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I know you're excited but make sure you thoroughly think through your route home and have a backup plan when the classic doesn't want to have any part of the long trip home.
You will want to have a AAA membership handy and the U-Haul number on speed dial just in case. Mainly because you probably won't be able to find parts locally for an emergency repair.
You are going to be running the engine at high revs just to try to keep up with the cars and trucks that are whizzing by at 80 mph.
I'm not trying to rain on your parade here but you don't really know what you're getting into with the car and should plan accordingly. This trip will be hard on a classic that is in the best of shape.
If you drive it, you can pick up some spares for the road from Dion at djminis.com. He is located in Wesley Chapel just N of Tampa. He could also give your car a once-over before setting out. Check hoses, belt, tires, brakes, etc...
I find that I just drive at my own speed (65mph) in the right lane. Don't even try to keep up. It is hard on your car and adds tons of stress to an otherwise pleasurable experience.
If you run into any problems on the way back, there are Mini owners on your way who will be glad to help out. They're in Atlanta, TN, OH, etc... You can always link up with them & advice at www.minimania.com message threads.
There is some good advice posted on transporting your new mini home. There are a lot of variables and everyone here is excited for you and just wants you to get home with the same level of excitement.
I bought my mini from someone in Georgia after it was imported from England. I was living in NE Ohio at the time. I flew down to Atlanta and picked it up in the airport parking lot and drove back over 2 days.
The guy I was buying it from believed that it would make it with no problems. Part of their business was based on doing all necesssary maintenance and cleaning up good condition minis before selling them. He had trailered it from the port city and had not driven it any great distance and suggested the best option was to trailer it. He new i was going to drive so he checked over some key areas and made up a care package for the trip.
Do not believe your gas guage to begin with. The car does not hold alot of gas and I stopped after 100 miles to top off and get a feel for the gas guage before I ran it down. My guage was not very linear and I opted to gas up on the safe side. In fact, at times my gas gauge was just under half at close to empty
I put together a care kit for the ride - a few basic tools, antifreeze, water, oil, belt, jumper cables, carb cleaner. All the hoses were new. There are some folks on this board that could give you some ideas.
Bottom-line on my first stop I had lost over a quart of oil. I was adding oil every 100 miles for the trip. Oil leak was not severe enough to stop the trip home. I stayed in a hotel overnight and could not start the car cold the next morning. The battery was marginal and I had to get a jump to get going. Alternator was OK so the battery recharged enough to get me going.
I ran 60-65 heading home. Mine is a '79 998cc - at this speed the car seemed to run well. Going up through the mountains in TN was a treat! Its a longer trip in a mini than many other cars. My book on tape (no radio in the car) kept me going
I love my mini - you will love yours! Mine was orange - now going to be Island blue....
Not to hijack the thread, but your height raises a couple of questions. I am 6' 4". I have installed seat extenders and recline the seat a tad for head clearance. My steering wheel is 15" and it is a little tight getting in. What size wheel do you use? Have you found any other seat mounting options for us vertically challenged mini owners.
Nothing better than watching someone's epxression as a tall driver pops out of a classic....
I find that I just drive at my own speed (65mph) in the right lane. Don't even try to keep up. It is hard on your car and adds tons of stress to an otherwise pleasurable experience.
That's why I suggested to plan your route accordingly. I was coming through tampa on I-4 to I-275 to cross the bay somewhat near rush hour and I had cars weaving in and out of the right lane to get around me. It's very frustrating.
Not to hijack the thread, but your height raises a couple of questions. I am 6' 4". I have installed seat extenders and recline the seat a tad for head clearance. My steering wheel is 15" and it is a little tight getting in. What size wheel do you use? Have you found any other seat mounting options for us vertically challenged mini owners.
Nothing better than watching someone's epxression as a tall driver pops out of a classic....
i think mine was a 13" and i dont suggest the steering wheel drop if your tall, dont get me wrong, it is a little more of a challange when you are tall but you can get in a get comfy, a decent set of seats help as well......
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my favorite site for classic mini restorations: www.minicreations.net
Thanks all for the advice. I've been reading up on here a lot, and had figured I would either do 65mph and make that my limit or find State Roads with lower speeds...I'm glad you guys are pitching in, cause I do want to make it home for Christmas The oil issue was another thing I was going to address (checking every time I fill up). The gas gauge issue was something I would not have thought about. I'll be taking lots of pictures, and will be sure to document my experience the whole way home.
Question, do Mini's of this age have temp gauges, oil pressue, etc? Does it vary depending upon what type of Mini you get? Also, is there a website with information on every year of Mini (available options, colors, etc...)? Thank you!
That's why I suggested to plan your route accordingly. I was coming through tampa on I-4 to I-275 to cross the bay somewhat near rush hour and I had cars weaving in and out of the right lane to get around me. It's very frustrating.
Thanks all for the advice. I've been reading up on here a lot, and had figured I would either do 65mph and make that my limit or find State Roads with lower speeds...I'm glad you guys are pitching in, cause I do want to make it home for Christmas The oil issue was another thing I was going to address (checking every time I fill up). The gas gauge issue was something I would not have thought about. I'll be taking lots of pictures, and will be sure to document my experience the whole way home.
Question, do Mini's of this age have temp gauges, oil pressue, etc? Does it vary depending upon what type of Mini you get? Also, is there a website with information on every year of Mini (available options, colors, etc...)? Thank you!
How far is this "85 year old grandma" driving to get to Apple's house? If that woman can drive it and make it in one piece I have faith that you will be golden! We've got laptops and Blackberries and all that other technology that she probably doesn't have. Now if it wasn't an 85 year old grandma driving it and it was just delivered to a port or on a flatbed I would be concerned and probably wouldn't risk it. (Well ok, I still might .)
LOL, true. I still don't plan on pushing it and stopping frequently. Not sure how far the drive will be for this lady to bring it down to Apple, but it doesn't sound like they live in the same town... I've been reading that even a 998 will cruise at 65-70 without pushing itself...Do the bigger motors just offer more torque? I just made the trek from Tampa to home driving my sisters new GLI, and don't remember really bad inclines in the mountains on the way home. I'm sure I'll notice them in the Mini though Ugh, I feel like I'm waiting for an early Christmas!!! It's horrible...I'm so excited.
LOL, true. I still don't plan on pushing it and stopping frequently. Not sure how far the drive will be for this lady to bring it down to Apple, but it doesn't sound like they live in the same town... I've been reading that even a 998 will cruise at 65-70 without pushing itself...Do the bigger motors just offer more torque? I just made the trek from Tampa to home driving my sisters new GLI, and don't remember really bad inclines in the mountains on the way home. I'm sure I'll notice them in the Mini though Ugh, I feel like I'm waiting for an early Christmas!!! It's horrible...I'm so excited.
I have some books here that I read through during our flight to Houston to pick up our latest '08 PW MCSC and I thought I remembered that the 998 was actually a pretty powerful engine. Anyway, no reason to push... you've just gotten a FREE Mini! Enjoy. I am so jealous... umm... I mean HAPPY for YOU! Maybe we should all meet up with you to oogle over your car and then send you on your way.
I hope one day to get a Riley Elf.
Funny, I'm watching the Bucs play the Saints and a commercial just came on with an old school video style of a kid on his BIG WHEEL... and he was so excited... he couldn't think of it ever getting any better than that. Of course it was a Lexus commercial, but still... the excitement was fitting!
Yes they will do 65 - 70 mph but once you get up there you don't have much acceleration at all and even smaller hills will drop you down 5 to 10 mph. It sometimes is tough to get on at shorter on ramps cause you can't get up to speed fast enough.
As for the gauges some had oil and coolant temp some did not. Just keep the rad. full and you probably won't have any overheating problems this time of year anyway.
The oil issue was another thing I was going to address (checking every time I fill up). The gas gauge issue was something I would not have thought about. I'll be taking lots of pictures, and will be sure to document my experience the whole way home.
