This is our storey so far:
Phoenix was bought in October 2005.. It was love at first sight...... then it all goes wrong
February 06 she was booked in with MLMotorsports for some major engine work. She ended up haveing a new gear box, new clutch, new master and slave clutch cylinders, new engine mounts, full service and a couple of pipes cleared.
2 Weeks later Phoenix broke down. The head gasket had blown.. She ended up breaking down on a very busy duel carrageway in rush hour. It was heavily raining and so much spray on the road made the visabilty really poor.. 30 seconds after i had brken down a pug 206 stp about 30 cm away from Phoenixs rear bumper. I kicked my broter out of the car and i climed out too... a good thing really.. 20 seconds after climbing out of the mini a fiat chincento (poor spellin) went into the back of the pug at aboout 75 MPH. the pug jump forward and smashed the back of Phoenix pushing her about 20 meters down the road.
She ended up like this:
It was a cat C write off.
Crazily enough i decided to go ahead and fix her.. Back to MLMotorsports she went for her rear end rebuild and new head gasket.. A month later shes back on the road with a nice, fine rear end.
December 06 saw the start of Phoenixs starting problems.. Help on what it could be didn't help.. the usual, check battery, earth straps etc wasn't even close. To solve the problem in the end she had a new battery, alternator and starter motor fitted.
All was going well until May 07. Then.. the worst happened... Another crash
(shes not called phoenix for nothing 
)This time it was my fault. On the way to an Aylsbury meet i crashed into a pug 106 (i call it phoenix's own back from being rear ended by a 206) The guy was a learner driver (due to take his test 9 days after it happened) who was sat on an empty roundabout on a blind corner.. by the time i saw him brakes went on.. Wham! i had no grip what so ever... (it was raining... again)
So this is what she looked like after that...
Again.. another CAT C write off. After a 6 month insurance battle with HIC (as they kept wanting to take the car away.. without my permission even tho i told them i was keeping the car 20 times previous to it) Terry took my car away and had the front repairs done.. including fiting of my flip front.. After she came back she was looking like this :
Well after 2 accidents youwould think shes a fully rebuillt mini and would have limited problems.
April 08 I have a negative camber kit fitted to the front.. One of the ball joints needed replacing. bought new wheels and fitted the spots.. she looked amazing.
2 weeks after that ball joint was replaced (note it was a gen ball joint)the enevitable happened. Pulling into Asda petrol station behind another mini.. Hit the drain (at 5 MPH) the ball joint sheered. Lost all my brakes and BANG! straight into another mini.. Luckily the mini i hit sustained limited damage.. Phoenix took all the force and crumpled.
The front was pulled out. the wheel was sorted and made safe to drive for L2B.
October 08 her third lot of repairs are now taking place. Being completed by Crocks.
hopefully there will be no more crashes.. shes done her 3 now. 1st not my fault.. 2nd was my fault.. 3rd mechanical failure.
I'll update with pictures as crocks sends them over to me. Hopefully she'll be ready for bingly to which i hope to get her into pride of ownership again.
Edited by Roo, 20 October 2008 - 09:36 PM.
