Mk1 And Mk3 Differences

How could anyone climb into a Mondeo instead of that ace mini?!

Easily. He does a fair mileage and works as a trainee building surveyor (almost fully qualified now) so he visits sites, goes to meetings, travels to college, and has a busy social life.

His Mondeo is a 2008 Titanium X 6-Speed Auto Diesel. It has air con, built-in sat nav, does almost 50 mpg, 2000 rpm in top is about 70 mph, it is superbly comfortable, will cruise at 70 to 80 mph all day long on a motorway with no effort. It is almost totally reliable, doesn't need greasing every 1500 miles, is strong, safe and not susceptible to corrosion. In fact it is not a 55-year-old designed classic car, it is a modern car for modern work and pleasure.

He can drive my Cooper 'S' whenever he likes and my 850 when it is finished. But he (and I) are restoring his 1971 MGB-GT and that will be superb when finished as a 'fun' classic car with no rust, fully re-painted, engine rebuilt to give c.125 6 carbs., up-rated suspension & brakes and re-trimmed. Gearbox is 4-speed with over-drive, giving 6 gears and it will be able to cruise well.

I'd still prefer the mini, lol

I'd still prefer the mini, lol

I, as much as anyone, love the classic Mini, but I had my first Mini in 1963 when it was a modern car and back then I know I wouldn't have wanted to drive a car designed over 50 years earlier (think what that would have been!).

For me the Mini is a superb classic car and truly 'retro' in performance and driving experience. But for normal journeys in modern traffic I would never consider using a 57-year-old design and I enjoy the comfort, performance and safety of a modern car, as does my Grandson it would seem.

I probably have to go from near Cambridge to Bristol next week and I will enjoy driving my BMW 730D SE but would hate doing the journey in a Mini. It's almost all motorway and I'll be cruising at 70 to 80 at around 1700 rpm in 6th at 36 mpg. I'll be able to listen to classical music on CD and the climate control will make it exactly right in terms of temperature inside the car. The overall ride and driving feel are superb.

In terms of a classic car for daily use I think there are better cars than the classic Mini. For example, the Rover P6 2000 or 2200 is good, as is the MGB-GT, the Triumph 2000, Mk.2 Cortina 1600E or GT, etc..

But for sheer retro driving fun on twisty roads the classic Mini is hard to beat, unless you can afford a Mk.1 Ford Escort Twin-Cam  .

Also the front window screen are different on a mk1 than the mk2/3?

No, front screens are identical.

Rear windows are larger on the MK.2 onwards.

Really early Mk.1 had a different front screen surround, but the screen was the same.

Side windows are different on Mk.3 onwards. Opening side windows have different hinges on Mk.2 from the Mk.1.

Oooh good! another chance to post a picture of my Mk1-ish lookalike from an '89 city - van bonnet, Mk1 boot and grille for the outside, centre console and Mk 1 column/stalks on the inside