Purchasing advice for non petrolhead Mini newbie.
Discussion
I admire Minis, but am innocent of their little ways. As designated Petrolhead Friend Without Benefits for a certain yummy mummy of my acquaintance, I have been tasked with finding her a cheapish Mini to run as a daily jalopy in town. She is not a petrolhead and would probably balk at a yarmouth that feels too much like an old car.
My advice to her so far is that she ought to spend at least £3,000 for a decent car, and that she should concentrate on Rover models from the late 1980s or the 1990s. I have offered to come with her to poke any possible purchase with a pointy stick and ask pseudo-knowledgeable questions.
Having said that, I wonder if the jury has any opinions on the 1989 fakeycoop on carand classic (apart from the risk of looking like Ms BNP nutter whilst driving it - but I think that the fab groovy chick Carnaby Street element defuses that risk).
Mods, I hope that it is OK to post a link to the car advert here, but please squish it if not.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C208682/
My advice to her so far is that she ought to spend at least £3,000 for a decent car, and that she should concentrate on Rover models from the late 1980s or the 1990s. I have offered to come with her to poke any possible purchase with a pointy stick and ask pseudo-knowledgeable questions.
Having said that, I wonder if the jury has any opinions on the 1989 fakeycoop on carand classic (apart from the risk of looking like Ms BNP nutter whilst driving it - but I think that the fab groovy chick Carnaby Street element defuses that risk).
Mods, I hope that it is OK to post a link to the car advert here, but please squish it if not.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C208682/
With minis on the hole you have to see the car in real life to say if it is any good. I would wonder what has been done if it's 1340cc. Has the work been done properly and is insurance going to be a problem.
All ways with minis the big problem is rust. Check the hole car lift carpets and have a good look on the under side.
Check all the history, has all the grase points been done etc. Also check all the electrics work ok.
Have fun.
All ways with minis the big problem is rust. Check the hole car lift carpets and have a good look on the under side.
Check all the history, has all the grase points been done etc. Also check all the electrics work ok.
Have fun.
I wonder where they get 1340 cc from. At +0.060" over bore it would be 1330 cc.
Price looks too low to be a real bargain, so what is it hiding? Probably rust, rust & more rust!
The problem with the Rover ones from around 1988 to the end of production is the rust on the screen scuttle and lower inner dash rail. I've just rebuilt a 1997 Cooper which needed front panel, both front wings, screen scuttle and lower screen rail, both A-panels (that's the triangular panel in front of the doors), inner wing repairs, inner & outer sills, one complete door skin, door step repair on one side. All that then, of course, a full e-paint. And this car had 6 months to run on its MoT when we bought it.
You would be srongly advised to take a Mini expert with you when viewing as it's easy to buy a rust-bucket.
Price looks too low to be a real bargain, so what is it hiding? Probably rust, rust & more rust!
The problem with the Rover ones from around 1988 to the end of production is the rust on the screen scuttle and lower inner dash rail. I've just rebuilt a 1997 Cooper which needed front panel, both front wings, screen scuttle and lower screen rail, both A-panels (that's the triangular panel in front of the doors), inner wing repairs, inner & outer sills, one complete door skin, door step repair on one side. All that then, of course, a full e-paint. And this car had 6 months to run on its MoT when we bought it.
You would be srongly advised to take a Mini expert with you when viewing as it's easy to buy a rust-bucket.
Thank you for your helpful replies. It is interesting to note how significant rust can be even for cars built in the 90s, by which time rust proofing on most Euroboxes had given them a long life. I expect any steel car of any make from before about 1980 to be prone to rust (I own three pre 1980 cars, although one is fibreglass, so I know about the endless battle with oxygen), but it appears that, along with classic character, the later Minis preserved that less desirable aspect of the classic car.
Breadvan, your observations are certainly correct.
Even after 40 years of production, rustproofing was
somewhat haphazard, as can be seen from the underside
of my car which was produced in April 2000.
It seems that the man applying the uderseal regularly
went for a fag break as the cars passed down the line
Good luck in your search,
Typhoo
Even after 40 years of production, rustproofing was
somewhat haphazard, as can be seen from the underside
of my car which was produced in April 2000.
It seems that the man applying the uderseal regularly
went for a fag break as the cars passed down the line
Good luck in your search,
Typhoo
as a rule of thumb, anything made after 1990 rusts lots, anything after 1996 rusts like crazy!
the earlier cars are certainly a lot better.
up until about three years ago i had never seen a mini with a current mot that needed an inner dash panel - it now seems that just about post 1996 car needs one when the poor owner takes the screen out to sort the rot on the outer panel.
any novice buying a mini, should buy it only on the condition of the body - this is what costs the serious money to fix on a road car - engines are (fairly) cheap, the rest is just trinkets that can be fixed whilst the car is used.
its not uncommon now to see bodyshop bills for 2500quid just to 'make good' a tiny bit of visible rust around the the front.
ive seen a few shockers recently!
the earlier cars are certainly a lot better.
up until about three years ago i had never seen a mini with a current mot that needed an inner dash panel - it now seems that just about post 1996 car needs one when the poor owner takes the screen out to sort the rot on the outer panel.
any novice buying a mini, should buy it only on the condition of the body - this is what costs the serious money to fix on a road car - engines are (fairly) cheap, the rest is just trinkets that can be fixed whilst the car is used.
its not uncommon now to see bodyshop bills for 2500quid just to 'make good' a tiny bit of visible rust around the the front.
ive seen a few shockers recently!
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