13 replies to this topic

[abhi1385]

hey guys just got rid of my mini city and im considering to start saving for a new mini ,my question is what is the most reliable ,fun and easy to maintain mini currently ,oh and it cant be bmw .Would i be right in thinking the last old shape made year 2000 as it would be the most mordern engine ?

thanks in advance.

Edited by abhi1385, 22 February 2011 - 09:22 PM.

[Ethel]

[MiniJosh92]

The one that's been looked after the best.

[charie t]

All depends how it is maintained, a 1980 can be just as reliable as an Mpi

[wardyxxx]

hey guys just got rid of my mini city and im considering to start saving for a new mini ,my question is what is the most reliable ,fun and easy to maintain mini currently ,oh and it cant be bmw .Would i be right in thinking the last old shape made year 2000 as it would be the most mordern engine ?

thanks in advance.

Well the later minis undoubtedly had the worst build quality. Later shells came out of the factory covered in rust I reckon!

[.998TANGO.]

one thats been owned by an old lady from new always been serviced and looked after and not been messed about with or thrashed around.

[abhi1385]

why is it then the later mini are so pricey i thought perhaps this meant there are better quality so if you had a choice what would you get with a budget of 3000 1275 or a limited edition ?

[wardyxxx]

I wouldn't touch owt newer than 96.

[Ethel]

They're all pretty old now, so unless you can find a low mileage one that's been very well looked after, I'd be inclined to look for one that's already had some restoration - be very careful, it's not just the price that's been restored though.

It also depends what you mean by reliable, the injection ones should be better runners and starters, but a carb equipped car is lots easier to diagnose and fix when it goes wrong. Either way the condition of the bodywork is by far the most important, especially if you're not in to welding yourself.


Rightly or wrongly , what it says in glass's guide does have an effect. MPI's also have some modern car features that will appeal to some - airbag, door bars...

[abhi1385]

all i want is a mini that dosnt have points,or a carb id prefer fuel injection possibly with air bags any ideas?

[Ethel]

Well that's an MPI then. Though, strictly speaking, the airbag (singular) will be at least a couple of years out of its service life, so shouldn't be relied on. You can easily fit electronic ignition to any Mini and a properly maintained SU carb ought to be almost as reliable as an injection system with its myriad of sensors & electronics.

[Bungle]

a MK1 i think was the simplest and easiest to maintain

only problem is most of them have had 40+ years of not being looked after by now

[abhi1385]

Well that's an MPI then. Though, strictly speaking, the airbag (singular) will be at least a couple of years out of its service life, so shouldn't be relied on. You can easily fit electronic ignition to any Mini and a properly maintained SU carb ought to be almost as reliable as an injection system with its myriad of sensors & electronics.

Thanks ethel i just cant understand why the later minis are so expencive if there not very good,,i just want an unmollested mini that i can keep for a good few years and drive to work everyday

[Ethel]

I don't think they are really any worse than the older ones -they've either been repaired or scrapped; many of the last Minis will be largely original, but showing their age.

You can't really expect the reliability of another car that could be half the age of a Mini, but taken all in, the lower running costs and depreciation would pay for a few days of car rental and still leave quids in if you did have any problems.