Mini for a daily driver?

PLUG71

Hi I am thinking off buying a fully restored Mini Cooper 1993.

Now I know some people would hang me for this but here goes!

Would the car be ok to use during the winter months?

Or would the weather compromise the car?

I viewed this car a few days back and fell in love with it!

However I have a limited budget and would need to use it for seven days a month when I am on a day shift as the family slogger is needed by my partner!

sogood

It depends upon to what extent it has been "fully restored". A full nut and bolt restoration can leave a car as good as a new one, with many new parts fitted etc. along with upgrades and the like.

A 93 car will be a little bit simpler in it's mechanics than most present day cars, so the occasional breakdown can usually be fixed more easily, even at the side of the road. Modern cars are filled with computers etc. and if something dies, then it usually means specialist diagnostics and a costly replacement of components.

Get a knowledgeable mechanic to give the car a good once over, well worth the money and get a detailed list of what restoration was actually done. The biggest issue can be rust, which can easily be disguised in the short term, only to rear its' ugly and persistent head again in the future.

Does the car have a current NCT and for how long?

Love is blind, so stand back and try to let your head rule, rather than your heart.

Having said that, many people use cars this old as their daily drivers and my car is a 1996, which I use lots, everywhere, all the time!

Best of luck with it and finally, is the car advertised anywhere and do you have a link to the ad?

Keep us posted.

alastair

A 1993 car isn't going to pose any difficulties as a daily driver. It's only a wet day old!

I had a small '91 car as a daily driver until it was stolen a couple of years back. Bit of rust needed to be sorted in the sills at one point, otherwise no problems.

PLUG71

sogood wrote: »

It depends upon to what extent it has been "fully restored". A full nut and bolt restoration can leave a car as good as a new one, with many new parts fitted etc. along with upgrades and the like.

A 93 car will be a little bit simpler in it's mechanics than most present day cars, so the occasional breakdown can usually be fixed more easily, even at the side of the road. Modern cars are filled with computers etc. and if something dies, then it usually means specialist diagnostics and a costly replacement of components.

Get a knowledgeable mechanic to give the car a good once over, well worth the money and get a detailed list of what restoration was actually done. The biggest issue can be rust, which can easily be disguised in the short term, only to rear its' ugly and persistent head again in the future.

Does the car have a current NCT and for how long?

Love is blind, so stand back and try to let your head rule, rather than your heart.

Having said that, many people use cars this old as their daily drivers and my car is a 1996, which I use lots, everywhere, all the time!

Best of luck with it and finally, is the car advertised anywhere and do you have a link to the ad?

Keep us posted.

Hi the link :- http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/mini-cooper-1-3i/7636538


Its had new sills and a boot floor.
A repair to the bulkhead (small plate).
Floor pan is undersealed.
The car was stripped down to bare metal and resprayed by Sheridan Gilmartin in Ballina.
Sheridan is beyond good and has carried out many nut and bolt restorations on some serious cars.

The engine has been rebuilt standard spec.
Brakes,suspention,exhaust,wheels,interior,bright work,fuse box and numerous other under bonnet parts all replaced.

Im going to spend longer viewing it, but fingers crossed it will be a purchase.

Thanks for your input!

PLUG71

Thanks for all the comments and advice guys!

macplaxton

Not to rain on your parade, but I hope you have billiard table smooth roads in your neck of the woods. Just the thought of 175/50 13 on a Mini would give me backache.

The other thing I remember about "Sportpack" 6x13 rims when these were new (apart from bigger turning circle) was that it knocked 6mph off the top speed.

A bit too "Carlos Fandango" if you ask me.