117 replies to this topic

[paulfoel]

 

Cheers Icey. Nah not going to sell for few hundred quid.
 
This is a well respected classic car specialist. Guy is a decent fella. 
 
Sorry £2000 is too low for a lot of welding?
 
Dunno. Paying someone £4-£5K to end up with a car thats probably worth about £3K. Hmmm doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
 
DIY not an option. I'm pretty useless with cars.

You have to think in man-hours rather than task based pricing. If you work out how many hours it will take to strip, fit and finish a whole load of panels and parts, and do it properly with quality replacements (i.e. not snot-welding patches over rust, decent aftermarket parts) £2000 doesn't go very far. People's time is expensive, to parrot an old adage - Skilled labour isn't cheap, cheap labour isn't skilled.

 

I also think you're underestimating the value of your car. The JDM Minis have a bit of a premium. In good condition, £3k is at the low-end of possible valuations.

 

And, to be honest, you don't own a classic Mini and expect a return on your investment if you're actually using it. Ours is probably only worth a few £k but I have receipts that total over £10k (albeit over quite a few years). If I stopped working on it when it exceeded it's market value it would have been in the scrapyard years ago.

 

 

Cheers Icey. I must admit I did wonder why a special one with AC would be worth less.

 

Know what you mean about the costs though. BUT for us, it is a "spare" car which is like a luxury - plan was to only use in the summer anyway. BUT with son coming up 16 we're wondering if it would be a good first car for him.

 

Know what you mean about man-hours too. Which is why I tend not to do much myself. Better to stick to what I do normally and get paid more

 

In the past I've found that doing myself, means it takes three times longer than a pro would do it, its not as good, so I end up maybe saving myself £30-£40 for spending all day doing a job.

[ckneller321]

Offering £200 for it does seem like he's taking advantage of you a little to me.

 

Take a look on ebay at what project cars end up going for over the next week. I'm sure it'll be a decent amount more than £200 and I'm sure they'll be in far worse condition than yours. ...probably dismatled into kit form!

[Icey]

Cheers Icey. I must admit I did wonder why a special one with AC would be worth less.
 
Know what you mean about the costs though. BUT for us, it is a "spare" car which is like a luxury - plan was to only use in the summer anyway. BUT with son coming up 16 we're wondering if it would be a good first car for him.
 
Know what you mean about man-hours too. Which is why I tend not to do much myself. Better to stick to what I do normally and get paid more
 
In the past I've found that doing myself, means it takes three times longer than a pro would do it, its not as good, so I end up maybe saving myself £30-£40 for spending all day doing a job.

Just to diverge slightly, having read your answers - no, it would not be a good idea to give this to your son as a first car. He'll use it more than you are and it'll therefore need more work. You'd be doubling-down on your current situation. There's another thread on here that discussed Classic Minis as first cars, you might want to take a look at that (I made my thoughts clear in it too). Just buy him a <£1000 BMW Mini, he'll probably enjoy it more to start off with (and no one will mind if he prangs it).

 

If this is just a sunny-day car, what's the rush? Put it back in the garage, save the cash up and have the work done later. It's supposed to be fun, budget for it like it's a holiday. Once you've got to a point where you're ready to pull the trigger on the work you can also weigh-up if that cash would give you a better return (i.e. more enjoyment) being spent elsewhere. If that turns out to be true it's probably time to part ways with the car.

Edited by Icey, 09 April 2019 - 12:36 PM.

[Pops_Guild]

...and I replied to your other thread too :)

 

Is it a particular model or spec or LE JDM Cooper? That will make a difference to likely value. You've not posted any pictures, that might help folks guide you.

 

Everyone has said all that I would say too, the £200 offer is taking the mickey, they're looking to make money of it! All you need to get done are MOT failure stuff. I'm pretty sure a good chunk of what this garage is calling out goes beyond that need. You can get things done (properly) in stages. Some of things you could do yourself even if they take a while, it's not a race :)

[paulfoel]

Offering £200 for it does seem like he's taking advantage of you a little to me.

 

Take a look on ebay at what project cars end up going for over the next week. I'm sure it'll be a decent amount more than £200 and I'm sure they'll be in far worse condition than yours. ...probably dismatled into kit form!

 

Yes I've had a quick look.... Few quid more it seems.

[paulfoel]

 

Cheers Icey. I must admit I did wonder why a special one with AC would be worth less.
 
Know what you mean about the costs though. BUT for us, it is a "spare" car which is like a luxury - plan was to only use in the summer anyway. BUT with son coming up 16 we're wondering if it would be a good first car for him.
 
Know what you mean about man-hours too. Which is why I tend not to do much myself. Better to stick to what I do normally and get paid more
 
In the past I've found that doing myself, means it takes three times longer than a pro would do it, its not as good, so I end up maybe saving myself £30-£40 for spending all day doing a job.

Just to diverge slightly, having read your answers - no, it would not be a good idea to give this to your son as a first car. He'll use it more than you are and it'll therefore need more work. You'd be doubling-down on your current situation. There's another thread on here that discussed Classic Minis as first cars, you might want to take a look at that (I made my thoughts clear in it too). Just buy him a <£1000 BMW Mini, he'll probably enjoy it more to start off with (and no one will mind if he prangs it).

 

If this is just a sunny-day car, what's the rush? Put it back in the garage, save the cash up and have the work done later. It's supposed to be fun, budget for it like it's a holiday. Once you've got to a point where you're ready to pull the trigger on the work you can also weigh-up if that cash would give you a better return (i.e. more enjoyment) being spent elsewhere. If that turns out to be true it's probably time to part ways with the car.

 

 

I'll have a look at the other thread. Thinking being we've got another car anyway why not let son have use of it. Also, classic car insurance is dead cheap (not so sure with a teenager on it).

 

Yes it is a sunny day car. But we've put off for years getting it done. Its on a driveway NOT under cover so wary of it rusting even more (not that it can get much worse by the sounds).

 

Also, its come to a head because my main car needs a new gearbox (not cheap) and has been off the road for 4 weeks now. Its cost me a fortune in hire cars, and messing around with courtesy cars, arranging to borrow the mrs, getting the train to work etc. A spare car would have been VERY handy.

[paulfoel]

 

...and I replied to your other thread too :)

 

Is it a particular model or spec or LE JDM Cooper? That will make a difference to likely value. You've not posted any pictures, that might help folks guide you.

 

Everyone has said all that I would say too, the £200 offer is taking the mickey, they're looking to make money of it! All you need to get done are MOT failure stuff. I'm pretty sure a good chunk of what this garage is calling out goes beyond that need. You can get things done (properly) in stages. Some of things you could do yourself even if they take a while, it's not a race :)

 

 

Dunno what model it is to be honest.....

 

Yeh of course Im guessing the garage can see money to be made. Been quoted £2000-£2500 just to get through mot and back on road without respray etc. He is a decent fella mind.

 

Maybe I will try somewhere else as well. If I do things myself what would be easiest to do?

[Pops_Guild]

The model should be on your v5 if it got registered in a half decent way when it came into the country, might just say Rover Cooper though. Posting a photo of the outside and inside will soon get you answers on here though...

 

I personally would be surprised that it would be that much to get it through an MOT but without any visual reference I doubt any of us here could give you solid advice either way.  Its a Mini, and it's not young any more. If you have a vibe that this guy is ok, knows what he's doing with Mini's and legit and he'll not add more £££ as things progress then the investment might not be as much of a waste of money as it first looks, only you can that make that call though.

 

Not all visual rust needs fixing for an MOT (sills and structural areas would). Everything else is doable if you have patience, the right tools and a Haynes manual. Sometimes Mini work isn't for the faint hearted though :)

Edited by Pops_Guild, 09 April 2019 - 02:42 PM.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Unless a Mini is in concours condition you could say that every item on the vehicle needs replacing for one reason or another.

 

There's a big difference between a panel with surface rust on it and a completely rotted one.  They both need replacing but only the completely rotted one really matters for safety.

 

You could ask for a more detailed list of the work he would do to the car and then post it here - pictures would really help. 

 

Maybe what he says is spot on; maybe it isn't.  You need to know for certain as you are making big decisions with this information.

 

At the very least take the car for a second quote somewhere else, and preferably a third.  This will either confirm the first quote or it will raise questions about it.

 

I'm not saying this bloke is one, we don't have enough evidence; but the best con-men are the nicest most helpful people before you find them out.

[paulfoel]

The model should be on your v5 if it got registered in a half decent way when it came into the country, might just say Rover Cooper though. Posting a photo of the outside and inside will soon get you answers on here though...

 

I personally would be surprised that it would be that much to get it through an MOT but without any visual reference I doubt any of us here could give you solid advice either way.  Its a Mini, and it's not young any more. If you have a vibe that this guy is ok, knows what he's doing with Mini's and legit and he'll not add more £££ as things progress then the investment might not be as much of a waste of money as it first looks, only you can that make that call though.

 

Not all visual rust needs fixing for an MOT (sills and structural areas would). Everything else is doable if you have patience, the right tools and a Haynes manual. Sometimes Mini work isn't for the faint hearted though :)

 

I'll have a look at the V5. Think it just says Rover Mini though to be honest....

[johnv]

Put it through an MOT and post the failure list

[paulfoel]

Put it through an MOT and post the failure list

 

Yeh theres an idea. They might need a few pages....

[Ade-Cooper]

 

 

...and I replied to your other thread too :)

 

Is it a particular model or spec or LE JDM Cooper? That will make a difference to likely value. You've not posted any pictures, that might help folks guide you.

 

Everyone has said all that I would say too, the £200 offer is taking the mickey, they're looking to make money of it! All you need to get done are MOT failure stuff. I'm pretty sure a good chunk of what this garage is calling out goes beyond that need. You can get things done (properly) in stages. Some of things you could do yourself even if they take a while, it's not a race :)

 

 

Dunno what model it is to be honest.....

 

Yeh of course Im guessing the garage can see money to be made. Been quoted £2000-£2500 just to get through mot and back on road without respray etc. He is a decent fella mind.

 

Maybe I will try somewhere else as well. If I do things myself what would be easiest to do?

 

 

£200 sounds a little cheap - would be worthwhile knowing what was wrong with it in all fairness. Wouldn't mind having a look myself if your anywhere near me :)

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

 

Put it through an MOT and post the failure list

 

Yeh theres an idea. They might need a few pages....

 

Now that's a good idea.

[Pops_Guild]

Getting it MOT'd is a good idea, so you know what needs to be done.

 

But, if you think there's something on it that could be categorised as "Dangerous" then there's risk nowadays. Its a new MOT thing and getting that classification will mean the mini cannot be driven, even from the test station. 

 

Just spotted you've posted more details in the valuations section...

 

http://www.theminifo...cooper/?hl=+mot

 

 

Water pump is very noisy so likely bearings are gone in that.

 

It needs a lot of welding, ns a-panel door step inner wing outer sill and floor area. Os flitch panel and outer sill, rear valance, boot floor edge and osr under lamp panel.

 

Complete front end from a panels forward, ns door and then into paint which will require complete respray.

 

All 4 tyres, complete exhaust from front pipe back both front suspension cones, front tie bar bushes, front subframe mountings, lower arm bushes, front brake pads and discs front flexi brake hoses, Rear shoes, cylinders and adjusters, rear flexi brake hoses.

 

Steering rack gaiters, all 4 front ball joints.

 

Both rear radius arms have slight play.

 

A lot of what you've listed there is normal Mini work from its age or wear n tear. There are certainly things on there that would fail an MOT but there's a lot that would not imho, some of it seems precautionary.