Opinions on these Mini Mayfairs

[chriscoates]

I turn 17 next year and I am considering a Classic Mini as my first car. I'm not massively clued up on them (although my dad owned two so he has a bit of knowledge) and unfortunately I'm quite limited because it must have the 998cc engine (insurance is £2k more for a 1275).

I'd like some opinions on these three Mayfairs and whether or not they look like a decent buy for me.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3292540.htm - little concerned about the engine comment!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3355908.htm - currently my favourite

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3358425.htm

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[guru_1071]

chriscoates said:

I turn 17 next year and I am considering a Classic Mini as my first car. I'm not massively clued up on them (although my dad owned two so he has a bit of knowledge) and unfortunately I'm quite limited because it must have the 998cc engine (insurance is £2k more for a 1275).

I'd like some opinions on these three Mayfairs and whether or not they look like a decent buy for me.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3292540.htm - little concerned about the engine comment!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3355908.htm - currently my favourite

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3358425.htm

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

at the risk of been very rude about other peoples cars, my quick thoughts (and this is taking into account your age and the prices asked - nothing more) would be:-

car 1

massive wheels will really blunt the gearing and spoil the handling - no mention has been made of money/time been spent on the suspension to cope with the wheels. they have forgotten to paint the rear valance and sills - so what other corners have been cut when painting it??. all the interior work, whilst looking pretty sporty is all the cheap stuff - will it look as good as this in 12 months time?? - its a nice car but has been built to a budget and this will start to show. all the mods will hurt on the insurance quote as well

car 2

very similar, big wheels + no suspension work = poor mini. the interior also looks like something from a grandad car - ive never seen so much flat grey vinyl! those mirrors are also wing fit, so will be useless on the doors. those 'slime' tyres are also super budget awful things. it also must have had a bump at some time as its got an earlier boot lid fitted - the water will drain through those wholes in it and the boot will always be damp.

car 3

the best of the bunch id say - the price is far more reasonable and as its a trade sale it will come with a warrenty of some discription. the 12" wheels will help with the gearing and would almost pass as factory fit wheels. it does look to be 'honestly tattyish' its also got yoko tyres - which suggests the previous owner wasnt afraid to spend a little more when it mattered

if i was after a std mini 1000 to pootle around in then this is the one id go for tbh.

obviously the problem with minis is rust, so with any car you look at body work is the single most important thing to look at - any of the chrome, wheels etc that can sway you is all (fairly) cheap - its rust repairs that cost the most in time and money and can make or ruin a purchase. id rather buy a bog standard mini thats bodily good rather than a car thats 'just' had a fresh paint job - you wont know whats under it for a few months.

also, with any of the three you have listed here - talk to the sellers and get a good overview of the money spent, hpi them, ask the questions and go and see them and take them for a decent 1/2 test drive - at worse cast get them inspected by a profesional.

oh, and im happy to admit that ive bought some real hounds in my time!

Edited by guru_1071 on Tuesday 1st November 20:40

Edited by guru_1071 on Tuesday 1st November 20:42

[Skyedriver]

Always difficult to judge a car by photographs but tend to agree with Rich
Car three looks genuine rather than tarted up (apologies to the two owners there)
There again it might have just been tarted up better. Go and see them all, look for rust & bodges, poor paint finish and don't be swayed by glittery shiny things stuck on. Your not a Magpie.
And I too have been caught out occasionally......

[GTIAlex06]

Think there all over priced, dressed up and will show signs of true age in less than a year.


Car 3- That place is right round the corner from me, if u need someone to look over it for you (had my mini for 2 years and im 19) then il be happy to help

[annodomini2]

Only thing I'd add to guru_1071's assesment is Car 2 the sills look to have a least some surface rust if not worse. (low view picture)

Same on the front panel (Bonnet open picture)

Car 1 is way overpriced and Car 2 is overpriced, possibly way overpriced, depending on the state of that rust.

[Cooperman]

As 'guru...' says, those first 2 cars with the silly wheels will not be ideal. The insurance company would have to be told of the modification and that would increase the premium. They would not drive very nicely either.
Car 3 would be most suitable, but corrosion could be the longer-term issue. But then, it will be with all Minis.
My grandson bought a 1275 Cooper MPI for when he is 17, next month. He paid £1640 for it and it needed a comprehensive body re-build including front wings, front panel, inner wing repairs, new A-panels, front scuttle and screen rail, front bulkhead repair, inner & outer sills and a patch repair to the boot floor. This we expected and it looks fantastic now. 3rd party insurance is around £1800 for the first year which he will pay monthly and he joined the British Mini Club so that he can use their special insurance deal.
Whilst it was in pieces we re-built the engine, fitted a centre oil pick-up in the gearbox, re-built the brake callipers, fitted new pads, made the interior look fantastic and removed the wheel arch extensions. With a Mk.1 grille and grille surround it does look like new in dark green with a silver roof.

[chriscoates]

Thanks for all your replies guys, very much appreciated

So it seems that the first two cars should be discounted - I will still consider the third one (thanks Alex, if I decide that it is on my final shortlist I will PM you)

I have also found two more that have come up for sale in the past couple of days, with one being in Doncaster so fairly close to me.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3379299.htm - I know the advert is dire, trying to see past that!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3309281.htm - this is a Checkmate, any difference to the Mayfair?

The second one in particular looks like it may need some work, but I would be prepared to pay less and do the work providing it is not going to be on the scale of a restoration/rebuild.

I have resarched some young driver insurance companies and I know that I can also get classic insurance - only issue with that is that many of them say they will only insure drivers aged 21 and over. Does anyone know of a good classic insurance company that would insure me?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Cooperman]

Whatever Mini you buy you must expect to have to do some work, especially to the body.
The first of those looks quite good, subject to an inspection for rust, but it has a very silly exhaust (easy to replace).
The second has huge wheels and non-standard wheel arch extensions, which again could be put back to standard by selling those wheels and buying ordinary 12" x 4.4" ones. A really cood rust check would be needed.
It's always the rust which is the issue, as it's easy to take an engine out and re-build it, together with the gearbox, but a lot of well-hidden rust is bad and very expensive to do properly.
For insurance, join the British Mini Club. They have an arrangement with an insurer.

[cpas]

For the first couple of years, you ideally need something as standard as possible with no mods. This will vastly help with the insurance, and give you something to aim for when you've a couple of years' no claims and can start modding it yourself to your own taste. A friend of mine got silly quotes from one company just because his Mini had Cooper bonnet stripes!!!

[Cooperman]

Most people wouldn't even think to mention the bonnet stripes, I know I wouldn't. It just wouldn't seem to be a modification from standard. Still, the insurers have to make a profit!