Well, I'm back.

I checked the car over twice looking for anything wrong. My issues.
-No compliance plate in boot. The car is an '88, so does it need it (15 year law thing)
-Brakes were between nothing and reasonable, unless you really get your weight behind them (hard for me, at 50Kg)
-The engine has twin carbs, but only one has a filter on it. Not happy.
-The auto is crap to change gears in, and when driving at 60Km/h in 2nd, I'd hate to think how long the engine will last at that rpm.
-No retractable rear seatbelts.
-Speedo is incorrect 80Km/h shown as 140.

Rustwise I'll put up some photos when I get home. It could be worse.

I think I'll differ buying it for 3 weeks (he has to get the papers anyway) and see how many people will let me drive their minis around, to get an idea of whether the manual is better, or try more engine power like an 1100 or 1275.
If anybody wouldn't mind a navigator on the northern mini tour, let me know, I'll come along and see if I can find something with a little more performance to my liking. I don't need to go fast, I just hate going slow.

If it comes to the worst for me, I'll let this car slide and will keep looking at other cars until I find what I like.

sounds like you are unsure...so leave it. Only buy if it screams out as being 100% right.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I don't want to turn it down yet cause I've never seen a rover with aircom go as cheap as I could have this.

Well, I decided not to buy.
All the small problems together with my financial side of things and the fact I didn't like driving, made me come to a decision reasonably quick.
Knowing I cant afford a rover and the costs of repainting it, I've decided to go for an aussie car, and do everything to that.

The owner was going to try to sell the car again, so for anybodies interest:
1988 Rover mini mayfair Auto
998 engine, with extractors, sports exhaust and aircon.
Painted gun-metal grey, with little rust- none in boot or floor. Only on exterior.
Wood dash, 12" minilites, the usual.
Fully complianced and road legal, no compliance plate in boot (before '89 rule?)
10 months rego in Vic.

If anybody is interested I'll send photos and what my final price would have been.

by the sounds of it, I wouldn't pay more than a grand....

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?