I have been becoming more and more interested in owning one of the classic Mini Coopers. I am afriad to go and buy one though because I don't know what to expect if I got one. Please help. I already own an 07 Mini Cooper S.

 

Expect the unexpected.

Seriously though...

Expect the electrical to be unpredictable.

Expect it to be rusty under the paint.

Expect it to not start for no apparent reason.

Expect it to leak oil.

Expect to be told "YOUR DRIVIN’ ON THE WRONG SIDE" if it's an RHD.

Expect to be asked what the MPG is and how fast it will go.

Expect to attract attention.

Expect to put more money into it than you will ever get out.

 

Expect to have a permanent grin on your face when you drive it.

Seriously, you'll need to have a little wrench bending skill or a good britcar mechanic - or both. Buy a car from someone you can trust - like the posters on this board!

 

STLMINI did a great job but I'll add:

Expect it to ride rougher than your '07.

Expect to die while driving it if hit by any object larger than a motorcycle.

Expect to hear all of the mechanical operations of the vehicle.

Expect the steering wheel to be nearly vertical to the floor like a VW bus.

Expect the doors to sound clangy when shutting.

Expect your foot to touch gas and brake when aiming for brake if wearing big shoes.

That'll do.

 

Oh yeah! That too!

 

Classic Minis are pure mechanical machines. You can feel and hear everything going on in the car. No power steering means you can feel the road. The gear change rod is a physical link to the transmission (no cables here) so you can feel the gears moving. The stiff suspension bumps you around. In the end it is basically a big go-kart. If you like to know what makes a car tick, the Classic Mini is perfect. You are one with the car.

First impressions you will have the first time you drive it:
It is loud.
You know how you felt like you were driving a go-kart the first time you drove your new MINI? Prepare to feel that all over again and your new MINI will now feel like a Buick.
The turn signal is on the wrong side of the wheel.
The mirrors are worthless, but with a quick glance you can see every corner of the car.
It is peppy, but not as fast as you would think. Even with a 1275cc and light weight, it still takes a good 12 seconds to get to 60.

Living with the Mini every day:
It leaks oil. Keep at least 2 spare quarts with you at all times and check it every few weeks.
It probably won't like the cold depending on how good the engine is.
People will stare. People will wave. People will try to talk to you while driving even though you can't hear them. They will take pictures (while driving). They will magically appear every time you park the car in a public place and ask you the same twenty questions.
You will hear the following jokes: Does it have a lawnmower engine? My wheelbarrow has bigger tires. Where do you get parts for it, the lawnmower store?
Drive thrus are a problem
You always will have a smile on your face.
A fill up only costs $15.

Things to know:
You will always be buying parts for it. Something will always break.
It is not geared well for the highway. At 70 mph the engine will be screaming along at 4000-4500 RPM.
Drive it like you would a motorcycle. Pretend that no one will see you. It is a big tin can, and you don't want to be in an accident.
Parts are hard to find locally, but easy to find on the internet. It is not in any of the major parts store's computers.
The back seat has more leg room than your new MINI.
It is a blast to drive.

Don't drive one unless you are committed to buying one. You will be addicted in minutes.

 

Expect it to be a BIG expensive toy!

 

I think cube summed it up best...

In spite of the horror stories and the fact that Minis are 50 year old technology, they are simply FUN to the nth degree! But, being primitive places it in the realm of the average person to do most, if not all, of their own maintenance. Once brought up to standards, most Minis will run happily along for thousands of miles. All parts are readily available and not too unreasonable.

Do not expect creature comforts like A/C (altho some have it). Expect to occasionaly smell like fuel/exhaust/oil....Expect to actually feel what driving is like..with all your senses.

Since you have a primary car, a Mini will make an excellent weekend car if you are willing to tolerate it shortcomings when compared to newer cars.

 

Expect it to have Enlgish technology! or lack there of.

expect it stain your driveway.

 

Can't add much to what's already been said, except to say that all of the things about constantly having to work on the car are true, but it really IS a "labor of love" if you have the right mindset. I love driving my Mini as a daily driver in the warm months, highway and all, and get thumbs-up, grins and people swerving around as they snap pictures of me with cell phone cameras every single day. This makes all the work well worth it for me.

I like the rumble and noise of the Mini - it's a welcome departure form the plush luxury of the new MINI, but I'm glad that it's not my only car - I think I'd be stressed if I was worried about it getting me places reliably every single day. I've not had ANY engine issues (crosses fingers) other than a pulled-out rod-change seal - which I replaced myself, thank you very much - and since switching to Castrol "High Mileage" standard oil (NOT SYNTHETIC!!!!) I've had almost no engine oil leaks.

Also, keep in mind that the mini has basically minimal safety equipment compared to the new MINI, so the more you drive it, the greater your mathematical probility that you'll be in an accident. In a world filled with distracted soccer-moms in huge SUVs, I worry all the time about getting rear-ended or T-boned, but I take the same mental attitude as I do when I'm on my motorcycle : they're actively out to hit me so it's my job to avoid them. Spares you heartache, anyway...

Thhe last thing I can say is expect a long search for the right car. I literally looked for months after I'd decided to buy a classic, and had no less than 3 cars I was making offers on bought from underneath me as I did all the due diligence and asked for photos and then sent endless questions. Do yourself a favor and print out the Buyer's Guide stickied at the top of the forum, read it well so you know where the "trouble spots" are and then bring the checklist with you when you inspect the car. Last, make use of the forum people here for questions - there are literally decades of experience on all aspects of Mini maintenance and ownership on here, and everyone's very willing to give advice. I got a LOT of help from folks here, which I attribute to my very reliable classic. Use this resource well, and have the patience to get a car that matches your mechanical skill, your free time and money commitment and, most importantly, your enthusiasm level. We'll be happy to have you along for our Sunday drives.


Best of luck on your decision, if you choose to join the classic Mini family.

 

Expect to asked to participate in lots of parades. Nothing (well ALMOST nothing) beats the sight of a bunch of Clown Cars motoring together in a parade. Great Fun.

 

Non car people just won't "get it". My whole family thinks I'm crazy because I sold my reliable and comfortable Rav4 to buy a loud, stinky, bumpy EXPENSIVE Mini.

 

I agree with what everyone has said... just remember you can put a Mini and a MINI in one garage bay. That was how I could talk my wife into the purchase before she drove it- now when the weather is nice I can't get the keys out of her hands (she drives an S2000 as her daily driver) it is that much fun.

 

S2000 / Mini / MINI - do you guys have any serious car?



Great garage.

 

umm... I don't think the word "serious" has ever been used to describe me.

 

Minis is serious business....

 

SERIOUSLY AWESOME!

 

Expect to curse the name Lucas.

It's not a MINI to be sure. You will have to fix things.

You will have to fix things that previoius owners "fixed".

You will have to deal with leaking oil.

You will need to have a SERIOUS look for rust prior to purchase or regret it later. Ask a local with a Mini to join you.

I love and hate mine, but as I still have her obviously the little pain in my **** is worth all the trouble in beating her into shape.

Now on the topic of "serious". There are no dealers, no warantee, no ready to replace off the shelf parts, no end to the # of sub-types to make shopping for parts a pain, and no end to what you will have to do to keep one on the road.

This is true of most vintage cars, with the Mini it is compounded by being in the US and not having parts on hand quite as easily as in the UK.

That said, I still love mine.

 

this is all very helpful- but its just seems like fun! hard work= lots of fun!!!

thanks and sorry for the bump

 

I'd like to add that with the internet being so full of places to look for parts, that repairing/re-building a Mini from the ground up is what I would consider very possible.

Expensive to some degree, yes, but try doing the same thing with any other classic American car and once you figure in the cost of doing the same, and the return for your efforts, Me thinks the Mini is worth sooo much more.

I'm also happy to say that the one oil leak I had was quickly repaired and only due to the prior owners sub standard repair of the same area.

These cars are great fun and worth every penny. I doubt some of the coolest American iron can turn as many heads in a day as a Mini.

 

Compared to other classic cars: British, Italian, French, German, or American, it is one of the most drive-able cars for the buck. You can enter it in pretty much any vintage rally/driving events and beat most of the cars. I've run mine in events with pre war Bentleys, XKE Jags, and 300sl Mercedes gull wings. I believe they are one of the only cars you can take it to vintage shows, hot rod shows, and even tuner shows, with everyone giving lots of enthusiasm. If you get an Innocenti, you can even enter it in the Councorso Italiano in Monterey. MiniMeets are a ton of fun too, as the comroderie is even greater than that of the new mini.

 

You will want to make sure you have a garage to park it in. I think mine would have rusted away if it had been kept outside. Concur with all that's been said. They are great little cars.

 

very true, or if you dont have one, at least a shed to cover it and a cover to cover the car

 

Yeah, I've got mine under a very nice breathable cover now, and will have a garage for permanent residence once the respray is complete.

 

I haven't seen the one thing I get all the time my my '63 Cooper...

"Expect to hear little kids shout "Mr Bean" as you drive by"

The classic Minis do vary quite a bit. My '63 with original rear window seals (ROCK HARD...were they ever rubber?) rattles and thumps at every road imperfection. Later cars had better noise control.

Expect to have fun buying new tires (10" rims)

Expect to have it called a Honda (old 600cc Civic) or even Trabant

Expect to have people follow you across a parking lot to see if you can fit in the car (I'm 6'1"... and the car is roomy)

Expect the most fun at the posted speed limit.

Expect to have even police officers give you a thumbs up.


Cheers,

Jim
Dallas