kieren1234 Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I want to buy an old mini but have no idea what to look for. I took SteveSpedd on the forum to pick his up today and it is an absolute stunner. Im sure he will post about it soon. I ideally dont want to spend over £500 and would like one as tidy as possible (Steve spend £800 and its a minter). Anyone know of any for sale and what i need to look out for also?? Any help appreciated (as long as it is related to my search for the mini, no sarcastic comments please :D) Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I want to buy an old mini but have no idea what to look for. This should help. no sarcastic comments please :D) Thanks.OOPS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juanchan Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 This should help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flukey-lukey Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Check the floor for rust... window seals for leaking. My first car was a mimi and I used to get a puddle (and I mean an actual puddle) in the passanger footwell due to the damn thing leaking. great fun cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Rust, more rust and maybe some rust. Also be aware that you could find some rust. I'd like a mini one day as the parts are dirt cheap and can be quite fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 £500 for an old mini will get you an absolute dog, unless someone does not know the value of them. For a car like a mini I would increase your budget, but even then you may buy a car that has lost the battle with rust. Rear subframes is one of the first things to go on a mini. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboBrett Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 hi mate ... good choice i have an ex drag mini aswell as the supe(ex because i melted the pistons ) i have an uber knowledge:sly: of there mechanics and i am local (ish) to you so if you need a hand when searching i would recomend 84-87 (iirc) because this is when it was most revised mechanicaly before rover, rover used bad quality metals not resulting in bad mini's but it made the rusting worse (if thats possible:blink:) an average 86 mini will have loads less rust than a 1994+ mini;) but on the other hand spi/mpi (fuel injected mini's) are good mini's mechanicaly (still the rover body tho) no where near as tuneable about 100bhp max on stock fueling. if you get a totaly standard mini (doubt it) there are very simple mods: manifold, filter bits and bobs like that known as a stage 1 this brings about 20%hp gains (proven) over standard and these are bellow the £150 mark parts as you say are easy and cheap to work with but the body work need doing its going in to the hundreds ££££ (if they look as if need a bit, they will need alot more:rolleyes:)) any way i must stop waffling because i could talk about em all day:d p.s if ur looking for shows my faves : *drag wars mini vs beetle, about easter(york usualy) *MITP (the biggest) usaly 3rd sunday august(allover but mainly oxfordshire at the pod last year hense the melted-nes of mine ) *drag wars may 4/5 ish sunday closest usualy, this is where all the biggies go and all the most powerful a seriesed ,mini's go Awsome!! anyways:) btw at £800 your mate got a rite bargan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flukey-lukey Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I went to MITP when I was 15 with my dad. It was in Oxford or somewhere like that. Fun weekend! and picked up loads of cheap bits! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 Thanks for the info. I have always wanted one and just want one now for a little run around, cheap insurance, tax, fuel etc etc. I will check out auto trader and ebay and hope i can get one. I have a good friend that works in car bodywork and paint spraying so the body could be sorted very cheaply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve spedd Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Good look mate! hope you find one.... Got the internet back up i see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboBrett Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 just thought, when on a test drive you wanna be on the gas then break and gas again, in say 2nd gear if it pulls you around from the rear walk away at best it could be a well rusted rear subby at worst the subby could be no-longer mounted:Pling:, *if its all over the road from the front it will be the ball joints not big job, *if it pull to one side breaks (front) *and wiggle the stearing wheel when your not moving not violently, there should not be any loud creaks and not loads of body flex(there will be a slight amount) or the front subby mounts are on there way out/or gone:) and DONT use sinthetic oil:d if u still want a gear box:eyebrows: get your self down to local wh smiths and but a mini mag/ or mini world that will be the best place to look as it will (more likely) have been looked after good look pal:cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superpaulwilson Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 It's been said but you ain't gonna get owt but a rust pile for £500. This was my mini, a bit of a limp wristed colour but great fun. I had replaced the engine with the newer 1.3 for a bit more go and would advise this is the way to go. Sold it 3years ago for £2995. And it was mint, no rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 I just want an old banger for the £500. Im sure my friend can sort it out body work wise so as long as it is mechanically ok then thats fine with me.Anyone know of any for sale??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flukey-lukey Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I just want an old banger for the £500. Im sure my friend can sort it out body work wise so as long as it is mechanically ok then thats fine with me.Anyone know of any for sale??? Yeh my old one is in my sisters back garden on its side... I decided to knock the back of her garage through and freeroll it into the back garden (down a big ledge) Then we decided it would be a better ornament on its side, so tipped it up! She keeps nagging me to go round with an angle grinder and chop it into bits... poor old mini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted December 2, 2007 Author Share Posted December 2, 2007 Does it not work then?? why not restore it?? And then sell it to me for £500 ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flukey-lukey Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 Ha you've got to be joking! It ended up there because of the amount of rust on it...also the fact that the gearbox got stuck in reverse RIP Herby the mini xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieren1234 Posted December 3, 2007 Author Share Posted December 3, 2007 HAHA, is a shame. Well the search is still on!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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