63 replies to this topic

[monster]

I own a 1964 austin mini with 1400cc engine and a 2002 Bini one. The 1964 austin was my daily driver but I got the Bini because my mk1 just wasn't reliable enough, I used to start work at 6am and it didn't like the cold. I went for the Bini in the end because it is a reliable car, I have had it 6 years from new and it starts 1st time every time and if my mk1 wasn't running for some reason and there was a show to go to I could still go in the Bini as my club is Bini friendly.

[MGMT]

they are too small for use as a family car.

Snap. hence the Golf

Sometimes I look at the golf and think that to is too small, Would be tempted by a Bora TDi though.


Would have maybe considered the Bini Clubman if BMW hadn't made it so damn ugly.

thats like saying "well I would rather have a Ferrari if there wasnt such a big price tag" .......

[Shifty]

they are too small for use as a family car.

Snap. hence the Golf

Sometimes I look at the golf and think that to is too small, Would be tempted by a Bora TDi though.


Would have maybe considered the Bini Clubman if BMW hadn't made it so damn ugly.

I thought the same myself, so I've just bought a 130bhp golf tdi se 6 speed estate!!

I did consider a Bora as well


(Didn't even consider a bini clubman though!!)

[BoboGib]

they are too small for use as a family car.

Snap. hence the Golf

Sometimes I look at the golf and think that to is too small, Would be tempted by a Bora TDi though.


Would have maybe considered the Bini Clubman if BMW hadn't made it so damn ugly.

thats like saying "well I would rather have a Ferrari if there wasnt such a big price tag" .......

maybe, but if I ahve to drive a car i'd like to be able to say I like the way it looks. Otherwise whats the point in buying it. I like the MINI hatch, the convertable is ok but I don't think the Clubman looks right, plus its got impracical doors, to get to the rear the only door opens into UK traffic and it was designed as a left hand drive car and it worked out too expensice to make 2 body shells for it. Not too good for a car your hopefully going to be getiing a baby in and out of.

[mab01uk]

hey everyone, just wondering is there many people out there who own both a mini and a MINI??

if so what was the reason for the second car you chose??
did you start with the real macoy the get a bmw model to keep you pride safe through the poor weather??
maybe you got the bmw version 1st the through shows etc developed an interest in the mini too??



i own a 2001 rover cooper sports pack with the JCW 90BHP kit and £13,000 of other mods
now a 1430cc!!
and my day to day drive is a 230bhp 52 plate R53 cooper S


i'm not interested in hate mail to the bmw, just interessted to hear from like minded people thanks

Owned both a Classic Mini and new MINI for last 3 years, before that always had at least one modified Mini (+ a family sized car) since the mid 1970's when I bought my first '65 850 for £100 and helped my brothers build championship winning race Mini Sevens and Miglias up until quite recently.
Bought a 2002 MINI One 3 years ago to stop my restored classic rusting in winter and was amazed how much of the original Mini fun, character and handling DNA has been carried over to the new car....................been trying to convince the unbelievers in the classic Mini world ever since and also learning how to mod and tweak the new MINI.

Things on my new MINI which remind me of my classic Mini:

Hard, bumpy ride
Brilliant cornering, grip and handling
Go-Kart feel steering
Up-right windscreen
Large centre speedo
Proper Chrome door handles
The growing range of tuning mods and accesories available
The friendly & helpful MINI community and enthusiasts
Ocassional failures on early MINI's, especially the Rover parts!

Edited by mab01uk, 29 December 2008 - 10:43 AM.

[Southy]

Ive just done a terrbile thing people, ive actually admitted to the other half that since working on her car and spending more time in it recently ive actually grown to like the new MINI's a lot more than i originally did do and ive also said that i would like to buy one.
Dont get me wrong i liked the car before hand, but i didnt think it was a Mini as such with it being such a large car in comparrison to the original but its all due to having to fit the new safety devices which makes the modern cars so much larger than all them years ago.
There is just little bits on the modern ones which when i think about it reminds me so much of the classic, just off the top of my head is the ride comfort, i was very surprised the first time i went out in one to see that the ride was a little bumpy even on standard suspension when i thought it would be a nice smooth ride like modern BMW's.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

It just isnt There with BMW minis though. After going on the bluewater run today im obviously all hyped up about classics again, it brings the magic back, we were driving past bini owners and they wernt waving or paying attetion to the Real minis at all, but with classics everyones waving and going nuts, binis will neveer be like that, although, i do still love them as a new car!!!

[Git]

thats like saying "well I would rather have a Ferrari if there wasnt such a big price tag" .......

Err...? how did you work THAT out?

[Black.Ghost]

I never really thought about a Mini to be honest...until my mate suggested it. I had a drive in one and that was it - me hooked. I wont go back now.

In addition, another mate of mine bought a MINI One last year and it is quite a good car.

Im going to live in Germany for a couple of years and would have had the opportunity to buy a new car tax free. I have thought long and hard about a Cooper S or the new JCW version, but instead I have decided to invest the money in another classic (with a fast road engine). That is simply because the new classic will be somewhat cheaper. Im not going to rule out buying a MINI one day though. Maybe if i end up having a kid, although I can't imagine it will be the most practicle. I think the best way is to find a nice girl with a MINI.....

This is an interesting subject though. Nurseholiday, good post. I can see the attractions of almost all types of car to be honest....it all comes down to personal taste. Which is good - it would be boring if everyone was the same.

Edited by TneMini, 28 December 2008 - 10:04 PM.

[neilmorgan]

I had a real shock when I saw the difference in size between Mini & MINI.

But why didn't they call the new range Midi and keep everyone happy?

[Andy Simpson]

I have driven Minis for 20 years, my most recent Mini was a 1998 Cooper Sports Le.

After 105,000 miles I thought it was time to retire it to a classic car policy

We bought an S-Type Jag 3.0 sport (don't ask it made sense at the time).

We finally got sense and after 10 months we changed it to a 2005 Cooper S (R53)

We love it to bits, its a hoot to drive wish I'd got one years ago


The Cooper Sports Le




The Cooper S

[robtheplod]

I'd go for a Seat Leon FR as my other car if I needed one, and not a BMW mini. Reasons being I don't consider the BMW Mini to have any practical benefit over my current Mini - I'd need more space if I had another car and although the BMW is bigger, there's not much of that available as room inside.

I don't consider the BMW Mini to be a Mini at all - it just unfortunately has that name printed on it.

I'd go for the Seat over a Golf as it's pretty much the same car, just a few grand cheaper.... (and looks better!)

[OJM]

I've always had an interest in owning a classic Mini, but never had the mechanical knowledge to keep it running etc. However, when I met my fiancé four years ago, she'd always wanted a classic Mini as her first car.

Last year I was in line to get a new car, and after walking around a car supermarket, she convinced me to have a go in a MINI - It had to be a Cooper S, which I took for a spin and fell in love with. Couple of weeks / months later, after looking at god knows how many to find one with the right spec, I eventually found and purchased one...it didn't stay standard for long, and I've still got the modding bug.

When my fiancé decided to start learning to drive, she was quick to locate some classics to look at - I was a bit wary, as I didn't want it to cost her a fortune to keep running (ie, in and out of garages). However, after test driving one for her, I fell in love for the third time! We found Monty, the Monte Carlo, and purchased him soon afterwards.

Within the first week he was having issues, and we felt like it was a bit of a kick in the throat - considering both sides of our families tried to convince us not to buy one, due to what's involved in keeping it running etc. After many hours and weekends of trying to locate the issue, Monty was back to full health, and considering I didn't have a clue about mechanics, I was feeling smug that I had eventually sorted his little issue (admittedly with the help of a couple of people on TMF)!

Now I'm spending near enough every weekend, either replacing / tinkering bits on Monty, or tweaking bits here and there on Vinnie, my 2003 Cooper S.

Both cars have got us involved in many Mini and MINI events, and we wouldn't dream of being without either now!

[cooperchick]

My 1st car was a 1275GT and I loved it, but sadly it had to go when the family arrived! I spent years driving family saloons always wanting another mini and on more than one occassion my husband would buy a 50 quid barely road legal one for me but I kept comparing them to the GT so they'd be gone in a flash. I loved the look of the BMW Mini when it came out and I bought a Cooper, I loved it so much and thought that my love for the classic had gone for good. I even took my Bini to the L2B, what a mistake!!! The hassle you get for driving them, I didnt realise how loathed they were by classic mini owners. It didnt stop me loving the BMW though but the running costs just got too much so I sold it and got a Peugeot. Then last year someone I know offered me a mini 35!! As soon as I got in it I was in love again, the driving position, the smell, the handling, everything!!! My daughter is learning to drive in her and as a result she now owns a Mini Equinox that she also adores and only yesterday we bought our 15 year old son a Mini city E restoration project for him to get on the road in time for him to drive. Still love the BMW Minis though but they just aint the same

[OJM]

I even took my Bini to the L2B, what a mistake!!! The hassle you get for driving them, I didnt realise how loathed they were by classic mini owners.

It really is crap when people have to be like that. I've even heard of BMW MINIs being scratched and damaged by classic owners at shows etc.