71 replies to this topic

[lemmingzappa]

I havent read every post in this thread, but you wont be dissapointed which ever mini you buy.
It's all about the handling, not the speed. Take any rudeboy and their escort down a country lane and I can assure you they wont stand a chance.
You can chuck minis into roundabouts and they grip like they're on rails.......

[Bromie]

Yeah, i think i've started to realise that. The problem was that i couldn't describe what i meant properly - i was basically trying to compare the Mini versus modern day cars to a 150hp(?) Lotus Elise versus an Audi A8 (400hp?). The Lotus would obviously beat the Audi any day on a track, but on a straight the Lotus would lose. This is similar to the Mini, which has about a third of the power of decent modern-day saloons/hot hatchbacks, but can still out-handle most modern cars.

I'm not a boy racer, so don't care much about speed, but like to feel like the car i'm driving was designed for a certain type of road, i.e. country roads, which is why i like the sound of the Mini's handling being like a go-kart. But, i also want to feel safe when overtaking on roads and motorways, and want to feel like the car is capable of actually going faster than the car in front, instead of a ten-mile long side-by-side drive.

I've finally decided that i don't care much about how it drives, 'because i've had mixed reviews off people. Today when getting my hair cut my hairdresser said that she used to have a Mini and hated it. She said that the steering was hard, blah, blah, blah...parts are expensive and scare nowadays, blah, blah, blah. Basically just 'lack of power steering' moan that women usually have about cars, but i know she was talking ******* about the parts 'because i know there are hundreds of internet sites and companies that will continue to sell parts for the next thousand years.

The only thing i'm worried about now is finding a (generally) rust-free car for my price limit. The thing is, i get my first £850 of my student loan soon, with the other two installments spread over the term. The only other money i get is about £300 - £350 a month from my job. Therefore, i'm worried that i won't be able to afford a car in the condition i want, forcing me to wait (frig!) until next year when i have all my money. Also because of the money thing, i probably can't afford constant panel repairs and resprays and welding, so would like to keep it to a minimum. How much do you think i'm looking at for a good condition 998cc? Would buying a newer car (80s - 90s model) be cheaper, or more expensive 'because it's newer? Would the newer ones be less prone to rust than the older models? I only wanted an earlier one for the centre speedo-type dash (to make a custom dash), but have realised that i could probably get the necessary parts for next to nothing (including the Mk1 grille and moustache, possibly with full bonnet belts if i can find them).

Thanks for any help,
Dan.

[mike.]

I make about £200 a month with my part time job. I got a bit of money for my birthday and for xmas and had some already saved; so within a few months i had about £1400 to spend. Now i just spend my wages each month on new stuff its great

You won't need to be doing constant panel repairs. If you give the car a good enough check over (as already descirbed), you shouldn't get any nasty surprises. I'd never buy a mini without a recent MOT. Try looking for one with about 10 months MOT or something. Theres no point spending all your cash on a car, thats goin to need £500 of welding in a months time. At least if theres a decent MOT with the car it'll give you a little more piece of mind that the cars solid as it looks.

Its all about preservation with minis. You need to treat any rust you find as soon as you find it to stop it spreading, you need to underseal the whole car to keep water out and pack it with waxoyl in every place you an think of. Then by doing regular checks of any rust you've found and by topping up the waxoyl in the hard hit areas, you'll be able to prevent rust forming and spreading.

[Bromie]

Okay, thanks for the advice. I'm too much of a worrier, and as you can see from this thread i've been worrying about nearly everything to do with the car. But now i think i've finally got everything in order - i know the insurance is cheap (as long as you go to the right place), they do handle the way i thought they do, and the rust isn't that much of a problem. This was the main thing as i've never thought about it as much of a problem until reading some of the threads on this forum, but now my mind is at ease 'because i know i'm the type of person who would keep checking my little pride and joy, and would fix any problem as soon as possible. By the way, that MOT tip was a great one i'd never have thought of by myself!

One last thing, do people prefer to waxoyl their cars themselves or do they get it done professionally? And is there a book similar to the Haynes manual that tells you about the key points to preserve (i.e. where to waxoyl and underseal), etc., or is it better to just find that out on this forum? And finally, what do people find works best on preserving their bodies (cars, that is...), and is there anything to avoid?

I'm finally looking to buy a car now! Should be back on this forum within a few months with my new Mini!

Dan.

[Roo]

Personally i would stay way clear of mini world HIC!! THey are Rubbish... Especially when you have to settle a claim. Fair enough yuu get 15% discount but is it really worth it when you have to deal with the hassle of the claim.. They are not mini friendly. They don't tell you if the car is written off. They try and take the car away anyway. And when they requote you they increase the premium by £250 when at other places its decreased by £250. oh and there is an automatic £350 excess on the premium for being under 25 which they don't tell you about. It in the small print of the certificate. Oh and their customer service is also rubbish.

But that is my personal opinion. As thats what i'v been through last couple of months... Others may get a completely different service from them.

[mini-mad22]

Right im 17 not passed my test yet an my insurance is 1200 paying monthly wich i think is bloomin fantastic! if i was you i'd look on insurancesupermarket.com or 4youngdrivers.co.uk! forgot to mention that mines a 1.3 so in all the price is amazin?!?!?! lol

[Jammy]

Are you sure its £1200?? Maybe you left a 0 off the end like the 'g' you left off 'amazing'.

[miniEgg]

Are you sure its £1200?? Maybe you left a 0 off the end like the 'g' you left off 'amazing'.

it is possible to have a premium like that, and obviously leaving off the G wasnt that bad seeing as even you figured out what it was meant to say.....

[mini-mad22]

well im sure there has been a huge mistake otherwise because im into my 3rd month of paying for it haha

[Bromie]

Wouldn't you have preferred to pay it all off for the year? I probably couldn't afford to do it monthly, 'because i'd rather have money each month to spend on myself (and a car).

[mini-mad22]

nope i coudnt afford to pay it off at once! plus its easier tp, pay monthly it only 96 quid!

[minijmoore]

Hi, I got my insurence when i was 18 and a student, it cost me £699 pounds very cheap considering most of the quotes i got were over £1000.

I got my insurence from endsleigh.