24 replies to this topic

[jet_fire]

Hello Mini people I need some advice here

 

I'm really wanting to buy a mini for my first car as I've recently past my driving test they're so stylish & Classic + look really fun to drive I REALLY LIKE THEM, I'm looking at the 2000 edition I've found one for £2000 with some rust but only 49000 on the clock.  Although I've got a young child would there be enough room for a car seat in the back, also I'm 6'1 tall will I have enough room? I know they're not the most practical but I've got a major soft spot for the Rover Mini but it might be a heart over head or other way around haven't decided yet. Thanks for any advice you can give guys

 

David

Edited by jet_fire, 18 August 2013 - 10:36 PM.

[tiger99]

I knew someone who was at least 6'3" and drove a MK 1 many years ago. Don't see why a child's seat should not fit, surely it does not overhang the seat to which it is fitted?

 

You could of course remove the back seat, fit some noise insulation and carpet, and mount one or two child seats (or one child seat and an adult bucket seat) directly to the rear bulkhead and seat base, to get extra room, but do tell your insurance company if you do that.

[Yoshii]

Your height isn't a problem :)

And I'm sure there is people here who can give you advice about having a child in the car

[mab01uk]

This recent thread may help:

http://www.theminifo...y-practicality/

[Ro8bieg]

Thers plenty of room, I have a child seat in the back with fixed back bucket seats, with standard folding mpi seats there will be bags of room and getting a child in and out will be a breeze!

[Stiggytoo]

I'm not one of those people who can give you advice about having a child in the car, but, well you won't fit them in the boot...

[6joshh6]

you can get two kids plus car seats in the back of a classic mini comfortably, in fact you can get 4 adults in without too much trouble.

[Ro8bieg]

I'm not one of those people who can give you advice about having a child in the car, but, well you won't fit them in the boot...

Yeah the boots not big enough... Hmm, the Mrs will kill me if she sees this

[Ethel]

Children are no problem, they're really handy for awkward jobs like fitting a new speedo cable or servicing you master cylinders, that is what you meant isn't it? 

[alicetheauto]

Kids fit fine. More important is the rust on this 2000 mini.That was the peak of Rover inefficiency and they rotted like you would not believe. If you can see, its already taken hold. Expect that car to double its cost in the next couple of years.

[Tamworthbay]

I'm not one of those people who can give you advice about having a child in the car, but, well you won't fit them in the boot...

Yeah the boots not big enough... Hmm, the Mrs will kill me if she sees this

Sorry but I have to disagree, as long as then are 10 or under they will fit in the boot no problem, under five and you could probably get twins in. Austin/ Rover were kind in not sealing the boots so there would even be airflow. (And before the PC brigade have a fit, I am joking).

But back to being serious, no problem with child seats. I take my daughter in ours all the time. As long as you have seat belts then they fit in the same as any other car. One little tip, take their shoes off as kids love to rest their feet on the seat in front if they can.

[fattail95]

MPI = RUST. Please be very careful with this car, if you're not sure to what extent the rust has already taken over, take a look at my project thread and you will see how bad they can be even when looking relatively OK.

[M J W J]

My dad is 6' 2" and he had three mini's in his life. A little squashed compared to modern cars but he can still fit in one and drive it easily enough. My dad has really long legs which is his problemso really needs the seat high, not further back.

 

I've had 4 full grown adults in a mini no problem.

 

I would recomend that you have rear seats belts fitted if they don't come with the car. Not only for safety reasons but you know you will get some jobsworth copper trying to issue you a fine for your passengers not having seat belts on and a Defective Vehicle Notification. I've ended up arguing with police at the side of the road for this.

[Cooperman]

AS above, watch out for rust. With a 200 MPI you might expect to have to do a lot of bodywork and if you are going to carry a child then you will, I'm sure, want it to be really structurally sound.
I was involved in buying a 1997 MPI about 3 years ago for £1750. It had 8 months MoT and 6 months tax and looked great.
It needed new front wings, front inner wing repairs, a new front panel, new inner & outer sills, one new door skin, new A-panels, new screen scuttle panel and lower screen inner rail (plus repairs to top of the bulkhead), new rear valence and repair to end of boot floor, a small left front floor repair, small patch repair to LH rear quarter panel.
It had a lot of filler which was removed.
If my grandson & I had not been able to do the work ourselves, excluding a re-paint at £1000, it would have cost an absolute fortune. The panels, which were all Heritage ones, cost almost £450 as the front panel is expensive for an MPI.
Unless you can do the bodywork, expect to spend over £2500 doing the basic rust-removal on any late Mini.
That is without any allowance for mechanical work like suspension re-builds (swivel pins are often worn as are dampers and suspension bushes, sub-frame mountings, rear radius arm bushes, etc.)
Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but as others have alluded to it as well it's better you know what you would probably be letting yourself in for. For the total cost of buying and fixing an MPI you could buy a more modern car.
However, if you want a classic car as a hobby and can DIY, then a Mini is superb.

[Bungle]

front seats with removable head rests make fitting kiddy's seats easier

 

push the seat through the door up side down and roll it over the front seat into the back