21 replies to this topic

[mini_sam]

i dont wana highjack the thread here but, is a metro 1.3 engine more reliable, as they are more recent arent they?

[Guess-Works.com]

Not necessarily, they probably only seem more reliable, bucause when you get them they have not reached that end of life point yet, also there's more of them around, A series 1300 motors are going to be at least 25 years old now, if not older, I know the one I'm using for the 1330 is a late 60's out of a Austin 1300GT, just wish I could prove it then it would not have to go through the emissions..

[Mini Man Sam]

TJenkos, depends if you want to do one up or get one now and swan around being chaufered by dad. We got Sams 998 mayfair Cooper look a like, minilight alloys, stage one fitted, mechanically and body work very sound 6 months tax and MOT, buckets and a few internal improovments for 1300, but as GuessWorks says you can get a fixer upper for a lot less.

As for insurance I have looked around on the web based companys and the best I have got by maiking him just over 17 on a provisional is £998 from directline. I think the most I got quoted was about £1800 . Definiately go for your own as trying to get mum or dad to insure it with you as a named driver won't actually be that much cheeper as if they already have insurance of their own they will have to start at no NCB on the mini. I had quotes that were 1k plus with me insuring it and Sam as named driver. The best advice I can give is shop around and play one company off against the other.

Hope this helps and enjoy your mini when you finally get it.

[jimbo_edmondo]

oh and tesco is probably the way to go for insurance,

ed4ran and minipixie i meant my mum had 1yrs no claims sorry if that was unclear!

[Mini Man Sam]

Be careful with the supermarket car insurance policies, make sure you read the small print carefully. For example I have been told by an insurance agent that if you take out Social, Dompestic and Pleasure plus commuting from Tesco you are only covered for one return journey to your place of work per day, ie if you go home for lunch you will not be covered for the afternoon trip to and from work. As I said I have not read that my self but the person who told me is a family friend and I have no reason to suspect he was wrong.

[mattvallins]

Are you particularly mechanically minded? I bought a rough car for 50quid, with an MOT (somehow). I have spent a couple of hundred on it but have done all the work myself. For around 400quid in total I will have a good car with neg camber suspension, rough bucket seats, fibreglass front and a reasonable stereo!
If you can do the work, you can get 50 or 100quid cars. Otherwise I do know a nice 998 A reg car going for around 450.

[TJenkos]

wow 200 quid?!

I was looking at ones for £550. As im this age, i dont want to use up all my money, as its hard to get! No job!
Welding is NO PROBLEM. Where its being stored, the man living there is a pro with cars! 2 Land Rovers (one project one), one suzuki sj (project) and 3 minis (one project.
He is skilled in mechanics so any project set can be accomplished.

Obviously though, i dont want LOADS of work thrown into it. Though work needed is no problem.
I also want one with a decent shell (not many dints) as this can be pricey to fix.

My budget, as i said, is £800 and i want some left for the sexyness creation.

Im looking at making a cooper lookalike as i just love them.

If you find any minis going cheap, and fit my criteria, please pm me.

Thanks for your help so far! Its much appreciated

Tom