Discussion
Looking for my first car in a few months and would like a mini most likely a 1000cc with a zeemax body kit on it. What sort of performance are they i.e. 0 - 60? And are the quick enough to keep up with modern traffic. And how would fitting a stage 1 or stage 2 kits affect the performance? In terms of power increase etc... Finally would I be able to fit in? As 6ft 2 and would like to have relative comfort.
Thanks
Greg
Thanks
Greg
It will keep up with the traffic. Not very quick but not bad ( I dont know the exact figers). I did 12ooo Miles a year in one for 3 years and found it quite good fun. The drum bakes neaded a lot of looking after but the rest was ok. My Father is 6,4 and has been driving minis on and of for 40 plus years. If you have any problems there are extention brakets that make the seat go back further. A stage one kit gives about 10% more power. I think worth it?
Test drive one and see what you think. Have fun!
Test drive one and see what you think. Have fun!
The 998 Mini is a great little car. In fact, it is a much smoother engine than the 1275. A nicely set-up 998 is quite able to keep up with modern traffic so long as you don't want to cruise the motorways at over 80 mph all day long. At 70 - 75 it's super. For 0 - 60 with the improvements listed below you should be looking at about 13 seconds +/- a bit.
At 6ft2in you may want to consider better seats with more adjustment, but my son, who is 6'4" had a 970 Cooper 'S' with Cobra seats as his rally car and fitted in fine. In fact, it seemed bigger inside than his Metro road car.
My personal view, and that of most Mini enthusiasts is that fitting the sort of body kit you suggest spoils the classic appearance of the Mini. In addition, as a young driver, it attracts the attention of the Old Bill. The insurance company might not like it either.
You would be better spending your cash on some subtle engine improvements. To make a 998 better on the road does not require anything really radical. A slightly gas-flowed head combined with an alloy inlet manifold and tubular exhaust manifold, mated to a 1.625" diameter exhaust pipe and silencer box is a great help.
The most important thing is to get a car which is not rusty.
Good luck with this.
At 6ft2in you may want to consider better seats with more adjustment, but my son, who is 6'4" had a 970 Cooper 'S' with Cobra seats as his rally car and fitted in fine. In fact, it seemed bigger inside than his Metro road car.
My personal view, and that of most Mini enthusiasts is that fitting the sort of body kit you suggest spoils the classic appearance of the Mini. In addition, as a young driver, it attracts the attention of the Old Bill. The insurance company might not like it either.
You would be better spending your cash on some subtle engine improvements. To make a 998 better on the road does not require anything really radical. A slightly gas-flowed head combined with an alloy inlet manifold and tubular exhaust manifold, mated to a 1.625" diameter exhaust pipe and silencer box is a great help.
The most important thing is to get a car which is not rusty.
Good luck with this.
Okay seems I might look for a standard car then without rust my dad has had a few and said will be able to help me repair minor rust if I get one with it. However what would be better to get the 1275 or the 999cc one saying I spend say around 3k with mods (performance) included as would really like to be able to cruise at 80 on the motorway and have something fairly realiable as dont want to be stuck on the hard shoulder all the time.
Check your insurance costs as a young driver of the 1275 and the 998. There will probably be a big difference.
For a total of around £3k you will be able to get a really nice car.
As an example, my Grandson has a 1986 Mayfair 998. I paid £150 fo it 2 years ago. This is bored to 1061 cc, it has an original 'S' cam (the 510), a 12G295 original 998 Cooper head which is a bit gas flowed and has a comp ratio of 10.3:1. The inlet is a Howley alloy one and the exhaust is an original 3 into 1 Cooper type. It has a small bore, 1.625", exhaust pipe with an RC40 back box (the big bore ones lose you power on a 998). The carb is an HS4 and I must say it goes extremely well. With a diff ratio of 3.2 it cruises at 75 to 80 very smoothly. Dampers are SPAX adjustables, the wheels are Rover 'Minilites', the dash is walnut and the interior is a 1991 Cooper set (that's 1/2 leather).
The body is totally rust free and the entire car has been properly restored with everything overhauled or replaced.
Now, he was offered £4000 for it recently, but would not sell it. As the sticker in his rear window says "I would rather scratch my piles with a wire brush than sell my Mini!"
That says it all. If you want a photo, email me your address.
Peter
For a total of around £3k you will be able to get a really nice car.
As an example, my Grandson has a 1986 Mayfair 998. I paid £150 fo it 2 years ago. This is bored to 1061 cc, it has an original 'S' cam (the 510), a 12G295 original 998 Cooper head which is a bit gas flowed and has a comp ratio of 10.3:1. The inlet is a Howley alloy one and the exhaust is an original 3 into 1 Cooper type. It has a small bore, 1.625", exhaust pipe with an RC40 back box (the big bore ones lose you power on a 998). The carb is an HS4 and I must say it goes extremely well. With a diff ratio of 3.2 it cruises at 75 to 80 very smoothly. Dampers are SPAX adjustables, the wheels are Rover 'Minilites', the dash is walnut and the interior is a 1991 Cooper set (that's 1/2 leather).
The body is totally rust free and the entire car has been properly restored with everything overhauled or replaced.
Now, he was offered £4000 for it recently, but would not sell it. As the sticker in his rear window says "I would rather scratch my piles with a wire brush than sell my Mini!"
That says it all. If you want a photo, email me your address.
Peter
Hi Greg, I'm just rebuilding a 1300 clubman for my son who is 17 this year. I have taken the 1300 engine out and replaced it with 998, (just for insurance on the first two years) the only mods I have done is cut the inlet manifold off the old exhaust, which leaves a small hole and is just welded up using a small plate. I then ordered a new needle for the 1.5in SU carb and a red spring, along with a piper foam air filter. (contact Minisport and ask for Mick Holt or Mark) The new exhaust manifold is a maniflow three branch with stainless side exit RC40 single box exhaust, which I found on the Ebay. If you have a 3.44 diff with 13' wheels that should do the job. That extra bit of power and a good ratio diff will not hurt your insurance and the bank balance. Cheers Beav's
Cooperman said:
Check your insurance costs as a young driver of the 1275 and the 998. There will probably be a big difference.
For a total of around £3k you will be able to get a really nice car.
As an example, my Grandson has a 1986 Mayfair 998. I paid £150 fo it 2 years ago. This is bored to 1061 cc, it has an original 'S' cam (the 510), a 12G295 original 998 Cooper head which is a bit gas flowed and has a comp ratio of 10.3:1. The inlet is a Howley alloy one and the exhaust is an original 3 into 1 Cooper type. It has a small bore, 1.625", exhaust pipe with an RC40 back box (the big bore ones lose you power on a 998). The carb is an HS4 and I must say it goes extremely well. With a diff ratio of 3.2 it cruises at 75 to 80 very smoothly. Dampers are SPAX adjustables, the wheels are Rover 'Minilites', the dash is walnut and the interior is a 1991 Cooper set (that's 1/2 leather).
The body is totally rust free and the entire car has been properly restored with everything overhauled or replaced.
Now, he was offered £4000 for it recently, but would not sell it. As the sticker in his rear window says "I would rather scratch my piles with a wire brush than sell my Mini!"
That says it all. If you want a photo, email me your address.
Peter
Okay thanks for that will prove very useful would not mind a few pictures so see what 4k gets you although would be looking at 2.5 - 3k here or less if doing a bit of work myself as may buy a few months before 17 if see a good example. However I have heard that 50th anniversary next year and will push the prices up on all the classic mini's is this a load of rubbish or is it true? because if true will look at buying sooner rather than later. Also looked at the insurance and the 1275 is around 500 pounds more than the 1000cc so will have to see worth the extra outlay by testing both and seeing how they perform. For a total of around £3k you will be able to get a really nice car.
As an example, my Grandson has a 1986 Mayfair 998. I paid £150 fo it 2 years ago. This is bored to 1061 cc, it has an original 'S' cam (the 510), a 12G295 original 998 Cooper head which is a bit gas flowed and has a comp ratio of 10.3:1. The inlet is a Howley alloy one and the exhaust is an original 3 into 1 Cooper type. It has a small bore, 1.625", exhaust pipe with an RC40 back box (the big bore ones lose you power on a 998). The carb is an HS4 and I must say it goes extremely well. With a diff ratio of 3.2 it cruises at 75 to 80 very smoothly. Dampers are SPAX adjustables, the wheels are Rover 'Minilites', the dash is walnut and the interior is a 1991 Cooper set (that's 1/2 leather).
The body is totally rust free and the entire car has been properly restored with everything overhauled or replaced.
Now, he was offered £4000 for it recently, but would not sell it. As the sticker in his rear window says "I would rather scratch my piles with a wire brush than sell my Mini!"
That says it all. If you want a photo, email me your address.
Peter
Oh my email is greg_fitzmaurice@hotmail.co.uk - if want to send the pictures
Thanks Greggy50
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