16 replies to this topic

[JmD]

I'm looking around for a first car.

I really want something that I can run for little money, and that is reasonably cheap to start with. I'm also looking for a bit of fun while I'm driving.

I really like the mini, however I'm not entirely sure it's the right way to go yet.

I have sat in one, but it was quite a long time ago, when I was shorter. I'm now about 6 foot. Will I fit in OK?

Secondly if I do decide on a mini what should I look for? I'm looking to spend about £1,500. What year should I go for?

Any other advice for a mini newbie?

Thanks

[CAU998]

Welcome to the TMF, You should fit in a mini easily. First thing to look for is what the difference in cost is going to be, between the 998 and 1275 when looking for insurance. If your able to afford a 1275cc your best bet would be an early 90's Cooper you should be able to find a very good example £1.5k, if your unable to afford a 1275cc, any late 80's or early 90's 998cc will be well within budget. First thing really is just look for the dreaded rust. You should look at the subframes, floors, bottoms of the doors, a panels, rear valance and the most obvious the front panel. If the front panel is showing signs of rust it isn't a major problem even very late cars get this problem. But floors etc. can be expensive due to labour charges. Mechanicals are very straight forward and any problems are an easy fix. Just do the usual checks as you would when normally buying a car.
Hope that helps!

[JmD]

Thanks for the help.

What's the major differences between the early 90's mini coopers and the early 90's rover minis?

Is the mini's subframe just the chassis? Is any rust repairable?

How much more expensive would the insurance be for a 1275cc?

Where are the best places to look for minis? Autotrader? E-bay?

What's the maximum sort of miles I should be looking for?

[CAU998]

All rust is repairable but its how long you want it to last im just gettin a massive list of bits welded on mine for £400 and thats cheap the equivalent would probably cost £800. All minis are relatively the same its just extra's and engines and facelifts. Subframes are the chassis but obviously you have a front one and a rear one. Which is loads easier/cheaper to repair or replace. Minis can last well into triple figures mileage wise but if you can find a cheap one with as little milage as possible it would be better. 60,000 miles is a good average mileage. Well you can find one pretty much anywhere theres always a few on here so have a look. Well if your young 998's are cheaper to insure but if your a little older there really isn't much in it.

[JmD]

and I take it the mini cooper is more of the racing version?

So to check the subframe you just have to get under the car and check for rust?

[CAU998]

Yeah its pretty easy use a pen or some sort of blunt object and have pook! Yeah the cooper is the sporty version (rally original). It dates back to the 60's but they stopped production in the early 70's so rover re-introduced it in the 90's.

[CAU998]

Heres a good example its an early 80's car they're more solid than later cars only problem is they have drum brakes at the front so brakes aren't brilliant. Go to your local newsagent and see if they have Miniworld or Mini magazine you'll find these mags help alot.

Y reg Mini city

[JmD]

Thanks.

When did disk brakes on the front come in? Are their any sites which document changes to the mini over the years?

[CAU998]

Front disks have been on and off in the past such as on the Cooper 'S' and other Cooper's. But front disks went on mainstream production in 1984. With 12 inch wheels opposed to the original 10inch wheels. Website, heres one mini history

[JmD]

One last question regarding insurance.

What counts as a modification?

Is it modifying anything in the car, such as removing rear seats, or is it just related to modifying moving parts of the car?

[CAU998]

Well many insurance companies have different policies, some count a rollcage as a modification un others as a safety device. Your best bet would be to ask each insurance company you get a quote from. As i think it could be the same sort of thing when it comes to removing seats.

[Tony1003]

I just got a mini as my first car and absolutly love it i managed to get a 91 neon in original condition 2 owners and 48000 miles all solid . The best bet to find a good one is bideyour time n keep lookin everywhere youll love it

[Bungle]

dont worry about the age of the mini just look at the body work :wink:

[minislapper]

Do lots of homework before you commit to buying a mini of any kind.

The one thing I would say is, be prepared to spend a LOT of time on maintenance. They are not like a modern car where you just get in and drive and never worry about anything til your little service light appears on the dash!! They need a lot of care and regular checks to make sure everything is ok.

Be very wary of minis of whatever age which have just had a 'new respray'. This can just be a cover up for bodged bodywork. Could also mean that you have a major rust problem to sort out which will appear further down the line.

You don't give an indication about your age, but presuming you're a youngster. If you haven't had your own insurance before, you could be better starting off with a standard looking 998 or 1275 Mayfair or something and getting some driving experience and no claims discount behind you.

Most insurance companies will view any changes from original as being modifications. If you're young and have no no claims then insurance companies will make a killing. Things like removing the rear seat, fitting a cage, changing the wheels from original etc etc will all be classed as mods.

If you're prepared to spend a reasonable amount of money on tools (including some specialist tools) and you don't mind getting your hands dirty then you could probably do a lot of the maintenance work yourself. The bodywork is a killer money-wise as most garages charge the earth for doing it.

You also don't mention what you will be using the car for. If it is going to be your only form of transport and you cannot be without a car then you will have to take reliability issues into account also.

Judging by your earlier posts it sounds as if you have no idea about minis at all. I would suggest doing some reading. Look out for some technical articles which will give you a bit more of an idea about what sort of engines are available etc.

If, after doing lots of research you decide you still want a mini, find someone nearby who knows about minis. If you don't know anyone, find where your local mini club is and pay them a visit. I'm sure they wouldn't mind you turning up even without a mini. If you reallly don't have a clue, £1500 is a lot of money to spend on something which could turn out to be a complete turkey !!!

Good luck.

[JmD]

Thanks.

You're right, I do know very little about minis. I'll go try find some of the magazines today.

I'm not too concerned about spending time checking things over, as long as it doesn't cost too much to run.

Although it will be my only car, I'm coping at the moment just skiving lifts, and catching buses so if anything does go wrong I can cope.