Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Is Your Mini Your Daily Driver?


  • Please log in to reply
33 replies to this topic

#1 Nikko

Nikko

    Mini Mad

  • Noobies
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 125 posts
  • Location: London

Posted 19 January 2016 - 06:12 PM

At the moment as well as my mini I have a Toyota IQ3 and a Triumph Street Triple R. I'm trying to decide if I get rid of the Toyota and plow the money into the mini making it as good as I can and having it as my only car. My question is who of you use your mini as your every day car and how does it do?

#2 scrumpix

scrumpix

    Speeding Along Now

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 453 posts
  • Location: Somerset
  • Local Club: Yeovil Mini Mania

Posted 19 January 2016 - 06:16 PM

No. Its gets used once or twice a week. Some of the distances are quite long and are a mix of motorway A & B roads. They are fine and good fun for a daily driver

#3 Anthony30

Anthony30

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,467 posts
  • Location: Rainhill,Merseyside
  • Local Club: N/A

Posted 19 January 2016 - 06:17 PM

Why not use the bike as your daily? You can filter through traffic ect. :shades:



#4 Nikko

Nikko

    Mini Mad

  • Noobies
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 125 posts
  • Location: London

Posted 19 January 2016 - 06:19 PM

Yeah the bike is my every day transport with the IQ as back up. The mini was planned to be a bit of fun and more like a toy but now thinking I could use it as a replacement for the IQ

#5 surfblue

surfblue

    Camshaft & Stage Two Head

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,827 posts
  • Location: Stuck in the 1980's

Posted 19 January 2016 - 06:20 PM

No, it's too old and slooooowwww.

Wouldnt be fair to use a little old car for the amount of miles I do, sunny days and outings only  :D



#6 David128

David128

    Super Mini Mad

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 644 posts
  • Location: Rochdale

Posted 19 January 2016 - 06:35 PM

as  above fun when the sun shines



#7 hoppus

hoppus

    Stage One Kit Fitted

  • Noobies
  • PipPipPip
  • 92 posts
  • Location: South England

Posted 19 January 2016 - 06:39 PM

Daily!  :D  Then again it's a k-series and has 5 gears.

The bumpiness is still annoying and the windows that steam up every 2 minutes  >_<



#8 lsto

lsto

    Super Mini Mad

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 595 posts
  • Location: Essex

Posted 19 January 2016 - 06:54 PM

Mine was a daily for about 2 and a bit years. If it wasn't for the idiots that live around me it still would be now. I used to park mine on the street and it started to get vandalised so it had to go :'(.
I had no problems using it as a daily and it used to put a smile on my face before and after work.

A little thought on subtle mods and a bit of tlc once a month and there is no reason it can't be reliable and fun. I miss mine :-(

#9 alex-95

alex-95

    I am THE CLAMP MAKER

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 6,025 posts
  • Location: l

Posted 19 January 2016 - 07:00 PM

I use mine daily, and have done for the past 2 years, it had a year off being a daily as the owner before me used it to. the rust is coming through now >_<



#10 kingbenvolio

kingbenvolio

    Top man with a top hat

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 430 posts
  • Location: Tamworth

Posted 19 January 2016 - 07:07 PM

I run mine every day and its great; I drive it hard everywhere with a massive grin on my face! Like a rally stage every morning and evening. 

I drive a stage 1 998 and it is plenty powerful enough to zip around the town, struggles to keep up on the motorway.

...But, I am fortunate enough to live just about in walking distance from my job so it doesn't matter too much when it breaks down, which is rare (touch wood)

Spare set of points in the boot, bit of oil, basic tool kit and you're good to go! ....Also the RAC card helps as a backup!



#11 Fast Ivan

Fast Ivan

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,909 posts
  • Location: Earth

Posted 19 January 2016 - 07:30 PM

mines a daily, though I'm not doing lots of miles, if I had to do 100 miles up the motorway each day then I'd be doing it in something else

-2 yesterday and she started on the first turn :)



#12 Cooperman

Cooperman

    Uncle Cooperman, Voted Mr TMF 2011

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 23,278 posts
  • Location: Cambs.
  • Local Club: MCR, HAMOC, Chelmsford M.C.

Posted 19 January 2016 - 07:39 PM

No, my Minis are definitely classic cars for enjoying the 'retro-1960's' driving experience.

For my daily I have a BMW 730D and a Land-Rover Discovery. My wife has a BMW 325i.

I really don't consider a Mini, nor a Ford Anglia, Hillman Imp or other small classic from that era as a suitable car for modern daily driving.



#13 AVV IT

AVV IT

    I am a shed dragger.

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 6,122 posts
  • Name: Dave
  • Location: Cambridgeshire
  • Local Club: Nobody will have me!!

Posted 19 January 2016 - 08:17 PM

I've had a mini as a daily for the last seven, or so years. I've actually had two of them on rotation as dailys (drive one whilst I fix the other) for the last three of those years. I've always advocated the use of the classic mini as a year round daily drive, but this year I've finally thrown the towel in and gone over to the dark side with a modern daily.

As much as I love being able to drive a mini every day, I really didn't want another winter of the inevitable leaks, ineffective demisters, praying it will actually start each morning and unearthing the damage that another winter has done to it come spring. So one of my mini's will therefore be going up for sale, and when the resto is complete on the other, that'll be living in the garage as a fair weather toy from now on!

#14 CityEPete

CityEPete

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 3,920 posts
  • Location: On my soapbox....

Posted 19 January 2016 - 09:51 PM

Not for me as I need a van but the wife uses hers once or twice a week for a 20 mile commute.

Street triple R in this weather, not for me!

#15 Mini 360

Mini 360

    Up Into Fourth

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,933 posts
  • Location: Aberdeenshire
  • Local Club: Independent

Posted 19 January 2016 - 09:53 PM

Yup!

 

Well...the R53 MCS is :lol:  

 

Not a chance I would run Trig as a daily.  Far too precious for that.  Always tempted by another classic for a daily but when you can get a modern car for less thats more capable, why would I bother?






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users