old style mini from newer cars?!

the_r_sole · 19 Jan 2011 at 10:09

wondering if anyone has gone from normal, modern(ish) hatchbacks to an old style mini?

some plonker has just written off my extremely cheap to run corsa and i've started looking about for a new car, always fancied a mini and had one to drive around fields etc when i was about 15, but i'm a bit worried now i'm used to driving normal sized cars, the old mini might get annoying - just looking for any advice really

cheers

Housey · 19 Jan 2011 at 10:16

I think it would become very tiresome, though that would also depend on the kind of driving/journeys you do really. My first car was a Mini at the age of 17 but that was 'some' years ago and it was terrific fun and great for scooting around town. Today however it would feel very dated (it was hardly modern in the 80's when I had mine) and I think the lack of sound insulation and the simplicity might become very annoying, certainly if you have a long journey as 70mph is not a nice experience in a Mini for 100 miles......even less so if you have a Peco exhaust like I did (added .0000000001bhp).

Go drive is all i'd suggest, certainly cheap motoring and if you spend your time driving around a busy city still one of the best cars ever made for that task. Soooo small compared to most of todays cars mind.

Janesy B · 19 Jan 2011 at 10:22

Housey said:
Go drive is all i'd suggest, certainly cheap motoring and if you spend your time driving around a busy city still one of the best cars ever made for that task. Soooo small compared to most of todays cars mind.

You do feel extremely vulnerable considering how large even the smallest cars are in comparison to the classic Mini.

the_r_sole · 19 Jan 2011 at 10:29

cheers for the replies, most of my journeys are short ones, on single track roads, no motorway driving at all! plus we have a golf for any bigger journey, i'm trying to get to see one this weekend so will know better after that, just worried that my enthusiasm for them will cloud any problems when i'm test driving!!
i was looking at getting one and doing a full sound insulation job on it (on the advice of my old man who had one back in the 70s!!)

Housey · 19 Jan 2011 at 10:32

Sound insulation on a mini involved putting carpet on top of carpet and a board in the boot with some more carpet on it. It reduced the sound by .00000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 decibel so was less useful than my Peco exhaust which added 000000001bhp but 50 decibels

As I've said loads of times, most yoofs are thick......I speak from experience!

the_r_sole · 19 Jan 2011 at 10:35

haha!!

Hxc · 19 Jan 2011 at 10:58

The only time I've ever tired of driving mine was doing 200 miles after hurting my back. But I'm 19 and don't know any better so shh

rG-tom · 19 Jan 2011 at 11:43

if the situation is still the same as a few years ago, old minis don't represent VFM as they are heavily scene taxed? Just get any (reasonable) car that's under £500 in the local rag and has decent tax and ticket, be it a mondeo, fiesta, whatever and it'll be better than a classic mini

the_r_sole · 19 Jan 2011 at 11:49

true enough i suppose, but the scene tax never goes away, so it shouldn't drop the value too much, but worth thinking about, cheers

rG-tom · 19 Jan 2011 at 11:59

until you're involvd in a relatively low speed bump and lose your legs

the_r_sole · 19 Jan 2011 at 12:03

rG-tom said:
until you're involvd in a relatively low speed bump and lose your legs

where i live there's not really any traffic calming like that, although there are pot holes you could lose a landrover in!!

Dogbreath · 19 Jan 2011 at 12:35

As awesome as they are (IMO), they aren't as cheap to run as a modern small car like the Corsa unless you are happy to provide the very regular maintenance that they require to stay in one piece. They also fetch stupid money these days, even rusty ones (and the majority of them will have rust).

the_r_sole · 19 Jan 2011 at 12:52

well the thing i like about them is the simple maintenance you can do yourself, without all the sensors and computer stuff i had with the corsa! i'm noticing the price hike!

Janesy B · 19 Jan 2011 at 13:17

the_r_sole said:
well the thing i like about them is the simple maintenance you can do yourself, without all the sensors and computer stuff i had with the corsa! i'm noticing the price hike!

Are you handy with a welder then?

the_r_sole · 19 Jan 2011 at 14:01

i've done a bit of front end jiggery pokery with the mig on an old mini (only set the inside on fire once...well twice)
i'm looking at a couple that have been coated on the underside but taking my trusty screwdriver along too!!

Dogbreath · 19 Jan 2011 at 15:28

the_r_sole said:
well the thing i like about them is the simple maintenance you can do yourself, without all the sensors and computer stuff i had with the corsa! i'm noticing the price hike!

If you are going in with your eyes open and are able and willing to do with work required then no problem. If you are comming from a Corsa and expect a similar level of maintenance then you may be in for an unpleasant surprise! To most people the idea of crawling around on the floor to grease the suspension bushes every couple of months is completely baffling.

the_r_sole · 19 Jan 2011 at 15:53

aye, i'm going in with the eyes open, but just wondering if anyone had taken the step from new car back to a mini, the corsa was pretty solid, only needed a few oil changes, new springs and a few sensors in about three years - i'd expect a bit more with the mini, but not have to take it to the local garage and put it on the diagnostics computer would save most of the money i spent on the corsa!!

233 · 19 Jan 2011 at 16:24

had a mini many years ago kawasaki green with a white roof

set of 6x10" revos a 1340 lump fed through a single 40(much bulk head modding required) shaved suspension cones and a lcb into a straight thru exhaust with no silencers.

do it buy one, it will be the most raw experience you will find in terms of a car

absolutely terrifying when you crack 90mph in a classic mini lol

dont buy something thats gutless get something with at least a 1275 and a bit of poke

avoid anything with drum brakes on the front YOU WILL DIE. be prepared for it to break down (a lot) especially in rain or snow(dizzy sits right behind the grill but you can easy cover it rubber glove works a treat btw )

good thing is plenty people have owned them in the past so theres a wealth of knowledge (even here i'd imagine on repairs maintenance and tuning

Alistairk · 19 Jan 2011 at 17:05

Yes. We sold a Ford Ka and replaced it with a Rover Mini Sprite 1275.

My wife has had a fair number of Minis so knew what to expect.

They are awesome fun but they are VERY unrefined - test drive extensively first! For back roads blatting they are ACE. For mild city driving also good. In heavy rush hour or long motorway stints they are dreadful. For extensive city commuting you could try a Mini Automatic. Just like driving a rev-and-rip go kart LOL

You won't lose your legs in a crash. Compared to many older small cars they are pretty good in a crash.

Hxc · 19 Jan 2011 at 17:15

Foxtrot26 said:
absolutely terrifying when you crack 90mph in a classic mini lol

Be prepared for other cars to seem slow at higher speeds though... the jeep feels like it's crawling being sat so high and quiet coming out of the mini!