30 replies to this topic

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I bet he says 'headgasket'.

[samsfern]

Lol! Let's just wait and see

Edited by samsfern, 18 December 2011 - 02:16 PM.

[The Matt]

Headgasket!

[Sam]

Usually I wouldn't go near a Rover with a bargepole, but for £350 that's a very cheap car and providing the head gasket doesn't let go straight away it would make an OK runabout. Then when the head gasket does go weigh it in for scrap.

Edited by Sam, 18 December 2011 - 07:43 PM.

[samsfern]

Or just spend £100 and a day fixing it.... With an uprated multi layer steel gasket.

[Black.Ghost]

The BMW insurance is ridiculous. I'm not bothered by a k series, they aren't that bad. The real problem I have is I want another Mini. With my Cooper awaiting a proper strip and restore it's been a long time since I have driven one. And I really want one. I'd love a Clubby estate as a work horse but can't find one local cheap enough. I'm fairly certain I am going to end up spending more than I should.

[Shifty]

The whole point of having a budget is to know just how much you've overspent!!

[samsfern]

Rovers are fine, i bought mine dirt cheap, £100 for a w reg 25, 1.4 16v, ( it has the same power to weight ratio as a saxo vtr and a touch more torque) And was originally just going to fix it and sell it on, ( only needed 2tyres an exhaust and a battery) as I do a few cars, but I had such great fun driving it back I decided to keep it for myself, and now I'm going to rally it. Rovers and mg's are very underrated cars.

the head gaskets only fail because the car isn't looked after properly and expected to run with no coolant, or the incorrect coolant mixture. The k series is a great engine, and everybody that slates them clearly has no clue, I'm not just saying that because I own a rover either

Edited by samsfern, 18 December 2011 - 09:23 PM.

[Sam]

the head gaskets only fail because the car isn't looked after properly and expected to run with no coolant, or the incorrect coolant mixture. The k series is a great engine, and everybody that slates them clearly has no clue, I'm not just saying that because I own a rover either

The K series could have been a great engine - very light units with decent amounts of power, especially for the era the K came out. But unfortunately completely flawed and plagued with headgasket problems. They fail regardless of what coolant you put in. I've changed two K headgaskets and know of plenty more that have gone, and I wouldn't have said any had been mis treated or not looked after.

[Black.Ghost]

The whole point of having a budget is to know just how much you've overspent!!

That's what I'm worried about.

There is the LHD one from the back of Mini Mag (which is also on Car & Classic), but if I got that I wouldn't want to keep it standard, I love the idea of a LHD car, having driven them a lot in Germany. I would also quite like the BOC that is for sale on here at the moment, but that is a lot more than my budget! I have wanted a BOC for about 4 years plus, and this one looks awesome.

And being based in Germany (and not being allowed to drive there at the moment) means deep down I know 2.5k on a car right now is not a great idea. But if I get a Mini, I can keep it garaged, whereas if I got anything else I probably wouldn't bother as it wouldn't be worth keeping the garage. Damn it all.

[samsfern]

the head gaskets only fail because the car isn't looked after properly and expected to run with no coolant, or the incorrect coolant mixture. The k series is a great engine, and everybody that slates them clearly has no clue, I'm not just saying that because I own a rover either

The K series could have been a great engine - very light units with decent amounts of power, especially for the era the K came out. But unfortunately completely flawed and plagued with headgasket problems. They fail regardless of what coolant you put in. I've changed two K headgaskets and know of plenty more that have gone, and I wouldn't have said any had been mis treated or not looked after.

Admittadly it has headgasket troubles, but thats due to the crap quality gasket rover used. The head gasket went on my car before I bought it, I know as I helped him do it, we fitted a new multi layer steel gasket and uprated stretch bolts, and it's been fine for 40k miles now, and it's never been driven slow, the guy I bought it from races a 150bhp midget and is used to more powerful cars, but used the rover as a cheap daily, he used to thrash it everywhere, then I bought it and I don't give it an easy time, it's had 40k hard miles since head gasket replacement and is still going strong.

Anyway, let's not turn this thread into another bitching thread. Feel free to pm me anyone.

[The Matt]

I like the Rovers to be honest. At my age the insurance would be ok though and I just fancy a Beemer ATM.

I reckon you've answered your own question Simon, check the rover over and go for it. Second hand cars are so cheap now that it's hard not to see anything like that as a bargain. Just got to make sure you're not buying yourself a load of work.

[Black.Ghost]

Yeah, but I may have found a Mini for 1k that might be an option!

[samsfern]

I like that mgzr 160 in the link, that's a lot of car for £700, I actually got an insurance quote for it today, werent too bad, if I had a job with guaranteed income each month I'd buy it.

[The Matt]

Yeah, but I may have found a Mini for 1k that might be an option!

Then you can come to t'ring in 2012 again!