47 replies to this topic

[tom275]

I'm about an inch away from buying a mini, and to be honest im not really fussed but my dad think its important so... Will a Mini happily cruise at 70 down the motorway, or will it hate me eternally for it and not do it any good, is it also a relatively easy option to fit a 5 speed gearbox.

Thanks

[Spenner]

I'm about an inch away from buying a mini, and to be honest im not really fussed but my dad think its important so... Will a Mini happily cruise at 70 down the motorway, or will it hate me eternally for it and not do it any good, is it also a relatively easy option to fit a 5 speed gearbox.

Thanks

A 998 and 1275 will be fine cruising at 70 on the motorway i took my mini to Rotherham last weekend from Swindon around 180 miles mostly motorway and it never missed a beat its a 1275. I also used to have a 998 fitted to it and that was also fine on motorways. I couldnt comment on the 5 speed box tho!!!!

Spenner

[Billy]

a well maintained standard mini will do 70 all day everyday
a modified one should too but most likly a lot noisier

its more a case can you cope with the noise of a mini at 70 for however long you need to ?

a 5 speed box is damn expensive and from what I have read makes very little differnce to the rpm compaired to a 4 speed

[yeti21586]

i was gunna get a 5 speed box and was told that unless your doing rallying then you dont need it

[Wallm0nkey]

I found my 998 to be fine on the motorway it will do 70 happily but I wouldn't fancy doing loads of motorway miles in a Mini. Just the noise and I don't find it as comfy on a long journey the main reason a Mini isn't my daily any more.

I love the Mini for short nice drives but when I'm going to be on the motorway for hours at a time fairly often it just lacks the comfort for me.

[Bean]

Seems to depend on the diff ...

Mine has a 2.95 and cruises very happily at those speeds. It's very comfortable ...


But the 3.44 diff seems to bring the cruising speed down a little, to about 55?


I believe Guessworks has a calculator on his website, that works out speeds at rev ranges, depending on diff etc?

[Ouster]

Pretty sure I've got a 3.44 diff and that sits at 70 quite happily.

[tomkidd]

Just done a 600 mile round trip from Lancashire to the new Forest (Mini Cooper Day) in the mini, sat at around 80mph most of the time. I run a 3.44 diff with 10 inch wheels. In an ideal world I would rather it was a bit less revvy at that speed but it wasn't too bad. It seems to have a nicer quiet spot at that speed.

[nicksuth]

I have a 5 speed (TRAN-X) in my 1275 MPi and crusing at 70 is no problem, in fact it's only pulling 4,000 rpm at 85mph (speedo) = about 21mph/1,000rpm in 5th.

Someone mentioned a 5 speed for rallying which I don't agree with as you are not looking for high top speed, more low down grunt is required for rallying. A good 4 speed straight cut with x-pin diff and maybe a sticky diff?

The down side of a 5 speed is the expense although I'm sure Guessworks would do you one for a reasonable price, he rebuilt mine.

[attachment=86409:5_Speed.JPG]

oooh, if only it would pull to the Red Line in 5th

Edited by nicksuth, 16 June 2009 - 09:28 PM.

[1984mini25]

I have a 5 speed (TRAN-X) in my 1275 MPi and crusing at 70 is no problem, in fact it's only pulling 4,000 rpm at 85mph (speedo) = about 21mph/1,000rpm in 5th.

Someone mentioned a 5 speed for rallying which I don't agree with as you are not looking for high top speed, more low down grunt is required for rallying. A good 4 speed straight cut with x-pin diff and maybe a sticky diff?

The down side of a 5 speed is the expense although I'm sure Guessworks would do you one for a reasonable price, he rebuilt mine.

The 998 in the 25 with the 2.9 diff will quite happily (although the gearbox does wine a bit) cruse at 30mph in 4th pulling 1500rpm and 70mph at 3.5 – 4k in 4th.

[tom275]

Wow thanks! Ive just been to see a really good condition Mayfair 1275, bodywork is good, and the engine bay is immaculate, Im only 18 though so I couldnt sit in the drivers seat, but even with the old guy driving it it seemed to move quite nicely, i heard that simply fitting a stage one kit and letting the engine breathe better makes quite a lot of difference, but its not worth going for the five speed box then?

Oh and if anyone wants to lend me 1800 please do because otherwise he is actually considering going on the scrapage scheme and buying a Yaris!!!!!!

[M44K TS]

I'd like mine to be a bit better on the motorway, changed it from a 998 to a 1275 from a metro with a recon 'box, so i'm unsure what ratio it's running and the speedo is way out, but at motorway speeds, it revs quite high.

What does an MPI for instance sit at at say 70mph?

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

ive got a a+ 1275 metro engine and mine cruises at 80 -90 mph easy got a 3.4 ratio and i have not problems with the car at that speed just needs me to refit a new heater matrix and then its sorted

[nicksuth]

I'd like mine to be a bit better on the motorway, changed it from a 998 to a 1275 from a metro with a recon 'box, so i'm unsure what ratio it's running and the speedo is way out, but at motorway speeds, it revs quite high.

What does an MPI for instance sit at at say 70mph?

Standard 4 speed should be running around 3,750rpm at 70mph?

see my (sorry, I mean Dr. Guessworks) chart in previous post

Rover manual quotes 17.8 mph / 1000 rpm in 4th (that might be 12" wheels though???)

Edited by nicksuth, 16 June 2009 - 09:44 PM.

[Mk1Jim]

An MPI will cruise at 70 no problem, they are a 2.7 fd. Mine was great. wish i never sold it!