Do you think minis are suitable for P platers e.g reliability and parts.

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Morgs

No.
(coming from a 21 yo)


However, if the owner has something else as a daily then it's fine.
Minis can be quite reliable, but since the person is young they will no doubt
want to modify it which can affect that. (well, depending on what it is).

Usage plays a part as well.

I wouldn't use a mini as a daily driver, but am more than happy to have it the rest of the time.

Absolutely!
This way you can learn how to do a little servicing and basic mechanics while you are at it.

What would you want to do with airbags, ABS, anti intrusion bars, crumple zones etcetera anyway...

Minis will appreciate, a Ford Focus will depreciate.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Are you a tight arse P plater?
Do you have a job?

not unless you buy a really good one in the first place, budget around $5000
get one with disc brakes and no rust and no mechanical issues..

just like you did What a load of rubbish.

Parts are easy to get. Reliability depends on how much time you put in. If you dont mind getting your hands dirty and keep up the regular maintainance it should serve you well.

However make sure you know what your buying before parting with your money.

Learned most of my basic mechanics by the side of the road in my first mini

I think they are a great first car - for the mechanically minded.
#1 son is getting one ready for his first car, and the other want to follow suit. They are insurable, & just the right amount of power to not get you into too much trouble.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

All depends on what sort of P-plater you are , do you like getting your hands dirty , checking the car regularly , working on the car etc or would you prefer something you only open the bonnet on every couple of weeks to check the oil and the extent of your maintenence is putting fuel in and looking to see the tyres aren't flat ? Mini's are great but given their age they need a little more care than a 3 year old Toyota echo or a hyundai whatever . Will getting your knuckles skinned while trying to fit a fanbelt or take a carb off to rebush it worry you or will you be able to strip a carb in your sleep ?

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i'd say the same thing that id say to anyone getting into minis for the first time, budget 5k, buy one with discs, no rust or mechanical issues,

buying a bomb can turn an affection for minis into loathing

i would say nearly have the people on here are p platers, and half the poeple on here would use their mini as dailys,

small tool kit, duct tape and a tube of gasket goo a good idea to keep in the car, buy a clubby cause their easier to work on

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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

well molly was on a budget of $1500, got her road worthy at school, ever since she has been braking dwn and putting me into furthr and further debt to my parents.

i love her

opn my last major outing to exodus it was mnt to take me and my friend 4 hours to get there but it took s a day and a half caue the fuel pump died and couldn't get rapaired in another town till 5 then i got stuck casue of furl probs (my bad) then there were lcetrical issues. the next day she got hot and had to pull over for a few hours. after getting back she got an oil leak. i can't find it so she is at my mechanic again.

i dunno, i just know if i sodl her i regret it. i'd miss been low to the ground, people recognising my car, asking about my car, complaining abot my car. i like standing out from the crowed. i guess what i'm saying is, i guess it's worth it. i ike the atention.

i'd call a mini "the modest rich person's car" cause people think they are cheap when you know they are expensive.

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Sunday Morning Mini Sprint http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtGuzqBQ32Q my "rendezvous"

i have had a mini ever since i got my licence
i got one for my brother for $1100 granny type mini and spent prob another $2000 at the most on lil bits and its been fine aslong as u service it and treat it right you will have no problems.

if u dont like to do stuff on cars i wouldnt get a mini cause theres alot off stuff like maintance that u can do urself to save $$$

but i would still get a mini if i had the choice agian

i have also driven my mini to syd and back and drive it daily

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Current Ride : Toyota Trueno AE86

mini parts for sale http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=42247

If you're looking at doing work on the car yourself, I'd also suggest budgeting for buying tools unless daddy (or a friend) already has a well stocked tool shed.

There's s few hundred dollars worth of basic stuff that most people naturally build up over time and that's before you get into the mini-specific tools for certain tasks.

I'm sure that over time they will pay for themselves and they also don't need to all be bought at once but it's something to think about when you talk about servicing costs - it's fine saying that it's only the cost of the filters and plugs (for example) but then even for such a simple task you need to own a torque wrench, a spark plug wrench/socket (plus socket set), oil filter puller etc.

Not much in themselves but add it onto your first service and you end up spending twice as much as it costs to get it done at K Mart!! Amortised over multiple services it's fine but when you're 18 and earning a pittance, that extra $$$ upfront here or there makes a big difference.

In saying that, I've owned three minis over the past 3.5 years and would not consider them any more expensive to maintain or less reliable than any other cars i've owned since I was 17 (admittedly i've never owned a Toyota or any car considered very reliable but that's all i have to compare!)

Up until very recently I never even thought of doing any of my own servicing and the only thing my minis ever needed in between services was oil and water top-ups.

you forget to mention that you blew the gearbox, and that you had to replace the motor etc...

I reckon they are great (in two days I will have been a p-plater for a year, no accidents.)

But I tell most of my friends not to get them, as most of them I guessed, and yep I was right, wrote off their parents car in about a month of driving. So mini for them would mean 1 lkess mini, and then if they buy another, that's 2 gone. Great for a first car as long as they are sensible.

I must say though, me and Craig Goss both have the niceset cars at our school, and we work on them everyone else has lasers and 323's and have no idea what to do other than put POD filters on.

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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