Ok I admit it- the Classic MINI
Discussion
I may have been the of the last people to ever think of owning a Mini (being 6'2") and will probably look like a total jerk. But now I see it as something I could use daily on the commute. How economical are they?
I've driven one, it was so slow it was entertaining, was great fun around town and didn't look too much to keep on top of in terms of maintainance.
I've driven one, it was so slow it was entertaining, was great fun around town and didn't look too much to keep on top of in terms of maintainance.
I'm 6ft and have a blast in mine, had it 4 years now. Think it does about 35mpg.
I would think about changing the front seats like I did, makes it much more comfortable to drive. Mine are out of a rover 200 coupe (ebay) and with a bit of spanner work fit really nicely.
See my Le Mans story
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Lower down the page.
Good luck with it
Cheers
Paul
I would think about changing the front seats like I did, makes it much more comfortable to drive. Mine are out of a rover 200 coupe (ebay) and with a bit of spanner work fit really nicely.
See my Le Mans story
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
Lower down the page.
Good luck with it
Cheers
Paul
If the standard car is a little slow for Sir's taste, may I suggest one takes a minute to browse around the z-cars site. I had a passenger ride in one of their Type-R powered cars, and it was equally as quick as my Blackbird powered Westy. Utterly bonkers little things and on my "list" of cars to own at some point.
http://zcars.org.uk/new/mini.php
http://zcars.org.uk/new/mini.php
I'm 6"2 and could make a Mini fit me pretty easily.
Brackets to move the seat further back and a drop bracket for the steering column will get most people comfortable in a Mini.
In my completely biased opinion, no one can properly claim full petrolhead credentials until he has owned at least one Mini.
The Lotus/Caterham Seven, a Series Land Rover and a 2CV are other essential motoring experiences.
Brackets to move the seat further back and a drop bracket for the steering column will get most people comfortable in a Mini.
In my completely biased opinion, no one can properly claim full petrolhead credentials until he has owned at least one Mini.
The Lotus/Caterham Seven, a Series Land Rover and a 2CV are other essential motoring experiences.
I like the advice so far 
It wouldn't be a perfect one I'm after, probably far from it as I don't want to spend much more than 1k (within reason). I just want something that will get me to work over 13 miles of B roads without costing a fortune to run whilst having fun in the process. 35mpg? I'm getting 36mpg out my 318is as the moment, I'm sure you could get more out a MINI
Anybody against the idea
It wouldn't be a perfect one I'm after, probably far from it as I don't want to spend much more than 1k (within reason). I just want something that will get me to work over 13 miles of B roads without costing a fortune to run whilst having fun in the process. 35mpg? I'm getting 36mpg out my 318is as the moment, I'm sure you could get more out a MINI
Anybody against the idea
The Lukas said:
I like the advice so far
It wouldn't be a perfect one I'm after, probably far from it as I don't want to spend much more than 1k (within reason). I just want something that will get me to work over 13 miles of B roads without costing a fortune to run whilst having fun in the process. 35mpg? I'm getting 36mpg out my 318is as the moment, I'm sure you could get more out a MINI
Anybody against the idea
As ever it depends what you do to it and how you drive it!It wouldn't be a perfect one I'm after, probably far from it as I don't want to spend much more than 1k (within reason). I just want something that will get me to work over 13 miles of B roads without costing a fortune to run whilst having fun in the process. 35mpg? I'm getting 36mpg out my 318is as the moment, I'm sure you could get more out a MINI
Anybody against the idea
For example mine is stage 1 (exhaust, filter, carb needle and rolling road tuned). It's chucking out a heady 65bhp and I drive it like I stole it, the only way a mini should be driven, always looking for the next scalp!!
Mine was a 1275 tahiti that we found in the local ads for £1200. It had no rust and had done 23000 miles with a folder full of bills. An old lady was the owner and she died leaving her son to sell it hence the massive bargain. You will struggle to get something like this now.
As other people have said, you'll be able to make yourself fit (seat bracket extenders and a steering wheel lowering bracket). Mine's a 998cc and I've had 40 mpg out of it. I would definitely go with a 1275 though; that extra power will make it a lot more fun and usable.
However. They require a significant amount of maintenance. You can, if you really want to, run a Mini without doing anything to it. But it won't be nice: you'll have hardly any power, it will run really badly and refuse to start in the morning, unless you're very vigilant you'll start finding rust holes all over the place and all sorts of other, smaller things, will break.
As long as you're prepared to open the bonnet every weekend it'll be great. None of the things that go wrong are big jobs, they're just a bit awkward, and once you've got it up to a decent standard it will be brilliant.
I would go with an older one when you're buying it (i.e., pre-1990). Apparently the latest ones, from about 1996 to 2000, used poorer quality steel than ever before and they probably aren't yet old enough to have had proper restorations. Make sure you thoroughly check the subframes, the sills, the floor and the boot for rust.
However. They require a significant amount of maintenance. You can, if you really want to, run a Mini without doing anything to it. But it won't be nice: you'll have hardly any power, it will run really badly and refuse to start in the morning, unless you're very vigilant you'll start finding rust holes all over the place and all sorts of other, smaller things, will break.
As long as you're prepared to open the bonnet every weekend it'll be great. None of the things that go wrong are big jobs, they're just a bit awkward, and once you've got it up to a decent standard it will be brilliant.
I would go with an older one when you're buying it (i.e., pre-1990). Apparently the latest ones, from about 1996 to 2000, used poorer quality steel than ever before and they probably aren't yet old enough to have had proper restorations. Make sure you thoroughly check the subframes, the sills, the floor and the boot for rust.
Edited by TVR Sagaris on Sunday 1st August 19:00
CraigyMc said:
Don't you worry about crash protection?
C
Have you heard of primary crash protection?C
Better than anything fitted to the car, it's about observation - driver training is your best crash protection.
As said above, you will need to be prepared to work on the car regularly to start with and then keep on top of the jobs, especially rust. Take the bonnet off when you work on it! Your knuckles will get stronger over time!
PGM said:
CraigyMc said:
Don't you worry about crash protection?
C
Have you heard of primary crash protection?C
Better than anything fitted to the car, it's about observation - driver training is your best crash protection.
Being a good driver doesn't stop people from flattening you from behind, pulling into your lane on a single carriageway or pulling out in front of you without warning. And I do *not* believe you drive about at 5mph past T junctions just in case someone pulls out in front of you.
C
CraigyMc said:
PGM said:
CraigyMc said:
Don't you worry about crash protection?
C
Have you heard of primary crash protection?C
Better than anything fitted to the car, it's about observation - driver training is your best crash protection.
I do make mistakes yes, but I'm not particularly worried about it's crash protection.
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