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Okay, I was looking at small front wheel drive hatches for a while (205, Polo, Fiesta etc.) but my dad would like me to have a Mini as a car to learn in (thats what he had!). I have said I would rather have an Imp (I prefer the looks and rear engine/drive setup), but he reconned that they were to expensive and parts were too rare.
I'm not sure that I'll fit in a Mini by the time i'm 17 (i'm 6ft2 and still growing), would an Imp be any better?
Also, Imp tuning. Are performance parts hard to come across? I love the idea of doing a Blown Imp type conversione eventually but what performance parts can be bought off the shelf?
Prices, what sort of money am I looking at for a clean (though probably not mint) Imp? £1500?
Adam
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1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Mini's are suprisingly large inside. Imps are not that hard to get bits for really, they are tunable, and cheaper  But Mini's are always gonna be "the" cult small british car, and so prices reflect that. have you considered a Rear engine skoda? |
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The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
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I would prefer a Skud, but my dad is paying and he's not quite so open minded It's the leg room I worry about. I squeezed into one at the Autosport show and with the seat right back i could just about get my knees under the steering wheel. I should have tried to have a sit in an Imp at CARS, but there were just so many other cars to look at! Adam |
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1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Imps are cheaper and you can get a good one for less then a grand. Mechanical spares are available and mostly arrive the morning after being ordered. If you did think about getting an Imp it would not be a bad idea to chat to the guys on www.theimpclub.co.uk There may be some Imp guys near you to chat too and get advice from. I would recommend joining the Imp club as you can get cheaper insurance with the clubs discount. Imps are great and so are Minis so the choice is yours. |
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BS Nymph
Singer Chamois Coupe
Series 3 Landy
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Bah! get a 140Y Datsun sunny,... then you don't need to worry about parts availability  |
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;)Skud FTW!!  Cover the badges and tell pa Locoster it's a LWB Imp!! ;D |
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Again, I would love something J, but my dad (having owned and rallied Imps and Minis when he was young) isn't so open minded. I showed him a picture of a 100A and he laughed! The cheek . Thanks ImpJimbo, i'm having a look around the Imp club website. My dad was very interested in your Nymph, he spent ages look round it, under it, in it etc.! Adam |
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1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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 Fiat 850 coupe,good ones about 2500-3000 euros , whatever that is in sterling, rear engine, old fiat pushrod engine thats been around for decades. tuneable, and miles better looking than any imp or mini |
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What do you call a Mini with four reverse gears and a blown head gasket? An Imp. (c) DarrenW...I think *n |
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Top grammar tips!
Bought = purchased. Brought = relocated
Lose = misplace/opposite of win. Loose = your mum
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Years back i was racing round the country lanes in my Imp against my mates Mini 1000. He could not keep up and blew his head gasket trying. How i laughed. ;D
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BS Nymph
Singer Chamois Coupe
Series 3 Landy
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Thanks ImpJimbo, i'm having a look around the Imp club website. My dad was very interested in your Nymph, he spent ages look round it, under it, in it etc.! Adam Shame i was not about when he was having a look. I am not going to say that Imps are better then Minis. They both have there good and points. I see the appeal of Minis more now then i did when i was a teenager. I like to be abit different thats why i choose imps over minis. |
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BS Nymph
Singer Chamois Coupe
Series 3 Landy
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Years back i was racing round the country lanes in my Imp against my mates Mini 1000. He could not keep up and blew his head gasket trying. How i laughed. ;D I have the same story but the other way round ! My mates Imp would always get home with water curse word out the rad Either car would be cool though, Mini`s aren`t as common as they once were though and prices are creeping up just as decent spares are getting harder to get hold of |
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mako
Part of things
Posts: 271
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Again, I would love something J, but my dad (having owned and rallied Imps and Minis when he was young) isn't so open minded. I showed him a picture of a 100A and he laughed! The cheek . Having owned a '77 Mini 1275 and now '77 100A I'd say the Datsun is by far more reliable and IMHO has more character. And those Nissan A-series engines have loads of potential. Some parts are getting hard to find though. Between a Mini and a Imp, I'd go for the Imp even though I've never even driven one, but they look so damn kool! |
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'77 Datsun 100A, '79 Mitsubishi Sapporo 2000 GSR
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tigran
Club Retro Rides Member
In rust we trust. Amen.
Posts: 6,444
Club RR Member Number: 142
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Mini vs Hillman Imptigran
@tigran
Club Retro Rides Member 142
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Mini's are no problem fitting inside. I'm about 6'3" and a rugby second row and I fit behind the wheel of a mates mini. However imps are so much more rarer on the roads.
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1964 Rover P5 i6
1987 BMW 525e - The Rusty Streak
1992 Micra K10
2001 BMW E46 316i
2002 BMW E46 330Ci
2013 BMW F31 320d
2018 BMW G31 530d
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,516
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My father in law who is 6' 4" had a mini in 1960 and, with his brother, drove it right the way around Europe, through Spain etc. You will fi!
Instead of a normal Mini have you considered Wolseley/Riley versions?
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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I'd love a hornet! Unfortunately £6k is a little ott  I'm keeping open minded at the moment, researching Mini's and Imps, but i'm still siding with the Imp due to lower prices, rareness, RWD and the looks! |
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1997 TVR Chimaera
2009 Westfield Megabusa
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well you know what I'm going to say   End of the day the mini has an archaic engine over the front wheels. The imp has an advanced (and reliable if looked after) engine over the back wheels. I promice the imp will be good fun, just make sure you know what its going to do roud corners, especially if you brake half way! J |
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impmann
Posted a lot
Overcoming stupidity is the greatest challenge left to mankind
Posts: 1,089
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I've owned both - Imps (more than 120 examples) and Minis (three 998cc, one 1380cc Clubman and a 1071S Cooper). The following is based on my opinions/experiences of them.
Minis are great fun, but don't let anyone kid you about their reliability. They suffer just the same faults as Imps - and do blow headgaskets. They also suffer from a curse word working environment in the engine bay plus the most uncomfortable driving position in the world bar none. However, they sound ace and have that cutesy-cool factor.
Imps are also great fun, plus when set up *will* out corner a Mini. Their faults are well documented (usually by those who experience their faults secondhand and/or as a result of poorly maintained examples) and don't be blind to them - the cooling system is marginal and needs improving before even considering any tuning.
Tuning bits - they are available for the Imp but tend to be slightly dearer than Mini items. However a good Imp is much cheaper to buy than an equivalent Mini so it equalises itself out.
The Mini clubs tend to be clicky (otherwise there would just be one - think about it). The Imp Club is a much friendlier place.
As for size - the Imp was designed by two guys over 6ft so it tends to be more comfy to drive than a Mini for taller drivers.
Parts - piece of cake, order by phone with a c/card and you get them next day.
Prices - both Imps we have cost NOTHING, ie free. Neither shell needed welding for the MOT but some mechanical work. An MOT'd running example needing some cosmetic/mech work will set you back around £450-700. Good ones start at around £1500. Stilettos (and coupes, plus Sport models) cost a bit more.
You need to *drive* both an Imp and a Mini to see which suits you best. Neither car is 'better' than the other.
Hope that helps
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1964 Hillman Imp
1976 Hillman Imp
1967 Hillman Imp
(And a few projects dotted around the country)
Just cos something is good for you doesn't mean its good for everyone - for example Marmite does not make good Dog Food.
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Wash you mouth out impmann! The imp is SOOOOO better than the mini J |
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You can always sell J-Tin to your dad by asking him if he would rather you spend money fixing your car, or spend money actually driving it |
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Cover the badges and tell pa Locoster it's a LWB Imp!! ;D
I'm keeping open minded at the moment, researching Mini's and Imps, but i'm still siding with the Imp due to lower prices, rareness, RWD and the looks!
