Hello everyone,
A bit about me.....
I first fell in love with all things mini watching my uncle throw a couple round in grasstrack and demolition derby....(Alegro engine, Bright red with confederate flag on roof, flared arches, roll bar and engine cage, and the best bit (to a 6 year old) a horn that played 'La Chica Ra Cha')....
From then on I've been determined that a mini would be the first car I owned....
Now that I'm 25 (I've had a works van since I got my licence) and I just got a proper job (involving me needing my first car).....
What I'm after....
I want a 1275ish mini in decent nick. By that I mean the sub frame isn't going to drop off, there's as little as possible rust showing, and it's GUARENTEED to get me to work and back.
Beyond that I'm happy enough to pretty it up myself....
Can anyone give me a rough guide to what price I should be looking at and what engine type to look at (carb, single injection, double inj)..I'm keeping an eye on all the usual sites/papers etc but to be honest I wouldn't recognise a bargain if I see one.
Cheers in advance for any help,
FG.
Evening all.....lookin for some advice
Started by
TheFunkyGibbon
, Jun 21 2006 09:05 PM
5 replies to this topic
#2
english-bully
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Mini Mad
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Posted 22 June 2006 - 01:06 AM
If i was out looking for a mini,id be going for sumert with out a cat on it pre 1992 a lot less to worrie about.But thats what id be look for....keep an eye on ebay theres always mini's there but always ask as many questions you can,and if poss try and look at the car before you go and bud on it.The digi camera hides loads of bad parts on minis,ei scuttle tops apanels inner and outer sills subframe mounts etc etc and as for price,they all seem to diffrent....this time off the year the seem to go for £££'s as folks go to the shows and fall in love with them LOL !!!
#3
pikey7
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Up Into Fourth
Posted 22 June 2006 - 01:27 AM
Welcome to TMF!
Well, you're looking for the proverbial hens teeth! A Mini thats "guaranteed" to get you anywhere and everywhere. What you are looking for is a well maintained, well loved Mini that has the best chance of doing that. Its the same with everything.... there are no guarantees in life.
Then you go on to say you're looking for a bargain. Well, chances are if you want a well maintained Mini, then someone loves it and it ain't gonna be a bargain anymore!
Age has no bearing on condition either. There's a project being done here right now that a guy is rebuilding his 95 Mini. I've never seen so much rust in an 11 year old car outside of something French! As such, the engine doesn't really have a bearing on the car you should be looking for. (later cars get fuel injection)
Back to the point though. You want a Mini. and you want a good-un. Well, you've found the best place to get them. Ebay will see you a nice project or an overpriced "perfect" car, as will the specialist magazines (If you can find a nice one in them for less than £3k asking price, it's a miracle!) The best thing you can do is to place some wanted ads on forums. Here, Minifinity, British mini club, Turbominis, basically as many as you can find. That way, the chances are it'll be a members car who will have asked questions, will have gotten advice and will have plenty of pics that you can scour through before you waste the diesel in works van to go and have a look at it. You'll also find plenty of people willing to help out with "online-valuations" and advice, aswell as a whole network of people keeping their eye out for a car for you!
And whatever you do, don't get lured by shiny bits. Shiny bits on Minis are relatively cheap. As you've sensibly said, you're looking for as rust-free a body as possible, and a good reliable engine. Don't forget that on your search!
Of course, I hasten to add that as nice as some Mini people are, you should always com back to the friendliest Mini site of them all......
Oh and one last little thing, stick your location in your profile. I guess for the right car you won't mind travelling, but if you can find one on your doorstep, then alls the better!
Well, you're looking for the proverbial hens teeth! A Mini thats "guaranteed" to get you anywhere and everywhere. What you are looking for is a well maintained, well loved Mini that has the best chance of doing that. Its the same with everything.... there are no guarantees in life.
Then you go on to say you're looking for a bargain. Well, chances are if you want a well maintained Mini, then someone loves it and it ain't gonna be a bargain anymore!
Age has no bearing on condition either. There's a project being done here right now that a guy is rebuilding his 95 Mini. I've never seen so much rust in an 11 year old car outside of something French! As such, the engine doesn't really have a bearing on the car you should be looking for. (later cars get fuel injection)
Back to the point though. You want a Mini. and you want a good-un. Well, you've found the best place to get them. Ebay will see you a nice project or an overpriced "perfect" car, as will the specialist magazines (If you can find a nice one in them for less than £3k asking price, it's a miracle!) The best thing you can do is to place some wanted ads on forums. Here, Minifinity, British mini club, Turbominis, basically as many as you can find. That way, the chances are it'll be a members car who will have asked questions, will have gotten advice and will have plenty of pics that you can scour through before you waste the diesel in works van to go and have a look at it. You'll also find plenty of people willing to help out with "online-valuations" and advice, aswell as a whole network of people keeping their eye out for a car for you!
And whatever you do, don't get lured by shiny bits. Shiny bits on Minis are relatively cheap. As you've sensibly said, you're looking for as rust-free a body as possible, and a good reliable engine. Don't forget that on your search!
Of course, I hasten to add that as nice as some Mini people are, you should always com back to the friendliest Mini site of them all......
Oh and one last little thing, stick your location in your profile. I guess for the right car you won't mind travelling, but if you can find one on your doorstep, then alls the better!
#4
TheFunkyGibbon
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Posted 22 June 2006 - 01:44 PM
Cheers, I'll let you know how the hunt goes....
#5
taffy1967
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Posted 24 June 2006 - 01:18 AM
I agree with everything that's been said, but it's also worth carrying a magnet with you and a hankerchief so as not to scratch the paint work. Then check the tops of the wings, scuttle (panel beneath the front windscreen) panel, door steps, sills and many other areas with your magnet, to ensure there is indeed metal present and not tons of filler and poo.
Basically use your head and not your heart, so be ruthless and look a gift horse in the mouth too and if somethings amiss, use it as a bargaining tool to get the price down, if it's a shed or they won't come down in price, then just walk away.
Another thing you have to watch out for is oversills too as they may look shiny and nice on the surface, but underneath their a rotting nightmare, plus of course check the condition of the rear subframe.
So a long MOT is a good point too, but if you buy a good Mini you'll have the time of your life and be happy forever and into the next life too (if there is one?), but get lumbured with a wreck and you'll end up heartbroken and full of hatred towards the car.
I think we've all been there and got the scars to prove it, but i've seen some horror stories over the years, but out of the several Mini's i've owned, i've been very lucky indeed myself. So good luck mate!
Basically use your head and not your heart, so be ruthless and look a gift horse in the mouth too and if somethings amiss, use it as a bargaining tool to get the price down, if it's a shed or they won't come down in price, then just walk away.
Another thing you have to watch out for is oversills too as they may look shiny and nice on the surface, but underneath their a rotting nightmare, plus of course check the condition of the rear subframe.
So a long MOT is a good point too, but if you buy a good Mini you'll have the time of your life and be happy forever and into the next life too (if there is one?), but get lumbured with a wreck and you'll end up heartbroken and full of hatred towards the car.
I think we've all been there and got the scars to prove it, but i've seen some horror stories over the years, but out of the several Mini's i've owned, i've been very lucky indeed myself. So good luck mate!
#6
TheFunkyGibbon
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