33 replies to this topic

[Sprocket]

Mini used as a daily driver by the wife.......... Visualise........ Having to tow the car home in the late afternoon, then setting about replacing the head gasket after dinner, taking it for a test drive when its done and leaving the keys on the wife's bedside cabinet at around 1.30am, so that she can go to work in the morning.............. I have always had a Mini, and love the little cars, but running it as a daily in this modern age took me to the end of my tether and in 2003 is got too much, i'd had enough. The mini was traded in for £1275 on a brand new Seat Arosa and all the Mini magazines went to the recycling. From a daily driver point of view we never looked back and the Arosa ran faultlessly for 10 years! After we got rid of the Mini and I started to get over the annoyance, I did start to miss the Mini and in 2005 bought this current one, which is used (when it's not in pieces) in the evenings, and weekends. We now have three cars including the Mini, Hers, Mine and the Mini (Ours, or at least that's what she thinks ).

[Cooperman]

In the end it rests on how much old-type inconvenience and lack of comfort an enthusiast is prepared to put up with in order to get 'retro' experience.

One might ask if those who are prepared for this will be wearing 1960's style clothes (Oh, those flared trousers and mini-skirts!) and listening to '60's music   .

 

An old Mini does have serious limitations as a long-distance daily car. And compared to a reliable, rust-free, modern small car they are very expensive to buy and run. The only advantage is that if really well-serviced and looked after they will increase in value over the years.

[Ethel]

Lots of truth there, but add £0 historical roadtax & classic insurance to the -ve depreciation and a Min can give great value motoring. More outlay and risk though, so it needs considering carefully.

[Cooperman]

I certainly wouldn't want to use a Mini as my everyday car now, any more than I would have wanted to drive, say, a 1920's car as an everyday car back in 1970. Thinks, "In 1970 I had a new Cortina 1600E, that was excellent on motorways and would cruise at 80 mph even back then".