Just started a new job and would like a second car.

I have to drive 60kms + per day in 80 / 100 kph zones.

Do I finish the mini van off and drive it, or buy a box (charade in this case) and finish the mini later, and maybe look at historic rego.

How do people find their minis as daily drivers?

part of me say's preserve the precious mini

the other part says enjoy the mini. It's your call

the mini will be a bit more work than a little turn-key buzz box if you use it as a daily. But as long as you keep it in decent nick it shouldn't let you down any more than a say 5-10 year old 4 cyl.

if you plan on making the mini a show and special occasions car. keeping it on historic rego has it's benefits to keeping it clean tidy and running well

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-doing a Degree in Mechanical Engineering,
and a few conversions:
13B Extend in a 1600
4EFTE in a mini ute (all slowly)

MINI + WEBER

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busier than a 0ne legged man in a butt kicking competion

the box for sure, preserve that mini

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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

I've done an 80km round trip in my mini/moke to work for 3-4years now. It does wear the cars alot faster, but regular maintenance keeps breakdowns at bay

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

buy a charade ...
my charade goes good for a 3cyl ...
awsome torque = sweet burnouts =[if more then one person in the car] ****** clutch = $800 -900+ for the mechanic to pull the engine out put new clutch on machine flywheel put back together ...
or you could pull it out your self an do it all your self

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'66 Morris Mini DeLuxe. In pieces.
'88 Honda EE2 4WDWagovan. DOHC.
'94 Honda EG4 Civic. -Daily-
'82 Toyota KE70 Corolla -Drifter- x2
'95 Honda DC2 Integra

Classic! Haha yeah I have seen a couple of decent Charade burnouts.

One of them was turboed, however.

hey mine says turbo on the side/back ... but theres no turbo lol

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'66 Morris Mini DeLuxe. In pieces.
'88 Honda EE2 4WDWagovan. DOHC.
'94 Honda EG4 Civic. -Daily-
'82 Toyota KE70 Corolla -Drifter- x2
'95 Honda DC2 Integra

You're a mortgage broker? Well, it depends on your clients' sense of smell! Every Mini I've owned/been in has a distinct smell (a mix of petrol, oil, etc). I like the smell. My wife does not. I'd say go the Mini, but... Seeing you've got to see your clients, I'd expect that the way you present yourself probably matters a bit more than those who are on the tools, the phone, the internet, etc. The odds are you'll probably be a bit more presentable and better smelling getting out of the Charade (unless it's over 20 years old too!).

Mortgage broker no more, well only on the side rarely. I'm now in the exciting world of graphical data entry .

I'm just waying up - get the van on the road and fix as I go, or buy a charade etc and gradually fix the brick - maybe try historic rego till it proves to be reliable.

We had a charade in the past and never had to fix it, one cv and change oil and filters plugs as needed = 3 years of driving.

I don't mind doing repairs etc, just no breaking down on the road. What's the main cause of breakdowns with minis? (besides running out of fuel).

I once realised that a 1/4 of a tank meant empty, but just made it to a fuel station spluttering.

Got vapour lock of a 44 degree day, a bit of water on the mech fuel pump and away I went.

My distributer clamp came loose and it missfired and died up a hill, luckily near my house.

Foulled the plugs on my newly 'tuned' mini.

Main cause of my Mini break downs......ME.

<edit> My point was if you keep your car good and simple it'll be fine. Appart from vapour lock on a 44 degree day, the 1275 Clubman has gone great, regulary maintance is key. Finish the mini and drive it. Charade is boring, sorry for those who drive them but that's opinion. I'd rather (and do) turn up to work with a smile on my face than in a late model 'box'.

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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

charade all the way

I'd finish the Mini and drive it. That's what they're for. I reckon preserving is nice but the main reason I like Mini's is because they are great to drive. My 1964 van is a daily driver at the moment but when I finish my other one it will be restored and put on club plates. Then the new one will be the daily driver.
Ziff

Are you able to afford the cost of running another car? You know - rego, insurance, general maintenance, garage space etc. This may help you i your decision making.

You are looking at 15,000kms per year driving for your mini so you will have to defnitely keep on top of things of you decide to run her as your daily. A lot of wear and tear but driving a mini is always fun.

Chees,
Birty

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Cheers,
Rob.

The cost of second car is fine, as our main car would only get used as a shopping cart and occasional road tripper - and transporting the little one.

I'm thinking do the van, if it ends up being a nightmare - address that as we go. I guess you can always pull the rego off and get a box if all went bad.

I'm good enough with the tools, and always carry them in the car when going more then 50kms from home.