149 replies to this topic

[eripmav]

Unless someone on here happens to want to sell something to me that's a 1.3 and loves Lola's face? (Dog in my avatar)

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[some1158]

For a £2500 budget I'd definitely be seriously considering an auto as the lower prices these cars tend to fetch, and the generally better body condition/low mileages (the 'one elderly owner') may make them a better bet if you don't want to take on a car likely to need work.

 

E.g. http://www.carandcla....uk/car/C608534

 

As per my earlier post: the AP gearbox can be driven like a manual as well as in full auto mode, but check that the oil changes have been done.

 

Worth seeing if you can find one to try, even if you then decide to hold out for a manual.

Edited by some1158, 07 January 2016 - 01:35 PM.

[eripmav]

some1158 - why are they so much cheaper than manuals?

[some1158]

some1158 - why are they so much cheaper than manuals?

 

I think it's just because they are less sought after (people tend to want a manual either because it's what they know or because they think that only a manual can be tuned how they want) and potentially the gearbox is very expensive if it goes wrong. Hence the importance of knowing that it's been looked after, which an elderly owner is likely to have done.

 

I have never tried one, but if I was looking now with the sort of budget you have I'd be definitely interested in trying one. Plus I really like Minis in 'original' spec condition so the idea of an 80s/90s unmodified car (which is likely to be the case with these one-elderly-owner vehicles) appeals.

[some1158]

Here's details of the AP transmission: https://en.wikipedia...ic_transmission

 

The Austin memories website it links to is also worth a look.

[Cooperman]

Autos are cheaper for several reasons:

 

If/when the box needs repairing or rebuilding it is expensive and there are not many who can do it. It really is not a DIY job. Personally I won't touch an engine build if it has an auto box as I don't want to go near one.

 

The performance with the auto box is reduced from a manual.

 

They are not so much fun to drive.

 

You could easily spend the price difference if the box had a problem. Manual boxes are an easy and not expensive fix if they need rebuilding.

[Tamworthbay]

The danger with 'one elderly owner' cars is the minder esque garage that has maintained it. My last mini was a one elderly lady from new and I spent a long time getting it right. Most 70 year old don't spend their weekends greasing nipples and checking the underseal still looks good. They also tend to take their cars to patch it and scarper when it comes to welding repairs for mot's. I would much rather seek out a nice enthusiast owned car.

[Cooperman]

....... right. Most 70 year old don't spend their weekends greasing nipples and checking the underseal still looks good. They also tend to take their cars to patch it and scarper when it comes to welding repairs for mot's. I would ....................

I do  . I'm 75!!

[some1158]

Having said all this, I did spot a few Minis in this month's Practical Classics which looked reasonable (in the one tiny photo you get) at about the 2.5k mark, so clearly there are some out there.

[inim_repooc]

Some great advice here - not too much too add to it! Few things worth noting when looking at any car.. Try to avoid looking over it indoors, when it's wet etc.. Also look for individual quicks and character when test driving it - all cars drive slightly differently and some are better than others!

When I was looking for minis I started in the 2k price bracket (I wanted a later model with the sportspack) and i found very few worth looking at at that money and the rest seemed to be silly money! One I did find one day sempt too good to be true, but I jumped on it and went up to Peterborough later that day to look at it - I got there and the guy had just washed it (a bad sign to begin with usually) and it looked amazing, after a look around (my dad is great at this!) it was completely rotten and needed fully rebuilding! Yet it drove lovely - you really do just need to be careful and methodical when looking, and you can't go too wrong

Edited by inim_repooc, 10 January 2016 - 01:09 AM.

[WPD]

If you're on a strict budget of 2.5k I'm gonna agree with Pete (again!) and say you're probably better off aiming to get a really nice 998 than a slightly rough 1275. I haven't driven a 998 but their owners love them and seem to reckon they have enough power for daily driving.

Honestly I'd been trying to find one for that price for a while and nothing worth purchasing came up, all completely rotten so I bought a renault. Im sure something will come up in a few years when I have enough money for something a bit nicer.

[eripmav]

I think I'd probably be best saving for a bit longer.  Just had an amazing potential contract enquire about some business today, so all going well...

[Cooperman]

If you had a garage or workshop to put it in I would suggest getting a restoration project for c.£1500 and storing it whilst you developed some restoration skills.

years ago when Minis were daily drivers and there were thousands and thousands of them it was easy to find a good one for very little money.

Now they are treasured classic cars, a true design icon, and prices will increase, as indeed they will for all true classics. So affordability will become an increasing issue for those who can't do the necessary work themselves.

Classic car ownership is already a dream for many and it's not just Minis. I sold a beautiful classic car (not a Mini), which I had owned and cared for since 1979, in 1996 when I bought an old farm house which I needed some cash for to renovate. I got £20,000 for it. I said at the time that I would buy another one of the same model a few years later. One almost identical one sold recently for just over £200,000 - so I'll never be able to afford another.

Whatever you buy, even a really rust free one will need some work within a reasonable time. If not bodywork, then it will be engine work, a gearbox re-build, suspension work (ball joints, rear radius arm bearings, wheel bearings, tie-bar bushes, etc.) or other stuff. It is inescapable really. But then, most of us do enjoy doing it and the results are very satisfying most of the time.

However, with labour rates in commercial businesses at between £40 & £60 per hour, classic ownership for those without the facilities and/or knowledge is for people with available cash. For example, whilst I can do everything myself (although I hate gearboxes!), if I need a re-paint in 2-pack I have to sub-contract it out to a good friend and that costs me around £1000 for a full external paint job and that is with me doing a lot of the pre-prep myself. So I usually paint my cars in cellulose.

I do know that if I didn't have the facilities I am so lucky in having I would not be able to afford even one classic, let alone the two Minis and 1/2 an MGB-GT restoration project.

[eripmav]

Well, the new contract will be decided tomorrow and it's looking favourable. I'm very excited - it'll mean consistent money for a year - something I've not had since starting as self employed! This means I can save more.

[CityEPete]

Nice unmolested 1991 Mayfair in classic car weekly this week, £2250. I'd expect a few paint imperfections at that price but looks promising.