10 replies to this topic

[TopGearRules]

A road trip through continental Europe has always appealed to me and I would love to take the mini if I could. Has anyone ever embarked on such a trip in their mini? My main concern is reliability; saying that my car has never had a mechanical problem (apart from when the dizzy went and was soon converted to electronic ignition after) and has almost reached 95K on the mileometer (original engine etc). I would love to drive through France and go to Italy or Croatia (possibly stay there if this crappy weather continues ahaha). 

 

Al :)

[mini=love]

Go for it, just make sure you bring some tools and spares with you, but theres no reason why it should suddenly become an unreliable car...

 

Sounds like a fun adventure

[mab01uk]

Lots of UK Mini owners have just been to the IMM in Italy and back with no problems, go for it.

http://www.aronline....-come-together/

 

Mini Minor to Asia Minor - There & Back!

This is the story of an independent trek in a 50-year-old Mini -- all the way from UK to the Great Pyramid and back -- with no assistance or support crew, to provide much needed funds and publicity for the Willow Foundation.
Inspirational to others, the book includes practical advice on the car preparation and documentation required for such marathon drives, along with photographs of the Mini's preparation and the amazing journey itself.

Nicky decided it was the perfect time for a sponsored run with a difference: a never-been-done-before trek of 11,063km in under 40 days, driving all the way to the Great Pyramid and back in a 50 year old Mini -- ten countries, three continents ...

This book follows Nicky's journey from preparing the Mini, to crossing the scorching sands of North Africa and the Middle East, all the way to the exhaustion and sheer elation of finishing with a wave of the chequered flag at Castle Combe racetrack.

 

Edited by mab01uk, 24 May 2013 - 06:50 PM.

[6joshh6]

I'd also make sure your coolant system is working to its best, Europe has hills and mountains that make the UK look flat in comparison. I can't imagine anything worse than being stuck halfway up the side of a god forsaken mountain with a overheated mini 

[TopGearRules]

Lots of UK Mini owners have just been to the IMM in Italy and back with no problems, go for it.

http://www.aronline....-come-together/

 

Mini Minor to Asia Minor - There & Back!

This is the story of an independent trek in a 50-year-old Mini -- all the way from UK to the Great Pyramid and back -- with no assistance or support crew, to provide much needed funds and publicity for the Willow Foundation.
Inspirational to others, the book includes practical advice on the car preparation and documentation required for such marathon drives, along with photographs of the Mini's preparation and the amazing journey itself.

Nicky decided it was the perfect time for a sponsored run with a difference: a never-been-done-before trek of 11,063km in under 40 days, driving all the way to the Great Pyramid and back in a 50 year old Mini -- ten countries, three continents ...

This book follows Nicky's journey from preparing the Mini, to crossing the scorching sands of North Africa and the Middle East, all the way to the exhaustion and sheer elation of finishing with a wave of the chequered flag at Castle Combe racetrack.

 

 

That old Mini is truly heroic! It just shows how much of a quality product Issigonis's original mini was... watching that has given me a little bit more confidence I have to admit ahaha XD

 

I'd also make sure your coolant system is working to its best, Europe has hills and mountains that make the UK look flat in comparison. I can't imagine anything worse than being stuck halfway up the side of a god forsaken mountain with a overheated mini 

 

Touch wood I've never had any overheating problems, although saying that the temperature in the UK has never gone above 10c  I suppose you can always fit a cooler thermostat??

[Dark Angel]

Take coolant and some tools. We took my wife's 998 to Poland last year. Had some overheating issues but made sure we always had spare coolant. Lost a wheel bearing, but adac in Germany found a spare. Also take a trasnlator, in case you need something you can tell them in their language. Makes life simpler.

[Naughty 40]

Just back from the IMM in Italy,only a couple of small hick ups that were sorted at the roadside,hate to disappoint you but the weather over there is as bad as the U.K at the moment,was speaking to an Italian friend who told me that his father had never known it rain in may before

Take spares and tools with you ,

[TopGearRules]

Just back from the IMM in Italy,only a couple of small hick ups that were sorted at the roadside,hate to disappoint you but the weather over there is as bad as the U.K at the moment,was speaking to an Italian friend who told me that his father had never known it rain in may before

Take spares and tools with you ,

 

Must be something to do with global warming!! I will probably wait till the summer next year since I have a lot to do with the transition from college to university. Thanks for the advice

[Chris99]

Denmark and back via Germany in mine with no problems. We did 14 hours solid on one day including quite a long stint at 90-95 on the autobahn. They're solid little things really!

[RedRallyMini]

Just back from the IMM in Italy,only a couple of small hick ups that were sorted at the roadside,hate to disappoint you but the weather over there is as bad as the U.K at the moment,was speaking to an Italian friend who told me that his father had never known it rain in may before

Take spares and tools with you ,

 

I was watching the Giro d'Italia on the telly today and it was even snowing?!!! 

[Carlos W]

No matter what car I was doing the journey in I'd go with European brake down cover!

Then make sure it's serviced, adjust the brakes, check tyre pressures, check ball joints, grease the bits that need to be greased.

Oil, coolant and tools!

Then make sure you comply with the laws in the countries you're planning on going to, 2 breathalyzers, hi vis for everyone in the car (must be reachable before you get out the car) spare set of bulbs and those things on your lights.

Take a camera, you'll need one to take stunning shots of your mini!

Edited by Carlos W, 26 May 2013 - 05:59 AM.