43 replies to this topic

[Matt.P]

I still mock him about it telling him he should buy a more reliable car. Mini

Understand exactly what you mean

[MiniJosh92]

I'm 17 in two days time and obviously I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also slightly nervous because I have a clubman estate and I'm worried that it won't be as much fun as a saloon... If someone can put my mind at rest I'd be grateful!

i drove a clubman estate once for a few days and it was really good. i wouldnt mind one actually.

Do you think they're noticablly different handling-wise to the saloon?

Its a well known fact that estates handle slightly better than saloons because of the longer wheelbase - thats what I tell people anyway

[mighty mini jack]

I still haven't driven one, glad you enjoyed it though mate!

I do rather look forward to driving Toms (harbers)

[POWER5LAVE]

i remember the first time i drove my mini i was in such a panic as it being nothing like i had ever drove before but after an hour of driving it i was up and down my local dual carrige way trying to max the speedo lol .

[Dolly 89]

i now cant wait to get 1 i am going to be getting 1 within the next few months i have never driven 1 but am super looking forward to it but it has never been practicle for me to have 1 but now i can have 1 so as soon as my van sells i will be looking for 1 and now cant wait

[Teapot]

I'm chuffed that younger drivers here are discovering the mini magic because you are the new generation who will hopefully carry the legend onwards. I think you're in for a hard battle though. Never surrender!

I felt exactly the same as you when I drove my first mini, an Austin 850, in 1962 and I promise you that exhilaration never dies. If you doubt its power, guys, just imagine you're driving your mini to meet your new gorgeous girlfriend. As you park up and walk towards her house, glancing back at your little friend as you always do, don't you just for a second feel torn between the two?

[brightpink]

i learnt to drive in a polo wihich is a great little car, and had only ever done some practice reversing in a mini. The week after i passed and finally got insurance my mate drove me to the garage to pick her up (the mini not my mate) and drove her back to work and absolutly loved it even though i stalled it 5 times and 1 set of traffic lights in the centre of town.

Everytime i get in and drive her i get the same feeling, liike it my 1st time over again. I think i would be all over the road if i drove a car with power steering now.

I LOVE MINIS !!!!

[mymini007]

My first car was a 1275 gt

That was 15 years ago, so when I had the chance to buy another i jumped at it.

I also have a Volvo estate, and a mitsubishi L200 so one of the smallest and one of the biggest. Not sure what the power steering conversation is all about, i dont need it inmy mini, it drives and steers fine.

12x5.5s and 14" steering wheel sees to that, so light even the wife could park it. And i can steer it with the heel of my hand (not that I do)

If you run 13x7s on a 10" steering wheel its going to feel heavy.

[littlemissmagic]

first time i drove a mini was when my dad bought home my 1992 mayfair for my 17th birthday! none of it was running right but i still tried my best anyway (there was lots of stalling involved)
10 months later after many hours of work he was finally ready to drive and i learnt and passed my test in my mini

still one of the best feelings everytime i get in and drive...

[floydrob]

first time i drove a mini was into the busy streets of glasgow. so much fun though! i had a grin from ear to ear too! they are so much easier to drive than modern cars IMO, ur more 'on the ball' and aware ad the engine and steering are very responsive. i was driving a 1275 carb'd and was brill. straight into the outside lane of the dual carriageway flying past the vans and business men in their beemers. i recon i could pass y test ina minute in a mini, deisel astra on the other hand?? ...we shall see!

[mimi the mini]

About 5 years ago I first drove a mini, it was my friends mini in Australia, it was I think a Leyland mini 1971? Only drove it for about an hour, it had holes in the floor, and the exhaust fumes used to come through in to the inside of the car (somehow?!), so we had to drive it with the windows down to get fresh air in
Oh and there's no MOT in West Australia so it really was a bomb!! It was so fun though and it got so many looks, even with being a rust bucket lol.
In Oz it's very very rare to see a mini, I don't think I ever saw one until my friend bought hers!

I too was told constantly by my dad not to buy a mini he says they're death traps, always breaking down etc. So I had a very difficult time trying to get one of my own that was reliable and a good runner. I've wanted one since about 2002/3 But eventually found one last year to call my own And I'd never sell her.. She wasn't my first car, but she's my first Mini

[taffy1967]

I inherited the family Mini back in October/November 1984 and I've been hooked ever since.

After driving and living with a Mini, more modern cars seem very bland and boring in comparison.

[Matt.P]

I'm chuffed that younger drivers here are discovering the mini magic because you are the new generation who will hopefully carry the legend onwards. I think you're in for a hard battle though. Never surrender!

Don't worry, we will fight them on the B-roads, we will fight them at the traffic lights and in the streets, we will never surrender!

I've no intention of pimping my ride (so to speak...), was certainly born in the wrong decade.
My first album wasn't the usual 50 dollars (or whatever they call him this week), instead, It was "Sweet: The greatest hits"
Since then i've committed all sorts of autrocities, including buying myself a pair of black sueude Beatle boots, a 60's style high collar black corduroy jacket, and numerous paisley pattern shirts. (there really is no hope for me...)

So, come to think of it, i've pretty much had it in this brave new world of digital music, facebook and X-Dancing-Strictly-Come-Factor...instead, i'll carry on listening to my golden oldies and see if anyone follows, maybe one day there will be such a thing as swinging london once again, and car designers will loosen up a bit and design something truly...erm.... groovy!

But, since I can't see this happening anytime soon... another digital age invention prevailed (damn!) - the internet. After scouring the internet classic car sale websites, I came across many different examples of what i'd consider a sensible (use the term loosely) car, my first choices ranged from Cortinas, through capris, MGBGT's and then I came across my dad's first car, a Mk1 Austin Mini. Since then I decided that i'd save up and buy something similar - so I did.

After last night's experiances driving my dad's cooper mk2, I have seen the future, and it comes from 1968

[lawnmowercrap]

I inherited the family Mini back in October/November 1984 and I've been hooked ever since.

After driving and living with a Mini, more modern cars seem very bland and boring in comparison.

Couldnt agree more!!

My first time driving one was when I first drove my Mut. The battered 1098 was smoking its nuts off.... looked like a clown car.
Modern cars are boring and dont give you the feeling that you are actually driving a car.
Even when Mut used to break down, everytime id laugh at how funny the breakdown was, and how simple a fix it was!
People always told me i'd need decent breakdown cover, but i've never ever used it because they are nearly always simple roadside fixes.

Best one by far was when me and my mate broke down at the EXACT same time. His rad bolt had worked loose, and my distributor shot out as I pulled in to see why he'd stopped! Comic genious!!!!!!