reciently i re broke my wrist in a motorcycle accident ( gotta love FMX) and while i've been off work i've been seriously thinkin about selling the econovan and gettin either a mini (gotta be a culbbie) or an F100 butt i'm just wondering do minis need a little more TLC than usual, it'll be a daily driver and cop the odd trip to lithgow and back just about every week, will i constantly be forking out $$$$ left right and center just to keep it on the road? and are there any constant problems that'll need fixing more than others?

and can it be fitted with a towball to pull a single bike trailer, or pull a trailer at all?

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if its broken fix it, if you cant fix it replace it

If your looking at a late clubbie you gotta remember it's still about 20 years old..

Alot of guys here use their's as a daily driver, I am one of them.. I make a 80k round trip almost daily, not to mention the long drives on a weekends, this mini gets driven..

It will have problems, but in 3 years i've only been stranded twice (unable to get it going again)..both recently..one required a complete rebuild of the motor when i stripped a few teeth of the pinion wheel, the other when I blew a shitty copper gasket on the new motor..

Other than that i'd trust it fine, sure there are things that go wrong, I've had a coil go this year along with a starter motor..not to mention the hole i now have in the exhaust..not a good start to the year but i love her

I've taken it up the coast regularly, been to the hunter valley, down to wakefield park/track day and it's never missed a beat..

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

pends how you drive.
if you get in and try to pull 6500RPM each change in traffic,and never check the vitals,chances are she wont last long,
i would suggest getting one as late as you can,and be nice to it,should be fine

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BRICKWORX RACING
872-874 South Rd
Edwardstown
SA 5039
PH: 8297 9494
FAX: 8297 7133

I don't think age has that much to do with it, there are plently of older 60's roundnoses going around with better mechanicals than clubbies (and vice versa), just find one that has been restored and try and take someone with you who knows minis, or ask someone on here to go with you

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

get yourself a late model rover...

try brickworx or ozcooper

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like all cars they like mantinance
yes you can tow with them have a mate that pulls a trailer with a big generator and mig and other stuff
and they use 1\10th the fuel of a gass guzzling pos f100
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

i'm not worried about having stuff go wrong with it just as along as its not an every week thing where my account gets empty'd, my vans only just done it exhaust after close to 300 000k's, as for just neglecting it theres no chance of that i've wanted one since i was 10 (jesus been another 10yrs already), thrashing it theres no chance, yeah ok i put my foot down when i have to but i dont redline my car from stop light to stop light or put on smoke shows at the maccanats
i'm just tired of the van i dont ride as much so theres not much point having it, my old mans spewin about the idea of selling it but thats only cause he likes driving it more than i do

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if its broken fix it, if you cant fix it replace it

You wouldn't be talking about smithy would you makka??

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

i got my mini minor as my first car for $500 in 1990, i painted it, redid the front subframe, put a new 998 engine and gearbox init, plus the usual tyres and brakes maintenance over a 10 year period during which it was my daily driver. half that period i was at uni with a meagre income. still had enough money to party, get a motorbike, even eat!

i only had it towed once, when the old 850 crapped out. lost a few generators till i got sick of that and put an alternator in. one generator went on the way to my parents place at Narooma, but i only got as far as Nowra. Had to spend a couple of hours asleep in the mini (not comfortable) till my dad came and rescued me. we had to go back to Nowra next day to get another generator, as there was a mini specialist there at the time.

During that time i traded in mini parts with people i knew, as everyone in the mini car club and here on ausmini does now, so the costs were pretty low. i even swapped a pair of 1.25 SUs for a set of Cooper S discs ( i still think that was my best swap). A lot of new parts are available that are not too expensive, especially compared to other more modern cars, and they are so simple you can work on it yourself.

i would make sure that whatever mini you get has a good engine and gearbox, as that is where you would spend the most money. if the seller won't let you do a compression test, then find another car. then if you maintain it, you will have a very cool reliable daily driver.

michael

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Well summed up Mick. I would add one more thing. Join the mini Club. There is a heap of people who will answer any question you have and help you out any way they can - much like the people on here.

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

yup talking bout smithy
he also used to carry rsj's on the roof of his van

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cut it out young fella.

(only makka will get that reference)

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

now lets just draw a diagrame here young fella now what i do with me engerners chalk ........ fair go
haw haw haw haw
smithy is a classic and a top bloke
makka

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thats one thing i was planning on doin for sure

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if its broken fix it, if you cant fix it replace it

I've got a '78 mini which I've used nearly everyday for the last two years on a 70 km return trip to work everyday, its only had a few minor problems in that time, all in the last 6 months , a head gasket , and an alternator, Tony