17 replies to this topic

[steve421]

Hello! I recently passed my driving test and have my heart set on a mini as my first car. I just wanted to know your views on wether the Mini would be a good first car? and if there is anything i should know about the cars or anything i should look out for when going to buy one.

thanks very much

Steve

[jmetal88]

Depends on what kind of person you are. My Mini is my second car, and I knew nothing about cars when I bought it, but since I wanted to learn anyway, when things started breaking, I just started fixing them, and ended up enjoying it, so it worked out for me.

As for what to look out for, it's hard for me to say. Mine came with a few blown fuses, an oil leak, and a minimal amount of rust, but rust is typical on Minis, and so are oil leaks, and I haven't had any fuses blow since I replaced the original blown fuses.

[Danuneek]

Right, first of all I only passed my test last August and bought a mini as my first car. Having experienced your issue myself, the two questions I would ask: are you passionate about mini's or classic cars? Will you have a bit of spare time to learn how to maintain the car? For me, I love my car and i'm glad I can say my first car was a classic mini. But it has cost me a bit, but this is largely down to my inexperience with mini's and knowing what to look for when purchasing. IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF MINI'S THEN TAKE THEM ALONG WHEN BUYING ONE.

Obvious things to look for are:

1. Rust. If the car has any rot, avoid. Check just about everywhere, the usual places are the inner and outer sills, floor, boot floor, scuttle, A panels and under the headlights.

2. Gear box issues. Make sure you or whoever your with drive the car to check for crunching gears and gears popping out. Gear box rebuilds are expensive as i'm finding out.

3. Engine ticking over nicely, no black smoke out of exhaust etc..,

4. Oil leaks. Most mini's have oil leaks, but some can be worse than others and if you want to avoid destroying your driveway this could be an issue. Again as im finding out.

I've probably missed something. Dont forget the body is really important, mechanics can be sorted but rust is a harder to sort.

I hope i'm not coming across too negative. Mini's are the best first car, they're cheaper to insure, they're individual, they look cool and they're a cheap way for a car enthusiast to enjoy his/her driving experience.

It depends on how much you have to spend, but if I had a couple of grand maybe look for one that someones restored. With the current climate people are unfortunately having to sell their beloved projects so they're are a few out there. The later cars tend to rust more than the older ones as Rover used cheaper steel etc... Avoid injection cars that have been converted to carb unless its before 93 K reg as it will not pass MOT on emissions.

Im sure i've missed something.

Edited by Danuneek, 28 July 2009 - 11:59 PM.

[rimmer1993]

My advice is listen to people on here as one of them will always know an answer to a question
Also as said above take someone with mini knowlage to view it with you (maybe join a local mini club) if they think
the mini has a problem dont rush into the buy just check again or maybe just leave it

But if you do choose to get 1 you will never look back even the bad points are fun as i know

[tris]

You'll also realise how much you will miss power steering

[evansisgreat]

You'll also realise how much you will miss power steering

Lies. You'll laugh at the idiots trying to park the big bmw's and merc's in town as you fit into mini sized spaces.

My mini is my first car, it's a late fuel injection. They cost more but have a few saftey features and are a bit eaiser to live with imho. Though my car is in good nick, with 42,000 genuine miles, and minimal body rust I've still had to do a lot of work.

The way I see my mini is that it treats me like an adult, not a child. I drive it, and there's no computer to stop the wheels locking, or buzzer to tell me I've left the lights on etc, and I need to check my oil and tyre pressues every week and a bunch of other stuff (buy a hanyes manual). It's alot of work looking after even a great condition mini, but for me the attention I get is worth it.

The other day some bloke in his audi S3 was bombing down the motorway behind me, so I changed lane to let him by (you do that alot in a mini), he then drove along side me for a while giving me a thumbs and mouthing 'amazing'.

Of course once coming home from my girlfriends I sheered of a pair of ball joints resulting in my wheel pretty much falling off, ripping out a drive shaft, bluckling a wheel and bending my steering rack and a bill of £700.

Best advice, if you buy a mini, put a set amount of money aside every week so WHEN it breaks you can get it fixed.

[MBarnes]

I've got a mini for my first car (I passed just before Christmas) and it's great! It's noisy, bumpy, steals all your money and it's not practical, but it feels 'real' compared to other cars... It'll outhandle any other "first car", looking so much cooler in the process, and they're so much fun to drive.

With regard to buying, firstly i'd go with the bodywork as already mentioned. I'd also say spend as much as you can - get the best mini possible on your budget. If you're handy with a spanner it's also useful, although there is huge scope to learn... Finally i would advise not to rush into buying (I did, and regretted it), have a good look around, and view as many mini's as possible to get an idea of pricing. Ask for advice, either on here or if you know any other people that have a good knowledge of classic cars, there is tons of info to be found on here - someone on here will always be able to answer your questions.

Matt

[Ethel]

See if there's any Mini events coming up in your area, most enthusiasts would be all too happy to show off their car 'n give you some buying advice.

You'll probably get a bit less (apart from the obvious Mini pun) for your money but that's because Minis are cheaper to fix and maintain and they hold their value better - and, of course, they're much more fun.

[MiniMonty]

Mini buying guide here:

http://docs.google.c...twmxj_0gnh8b9hm

Best wishes
Monty

[captainjack15]

Think its all been said!! FAIL!!

[peepzy]

You'll also realise how much you will miss power steering

keep fit steering...!

[The_Mistro]

having a mini as my first car was the best thing i did i think! its so much fun, met so many people through them! but at the end of the day, my dad is handy with a spanner, we got a workshop at the farm to use if it goes wrong, i had a pretty good part time job to keep the money coming in to spend on it!

if you or your mates, parents or relitaves arent handy with a spanner then it could get quite expensive if something did go wrong! but the thing with minis, once you have fixed all the faults, if you take care of it, service it reguarly and properly then it wont go wrong! so best advice, get a decent one and keep it well maintained - trust me, i learnt that the hard way! mine was full of bodges that i have had to put right, its only now becoming a good reliable motor!

[Beddo88]

Do it, you wont look back!! Had mine as first car and had it for a year and a half now. Keep an eye out for bargains though, as people have said there are some real winners on sale atm! Just wish i had the money to buy a second...

[jmetal88]

You'll also realise how much you will miss power steering

I hate power steering, and I learned to drive in a car with power steering. I just feel like I have more direct control over the car without it, you know? Also I like having a little bit of resistance when I steer.

[Natalie]

You'll also realise how much you will miss power steering

You don't need power steering in a mini they're only ickle, I went from a car with PAS to a mini and in between drove the bf's cars with PAS and never missed it once