20 replies to this topic

[jjb60032]

I was just wondering if anybody knew the differences between them. I was told told that the City was the basic model and the Mayfair had 12'' wheels or something but what about the Sprite? They all seem the same to me.

[exuptoy]

Simple badge engineering to sell cars.

[Bubblebobble]

Im no expert  but the city was the lowest basic model , and the mayfair was the more plusher model . As far as i know the sprite was later when both previous models had stopped - im sure i may not entirely be correct .

 

Basic city models [early ] would have rubber floor covering instead of carpet etc , where as mayfairs has velour seats etc.

[jjb60032]

Thanks, I was just curious

[alex-95]

the city and sprite were introduced first in 1980 (I think) with 10" wheels then the mayfair was after that, the 12" wheels were introduced in '84 with the 8.42 disc brakes.

[some1158]

City was introduced in the early 80s as the basic model and remained the basic Mini until 1992-3, for most (all?) of its run with a 1.0 engine.

Mayfair was plusher and replaced the previous HL/HLE model in about 1983 and remained available until 1995-6.  For the last 2-3 years of its existence it was 1275cc.

 

Both were upgraded over the course of their production runs in terms of interior trim, wheeltrims, etc.

 

Sprite replaced City when the 1275cc engine was made standard across the range. Early Sprites are very similar to the last City models.  (There'd also been a Sprite LE in 1983, but this was a different model).

 

Have a look at http://www.roblightb...mini/brochures/ for more info.

[The Matt]

There were quite a few differences, actually. It wasn't just the badges that were different.  The Mini City was the true 'base model' of the era from what I remember.

 

The Mini City came with the standard central speedo and had the 998 A+, and the 4 syncro box.  The City E had the 2.76:1 Final drive ratio that meant it had next-to-no acceleration, but was more economical (the E in City E stood for Economy I believe).  Mayfair had a slightly better interior than the City/City E and also had the speedo in the cluster in front of the steering wheel.  I'm sure the later Mayfair had a rev counter, not sure about the earliest ones (1982).  They had alloy wheels as an option too!

 

The City was always a 998cc and ran up until 1992?  The Mayfair switched from 998 to 1275 in 1992, I think.

 

The Sprite was a later model, which was actually not that bad really.  I think the Sprites were an OK spec. 

 

The Mayfair had a load of different interior options and colours over the years too.  Velour being the word of choice!

[1984mini25]

This link might help clear things up...

 

http://www.roblightb...hures/index.htm

[CityEPete]

The sprite was basic imo, it had head rests and nothing else as I recall? The city had head rests by then too and both had full size wheel trims, in fact I think the later citys even had a passenger side mirror too? Neither had a rev counter did they?

[mab01uk]

The original Mini Sprite:

http://www.mini-le-r...ic.php?f=9&t=15

[TopGearRules]

The original Mini Sprite:

http://www.mini-le-r...ic.php?f=9&t=15

 

Sorry this is a bit random, but what are those wheel arches called (the ones fitted to the red Sprite with the chrome strip at the ends of them)?

[mab01uk]

Group 2 arches, see link:

http://www.theminifo...rch-variations/

 

(However an original Sprite would not have had these fitted as standard)

[tarris850]

The City name was first used in 1979 with an 850 engine. Production of the 850 City stopped in 1980 when they ditched that engine. The City from that point had a 998.

[Bubblebobble]

I could have sworn the city e was the fastest 998 [ not by much ] I had one and i thought i could remember reading the figures in the back of the handbook , that it was slightly quicker than the mayfair ?

[jjb60032]

Thank you for the info! But does anyone know which model descended from the Mini 1000