21 replies to this topic

[profmatt]

I'm going on a reasonably long road trip from Yorkshire to Scotland, via the Lake District, and back and I'm seriously considering hiring a car.

 

I love driving my Mini, but it really hates slow traffic in this weather and I don't know my nerves could stand watching the temperature gauge creep up if I hit something bad on the way.

 

Also, there'll be a fair amount of motorway driving and my Mini doesn't really go above 60mph.

 

And there's no aircon or safety features. I don't mind that normally, but on a long trip?

 

Is there something for the car I could spend the rental money on, or does it make sense to restrict the Mini to local runs and day trips?

 

What do you do with yours?

[Ethel]

It ought to be fine, but a max speed of 60 suggests it's not running as well as it could. What mpg are you getting, can you hire a more economic diesel that'll offset some of the rental?

[Midas Mk1]

2 core rad, electric fan on the inner wing, and r/r tuneup if its carb will make the world of difference for a long trip.

It's a Mini, it's meant to be driven, enjoy it.

[Tahiti Joe]

Today i leave in my Mini for 5000 miles around Europe, today alone we have around 400 miles to cover, the weather down in the Amalfi coast will be a darn sight warmer than Scotland or the Lake district and i'm not worried about overheating. Drive with mechanical sympathy, sort out your current cooling problems and there is no reason why you shouldn't make it!

 

Bit of a plug but checkout what we're doing on smallcarbigadventure.blogspot.com

 

Happy travels!

[AVV IT]

Ultimately Scotland has some of the best driving roads in the UK, which would you rather drive them in, a classic mini, or a dull modern diesel euro box? 

 

As above though,  it sounds like you have some issues to sort out before taking your mini anywhere! A well maintained classic mini shouldn't overheat even in hot weather and with a standard rad, so cooling wise consider flushing your cooling system, changing your thermostat and checking your water pump. Likewise a classic mini that struggles to do 60mph isn't normal either, so that's something that also needs looking into

 

As for safety the lack of safety features, if that's a real concern for you, then I'm not sure you want to be driving a classic mini anywhere! According to insurance research back in 2002, 69% of all collisions happen within 10 miles of the claimants home, so statistically you're actually less likely to need those safety features on a long run! (this of course is complete manipulation of statistics though, because the majority of journeys will always occur within 10 miles of home, so it's only logical that the majority of collisions will also occur within that distance)

 

Oh and classic mini air con involves wearing a vest, shorts, sandals, then opening the windows and enjoying the sauna!! 

[Carlos W]

As has been said, a good service and tune up then crack on in the mini!

 

Get the rear windows open, that'll do as air con.

 

I'd have recovery no matter what car I was driving!

[profmatt]

Thanks for all your comments so far.

 

The 60mph is more about my limits, perhaps, than the car's. There's a lot of rattling and shaking going on at that speed and I've never really tried to push it harder.

 

I'm not sure what mpg I'm getting but I reckon it's costing me very roughly about 20p per mile in petrol which is about 25mpg, I think.

 

I'll look into the cooling system.

 

Oh, and what about a stage one kit? (I'm a total newbie, but I have a good mechanic!)

[fattail95]

Thanks for all your comments so far.

 

The 60mph is more about my limits, perhaps, than the car's. There's a lot of rattling and shaking going on at that speed and I've never really tried to push it harder.

 

I'm not sure what mpg I'm getting but I reckon it's costing me very roughly about 20p per mile in petrol which is about 25mpg, I think.

 

I'll look into the cooling system.

 

Oh, and what about a stage one kit? (I'm a total newbie, but I have a good mechanic!)

 

My mini even at 80mph doesn't have any rattles or shaking going on, perhaps yours needs a little TLC? Also, a stage 1 kit will increase power, and with a good RR session should see you at around 35mpg, 25mpg says to me that your fuelling is WAY off.

 

With the money you'd spend on a rental, you could make your Mini so much easier to live with and have a nice reliable little car 

[profmatt]

Inspired by you all, I've decided I will take the Mini to Scotland and instead I'll spend the rental money on doing some work on it to make it run a little better.

 

:)

[Cerberus]

I stuck to 60mph on the motorway when I went over to wales and back earlier in the year, not because the car wouldn't go any faster, but because the MPG was so much better.  Over 60mph and the MPG drops off a cliff.  I also find 60 to be the most comfortable cruising speed, like you I find it noisy and a bit rattly at anything over that while cruising.  It will go higher, and feels quite smooth while accelerating, but it's much nicer at 60, and it made the blast through the elan valley much more enjoyable,

[Chris99]

17 years of mini ownership as an only car & I've been all over the place in them including long stretches in Germany driving at 90-95. Anything much less than 40mpg from a standard mini indicates a problem, my MPI will hit nearly 50mpg on A roads & I had a 1000 that did nearly 60mpg. It really does sound like it needs a thorough going over, they do need more TLC than a modern car. If you don't fancy doing it yourself then hunt out a local specialist.

As far as safety goes they're not as good as a modern car but that's a risk you've already decided to take by driving a mini at all. On the plus side visibility is better than almost anything which should help you see trouble coming. Good practice to drive defensively and give yourself a bit more space in front than you might in a more modern car.

[liam1288]

Hi buddy, where in Yorkshire you going from and where in Scotland you going to?
I do the journey from bradford to Helensburgh pretty much every other week :)

[Chris99]

Stage 1 kit is basically uprated exhaust/carb/air filter, a quick look on minisport will give you an idea. I may get shot down in flames here but the mini is actually pretty damn good as built it's just too many are running round with parts way past life expired. I'd suggest get the basics sorted using decent quality parts before even thinking about enhancements like stage 1.

[profmatt]

I'm not seriously worried about safety. I feel much more confident in the Mini than I did in my Ford Focus. I feel much more connected to the car and to the road. It's much easier to manoeuvre. And I'm a cautious driver: I always aim to keep two chevrons between me and the car in front if I'm driving at over 30 mph.

 

I'm driving from Harrogate to Glenrothes, via the Lake District on the way up and via Newcastle on the way down. Any road recommendations (to take or avoid) are welcome :)

 

I have a good mechanic in Harrogate and I suggested the stage one kit to him. He quickly talked me out of it. He said there wasn't much point for a road car.

 

I think the car does drive pretty well, but I think it does need a more careful looking at. I'm no expert but I have a few question marks about it. That being said, everyone who's looked at it (apart from two garages when I first bought it, for those of you who remember my buyer's angst when I first got it) says it looks like it's in great shape.

 

I guess what's really spooked me is the overheating thing. Though I do wonder if the calibration is off.

[Carlos W]

I like the A697 through Coldsream and Wooler!