Mad to buy a mini?

jeffontour

Hi all,

situation is as follows. Looking at buying my first car(I'm 30 btw so not a boy racer) and don't fancy anything contemporary, well at least I'm not willling to spend the money on what I think is nice. Have always loved minis and am seriously thinking of getting one. Thinking of spending around 4K, hoping for a copper, around the early 90s I reckon.

My main questions are as follows..

A:Will I get a reasonable car for this amount of money(bear in mind I've a contact to bring one in from UK/North who has done well for friends in recent times)

B:Am I mad to go for an older car as my first?

Any advice appreciated.

Jeff

Owen

It depends on what you're after. My advice is to start with the clubs and get some advice from people who run them on a day to day basis. There's a good forum linked in my signature, pop in, and ask around. You'd be more than welcome.

jeffontour

Cheers Ned, will do.

rockandrolldamn

Mini Makes a great first classic, Simple to maintain, fun to drive, watch for rust particularly in a Nordy/UK car Check under the car, wings, bottom of doors boot floor crossmember (Under front seats) and the front and rear subframes, dont wory to much if it leaks oil, they all do!, I have one for sale but its a incomplete project with a MG Metro Engine and a set of MK 1 Cooper Seats in Red

kikel

It is my sisters first car. it's a '97. She got it in June. She learnt to drive in it. (and she's useless, even she admits that) She loves it to bits. If you like it. Buy it.

davidclayton

great little car that will teach you more about driving than any other. you can feel and hear everything that is going on with the mechanics, grip and suspension.

not ideal if you will be doing high milage [for comfort] and not ideal if it is your only way of getting to work, as one for under €4k will not be 100% reliable.

they are fun and make you feel like you are going 90, when you're only doing 30! parts are so cheap it aint funny. the ultimate car to customise with hundreds of add-ons. go for the 1275 if possible.

jeffontour

Thanks to one and all for the feedback.

I will not be using it to drive to work on a daily basis and my trip is only 3km anyhow. At weekends will be doing a trip out home of maybe 30km and maybe every month or so a trip down the country. I don't think I'd be doing much more than 5k a year, of course that will probably change as soon as I buy the thing and become addicted to it!

I reckon I'm definitely going for one, just have to find one now!

Alfasudcrazy

I was tempted by this one on Ebay - always loved the mini clubman. But I think that starting bid is too high - and having been in contact with the owner he is unwilling to accept anything less.
Given that I am also considering a mint Alfa GTV6 at £2,000 sterling the mini just does not make sense. :rolleyes:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1979-AUSTIN-MORRIS-MINI-1275-GT-RED_W0QQitemZ230036113140QQihZ013QQcategoryZ29753QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

TigerTim

Starting bid is definitely too high given the amount of rust in the photos. From my experience with Minis, its always about 100 times worse than it looks in a photo. Great fun to drive though - like a big go-cart & all panels are available - even replacement shells at a price!!. I competed it Autotests for years with a Clubman so I also have a soft spot for them.

T.