drive with a stupid grin on your face
nothing comes close to what it feels like, and its the same with older cars in general... Spitfires, GT6s, midgets and other old metal all make you drive with a stupid grin on your face
Afraid I still don`t get it.
The original was a revelation in its day but in reality it is cramped, noisy, slow, poorly built and would come off worse in a crash with a bean can.
The new one is a pretty good car marred by a questionable image and is as common as muck.
They do handle quite well though.
Buying a Mini One seems like a shortcut to thinking to me, lots of less mainstream/more interesting cars around imo.
Let the flaming begin (not that I care ;-) )
The original was a revelation in its day but in reality it is cramped, noisy, slow, poorly built and would come off worse in a crash with a bean can.
The new one is a pretty good car marred by a questionable image and is as common as muck.
They do handle quite well though.
Buying a Mini One seems like a shortcut to thinking to me, lots of less mainstream/more interesting cars around imo.
Let the flaming begin (not that I care ;-) )
Had loads, used to race them. Easy to maintain and modify, great fun. Best one was a 970S based autograss car, hewland box, copper clutch, split twin webbers, centre pick up pipe, lightened and balanced, kent cam, ah... those were the days!! Enjoy it! little tip... cut the fingers off a marigold glove, poke the HT leads through the fingers- keeps the wet out.
Absolutely love these cars. Always have done. Finally got the chance to drive one about a year ago belonging to a good mate of mine. It was a 998cc car with stage 3 tuning, just restored to race spec. It was heavy to drive and as the OP also said with the controls in awkward places, but god it was fun! The straight through exhaust was good fun too! I'm always looking on. Classifieds for one
Perd Hapley said:
I've never driven an injection model but I have a late carb'd 1.3 and it's a riot. Every time I've got a long trip in it I take the slow roads and every time I end up thinking its motoring perfection. Does 45mpg on a run too!
45MPG, you're not driving it hard enough, /I'm getting an average of about 33MPG in my 1275 carb, mainly short runs though.
I've tried driving economically, but I usually don't get very far with that,
.
Fubar1977 said:
Afraid I still don`t get it.
The original was a revelation in its day but in reality it is cramped, noisy, slow, poorly built and would come off worse in a crash with a bean can.
Err but have you actually driven a good one? Seriously yes they are bit noisey, no they aren't safe (but still much safer than walking, cycling, motorbiking!). Original mini has better steering than your mini One, sharper turn in etc.. In short, they are a hoot if in good order.The original was a revelation in its day but in reality it is cramped, noisy, slow, poorly built and would come off worse in a crash with a bean can.
BFG TERRANO said:
joebongo said:
But would you survive any decent crash? That's what puts me off them. It looks like 1960's fatality potential and it's the other bloke's I'm worried most about.
In the 60s safety wasnt high on the list when designing cars.You could die in a crash in any vehicle.... A stray tree branch, metal pole, fence post etc, through the windscreen and it could be curtains even at relatively low speed and no amount of Euro Ncap-ness will save your butt!
joebongo said:
But would you survive any decent crash? That's what puts me off them. It looks like 1960's fatality potential and it's the other bloke's I'm worried most about.
My point exactly.And, yes I`ve driven a few over the years, original and BMW ones. Depressingly overrated imo
I admit it would be safer than a bicycle, just.
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