HELP - Advice for Buying a Mini
Discussion
Hello! - complete novice here interested in buying an older mini, however my knowledge is very limited, therefore after any advice/warnings when considering. Engine/trim/austin or rover?? Dont mind if it requires some TLC as i work for a Motor Factor. Also must be good as a day to day runner - suitable? Any help will be much appreciated, Thanks :-)
Rust is the big thing to look out for. Look EVERYWHERE for it, under carpets front and back, under the rear bench seat, in the boot around the wheel arches, sills, A panels, door bottoms, front end, scuttle, rear subframe...
Don't let mechanical/engine/electrical faults put you off as these should be easy fixes but as bodywork is tricky and expensive to sort, always buy the soundest body you can afford.
Don't let mechanical/engine/electrical faults put you off as these should be easy fixes but as bodywork is tricky and expensive to sort, always buy the soundest body you can afford.
Pooky67 said:
Rust is the big thing to look out for. Look EVERYWHERE for it, under carpets front and back, under the rear bench seat, in the boot around the wheel arches, sills, A panels, door bottoms, front end, scuttle, rear subframe.
And when you find it don't let it put you off, every Mini, without exception, rusts. It's just a matter of how bad it is.What model/year is a little bit irrelevant really. With the exception of colour, engine size/fueling and wheel size the Mini didn't change much over the years. Unless you're thinking of pick-up, van, estate, Moke etc
What's your budget and what will you be using the Mini for? Will you want to modify it? Race it? Will you work on it yourself?
What's your budget and what will you be using the Mini for? Will you want to modify it? Race it? Will you work on it yourself?
hairycarbear said:
sounds advice, what bout year/models?
I'd be looking at a mid to early 90s car, some of the later one had worse rust plus they command a much higher price for not much more in my eyes although it depends what you want I guess. In the end buying a Mini is a going to be quite a subjective purchase and the condition of the body is most important. Check front wings, check sills, wheels arches, bottom of doors, A-Panels and boot floors. Might be worth having a poke under the carpets too if you can, again, lots of Minis are sold as projects these days so it depends on how dirty you want to get. Finally, bring a magnet because shiney newly painted metal is sometimes shiney newly painted newspaper.
Personally I'm a huge fan of the 998cc Mini's
A well sorted 998 Mini with a 'stage one' kit and a propper rolling road set up is easily a match for a poor home brew 1275.
The rolling road session is expensive, I think ours cost about £180! BUT the drive home was like a different car! Before there were flat spots through the rev range and inconsistent starting etc - now even 5 years on she pulls like a train, all the way through it's entire rev range and bar a couple of dead condensers she never fails to start!
Get a decent stage one kit from Mini Sport or other such like reputable Mini expert - I started with a cheap kit that had a cheap cone filter and a 2" bore single silencer exhaust system. The noise (drone) was horrible and long journeys like London Brighton were ruined.
We're now on a nice K&N Pancake filter which fits nicer and a propper 1 7/8" twin silencer RC40 exhaust which is still 'throaty' when pushed but cruising at 60/70 is much more pleasant.
The only other thing I would say is don't be afraid of drum brakes on the front - I like 10" wheels and unless you splash out on something with 7" or 7.5" Cooper discs drums is what you will get.
Ours is driven in a spirited manor daily and I find the drums all round thing perfectly safe, keep them adjusted and serviced for trouble free stopping ( and clean wheels
)
One last thing, buy one soon! expect to get involved in servicing and repairs, enjoy the opportunity to learn lots on a very easy and cheap basis - I can only think of one part of a Mini that can't be stripped, serviced and put back for further reliable use (bulk head mounted brake bias valve thingy?)
You'll never look back and this will probably be the most fun you will ever have with your clothes on!!!
A well sorted 998 Mini with a 'stage one' kit and a propper rolling road set up is easily a match for a poor home brew 1275.
The rolling road session is expensive, I think ours cost about £180! BUT the drive home was like a different car! Before there were flat spots through the rev range and inconsistent starting etc - now even 5 years on she pulls like a train, all the way through it's entire rev range and bar a couple of dead condensers she never fails to start!
Get a decent stage one kit from Mini Sport or other such like reputable Mini expert - I started with a cheap kit that had a cheap cone filter and a 2" bore single silencer exhaust system. The noise (drone) was horrible and long journeys like London Brighton were ruined.
We're now on a nice K&N Pancake filter which fits nicer and a propper 1 7/8" twin silencer RC40 exhaust which is still 'throaty' when pushed but cruising at 60/70 is much more pleasant.
The only other thing I would say is don't be afraid of drum brakes on the front - I like 10" wheels and unless you splash out on something with 7" or 7.5" Cooper discs drums is what you will get.
Ours is driven in a spirited manor daily and I find the drums all round thing perfectly safe, keep them adjusted and serviced for trouble free stopping ( and clean wheels
)One last thing, buy one soon! expect to get involved in servicing and repairs, enjoy the opportunity to learn lots on a very easy and cheap basis - I can only think of one part of a Mini that can't be stripped, serviced and put back for further reliable use (bulk head mounted brake bias valve thingy?)
You'll never look back and this will probably be the most fun you will ever have with your clothes on!!!
thanks a bunch, they do sound like so much fun! I've got a local mini specialist that i actually deliver to and he's offered to take me out for a drive etc whenever im free! Im loving the appeal of ripping modern cars in my wee mini and the fact the seem back to basics with driving and not bogged down in modern tech and gizmos!
thanks a bunch, they do sound like so much fun! I've got a local mini specialist that i actually deliver to and he's offered to take me out for a drive etc whenever im free! Im loving the appeal of ripping modern cars in my wee mini and the fact the seem back to basics with driving and not bogged down in modern tech and gizmos!
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