28 replies to this topic

[DinoDrummer]

I want a mini as my first car, but due to the nature of my work I travel home 180 miles on a motorway roughly every other weekend. So I was wondering what you guys thought of a 1.3 mini being able to handle such long drives so frequently and what sort of mpg do you reckon I would get at 65mph? I just was wondering because I don't want to get a mini if its going to be absolutely terrible on long journeys. Cheers guys

[JustSteve]

I want a mini as my first car, but due to the nature of my work I travel home 180 miles on a motorway roughly every other weekend. So I was wondering what you guys thought of a 1.3 mini being able to handle such long drives so frequently and what sort of mpg do you reckon I would get at 65mph? I just was wondering because I don't want to get a mini if its going to be absolutely terrible on long journeys. Cheers guys

Ofcourse it will if looked after..


Any mini will have done many thousand miles. another 180 looks like a breeze respectively

[dennismini93]

i do it in a 998 and iv had no problems. in my 1275 i got 56mpg over two 240 mile runs at 65ish sometimes i ventured into the relms of 70 mph

[Ipod]

I drove to B'ham a few times from Kent..was a doddle filled up again half way there (mpi)

[petey81]

just keep on top of maintenance and will be fine.

[mini-luke]

It won't blow up or eat it's gearbox or anything if you do more than 20 miles in a trip, but it will however not be the most comfortable experiences, having done 160 miles myself in one last weekend I certainly wouldn't want to be doing it every other week

[Shifty]

I'm sure the car would handle it, not sure I could though!!

[cooperdan]

Mini's will most time pass modern crap on the side the motorway with there hazards on...

and we all mutter under our breath "ha yeh my mini is going strong and look at your modern thing on side road"

[DinoDrummer]

Cheers for the feedback guys, its just reinforced my decision to get a mini. I mean it can't be any worse than riding a motorcycle the same distance in a thunderstorm lmao

[The Otter]

I do a 160 mile trip (one way) to see my girlfriend every other weekend in my tuned 998, and that copes fine! Well, unless you do reverse donuts in a car park in the snow and wear your diff out so it goes pop on the motorway, but that won't happen to everyone... anyway yeah, just find a truck to follow and you can slipstream that to save yourself fuel. Trucks only do 56mph though, so it does get a bit boring sometimes, but if you can find a coach they do about 62mph and offer just as much of a slipstream

As long as you don't mind the noise and bounciness then you'll be fine with it, but only you will know what you can cope with. Having some comfy seats is a must for long journeys as well, in my opinion!

Edit to say that I once got overtaken by a bomb disposal van (large box van) doing 70mph in the fast lane with it's blue lights on, hence getting everyone out the way in busy traffic whilst offering great slipstreaming capabilites. I got behind and followed him for ages!

Edited by The Otter, 27 February 2013 - 08:15 PM.

[Gr4h4m]

Only if your young and never driven a modern car....

[mini-luke]

Only if your young and never driven a modern car....

I started off in a Mini and certainly wouldn't have one as a daily again, driving a modern car opens your eyes to what it's like to be able to do 70 down a motorway without feeling like you are sat on a tumble drier

[AVV IT]

A long distance motorway run every other weekend in a classic mini is perfectly practical, especially if you're not terribly used to the comforts of a modern car. I'd be happy doing that, I probably wouldn't want to do it any more regularly than that though!!

I'm quite used to modern cars but still have a mini as a daily driver though and I'll happily do occasional long distance runs in it to shows etc. It makes a refreshing change to go on a long run in it as opposed to being in my missuses modern 4x4

Edited by AVV IT, 27 February 2013 - 11:07 PM.

[g-dog]

If motorway journeys are gonna be a regular thing the best mini to go for has got to be a late Cooper or 1.3I (non sportspack)
Tall diff ratio, extra soundproofing,comfy seats and if you leave the exhaust as standard you can cruise quite quietly at 70 (by mini standards) g

[mab01uk]

Only if your young and never driven a modern car....

I started off in a Mini and certainly wouldn't have one as a daily again, driving a modern car opens your eyes to what it's like to be able to do 70 down a motorway without feeling like you are sat on a tumble drier

I have to agree......when the Mini was designed the first motorways had yet to open........there are many cheaper more modern small cars which will be far more capable, comfortable and safer on a regular motorway trip.......but if you are young, only have one car and are willing to accept the limitations and discomfort then you will probably be fine. (Minis are however really made for the twisty roads with corners, not long boring treks in a straight line at prolonged high speed).