92 replies to this topic

[Twisty]

Well I've got an a4 at the min to sell/trade in so I'd say about 2000ish but it could stretch for the right car

And surprisingly I've been looking at a few 147's on auto trader

Just want that mini feeling in my daily driver

If looking at the 147 make sure you get a well loved one that has been serviced on a regular basis and you should be ok pllus they are fun to drive and nicely styled.

 

I say get one.

 

Avoid the selespeed ones they can be a pain in the arse if they go wrong.

Edited by Twisty, 10 January 2014 - 07:50 PM.

[Wigeon Incognito]

The Panda 100hps are brilliant cars. I've driven a few and bought one for my sister last year - she loves it!

In fact it came to Brands Hatch Mini Festival last year for the weekend.

I had a BMW Cooper S as well and the Panda was so much closer in feel to a real Mini. The little 1.4 is a lovely engine and it loves to be chucked around the lanes.

Just make sure you find a good one as there are a few out there that don't seem to have been cared for.

Matt.

Edited by Wigeon Incognito, 10 January 2014 - 07:49 PM.

[md7708]

I'll keep my eyes peeled this weekend hopefully my search goes well :)

[Cooperman]

The first time I drove a Pug GTi I thought it was like a 'big Cooper S'. I felt the same about the Golf GTi Mk.2.

We had an XR3i, but it was never like a Mini.

My son had a Fiesta 1.6 Si twin-cam and that was fantastic. It had good turn in and super road holding and it was reliable.

I did drive a Pug 106 Rallye in full rally trim and that was like a Cooper 'S' as well, but much faster everywhere.

The Fiat 500 looks good, but I've not driven one, although a friend has an Abarth version and says it is superb.

[Tamworthbay]

I would go totally different, anything you get to be like a mini will only be a disappointment when its not as good. I recently bought a mk1 MX5 because they are dirt cheap and very reliable. Great RWD fun, totally different to a mini but brilliant to drive.

[md7708]

Funnily enough mx5 was on my list to look at this weekend :)

[Wigeon Incognito]

I've had a Mk1 MX-5 too, they're cracking little cars.

If you look at facelift cars i.e. Mk2 and Mk2.5 cars look very carefully at the front chassis legs for rust, particularly on the passenger side. The cost to repair effectively writes the car off.

Matt.

Edited by Wigeon Incognito, 10 January 2014 - 07:58 PM.

[md7708]

Thanks for the tip I'm going to look at a mk1 tomorrow but it's something to keep in mind

[Chris Jones]

I was looking for a 106 S1 Rallye a while back. Knew someone who had one for a few years and loved it. Couldn't find a decent one anywhere local so went for a VR6, lovely engine but wallow a bit in the corners, oh and everything just breaks.

 

Most fun car I ever had was my 200SX S13. 1.8 turbo, felt rapid once it kicked in. It was pretty much the only unabused one in the country I think. All the cooling lines started to corrode and I didn't have the time to work on it. Really wish I'd kept hold of it now.

[md7708]

Yeah I had a look at the 200's just the distance and the prices for a decent one sort for put me off

[Chris Jones]

Yeah I had a look at the 200's just the distance and the prices for a decent one sort for put me off

 

They'll only rise though if you kept one in good nick. They're all just getting hideous body kits fitted then binned into trees nowadays. Shame.

[Tamworthbay]

Thanks for the tip I'm going to look at a mk1 tomorrow but it's something to keep in mind

Look at the rear sills and also the front chassis outriggers. Part of the end are hidden by the bottom of the wheel arch liner. Lift that out the way and get a torch up and have a good look. Don't worry if the boot is a bit damp, but avoid one where the main carpet is wet.

[md7708]

Definitely a shame just like the kits you see on some minis I die a little inside every time I see one

[md7708]

Thanks for the tip I'm going to look at a mk1 tomorrow but it's something to keep in mind

Look at the rear sills and also the front chassis outriggers. Part of the end are hidden by the bottom of the wheel arch liner. Lift that out the way and get a torch up and have a good look. Don't worry if the boot is a bit damp, but avoid one where the main carpet is wet.

Good tip, never heard of the boots being damp, sadly it's at a dealers so may have been kept inside might take a bucket to test the roof haha

[Cooperman]

You can get a 2000-ish BMW E36 for around £1200 and that is a superb car. I sold my 2000 323i with 143,000 last May for £1000 to a good friend and he has had absolutely no problems with it at all. He gets 34 mpg and, as a 21-year old motor-sport student he doesn't drive slowly. He had an MG-ZR before that and a Citroen Saxo, but says that there is absolutely no comparison with the BMW.