'Proper' Mini: PH Carpool
Tweed seats sum up the delights of a pensioner spec Mini for this week's PHer owner
Car: 1997 Rover Mini MPI
Owned since: Summer 2010
Previously owned: First Car!
'Tweed FTW' says our proud Carpooler!
"I was interested in learning to drive in something old and a bit different, as the idea of a Corsa or equivalent left me pretty cold. I always had a soft spot for original Minis (let's face it who doesn't?) and the presence of nominal safety features on late MPI cars (airbag, side impact bars, seatbelt pre-tensioners, etc), along with the abundance of spares and accessories still available sealed the deal over older alternatives such as a Moggy Traveller, Spridget or Mk1 Golf."
What I wish I'd known:
"Essentially the basic rules for buying any old car - buy on condition not mileage, don't be fooled by caked-on underseal, etc. Fortunately, I came up trumps with this one, which has been cosseted in its 17,000 miles, but I could have very easily fallen for a pup being pretty naive! There's also model-specific stuff to know; the later MPI cars apparently used thinner steel to save money, and were left exposed to the elements in storage at Longbridge in bare metal form to weather the bodywork in true British hand-built style. Also, they have battery issues, as the electrics struggled with the Rover parts bin tech that was installed (immobiliser, alarm, etc). I refer to mine as the world's first plug-in hybrid as it spends so long attached to the trickle charger!"
Not going for a Cooper saves on insurance
"Where to start?! The thrummy, torquey A-Series is huge fun, the handling likewise, and it's so easy to squeeze into silly gaps in town. Also it has a fantastic effect on people around you - there's none of the animosity created by some PH cars, only the grins of passers-by. I remember driving past a primary school at booting out time one day only to be mobbed! I didn't know whether to feel cool or creepy! The Mini scene is fantastic too - such a wealth of knowledge out there and nice folks too. It also trumps any 1.2 Eurobox in my book! Oh, and it has tweed seats, which is just much cooler than grey cloth!"
Things I hate:
"It's easy to forget that the Mini's design is over a half-century old now, until you live with one. Some of the features have no place in a car built so close to the millennium; lacklustre windscreen wipers, the whiny, overgeared four-speed 'box, the Cyberman-esque heater, the constant need for grease in various joints and the rest. These aren't complaints though, as I reckon these features for the most part add to the character of the car, and the whole fun experience of driving it. It will easily keep up with the rigours of daily driver life, given the right amount of TLC, and I couldn't ask for more than that."
A motoring rite of passage, kept alive by one PHer
"This is one of the most satisfying parts of running a Mini; it runs that as the car is small, the parts are small and therefore cheaper. Examples? Oil filters can be had for £3, with fresh brake pads around £10 if you know where to look. Also, due to its continued popularity, every single spare you could wish for is out there. The biggest costs have been young driver insurance (although it is one of the cheapest cars for this I'm reliably informed) and also the odd minor detail bodywork repair, if only for labour costs. Another point about insurance is that it was a good idea to go for a standard MPI rather than a Cooper, as they cost less to insure despite having identical running gear. I'm fortunate in there's a trustworthy local garage to help out nearby too."
Where I've been:
"Driving lessons and tests, various trips around Cheshire and the surrounding area, but not very far really. There was one fun trip up the biker's favourite Cat and Fiddle road on the way to a DOFE expedition once, which resulted in one late model Boxster S owner with egg on his face! Nothing grips a hairpin like one of these. Done the odd car show too, and even slept in it at an 18th recently (wouldn't recommend it!)"
One small concession to modern needs
"My brother is learning to drive in it as of February. Reckon I'll pre-order a new clutch plate now then ... helpful that they're only £29!"
"Other than that it's staying for the foreseeable future. Planning to keep relatively stock as it is almost completely original. I'm loath to join the Saxo with drainpipe for exhaust band! I may add a freshened up set of door pocket speakers in Metro door bins though, to match the Parrot Asteroid HU that I'm running, but it will all be in the finest taste, I can assure you!"
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
Will definitely consider an update thread if there's demand for one! Plenty of interesting stories driving one of these.
Re: steering wheel can see what you mean, 'borrowed' from an MGF and doesnt really have a place in one of these, but good to have one concession to safety!
Re: 'hairpins' sure there was some 60s motoring journo embellishment slipped in
Edited for bad punctuation
tourist recently. The amount of Bentleys and S-Klasse Mercs on the other hand was astonishing.
Nice to see people still caring for this icon of British motoring, keep up the good work!
A mate of mine used to have a little 1.3 IIRC and it was surreal being a passenger in such a diminutive vehicle.
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