Bracey
Part of things
Posts: 208
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Sept 29, 2005 0:41:37 GMT
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After a break of almost a year, the urge to return to driving one of the most fun cars on the road (leagues ahead of the Pug 205's, the BMW 325 and the Ascona SR I've owned) has overcome me. My '93 1275cc Mayfair has been off the road since last November and Ive had an E30 BMW 325 (gorgeous car, which I crashed unfortunately ) and an E30 320 since then. But, last week I saw this for sale... ...and I've not thought of much else since! It caught my eye because un-modified Mini's are becoming like hens teeth and its basic-ness appeals to me. Ok, I've got a bit of haggling to do on that window price, but it does look immaculate (on top and underneath) and even complete sheds are going for around £1000 these days! It has only done 25,000 miles in its 23-year life so I'm going for another look and test drive on Sunday, with a mate who knows what to look for when buying a Mini. To top it off, its pretty-darn"retro", don't you think (its got drum brakes all round for Christ's sake, lol) and its the tidyest Mini I've seen in a while. If I do end up buying, I intend to keep it absolutely stock (even if it looks a bit like a granny-mobile) and have the aforementioned friend build a 1290cc or 1380cc engine for my other Mini. Opinions and comments are welcome. Although you don't need to tell me I'm insane to want a car that doesn't like cold or wet weather and only has 40-something bhp and drum brakes - I already know I am. Little did Austin-Rover know, when they built the car in 1982, that Chavs throughout the nation would want baseball caps and shirts sporting the same design as the seats in the Mini 1000 HL (with a Burberry badge on them). If only they'd know, Austin could've pattented the design and possibly still be in business today. Oh well...
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2005 0:52:01 GMT by Bracey
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Sept 29, 2005 5:39:04 GMT
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I like that idea cant be many standard mk4s left!
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Sept 29, 2005 6:26:00 GMT
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thats nice, very original - bit pricey tho!
are mini's getting rarer now as people still seem quite happy to scrap them.? there is a white G reg mini round the corner with some wide arches and alley cats, looks ok from a distance, but get closer...it's rusty in places...
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Sept 29, 2005 7:07:24 GMT
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there's MUCH cheaper around, mate of mine picked up a J-reg for £200 recently, one lady owner with 18k on the clock IIRC, its being tickled up ready to export to california ATM. i'd never buy a mini from a trader.
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Sept 29, 2005 7:11:00 GMT
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Unfortunately (or is that Fortunately) round were I live people still won't pay more than £250-£400 quid for a Mini with plenty of M.O.T because for same money you can get a Fiesta, Rover 200 or Vauxhall Cavalier which will be more reliable and useful . As for a shed of a Mini ...they just get crushed down local scrapy And I'm a Mini Fan!
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Sept 29, 2005 8:14:33 GMT
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Surely a 23K Mini is worth that all day if it's in genuinely good condition. As an X plate it must be the least desirable Mini of all...neither old (in classic Mini terms) nor new. Someone needs to save this naff-plastic-badged beauty!
Maybe a set of silver painted reverse rims would be OK though! ;D
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Sept 29, 2005 8:32:18 GMT
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Can't be many left like that now! The black grilles always get replaced by chrome ones for a start... I have fond memories of a stock silver X-reg one that I owned for a while. Same as that one but had a vinyl roof too. The Allegro/Metro 4-spoke steering wheel, "Houndstooth" trim, soft-feel gearknob, spot on
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ImpManiac
Part of things
Imps... Imps... Imps...
Posts: 868
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Sept 29, 2005 11:13:23 GMT
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Shiny black paint, lots of highly polished chrome (especially a chrome grille), some done-to-death Minilites, an LCB exhaust with a nice, straight through system exiting in the centre of the rear valence, lowered, tuned... That's be a fabulous ride... For a Mini... ;D ;D I love spartanism too! Hence my Imp fetish! (Secretly, I'd rather like a Mini myself... Ssshhh...) I'm
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2005 11:14:38 GMT by ImpManiac
1966 Singer Chamois sprint/hillclimb car in white over blue two tone 1975 Triumph Stag long term project (over 20 years so far) in colour TBA 2003 Vauxhall Vectra GSi 3.2 in black sapphire
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Sept 29, 2005 11:41:43 GMT
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That is MEGA clean! Could be a champion purchase I reckon. This evening I shall be off to collect this: A slightly (!) less lovely example... but then it was a tenth of the price of that red 'un ;D (no.. it's not for me! )
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Bracey
Part of things
Posts: 208
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Sept 29, 2005 15:05:45 GMT
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Sure, I don't intend to pay the asking price from a trader! Most traders give themselves a bit of a "margin" on the price. It is a bit pricey, but you've got to buy a Mini based on the condition of the shell, chasis and floors, (rather than the amount of shiney chrome and flash alloys it has) - and EVERYTHING looks very good to me. If an A-series goes "pop" its just a case of finding the nearest Metro going for £50 on Ebay. I can almost guarantee you that a £200 Mini will need inner and outer sills, subframes, a new floor, various welding and/or new balljoints in the near future. The engine bay is clean, the subframes are sound-as-a-pound and the underside looks like new. Further probing on Sunday will confirm the true condition behind the scenes, but it does look a very honest and tidy little car. The car has basically had the equivalent of 2-years useage (assuming 12k/year) by a granny and has been kept in a garage. From past experience, the full MOT that it comes with potentially saves me £££'s! See the pics below, which show its general condition... photobucket.com/albums/y226/superbracey/1982MiniHL/?sc=6Looking in the classifieds in Mini Magazine and Mini World, the price doesn't look too bad in comparison with the majority of old nails in there and there is a 1992 Mini Sprite up the road from me with 75K going for £2695! (for a Sprite ) Its advertised in the local paper as immaculate, but its not in the same league as the HL I'm considering.
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2005 15:10:52 GMT by Bracey
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Sept 29, 2005 18:55:22 GMT
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2005 18:56:37 GMT by Mr_Bo11ox
1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Sept 29, 2005 19:00:11 GMT
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I totally understand the feeling, my Minis been going 4 days and I'm pineing big time.
The way Mini prices are climbing I'm sure that HL is worth £1500 easily.
I say buy it! if not theres plenty of good Mins on the Bay at the Mo
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2005 19:00:42 GMT by Ministrone
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Sept 29, 2005 19:02:15 GMT
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Sept 29, 2005 19:03:38 GMT
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Sept 29, 2005 19:51:20 GMT
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I totally understand the feeling, my Minis been going 4 days and I'm pineing big time. ....."although i'm walking without crutches already, my spine is almost straight once more, and my physio says I should be able to lead a normal, active life as long as I stick to proper cars from now on" ha ha, only joking!
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2005 19:52:17 GMT by Mr_Bo11ox
1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Sept 29, 2005 19:55:19 GMT
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;D ;D
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Bracey
Part of things
Posts: 208
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Sept 29, 2005 23:14:33 GMT
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That Mini Special is going for a LOT of money, but nearly 30 people have bid on it so far! I can't say I'd want an original Mini enough to pay nearly £9000 for one - think of what else you could buy for that kind of money, and at the end of the day, such a low mileage doesnt stop hoses and such like from perishing.
What happened to yours, Ministrone?
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Last Edit: Sept 29, 2005 23:30:27 GMT by Bracey
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Sept 30, 2005 5:46:55 GMT
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"SORRY... NO TEST DRIVES!!!!!" lmao
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Bracey
Part of things
Posts: 208
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Sept 30, 2005 22:15:15 GMT
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Its unusual for a "test drive" to double a cars mileage, but it would probably happen in this instance if he allowed people to have a go
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