29 replies to this topic

[GusRox]

Not a technical thread about what failed, but it would be interesting to see what people think about when is the time to continue with your Mini, and when to give up.

On ebay, you see loads of Mini's parted out which I think is really sad, with one less Mini on the road. So when you have a big MOT fail, where do you draw the line?

Our Gus has just failed on some structural stuff which is going to be a big job and pricey - have you ever been in that situation and what did you do?

Just interested to see what others have done in the same situation.

[MaxAndPaddy]

Part of owning a Mini is never giving up and having no idea where the line even is (probably hidden under old piles of rust)

[ShoutforJoy]

I was in a similar position once. Had a fail list as long as my arm with some structural stuff and plenty of welding. As I couldn't weld myself was looking at £1k+ for the repairs.

I flogged the mini as a project on eBay, being very careful to list all the fails/faults, and still got £400 for it. It's back on the road now. Then I bought another with loads of MOT and only a few minor faults (that I could fix up cheaply myself) for £900.

Most people don't have bottom-less pits of cash and there does sometimes come a point when you have to realise that the best and most cash-efficient thing to do is pass on your pride and joy to sometime who can sort it properly and transfer your affections (and wallet) to another.

I do understand that you get more by breaking it but personally I'd never break one as I do like to see as many Minis as possible kept on the road.

Edited by ShoutforJoy, 10 August 2011 - 10:17 AM.

[MaxAndPaddy]

My reply was jovial, and I do agree with most of what ShoutforJoy said, but in my opinion theres a case for better the devil you know.You cant realistically buy an older car and not expect problems. These cheaper Mini's are a bit of a gamble unless your knowledgeable enough, the average Mini peep (like myself) wouldnt know enough to tell if what they were swapping for was structurally any better than the one they sold.

[Mini_Magic]

Part of owning a Mini is never giving up and having no idea where the line even is (probably hidden under old piles of rust)

+1

That's why MOTs are annual, so you have a year to save up for all the work it will need!

[GusRox]

I do understand that you get more by breaking it but personally I'd never break one as I do like to see as many Minis as possible kept on the road.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely wouldn't break Gus. Just couldn't do it. (It's like farmers say - never name your livestock)

Between a rock and a hard place here... just interested in everyone's thoughts on it.

Either way, I still want a Mini sitting outside. Gus had been sitting needing work for quite some time, as cash is an issue (though I am selling a load of my musical instruments to raise funds).

So you've hit the nail on the head ShoutforJoy - do I pass Gus on and use the money I raise to buy another Mini, or keep Gus? It's a heck of a dilemma.

[blacktulip]

funny enough i havent had a major mot failure yet on a mini. i had an escort which needed a huge list once. i say keep it and just do what you can untill you have the funds to get it sorted properly.

[GusRox]

So, nearly a month later, and Gus is now MOT'ed.

I took him for his MOT yesterday....

I wanted to take him to Stanford Hall tomorrow, but the test centre was mucking me about and by the time they issued the Certificate (12:10 today), the Post Office was closed, so I can only apply for the road tax online.

First, the test centre told me that Gus should have a Catalytic Converter (he's a 92 Mini City!!)...!! My other half rang them back and gave them a piece of her mind!! Then we get a call this lunchtime saying he's passed, so pick him up.

Nice to have him back on the road, but frustrating I can't drive him anywhere yet...

[olds_kool_lews]

if i ever get a big fail sheet, that will be the day i give up minis lol good job i can weld, paint (im still practicin tho lol), and do pretty much most repairs on minis always try and make sure i give the mini a once over a few times during the year, grease nipples, check for play everywhere, rust n rot etc so when its mot time, i got nothing to worry about unless a massive issue rears its ugly head the day of the mot! haha!

[GusRox]

Basically the previous owners of Gus had been a little inventive with the body work and bodges... all those pigeons came home to roost on my watch!!

[olds_kool_lews]

most minis of a certain age will have had some poor repair work undertaken, i remember 1 mini i owned, the rear valance was made up mostly of carrier bags, expanding foam, filler and underseal lol

[Artful Dodger]

you cant just get rid or sell it can you. as Jeremy Clarkson said in the interview with Eric Bana, if your wife was getting a bit ill and is not working as well as she should, you wouldn't just trade her in for a different, newer model would you?



well...some people do.

[bcjames]

...but in my opinion theres a case for better the devil you know.

So true! I tend to keep a pretty good eye on things, so repairs are done as needed through the year, rather reacting to an MOT fail, but theres still the odd big bill. I keep looking at other MPis, LEs etc., and thinking I could have bought one of those instead, but ultimately all minis rust, all components wear out, so I feel safer knowing my own car is fixed and rebuilt to a good standard, rather than buying another that might have all the same problems just around the corner!

[Ethel]

Very much agree with "better the devil you know". There are 2 basic types of car owners, those who look after cars with the intention of keeping them & those who look to spend as little as possible and change them regularly. It's not hard to to see which you are more likely to encounter through the car sales ads.

Some of my worst fails have been sorted by just taking the car somewhere else for another test, some garages see the MoT as a way of creating business for themselves.

[gixernick]

What do you call big?
Mine failed Thursday on:-
worn steering rack,
rear brake shoes worn to excess,
handrake quadrants seized,
No pedal rubbers (tw@, its not had em for years),
no rear foglight,
rear brakes binding,
rear brakes below efficency
loose wires under body,
split in floor pan.
no brake lights
Seat belt stalks won't unclip when you pull on them (what the hell they've always been like it!!!)
and a few advisories

Edited by gixernick, 10 September 2011 - 05:41 PM.