47 replies to this topic

[IainStallard]

Pros: epic fun!
Pros: if you see a roundabout in the dry, you'll go faster than most other cars

Cons: if you see a roundabout in the wet, if you forget to slow down, you won't make it!

[Chris1992]

pros... unbelievably cool, no matter who you are.... £178 fully comp insurance, soon to drop further   ... plus pretty much what everyone else has said

 

cons... sucks up money like a bloody dyson

[AVV IT]

93 Rover Sprite & 85 Mayfair

Pros:

Fun to drive (handles like it's on rails)
Feels MUCH faster than it actually is (anything above 70mph is just terrifying)
Can be easily customised/ personalised (without looking chavy)
Doesn't depreciate in value (unless you do something daft to devalue it)
Readily available & relatively inexpensive parts
Can be repaired/maintained by DIY mechanic with only basic tools
A fantastic forum is available for them, with all the help & advice you'll ever need (...This One!!)
Being part of the "mini scene" (i.e: going to mini shows, runs, meets etc.)
People stopping you in the street to tell you about how they used to own one, learned to drive in one etc.

Cons:

Prone to rust
Noisy, uncomfortable & lacking in creature comforts (all part of the charm)
Impractical for carrying large loads
Poor impact protection in a collision
Require constant maintenance and repairs
Quirky intermittent faults (usually electrical)
One Mini is never enough
Plump middle aged women stopping you in the street, to tell you how they lost their virginity in the back of one (perhaps that only ever happens to me though!)

[Miniminx71]

I like the fact no-one has mentioned:

 

Con:

 

Can be an uncomfortable and sometimes terrifying experience for any passengers (especially those in the back and old people).

 

(Because we don't care).

[Tomm]

I have two. 1967 Morris cooper MK2 & 1996 SPI Equinox.

Pro

Every time you take out a new passenger out they will smile ear to ear and have a right good laugh.

Fun driving car, excellent summer drives.

You fall into the "classic enthusiast" category with the classic mini which I think is a great place to be.

Whack some roof bars on there and I can get my bike and my kayak on there, ever so practical.

Cons.

I use my minis as weekend, summers evening kinda car, I don't use it every day. Therefore I probably don't see the cons as much as someone using it everyday.

Reliability, performance and practicality could be the issues I would guess.

[silve1999]

Love driving it but it's had a lot of time off the road this year now

[ShaunaFTW]

Pro,  after owning an aseries your ears perk up and you can sense one driving within a close distance
The biggest con like any classic car is that you've got to have a lot of love and tolerance when things go wrong, too many people give up too quickly. Yeah they are cute and awesome looking but they are machines that need maintenance. 

Edited by ShaunaFTW, 26 June 2014 - 06:36 PM.

[mini_mad69]

Pros -

 

Good fun to drive

Cheap to run (insurance, tax fuel etc)

Endlessly customizable

Cheap maintenance

They look cool

Sounds a bit sad, but a great way to make new friends. Most people I know are because of cars/minis.

 

 

Cons

Uncomfortable (noisy, small, bumpy)

Hot in summer, cold in winter

Require more maintenance than newer cars

Boot is tiny

Rust

[pompey]

This has restored my mojo a bit. I love my mini but it drives me mad. I used it 3 times last week and it performed faultlessly. I cleaned it over the weekend, getting it ready for another fun week of commuting 40 miles a day. Turned the key and the battery was drained! Gaaaaaaaah!!!! I'm then deciding that it's going on ebay and being replaced by an mx-5. Now I've read this thread I see I'm not alone with the mini playing me up. Tomorrow I'm going to jump start it and keep it topped up by using it more often!

It's got another chance to stay in my good books please keep your fingers crossed for me

[SuperDeLuxeNick]

THERE ARE NO CONS EVERYTHING IS SICK

[cal844]

Pro's
Everyone from kids to pensioners grin and wave
If looked after the car will reward you by saving you money long term

Cons:
They need more maintenance, certainly not a fit and forget car
Rust
And electrical bodges(i call it previous owner syndrome!)

[minirwin]

Pros

• Fun to drive
• People will notice you, I've had pedestrians compliment my car when i'm at the lights.
• It makes people happy, unless it breaks down or gives bother.
• mine seems to be easy enough on fuel
• If you buy a good one, and look after her, you'll not need to do much maintenance.

 

Cons

 

• Having the full four people in the car doesn't always end well
• Be prepared to go over Speedbumps extremely slowly if you want to keep your exhaust
• Listening to the radio over the engine can be difficult.
• Passengers in the back will complain the whole journey but screw them they're just jealous they don't own one :)

[Cooperman]

Fine as an occasional classic car, but not so good as an only car.

Most classic owners use them for weekends, shows, runs and just for fun.

When my Grandson was 17 and had just started to drive he had a 1997 Cooper 1275 MPI which he and I had fully restored. It was less than ideal and he soon bought a Fiesta 1.25, followed by an '07 plate Mondeo Titanium Diesel TDCi. He has since sold the Cooper and just enjoys driving my Minis whenever he needs or wants to just for fun.

To be honest, much as I've enjoyed Minis since 1961, they really are far from ideal as daily cars nowadays.

But as classic cars, they are the ultimate.

[Tomm]

Just enjoys driving my Minis whenever he needs or wants to just for fun.

And the coolest Grandfather on TMF Award goes to....

[Grimshaw17]

Pros:

Watching your mates try to squeeze in.

Watching your mates try to climb out.

Finding friends belongings down the rear seat. (So far: Two Zippos, iphone, ipod touch, various lighters, tobacco tins, wallets, lots of change)

Speed bumps (when passengers are sat in back)

Hills (descending)

Fun to drive

Massive smile on face

Everyone loves them

You produce a new obsession and open up a large amount of skills

 

Cons:

Waiting for your mates to squeeze in.

Waiting for your mates to climb out.

Having to return these belongings 

Speed bumps

Pot holes

Rain

Hills (Ascending) 

You get overly obsessed, to the point people ask how your car is before they ask how you are.

You use them skills on a regular basis

Everyone asks how much to buy it

You look slightly insane driving with a massive grin on your face