Hi All i have been considering buying a mini for a while now, just wondering what some of the pros and cons are of owning a mini?

Are they very reliable etc? these sorts of things.

Cheers

Pros
- They are fun
- They are fun
- People look at you like your crazy
- They are fun
- They handle well
- They can be faster than bigger cars
- They are a classic
- They are easy to work on
- They are simple
- They are fun
- You can't help but smile looking at them
- Just sit in one and you will smile
-

Cons
- They are expensive
- They break
- They are getting rare
- They are a target for theives/getting picked up/rolled
- Cooper S Tax
- They break
- They rust


Random..

Seriously they are good fun, if you aren't scared of picking up a spanner or two..or three you will enjoy it.

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

Pros:
The way they drive!
Look good
Easy to customise
Can be easy to work on
Parts supply still relatively available

Cons:
unreliable, particulary on modified cars
parts expensive
cars can be expensive
not the most secure car as far as break ins or drunk mobs go
no safety features (that said, many including myself have crashed and walked)

all pro's....

Basically its like any car. If it is in good condition and well looked after it will be very reliable.

They are a good, simple car to work on.

they are lots of fun.

They are not very practical.

They are a target for thieves and vandals.

Ryan

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

reliabilty depends on the car u have. i had a dog of an engine first off that died every 3 or 4 months and was riddled with bugs after a rebuild and now i havent had a single issue since i put my new charged engine in which u would think has more issues. they can be hard to work on depending on what goes wrong, but mainly because of the lack of space. mechanically they are simplistic enough for most people to get the basic idea of what does what and how to fix it. All you need is a drive in one to know the Pros speaks for itself. Good things do come in small packages, however you might find all other cars boring to drive after you get a mini

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Enjoy Chris

Psst.......those are cons!

PRO
chick magnet (if single)

CON
chick magnet (if in a relationship)

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finally own one

Consider a Morris 1100.....

http://www.elevenhundred.com/index.php

Pros

-Slightly larger than a mini....60cm longer
-4 doors
-bigger boot
-same engines as a mini
-more space under the bonnet
-easier to work on (see above)
-less likely to have had a 'hard' life
-much better ride
-will do Melbourne to Canberra @100k/ph without deafening you
-good handling
-handling doesn't 'bite' like a minis can
-similar fuel economy (if this is an issue)
-less likely to get broken into/stolen/vandalised in general
-not as common as a mini
-won Wheels car of the year and is a classic (just nobody knows it)
-cheaper to buy than a mini in comparable condition
-there are some rare versions out there (Vanden Plas Princess, Riley, Wolseley, MG and Austin)
-it'll make you smile (mine does everytime I drive him or walk past)
-lovable rather than 'cute'


Cons

-Your grandmother/mother may have had one (this can be a bonus though - they may want you to have one)
-could be considered a 'nanna' car as a result...but we all love our nannas
-doesn't handle as sharply as a mini (see above)
-people will ask you why (because everyone wants/has a mini...is a valid answer)
-not as 'cute' a mini

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1969 Morris 1100 S Automatic

ahhhh......the interior smell of an old British car....

nannas car = no chicks

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finally own one

Maybe, but they have a bench seat which is far far more comfortable than the buckets in a mini...and a backseat which is almost palatial in comparison

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1969 Morris 1100 S Automatic

ahhhh......the interior smell of an old British car....

ooo check and mate haha

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finally own one

hahaha i thought you had it there daneo

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'73 clubby s "cryo" - sold
Operation Evil Sesame Street!

pro's
Customisable - stripes, wheels, seats, mirrors, dashboards, roof decals etc etc
Timeless design
Better than the new ones
Chicks adore them - great for when the wife leaves you for spending too much time on the mini.
Random conversation starter at petrol stations
Feels good giving them constant attention and tlc.
Great for parking
Sneaking down half lanes between traffic and parked cars.
Wont depreciate
You get a new best friend in your local tow driver/trailer hire/mobile mechanic

cons
Too many customisation options.. gets expensive!
Random conversation starter at petrol stations = not good when late to work!
Wive's often dislike them due to constant attention and tlc and expenditure
Can break down when doing silly things like full throttle from standstill doing a u-turn..
one mini get's lonely in the garage.. often two are required..
have a habit of sitting around for years.. decades.. not moving very far..

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tim
68 Deluxe 1293, HIF44, megajolt/EDIS4, daihatsu alternator..

'a mini is for life, not just for christmas!'

Parts seem to be thought of as expensive, but no more so then the next car due to the availability of most mechanical parts

But like everyone else is saying it's more then just a car, its a love affair

but isn't the back seat wasted on stuff like picnic baskets.. straw hats.. tissue boxes.. touring maps..

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tim
68 Deluxe 1293, HIF44, megajolt/EDIS4, daihatsu alternator..

'a mini is for life, not just for christmas!'