Who's spent to much on their Mini, I have
Discussion
I am in limbo. I have had my mini since the 1st day I started driving (7years) and has only one owner since new (my dad). I have spent 1000's on it and now it has got to the stage where I cant enjoy it as I have put so much work into it. So now it is up for sale :-(
I miss it and I havn't even sold it yet, so I am looking to buy a Mini Red Hot no more than £1000, you might laugh but I might as well start looking.
Personally, you cant beat driving a 998cc Carb Mini with 12" wheels. And the one for me is a Red Hot.
Anyone agree???
Why cant you enjoy the car youve got, has it become too pristine and valuable as a daily driver, or has it become a totally impractical racer with a wailing banshee for a gearbox?
I must admit i'd love a totally bog standard 998 to bomb around in, with mild manners and 4 seats, but i'm spending too much on my race min and just dont need a daily driver.
I must admit i'd love a totally bog standard 998 to bomb around in, with mild manners and 4 seats, but i'm spending too much on my race min and just dont need a daily driver.
Spent 25k building my dream mini and have driven it daily for 2 years now, in fact its the 2 year anniversary of me starting the engine for the first time. Totally impractical, no heater which means windows open when it rains or you steam up, 3.9fd with straight cut everything, revs to 8800, and I love it!!!!
On its 3rd gerabox in 2 years mind.....
On its 3rd gerabox in 2 years mind.....
I have the daunting prospect of driving 10 miles in it, in a minute. Earplugs, check, windows open, check, sitting comfortably, non-check! 
No doubting that bog standard minis are a LOT of fun. Extracting the last ounce of performance is a real challenge, and overtaking faster machinery requires lots of forward planning, making the whole driving experience much more involving than something where you just have to push your toe down a bit further.
My first mini (many, many years ago) was an 850 saloon, bought for £50 at an auction for the sole reason that it had Cooper S discs on it. It somehow had 12months MOT, clearly issued by someone with a white stick, but after putting new sills on and welding up the infamous area around the front air vents I had 12 months of pure fun. When it came to it, there was just too much work to get it through an MOT, so removed the brakes, fitted drums and put it in the paper for £50. Huge greasy biker type came and bought it. Week later, plod turn up asking if we were still the owners as it had been used as a getaway in an armed robbery! I don't think they could have put much gold bullion on what was left of the boot floor though.
Trouble with bog standard minis is that you will get the itch to modify it. Just a stage one kit perhaps to release a few ponies. And a set of decent shocks would really tighten it up. Might as well fit a set of HiLo's while your at it. And those weedy front tie rods really need binning, and of course an ultimate engine steady is a must have...and....and...
My first mini (many, many years ago) was an 850 saloon, bought for £50 at an auction for the sole reason that it had Cooper S discs on it. It somehow had 12months MOT, clearly issued by someone with a white stick, but after putting new sills on and welding up the infamous area around the front air vents I had 12 months of pure fun. When it came to it, there was just too much work to get it through an MOT, so removed the brakes, fitted drums and put it in the paper for £50. Huge greasy biker type came and bought it. Week later, plod turn up asking if we were still the owners as it had been used as a getaway in an armed robbery! I don't think they could have put much gold bullion on what was left of the boot floor though.
Trouble with bog standard minis is that you will get the itch to modify it. Just a stage one kit perhaps to release a few ponies. And a set of decent shocks would really tighten it up. Might as well fit a set of HiLo's while your at it. And those weedy front tie rods really need binning, and of course an ultimate engine steady is a must have...and....and...
I'd rather have a crazy n/a engine though. 
Gassing Station | Classic Minis | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff