oh okay, thanks mate for reassuring me on that , and yeah come to think of it...if there no major stuff ups then thats more time to learn about the car (how it works or you know what to do when this or that happens straight away)

cheers again

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Quoat: Mick
"If drugs tell you that a society has too much money, then burnouts in commodores tell you that tyres are too cheap."

My current mini is my first car and if you can find one that hasn't been butchered by some one that know's nothing you should be fine. My car has been in my family so long its history is pretty well known and in 2 years of driving it everyday has NEVER broken down on me (I can never remember it breaking down in my entire life) - regularly serviced its whole life. Mechanical parts are pretty cheap (for general maintenance etc) but the bits and bobs that will kill you will be the trim parts to finish it off.

Some of the trim is NLA or made in small quantities - eBay is a good place to look out for certain things. It just depends what your after and how bad you want it.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

Its down to whether you want to arrive at work with a smile on your face I suppose

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"Show me the Mini!"

Or clean hands ....

They are good cars if you know how to adjust points etc and a little extra routine maintenence will have it purring on a daily basis . If you can , get one with disc brakes as drums will need regular adjustment to stay in top condition .

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Minis make great first cars.

My first car was a mini and now I own two soon to be three

Driving a classic makes you a better driver in my opinion and gives you more of a respect for older cars and all cars for that matter. The regular maintence gives you more pride in your own car and also teaches you the basics which saves you lots of money in the long run. Although dont expect them to be cheap - as everyone on here could tell you that they are anything but.

Get a workshop manual and some tools then a mini is the greatest car for a first car! A reliable mini is great and an unreliable mini is just a pain in the arse. Maintence makes all the difference.

Cheers
Matt

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I also had a Mini for my first car...It was a Orange Clubby and it took me every where...thired car was a Moke. Both were Brillaint and had little to be done on them and WISH I still had both now

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

my mini minor was my first car. still got it - turning it into motorsporty car.

good first car as long as you take care of routine maintenance. like others said, points, oil, timing, fuel mixture, brake adjustments are about all you need to do regularly and are not too much trouble.

i used to routinely travel 5.5 hours from sydney to narooma to my parents place in the mini. it was great, as all the roads still had bends in them back then.

all my mates loved my mini - of all the corollas, 200Bs, Fiat 124,128,131, old falcon, old holden, old camiras, old toyota crowns, old lasers, old lancias etc that they all owned, mine was the most reliable (almost always got me to work on time, me sleeping in was always more of a problem), best looking, most fun and pulled the most chicks. what more could you want??

cheers
michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

When you get a mini, the engine can be fixed fairly easily (usually) unless it needs a rebuild - gearbox is pretty pricey to fix, but who really cares what it looks like........just as long as you are happy with it. Just be really careful looking for rust - be picky. Will it get through the Road Worthy????

Remember, there's always another mini that you might just be happier with so don't get the first one you see. Shop around a bit.

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Rod
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v607/Rodney/

If you have llittle mechanical knowledge, maybe try an 80's Corolla, its a far more forgiving place to learn. Things don't break as often.

As most have said, the Mini was thought-up (maybe only half-baked?) in the late 50's, using technology that was already out of date. You really will have to be switched-on with general mechanical stuff to get yourself out of the trap of spending waaaaay too much money at the local Mini specialist.

Mini's have:- Under-powered motors, weak gearboxes (especially if you think you are Sebastian Loeb) woeful drum brakes, cr@p electrics, and unfortunately, some have had some pretty unforgiving previous owners.

If you do eventually decide to jump in and get one, drive as many as you can before you lay the cash out. Hell, you may not even like 'em. None of my mates 'get' the whole Mini thing.

Get the best/nicest one your pocket can buy you. A second-rate car that lets you down every third time you drive it is a sh!tful experience that will leave a very bitter taste - A very nice car that has been looked after well can give you SO much more enjoyment, and less greasy hands.

Try to find one with disc brakes, even if it only has a stock 998cc running the show.

Embrace some of the technology that is so easily available. Don't stuff around with bloody points ignition, throw in a Pertronix-style, electronic ignition setup. Best $200 you could spend. Oh, and a worn carby will ruin the fun, too.

When it breaks down (and it will) fix it, properly. Don't bodge it. It will only break down further from home next time.

But hey, all we ausminier's have had one, (usually more ) and we all love driving what is so much more than transport. It is an 60's icon that will get under your skin and possibly lead you on to much more enjoyment than most cars. Oh, and people tend to remember your car, not you.

You may have one for a month and sell it. But you may end up with an addiction, too.

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Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.

I do agree with that.

Mini's are reliable, if treated with respect, and maitained corretcly. Read the workshop manuals. If it says grease this at this time, you just do it. From my driving experience (just finished a year of P's), threat the car well and it will treat you well!

I have driven quite a few other cars but nothing compares to the Mini. The people who don't get it, usually, from the the poeple I know have EGO issues. They can't drive a slow small car as it won't look 'manly' when i attempt to drag off every other car at the lights.

I had a friend who laughd at my car, as it was 'nothing compared to his commodore' well I took him for a drive.... Changed his mind completely LOL!

Currently I'm thinking about another project car, Bug-eye Sprite perhaps?

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

I know there are people on here who are adamant that there is nothing wrong with the minis cooling system and "it never over heated back in the day" and they're probally right, but its one of those things that i have very little faith in.

I keep an eye on my temp guage always and sometimes have to pull over and wait for it to cool down (Sometimes). probally would help if i fitted a overflow bottle but i havnt.

I drove a volvo for 2 years and didnt have to top up the water once! Its pretty comforting to know theres a 99.8% chance that nothing is going to go wrong and you still get a chance to dirty your hands in maintainance and of course get laughed at by your lame friends.

I wouldnt like driving my mini to work on a daily basis, my mate has a classic car that he pours his dosh into and has been getting in lots of problems with work lately because of 4 gearbox failures in as many weeks basically. Fortunantly he got hit by a truck the other day (dont worry its not a mini, or serious). Anyway it kind of serves him right for thrashin the car to pieces.

Dont get me wrong minis are fantastic, but i couldnt bare to let him sit in the rush hour traffic every morning.. i hate that stuff, granted i refuse to do that in any car.

I only own a mini cause ive had a fascination with minis from my early teens, if i didnt have that fascination or romantic interest in old cars.. stuff it, id ride a bike :)


Thats just my opinion

Volvos are cool and so are corollas, but minis are awesome!

ps i have taken a photo

AGREED

Some are great, some are crap.

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Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.

ONe thing to remember though , and I'm sure a lot here will agree , if you get a mini as your first car you will soon after find another , then another , then another etc etc etc until you have half a dozen sitting in the yard in various stages , they just breed somehow once you have one . I think I said it earlier in here but they are a great first car if you want to learn how things work , if you just want "the look" of driving a classic but won't work on it yourself then don't bother unless you have deep pockets or buy a late model rover and have someone service it regularly . Also , I've lost count of how many people get a mini as their first car , it get's wilder and wilder and then they have to get a modern hatchback for their regular car as the mini is too expensive to run . Either that or they start playing at speed days or drags and have to buy a tow car and trailer to get it there .

Basically if you aren't afraid to have a go and can read and follow a workshop manual then go for it , if you don't want to get your hands dirty , don't watch your guages or haven't got a "tuned ear" that can pick up that "somethings wrong or about to break" sound then get a corolla/laser/mirage/charade whatever . You can always get a mini as well when you can afford to have a car and a toy . A word of warning though , once you start with mini's there is no cure , you'll always have the bug .

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great car but not as a first car !

wouldn't give up my mini for the world , but it is my second car !

and as many have previously said look after it and it will look after you ,
what a load - you cant help but floor them , way too much fun too drive hard .

goodluck in your search ...

3rd car given to me, 4 car i have had to drive as a daily,

great 1st car because you are mechanically interested and minded,

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any parts for a 76 clubby pm me or ring 0405 329 326

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44717