SWMBO has finally decided to give up her aversion of driving - (it's only lasted since 1993) and let me buy her a mini - not the bmw type btw.
I've had a look on e-bay and the usual sites - question is will £2k get me a half decent runner and what in particular (like what's a rusty sub frame please) should I be looking out for?
One more thing, she insists on an auto - any BR's have experience of these?
Thanks
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Not sure about pricing now. Ran a few in the eighties, they're great fun cars but a challenging proposition these days as everyday transport. The auto was even more like a dodgem then the manual. Local garage (John's Motors Northampton The Forge Garage, Fosters Booth, Nr. Towcester, Northants. Tel: 01327 831191) had one on the forecourt a couple of weeks ago. No connection with this company I just pass their site regularly. Mods can remove if details if they prefer.
Rear sub frame was the mini's achilles heel. Look under the back and you cannot miss it. Basically it's a mild steel frame full of rust traps which supports the rear wheels, suspension etc. The sub frame is in turn bolted to the body and is a regular so and so to remove and replace. It can rust anywhere but the hidden vertical bits down either side were the worst places. I'm sure later models were better but a stuffed rsf was not uncommon on a five yr old car in 1982.
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I don't think any autobox "old" minis were ever made post 1990, hence they will be as rare as the proverbial rocking horse droppings....
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The item referred to above is of that sort of vintage.
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Thanks for your advice people - so what you are saying is £2k gets me a 1990 or earlier auto - but be prepared to replace the subframe, is that right though - no autos post 1990?
Cheers
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In any case, the advice is wrong as autos were made up until 1995. They are pretty rare though, as by then old ladies were buying Metros, both the Mini and the autobox were out of date and sold mainly as Coopers and cute special editions, which were manual only.
That said, to get a good, mint car for £2k you may have to look pre-1990 and by then it's an old car for everyday use as Mini prices are very firm, especially for anything with an interesting specification in excellent condition.
It is possible to use a Mini as an everyday car - a friend of mine did it for a few months 2 years ago, selling it on at a profit - but there are lots of compromises for the cuteness. There's no folding rear seat, the ride is harsh, the boot is tiny, the back seats inaccessible, the safety minimal - though the performance is not dreadful and the handling is superb.
Make sure you can live with one before you buy one though; my parents bought a Mini in 1982 and my father ended up driving it because my mother couldn't live with the compromises inherent in an old design compared to their 'modern' car - a Mk 2 Escort.
(Despite that I consider myself a Mini enthusiast, I just couldn't have one as my main means of transport).
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I'll probably get pilloried, but what about a Fiat Cinquecento?
The 1.1 Sporting version, like the Mini can slip into gaps no others could touch, but is much nippier than the smaller engined versions.
£2k will buy at least a 1996 or 1997 version. They were built at Fiat's Polish factory and build quality was reasonable whilst, as a six footer, I could sit in the back quite comfortably.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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£2k should buy a Seicento Sporting of 00/01 vintage, never mind a Cinquecento, which should all be be sub £1k unless immaculate/rare for some reason.
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Paul's missus needs an antomatic - did Fiat make Cinque- / Seicento automatics, and if so could they pull the skin off the proverbial rice pudding?
If you can't find a Mini automatic, maybe a Nissan Micra would be worth a look, age depending on your budget. I think they've come as autos for some time but I may be wrong.
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The Mini autobox was rather dreadful - made by AP in Leamington. I think it was produced right up to about year 2000 (for use in the Metro). I would guess most had problems during their warranty period and probably few made it to 50k miles. It used engine oil instead of ATF (quite an achievement) - ideally the oil and filter should be changed every 1000 miles if you want the transmission to keep working.
If you want a reliable small auto then consider a mid-90's Toyota Corolla. An automatic Mini would be an interesting automotive curiosity, but not a reliable means of transport.
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You can buy a post 1990 mini for less than £2k, but certainly not from a garage, and it will more than likely have a bit of rust here and there. Having said that they are pretty easy to fix, and I have always found parts are easy to get hold of both for my 1980 and 1992 versions. Subframes are prone to rust but you can pick up a decent replacement one for up to £100 and they arent that hard to fit yourself.
I suppose it depends on what you want out of a car - if you just want a run around then they are brilliant, I know of several people who use their Mini everyday including one or two old automatics. However, if you want to stuff it full of passengers & shopping then it can be a bit limited.
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D reg only 5,000 (NOT MIS-TYPE) miles, for £3295 if I recall - local dealer here, if you're nearby Herts/Beds.
Assuming it to be as 'good' as you'd expect, mail me if you want more info & I'll make enquires,
vansboy@onetel.com
I'd rather have the Fiat mentioned above!!
VB
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Vansboy
Thanks for the offer - however can't stretch to that amount at the moment. Car would be used on a 14 mile round trip everyday. Thanks for all the other thoughts on Fiats, Micras as well - - however it has to be a mini, a mini or a mini!!
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14 mile round trip every day?
Has your wife driven a MIni every day? Or for 14 miles at a go.
The driving position can be very uncomfortable - offest pedals, lack of headroom.
If she has no back problems now, she could expect some if she drives one for 2 years like that. If she has a back problem, then a Mini should be her last choice of car.
Getting in is bad enough, getting out with a sore back is MUCH worse.
Shopping? Twisting with a load to place in the back seat? (the boot is of course useless) Twisting with a load to remove from the back seat is even worse.
(We had a succession of Mini estates which got round that problem.)
Never again would I drive a Mini for the above reasons.
As for rust and servicing? Unacceptable today. Bad enough 20 years ago.
madf
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Why dont you buy a cheap one with a few months on the MOT? That way she can have a drive round and see if she likes the feel of a Mini before you go and pay out £2k plus.
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Paying £2k for a Mini seems crazy to me. OK if you want to fettle it as a 'classic car' and take it out on sunny weekends - but as a day to day car? No way! If nothing else just think about the lack of safety features......
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This is a car bought with heart not head - agree with you all about nearly 50 year old design - and lack of safety features - however the only car she is willing to try out again is a mini. She learned to drive in one and thus the reason for wanting one again.
Good idea about getting one for a few hundred quid and seeing what will happen - gives me enough time to convince her that in the scheme of things they're is a lot better stuff out there.
As for risk - the freedom this will provide from Thamesdown transport she believes is worth it....
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