Ok i'm thinking about this.
Me and Chris were talking about it, from when I was driving about 100km/h i said "It sits on 100 quite nicely" it started from there.
About how long does it take to get to Melbourne?
Is it likely that I will break down?
What are the ESSENTIALS to take?
Would you advise AGAINST it? - I just want to do it for the experience.
Does it really hammer the crap out of your car?

If i do it, it will be in the school holidays... and i'll see all you Mini blokes too

Let me know.
Oh, and which Route is the best to take? Blonde/brunette?
I mean which roads

For a good route....try here....http://www.travelmate.com.au/Home/Home.asp

100km/h i said "It sits on 100 quite nicely" it started from there.

100 clicks for hours on end is better than reving the crap out the little thing!!

About how long does it take to get to Melbourne?

depends on where you start from!! see smart trip above ans it will give you time and distance

Is it likely that I will break down?

Only if you haven't looked after it or prepared it for the trip...like any car!


What are the ESSENTIALS to take?

Water....for the driver!! first aid kit, a small tool bag..plugs, points, fanbelt, cable ties, a rag, spare fuel tank (with fuel)

Would you advise AGAINST it? - I just want to do it for the experience.

Hell no!! I drove from Sydney to Cairns and back when I was your age laddie!!!

Does it really hammer the crap out of your car?

Quite possibly...but they do get over it!!!

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"Show me the Mini!"

in what ways would you prepare the car, like mechanically, u mean just like topping the car up on fuel and water, that sort of stuff?

Haha go for it, you know you want to

It'll do it no probs if it's mechanically sound and havn't had many problems..

I'd also DEFINATELY be taking a bottle of oil

Twista, top up and check all the cars vital fluids, battery water if it isn't sealed, oil, brake/clutch fluid, adjust the front/rear drums, top up with coolant if required or flush the system, change your plugs/air filters/oil filter/oil before the trip, take some spares as 9Y said...

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

OIL...OIL is the best mechanic!!!! and not the cheapest you can find either AND a nice new filter. If the car is running like a dog round town...then guess what run it hard for several hours and....

a miracle might happen and you blow all the cobwebs out and it spins like a top...OR

it will self destruct becuase it is running lean etc Get a toon-up!!

Ya got good tyres?? will they last the distance?
Ya got good brakes?? will they last the distance? are they cleaned and adjusted up??

GREASE how long has it been since it saw a grease gun!!

WATER for the driver!! and is your radiator full of sludge and you don't really know what sort of anti-freese/anti-boil charge it has in it??

HOSES how old whack new ones on Got the bypass hose under the head how old is it

AIR cleaner...nice and clean??
FUELFILTER...nice and clean??

SUSPENSION ain't so critical...but if you have a broken shock/suspenson unit and you take off on a long trip then....like hey!!!

FANBELT...how old...really old?? ditch it but remember a new belt stretches ...so put it on a week before you go then check the tension

.......your car ill tell you if it is ready to go interstate...if you feel worried about going across three suburbs...then it ain't in any condition for sustained high speed driving!!!

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"Show me the Mini!"

Prep = Service, tune, lube, check rubber is ok etc etc. Just make sure the car is roadworthy and it'll be fine.

From the toll gate to outer suburbs of Melbourne is 8 - 8:30 hours driving time on the speed limit via direct route. Add stops and time to traverse the suburbs at either end. Add a bit more if not going direct route.

Break down likely? How often do you break down normally?

Essentials = Money, Mobile Phone, RAA card.

Advise against it? - No, but I'd not go the direct route if your just after the experience. The main road is a bugger for traffic and is worse during school Hols.

If your going over - time it with one of the vic club's events and you may be able to get a few SA cars to join you on the trip. More fun and backup of others in convoy.

Cheers for all the advice. It makes me

The car is in good condition... loves it thru the hills and went to Victor Harbour like a dream. I'll get it serviced and tuned (thoroughly) a week or so before i go.
Tire pressures! U guys forgot that

I've never had any real mechanical problems with the car, I think i managed to get a good one

i did it in the 850 van the day i got my p's

you'll be fine
i find giving the car a breather every 3 hours or so was good. sitting at 100kph for 10 minutes, isn't a real guage.
u need to sit at 100kph for a few hours ie melbourne.
if u have raa card then u'll be fine no matter what problems u encounter.


i broke down.
my exhaust mount broke.. lol.
then after we remounted it the bush mechanics way the exhaust arched on the starter motor wires (push botton). those types of things u can't exactly plan for.


tell me when ur going i'd like to tag behind. (hopefully the mr2 )

should be fine, minis are real cars not just toys after all.

dont forget earplugs.

Yes earplugs.

It'll make your LOUD exhaust more bareable, and you'll be able to hear some "other" noises. Done that trip with a LOUD exhaust twice before

Dont forget that highway patrols can defect you too My bro got pulled over twice in 2kms in his datto 1600.... the cops pulled EVERYTHING out of his car both times (drug search, no drugs).... he had to put it all back in himself. Stupid pigs.

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[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

go for it willy road trips are one of the most fun things you can do when your a young chap... you may find some new routes on the way.

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No longer Ms Westwoods mini outside her original kings road shop

for the experience, it's gotta be great ocean road. nothing beats it.

Ah memories My first ever long trip in a Mini was Melbourne to Adelaide -1967- took just over 7 hours and when I got there I called the RAA cause I was getting electric shocks off the car - my first encounter with static

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

hey willy dont you work at bickworxs ???
donmt you think ya boss would tell you if it could do it or not ??
spam spam spam
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".

you've got a good list going there willy, I'll add:

check your wheel bearings - pull them apart and repack them with fresh grease, driving for that long, old and crusty grease will cook and you'll sieze a wheel, boil your brake fluid, or something... not pretty...

make sure your hub nuts are tight and have split pins in them

and if you're gonna load it up with stuff, the back-end will be lower, watch for humps in the middle of the road cos they'll rip your muffler off

Last Hay trip I did a thrust bearing on the way home, it was 3 days old... I didn't have a spring from the arm to the slave cylinder, make sure you've got one cos otherwise you've gotta get good at matching revs when changing gears with no clutch pedal

whenever I do a trip up to Hay or whatever, I chuck everything I can possibly think of in my toolbox cos I know that if something breaks, I won't have the tool that I need to fix it - take everything and nothing breaks.

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?