RE: SOTW: Mini 1000
Discussion
Great shed
Have owned a 1000cc City (had to put a 1300 MG Metro engine in as it was so slow) and a 1994 mini cooper (hadn't been looked after so was constantly fighting rust)
Found them both to be really reliable though (honestly, although only owned them for a year each) and they are great fun to drive.
Once the rust really sets in though it is probably time to walk away (as the vendor is possibly doing)
Still, nice to see a small engined runabout being honoured on SOTW
Have owned a 1000cc City (had to put a 1300 MG Metro engine in as it was so slow) and a 1994 mini cooper (hadn't been looked after so was constantly fighting rust)
Found them both to be really reliable though (honestly, although only owned them for a year each) and they are great fun to drive.
Once the rust really sets in though it is probably time to walk away (as the vendor is possibly doing)
Still, nice to see a small engined runabout being honoured on SOTW
I had a 1000cc Red Hot (very 1980s) that I put a cooper head on and a 649 scatter pattern cam in it went really well (off the clock in 3rd!).
Then I dropped a 1430 in it which to be frank was a silly idea cause it ate head gaskets and you couldnt stp it, but it did keep up with my mates RS turbo.
I also put whole new front end (HERITAGE SCUTTLE PANNEL INCLUDED! HENS TEETH I MAY ADD!), sills and a boot floor then a full respray. The rear sub frame Collapsed and I swoped it for a 106.
Was gutted but I dont like to talk about it.
Then I dropped a 1430 in it which to be frank was a silly idea cause it ate head gaskets and you couldnt stp it, but it did keep up with my mates RS turbo.
I also put whole new front end (HERITAGE SCUTTLE PANNEL INCLUDED! HENS TEETH I MAY ADD!), sills and a boot floor then a full respray. The rear sub frame Collapsed and I swoped it for a 106.
Was gutted but I dont like to talk about it.
My Mum used to have one about 14 years ago, still remember the plate of PLA 553W.
Bright Royal Blue, Retro Alloys and and a big exhaust in the centre!
It actually used to sound nice, and wad the first car i ever drove (aged 13 at the time!).
Fond memories. I've always liked the original Minis - have a lot of character about them.
Bright Royal Blue, Retro Alloys and and a big exhaust in the centre!
It actually used to sound nice, and wad the first car i ever drove (aged 13 at the time!).
Fond memories. I've always liked the original Minis - have a lot of character about them.
had one as my first car. Eventually had a 1300 engine from an MG1300, gas flowed 12G940 head, front discs (from same car) and wolfraces with goodyear eagles.
I loved it. Ok, the back window would fall out if you went round a sharp bend too fast (not the stiffest of shells) and it would still get left at the lights by a Spitfire, but such great fun!!!
Could use a set of fronts down to canvas without moving and understaeered like hell.
Bu, contrary to belief, you could just about get the job done in the back if you put the front seats forward...
I loved it. Ok, the back window would fall out if you went round a sharp bend too fast (not the stiffest of shells) and it would still get left at the lights by a Spitfire, but such great fun!!!
Could use a set of fronts down to canvas without moving and understaeered like hell.
Bu, contrary to belief, you could just about get the job done in the back if you put the front seats forward...
Motorrad said:
Not horrible to own as long as you like doing a bit of home mechanicing.
Still miss all 3 of my minis.
I feel the same.Still miss all 3 of my minis.
Other than the annual top-up of my welding burns, most of the work I did on mine were due to driving them like an absolute loon all the time.
Had 5 in total from the age of 17 to about 25, loved 'em to bits.
Some of the parts I cannibalised from them are due to return to the road in the form of my Mini Marcos...when it's eventually finished!
Disco_Dale said:
Motorrad said:
Not horrible to own as long as you like doing a bit of home mechanicing.
Still miss all 3 of my minis.
I feel the same.Still miss all 3 of my minis.
Other than the annual top-up of my welding burns, most of the work I did on mine were due to driving them like an absolute loon all the time.
Had 5 in total from the age of 17 to about 25, loved 'em to bits.
Some of the parts I cannibalised from them are due to return to the road in the form of my Mini Marcos...when it's eventually finished!
M5Dave said:
mustard tab said:
Pants shed.
Cramped, slow, unreliable, rusts as bad as an old Alfa.
+1Cramped, slow, unreliable, rusts as bad as an old Alfa.
I sometimes wonder if all the people who go misty eyed over old minis, have ever had the misfortune of owning one as their only car for any length of time.
I did, for a year, and there wasn't a single day that it didn't have something wrong with it, as one thing was fixed another would break, the final straw was total brake failure.
My advice would be to spend the £750 on a 7 Series BMW, it'll be cheaper to run.
Having said, I drove a hillclimb/rally spec Mk1 Cooper to work everyday for a year and it was fine. Not a thing wrong with it. Would you really expect a car with 25 year old components, (coils, etc) to be reliable? They are totally reliable if set up right. Most people don't even do oilchanges these days.....it's the lazy attitude.
I'm currently trying to build reliability into my 1430 engine, before it all goes back on the road again.
As I tear up the tarmac on the road to work and pull into ridiculously small gaps, I can't help thinking, "What are you lot doing driving that boring crap?"
Beirut Taxi said:
FWDRacer said:
At last - A proper SOTW 
There have been loads of "proper" SOTWs, There are other great cars out there which aren't Minis.And not everyone likes Minis. I certainly couldn't live with one. It is a rare case where I would take the newer model of car instead of the older, classic one.
Edited by Beirut Taxi on Friday 16th October 12:19
Aaagh...
Had minis as my first 2 cars and loved them to bits. Everytime I see one for sale I get tempted but have to keep reminding myself of all the skin lost from my knuckles when working in the cramped engine bay and pulling out rust from sills etc.
God I wish I had an acre of spare land for all my intended projects...
Had minis as my first 2 cars and loved them to bits. Everytime I see one for sale I get tempted but have to keep reminding myself of all the skin lost from my knuckles when working in the cramped engine bay and pulling out rust from sills etc.
God I wish I had an acre of spare land for all my intended projects...
Shoot Blair said:
M5Dave said:
mustard tab said:
Pants shed.
Cramped, slow, unreliable, rusts as bad as an old Alfa.
+1Cramped, slow, unreliable, rusts as bad as an old Alfa.
I sometimes wonder if all the people who go misty eyed over old minis, have ever had the misfortune of owning one as their only car for any length of time.
I did, for a year, and there wasn't a single day that it didn't have something wrong with it, as one thing was fixed another would break, the final straw was total brake failure.
My advice would be to spend the £750 on a 7 Series BMW, it'll be cheaper to run.
Having said, I drove a hillclimb/rally spec Mk1 Cooper to work everyday for a year and it was fine. Not a thing wrong with it. Would you really expect a car with 25 year old components, (coils, etc) to be reliable? They are totally reliable if set up right. Most people don't even do oilchanges these days.....it's the lazy attitude.
I'm currently trying to build reliability into my 1430 engine, before it all goes back on the road again.
As I tear up the tarmac on the road to work and pull into ridiculously small gaps, I can't help thinking, "What are you lot doing driving that boring crap?"
M5Dave said:
mustard tab said:
Pants shed.
Cramped, slow, unreliable, rusts as bad as an old Alfa.
+1Cramped, slow, unreliable, rusts as bad as an old Alfa.
I sometimes wonder if all the people who go misty eyed over old minis, have ever had the misfortune of owning one as their only car for any length of time.
I did, for a year, and there wasn't a single day that it didn't have something wrong with it, as one thing was fixed another would break, the final straw was total brake failure.
My advice would be to spend the £750 on a 7 Series BMW, it'll be cheaper to run.
leon9191 said:
Shoot Blair said:
M5Dave said:
mustard tab said:
Pants shed.
Cramped, slow, unreliable, rusts as bad as an old Alfa.
+1Cramped, slow, unreliable, rusts as bad as an old Alfa.
I sometimes wonder if all the people who go misty eyed over old minis, have ever had the misfortune of owning one as their only car for any length of time.
I did, for a year, and there wasn't a single day that it didn't have something wrong with it, as one thing was fixed another would break, the final straw was total brake failure.
My advice would be to spend the £750 on a 7 Series BMW, it'll be cheaper to run.
Having said, I drove a hillclimb/rally spec Mk1 Cooper to work everyday for a year and it was fine. Not a thing wrong with it. Would you really expect a car with 25 year old components, (coils, etc) to be reliable? They are totally reliable if set up right. Most people don't even do oilchanges these days.....it's the lazy attitude.
I'm currently trying to build reliability into my 1430 engine, before it all goes back on the road again.
As I tear up the tarmac on the road to work and pull into ridiculously small gaps, I can't help thinking, "What are you lot doing driving that boring crap?"
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