Mini for my Daughter

[velocemitch]

No not a Skirt....
My 17 year old is wanting to replace her unreliable.. (for her as she can't start the thing!!) Morris Minor with a Mini. So sorry if this is covering old ground but can I have a few thoughts on this from you guys.
I need something cheap to insure, so no engine mods, might go on a classic's policy??.
I dont want to spend all my weekends welding up a rust bucket... I run a 1960's Alfa so I get enough of that anyway!
As I am paying for the thing, I might want to get some fun out of it myself, entering the odd road rally or navigational scatter in it. If it was pre 81 it would get me into Historic classes, but this is't vital.

I suppose my main question is, what are the later one's like compared to the earlier ones, did they cure the rust problems?, what were the injection engines like?, did they put decent brakes on them in the end??.

The budget isn't particularly large, I know I could get a very decent alternative hatch (Saxo, 106 etc etc) for a grand, so I need some convincing that a Mini is a good idea, there seems to be a premium to pay.

[casbar]

I've had 5 or Minis over the year. Bought a 89 Mini Mayfair for my 17 year old son. He has had it a year or so now, and I have now fitted a stage 1 kit to the car. The insurance is around £645 for my son with a years no claims and me as a named driver.

Yes they still rust, his needs new door skins, and I do have to do a certain ammount of spannering. They do need greasing and regular oil changes.

Only mechanical problem in some 25k miles so far has been ignition, which I sorted by fitting an electronic ignition pack and binned the points. He loves the car and wouldn't want anything else at the moment, his mates all want minis now.

The car has discs all around, so brakes are ok. But it is a mini, and 18 years old..

[Goldeeno]

May i surrgest if its for your daughter, either getting a SPI or MPI mini. At the end of the day, the carb ones can be a little tempremental. If you find a Mini Equinox, shes be getting a cool half leather interior, and a 1275 spi... so it starts first time .

[Cooper1999]

[did they cure the rust problems?]

Ha, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha etc etc etc

what were the injection engines like? Pretty good for my MPi - you can still fix it cause it's fairly old tech but there are a few things you need to know to check (especially on the SPi?)

did they put decent brakes on them in the end??. Yes, but just like the old days you need to make sure the handbrakes correctly adjusted.

there seems to be a premium to pay. I'd agree here - you can't get the £100 mini anymore. But on the plus side, get a good SPi, MPi and you shouldn't lose money too quickly (if at all?) either.

Good luck in your quest!

Edited by Cooper1999 on Monday 21st January 16:27

[velocemitch]

Can somebody point me to a buyers guide which goes through which models are which, which are SPi and Mpi, which are still on carbs etc..

[Cooper1999]

There's a buyers guide available from the Mini Cooper Register (check their website), and I think a buyers guide free on the minifinity website. They don't go through the model range, but should give you some idea!

[Cooperman]

A few thoughts if I may.

1. A 998 might be the best bet in view of insurance for a 17-year old.
2. A good 1986 to 1989 Mayfair is a nice car to own and there are some excellent restored rust-free ones for sensible prices. Just make sure that the claimed work really has been done properly.
3, Some nice discreet engine mods can give you up to about 60 bhp with nice driving characteristics. Basically a slightly better cam, a decent head with 10:1 comp ratio, and a few other tweeks work very well.
4. The 998 is a lovely and smooth engine compared to the 1275 and it's more econimical as well.

I hope this helps you in finding the right car for the young lady.