313 replies to this topic

[rimmer1993]

Hehe i cant belive this topic is still going cant keep up

[minidriverfiona]

Hoping to have a good debate here on this one...

Maybe it is just me, perhaps i'm getting old... not sure...

Why when this classic car is becoming rarer by the day do people insist on modifying it? Adding turbos and motorbike engines etc etc ? I even saw a thread on how someone actually owns an spi and wants to put an older engine in it to get the carb! ! !

Now look, I know the situation is different in the UK but here there is only a few mpi minis - prob 10 at the most in the whole country. The others - closer to a hundred maybe, are the carb versions. I know of only two vans and one MK1 in the country.

I just cannot understand why the 'young' generation is so intent on making everything go faster, louder and with bigger speakers than a concert!

This country is currently having big problems with what police have dubbed "boy racers" - packs of youths driving around with dustbin exhausts and neon lights causing chaos on the streets. Everyone is trying to be 'better' than their peer.

I know the mini genre is different, but there is still those that think putting a honda engine in a mini and driving it around makes them a classic car enthusiast.

To be honest - if I had my way, I would make insurance premuims MASSIVE for anyone that puts aftermarket non standard parts on their car.

There are actually people thick enough to cut the springs on their cars to lower them! They have no idea how unsafe they have made their vehicle, how much risk they put on others around them. Painting your car pink and putting fluffy seat covers on is one thing but cutting suspension, adding turbos to classic cars, putting motorbike engines in minis??? Its madness!!!

It appears the majority of TMF members are under 25 (from reading the post content). So I am interested in hearing about what it is that motivates the young people of today to mutilate the classic mini, making them rarer and the whole industry more expensive...

Rant over!! Note, this is not a dig - I have nothing against anyone I am mearly curious and wish to understand the subject better!!!

I'm 29 and have a modified mini. I would rather have had something original but she came up for sale already modified with 10" mambas, a fibreglass flip front and a manual engine with a stage 1 kit etc. Originally she was a city e auto. There was no point going back to orig so my brother did a fabulous job on the bodywork and we put a gorgeous black leather/green stitching in. I have no stereo, I'd rather hear the engine, and I never drive her like a loony! I would love an original mini, after all they are getting rare, although there is a 1959 original here in Orkney, it's heavenly and being looked after properly. I think if a mini is in a terrible state and has already been messed with it's fine to rescue it any way you like, but good originals should be preserved.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

i Joked.

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 23 February 2009 - 02:45 PM.

[Juju]

Does it ever ring anybody else's alarm bells when they see a car listed as "tastefully modified"? Or is that just me expecting the worstest?

[rimmer1993]

Does it ever ring anybody else's alarm bells when they see a car listed as "tastefully modified"? Or is that just me expecting the worstest?

nah im with u here! i never tend to like them when i see them either. so we are right to think this

Edited by rimmer1993, 23 February 2009 - 04:40 PM.

[Juju]

nah im with u here i never end to like them as well so we are right to think this

In what language are you writing?

[Marroon]

Hmm, the young ones are the ones keeping it going to be honest, However, it annoys me when a 14 yr old kid single handidly thinks he can sort a mini out, does some remarkable bodges and then decides it cannot be finished and sells it onto a enthusiast which has to spend ages re- welding holes, finding the filler that its being bogged up with. etc.

Im not meaning to offend anyone on the forum but, there is some of them on here.

the ones that have a underseat speaker board with 2 6x9's, 4 6x9's on the rear parcel shelf, and think that it will compete with modern cars.

I know for a fact that out of all the people in my school who chatted the usual *man danglies* about "yeah im getting a mini because its cheap insurance" didnt actualy get one and drive corsa's

Also, i think majority of kids on this forum will give up after attempting to fix 3 minis, and even if they do get a roadworthy one and drive it, theyll notice they cant keep up with there mates corsas and loose interest

[Ouster]

Modifying a mini is fun.
It gives us something to do, something to be proud of, a way of expressing our own individuality.

Ever since cars have been commonplace, they've been modified some way or the other - some keep the looks the same but go to town on the engine, and vice versa. How can that be offensive to anybody?

I've no doubt that it's that stuffy attitude that you have presented to us that keeps a lot of people away from car clubs and "the scene".

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Hmm, the young ones are the ones keeping it going to be honest, However, it annoys me when a 14 yr old kid single handidly thinks he can sort a mini out, does some remarkable bodges and then decides it cannot be finished and sells it onto a enthusiast which has to spend ages re- welding holes, finding the filler that its being bogged up with. etc.

Im not meaning to offend anyone on the forum but, there is some of them on here.

the ones that have a underseat speaker board with 2 6x9's, 4 6x9's on the rear parcel shelf, and think that it will compete with modern cars.

I know for a fact that out of all the people in my school who chatted the usual *man danglies* about "yeah im getting a mini because its cheap insurance" didnt actualy get one and drive corsa's

Also, i think majority of kids on this forum will give up after attempting to fix 3 minis, and even if they do get a roadworthy one and drive it, theyll notice they cant keep up with there mates corsas and loose interest

Alot of us Can. If we have the will-power, its a Steep learning Curve but one that i for one am prepared to take and i sure i speak for alot of us under 16's on here.

Check out Mighty-mini-Jack or Joe'ms topic for example, you call that bodging, there doing great its Inspirational.

[rimmer1993]

nah im with u here i never end to like them as well so we are right to think this

In what language are you writing?

Brokenkeyboardien

Edited by rimmer1993, 23 February 2009 - 04:41 PM.

[tomswain17]

im 16 just nearly finished restoring my car i have made slight alterations to make it look and feel more comfortable, i have also made slight alterations with the engine by ading bigger manifolds to get just a bit more power, i think there is nothing wrong with modifying your mini because they are so easy to customize and everone likes something different on them. i can understand your thoughts as they are of very rare occurance in your country and should therefore be preserved but over here i dont think its a problem....

[rimmer1993]

Hmm, the young ones are the ones keeping it going to be honest, However, it annoys me when a 14 yr old kid single handidly thinks he can sort a mini out, does some remarkable bodges and then decides it cannot be finished and sells it onto a enthusiast which has to spend ages re- welding holes, finding the filler that its being bogged up with. etc.

Im not meaning to offend anyone on the forum but, there is some of them on here.

the ones that have a underseat speaker board with 2 6x9's, 4 6x9's on the rear parcel shelf, and think that it will compete with modern cars.

I know for a fact that out of all the people in my school who chatted the usual *man danglies* about "yeah im getting a mini because its cheap insurance" didnt actualy get one and drive corsa's

Also, i think majority of kids on this forum will give up after attempting to fix 3 minis, and even if they do get a roadworthy one and drive it, theyll notice they cant keep up with there mates corsas and loose interest

Im 15 and have a project spent way over 200 on panels alone SO FAR! im not botching it and didnt get it for cheap insurance (tho it is a bonus) i bought it because i like the car and the history surrounding it and as mini mad craig sez therre are many others who are doing amazing jobs

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Yeah, as i sez

[taffy1967]

It's getting a bit out of hand here, let's change the subject..

Who likes my dog?

My misses just saw your dog and she thinks it's so cute. She was like awwwwwww look at that, for ages.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]