Most importantly buy the best car you can afford to.

I knew very little about minis but saved up $7000 for my first mini. I got one that I've had for two years now and spent hardly much on. Pretty much just fuel/oil and a few cosmetics. I do all the maintenance myself and have learnt heaps from this forum.

If you buy someone elses "problem" you'll end up losing interest and being sour at the whole mini experience. Once you've had yours for a while and learnt more about them then buy a project or whatever. Once people know you have a mini they start to offer you their old one or parts they have in their shed or whatever mini stuff they had from when they were younger. Plenty of people love to tell you about their old cooper s.

After owning 4 Mini Coopers ( all rovers ) i would say it really comes down to what you are looking for. I have driven all over Europe and used mine as daily drivers over a 6 years period and they were 100% reliable.
If you are looking at a 60s/70s Mini, you will have to be prepared to fix or get things fixed as we are deeling will 30-40 year old cars and 50 year old technology.

I LOVE the look of an old skool 60s mini but simply dont have the know how to keep it in the order i want so prefer Rover Minis. They are alot more expensive ( excluding 60s Cooper S ) but drive like a fairly moden car and provided you give them LOTS of tlc will be fine with 90% of them.
That said, if you have one that has been an X Japanese car left outside...its still going to rust.....if its an X english car....better order a new shell with it or like looking at the road under your feet when you drive. but really.....if you love the look.....get the best one yu can afford and just love it and enjoy it ! We all do... Anyway...5,000,000 people cant ALL be wrong

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Its not the size that matters.........
Rover Mini Cooper 1993 spi - current
Rover Mini Cooper 1998 ( Tahti Blue/white)
Rover Mini Cooper 1992 ( Brg),1987 Mayfair

do it buy one and make it a clubbie everyone loves a good clubbie

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

I would but he's not my type

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Thats not what you said last night.

I bought my Mazda new 4 years ago.

I bought my 1988 Rover mini 3 years ago.

Excluding oil changes, on my Mazda I've replaced the;
1) Battery
2) Tyres
3) Front pads

Excluding oil changes, on my mini I've replaced the;
1) Battery
2) clutch slave cylinder
3) Headlight switch

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.

TART!!!!!

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Thats what you said last night.

Yes -would have to agree
The Club man is a mans Mini

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How many km's have you done in each though?

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

Happiness is a collapsed throw out bearing

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

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

A man's mini??????? but......i'm a girl...

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Ooooh -Very sorry about that!

How does Club woman sound

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Like a sex aid guide book for cavemen

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....which tells you the difference between bong, bonk and boink...

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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.