You said if the trains weren't running you would

Anyway, I drove my first mini to skool everyday, about 40km round trip, for a year no major reliability probs. It was an 1100 with drum brakes and a heater.

Try to get something mech good, bodywork will always command a higher price but considering it's a daily you need reliability more than perfect panels. Mine had more bog than paint and everything had been painted red but I still loved it.

Only thing to comment was the brakes needed regular adjustment, i had to do this every oil change (probably cause I pushed it everywhere) and so did the points/ign and carby etc. Make sure you keep it serviced by some competent (this means an old skool mech, not a dealer one who's idea of a full service is a can of carby clean down the intake ).

Rgds

Daniel

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Videos - Turbocharged A-Series on Dyno & at Wakefield
Mafs waz not my strong subgeckt at skkol

I think a healthy 1100 or 1275 would handle the F3 run no problems. If you are driving it in peak hour you wouldnt get about 80km/h anyway.

My only issues would be any drum braked car in the frequent fog, rain and crap drivers on that road (including me. I will wave as I go past at 5.00am tomorrow)

As for maintenance. If you intend to learn and do yourself just get what you are confortable in working on in 12 months time.

The comments on power reserve obviously were made by people that have never driven up the Mooney Mooney hill in the rain and fog of winter- power will just give you problems on that road. You want enough to keep up with traffic and a decent set of rosary beads.

Good point!
I do not miss adjusting those old front drum brakes at all!! What a PITA
Seemed like i was always under the car messing with that.. Discs are all round much easier to maintain.

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Carl
Previous Owner & Driver of 1 Morris "It's not a Cooper!!" 850

I have had two 850s. One a 2k bucket and the other a mint condition. The main thing I found is keep you mini tuned, serviced and in good repair and it will be reliable.

All those stories about rain fowling dizzies etc had never been a issue. Single leading brakes shoes on a 850 are another thing. JUst trawl ebay, carpoint, carsales, trading post.

Roundies aren't cheap now days.

Here are some examples. http://www.carpoint.com.au/used-cars/se ... 4605%20409

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67 Deluxe under going full resto

My second best advice for you (first being my comment on discs) is be really fussy. It took me 6 months of looking at well over priced POS's before I bought my 1275 LS.

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OK. So, with considerations made and looking into all options, if I'm not getting a mini I'd like to treat myself to a brand new car.

I would like something like a Suzuki Swift, but matt says they're not good.

So, what would be some good options?

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

Go the Suzuki Swift, they are great. Even the automatics- my bro' took one down to Melbourne and back for the GP, it ran like a train.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

How about this?

http://search.carsguide.news.com.au/news/find-a-car/power-search/search-results/car-details.do?make=HUMMER&model=&make2=&model2=&make3=&model3=&keyword=&priceFrom=&priceTo=&body=&newBody=&transmission=&lifeStyle=&yearFrom=&yearTo=&location=All+Locations&postcode=&radius=&stockNumber=&sortFields=A&asc=true&pageNumber=&searchType=1&dealerId=&featureAd=false&vehicleId=NIMAVSS002%3A0703141&vehicleType=1

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

Too small!

Wait a minute....im now really confused after reading this thread and "My mini sucess story........."
In this thread it seems that everyones reasuring the lady that a mini is a great 1st car...yet in the one above it is the opposite (ie. it is quite costly and fragile)
Some one please help clear up my confusion, i have been considering the same thing as screech has been.

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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."

This thread is about me checking out my options and deciding what I want and like.
I dont now what else you're talking about.

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

http://search.carsguide.news.com.au/news/find-a-car/power-search/search-results/car-details.do?make=MORRIS&model=&make2=&model2=&make3=&model3=&keyword=&priceFrom=&priceTo=&body=&newBody=&transmission=&lifeStyle=&yearFrom=&yearTo=&location=All+Locations&postcode=&radius=&stockNumber=&sortFields=A&asc=true&pageNumber=&searchType=4&dealerId=&featureAd=false&vehicleId=94888&vehicleType=3

Something like this would be nice. But not black.

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Talk is Cheap because Supply Exceeds Demand

that looks nice, but its not black, its grey.

swifts are good
hyundai getz would probably be the best value for money with the most features and a kickarse warranty, but i still wouldnt buy one.
Personally like the ford fiesta.
The mazda 2 and honda jazz are good too.

i would not buy the new holden barina (daewoo kalos)

i made my fiance buy a mini, but she needs a car she doesnt have to maintain.. minis are awesome for people who know how to turn a spanner and keep a toolkit in the boot.
we'll stick to more modern cars from now on, possibly a rover mini..
you should look into that, they are about the same price as a good classic one these days.

also check out
http://shedrives.com.au/index.php

What im talking about is that in another thread everyone is saying that mini's are horrible first cars and that its the opposite in this thread.
Sorry if this is a bit confusing, just want a mini as a first car

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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."

The same car could be great for some (those that are enthusiastic and stick with it and go there with an open mind knowing what to expect)

it could also be a very bad experience for other's (expecting it to not cost so much, to not break down, to be cheap to fix, cheap to run etc)

It's not the car - it's the people.

You have to ask yourself, what type of person are YOU?

by the sounds of it, your cautious and you're doing your research - i would think that at the moment your looking to be convinced, so i wouldn't tell you to buy one. Most of us that are in the scene for long always wanted one, and still love them.

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Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484