Hello everyone,

I have longed for a classic styled Mini for many years and am now finally making a move on one. Of course it took convincing my wife that we really need a Mini and of course they have great fuel efficiency, fun to drive and have an ultimate cool factor. She was sold.

The Mini will be a 3rd daily driver for us as we have two other cars that are for daily use, probably less than 10k/year on the mini. I am looking to purchase a complete car that has been sorted and isn't a true 'classic'. The deligma is between a 99' 40th Aniversary Mini/00' Final Edition TPFI with 2k-30k miles or a properly built vtec Mini that has been sorted. I have spoken to some of the top regarded Mini specialists that have been around for quite some time about vtec minis, and the consensus is that they are great weekend cars that are driven once in a while, but not really suited for daily use. Also, muliple sources mentioned that the handling balance of the mini is thrown off in a vtec car, it no longer handles like a factory mini. Our top criteria are: 1. Reliability/maintainance 2. balance/handling 3. must be able to retrofit A/C (I know vtec is no prob) 4. Fuel efficiency

I have many other high performance cars so the speed of the Mini isn't a requirement, I would rather have the car handle as best possible around turns, and be more reliable.

Thanks for your insight!

Jon

 

Jon,

Naturally a vtec Mini will handle differently from a standard Mini but not necessarily worse - that's a generalization. Weight is the same until you add A/C and other goodies (stuff you stated you want) - much of the suspension is stock in most of the conversions - the point may come down to 10's versus 13's AND being able to manage the power at the wheels that a vtec brings - smoking forth gear does create handling difficulties for sure.

I dare say the rear drive Z chassis vtec Mini might destroy the normal and fwd vtec through the course whether there is much straight away or not. How would one measure better handling anyway? What equipment versus what equipment on which track? Seems to be rather abstract to be included in a qualifying attribute for the purchase of a car. IMHO

Neither choices will compare with the reliability of a new Honda Civic. A vtec will give you Honda reliability on all parts Honda but the buck stops there. Many parts from Mini are reused and the point at which these two parts meet is often the demise and frustration of a vtec owner.

Mini on the other hand won't break pieces because of too much power / under engineering for the power. Mini's break because they were designed to be an inexpensive mode of transportation. Parts are cheap and cheaply made in many instances, especially knock off parts. The standard Mini will be easier to work on in many instances because the parts are not one off but not necessarily. The steering rack in a vtec for instance is a standard Mini part but is far easier to remove on a vtec than standard...but you get the idea. Standard gets the edge here IMHO.

This leaves point 3 & 4. That 40th Anniv car of which you speak may well have A/C. I've seen one with A/C from the twin point era so whether it was aftermarket or Rover, it's possible to get A/C in a standard, too. (who are we kidding, '32 Ford's can get sweet A/C systems now - just gotta pay)

Fuel efficiency is like the handling question - lots of variables. Both cars tend to be driven with more pedal than one uses driving a Buick LeSabre, for example but IMHO, I'd give the edge to the standard - especially the 998.

There's a Texan on this forum with a beautiful S for sale that has everything but A/C which can be fitted if you are willing to spend the money. There also was a guy with a vtec on this forum for sale. Minitec has a shop car that if you called and offered to buy, I would be suprised if they didn't sell to you straight away. Mini Mania has a ton of listings, too.

Hope my 2 cents helps.

Best wishes to you.

 

If you weant a real Mini I'd go for the 99 MPI over the VTEC, expecisally if you want a daily driver.

OR, you can save yourself probably $5K-$7K on what you'll likely pay for the '99 and get a slightly older, carbed Mini and have lots of extra cash for customization. Carbed Minis are a lot easier to diagnose and work on too, from eveerything I've read on multiple Mini forums. I say that with the caveat of course that if you're used to working on cars and have electronic ignition diagnostic equipment that you should be OK - the MPI cars are only really tough to diagnose by shade-tree guys like me.

 

Hey I'm from Texas. I have an S. Its always for sale. It is fast. No A/C.
Vtec is for sale too. Always will be.
How about you buy both of mine and then drive them both and decide which one suits you better. Sounds like a good plan to me. I take pay pal.

I am a problem solver from way back.....

travis

 

Buy a late model Mini with A/C already in it. Save yourself a lot of grief and extra expense. Look at the ads on Minimania and talk to some dealers who advertise what you look for. Mini Obsession/River House have imported many of that type.

As far as a VTEC. I wouldn't go there myself. Many are often for sale shortly after they're built. I think the late model Mini best meets the set of criteria you have.

 

BTW - If you wanted a clear and known baseline on a standard Mini, Norm of Mini Creations in the forum could restore one for you and you'd have the baseline for maintenance and know exactly what you were getting. Just a thought...

 

Thank you everyone for the info and feedback. I am currently on a search to find a 40th Aniversary or Last Edition with A/C. There were a few cars available recently that have been sold, so time and patience will be needed to find the right car. Ultimately, I would like to find a complete car with a/c already, although there are a couple people that have mentioned they can source & fit the proper a/c kit to the mini. This seems like possibly being troublesome, that is why I am looking for a complete car.

 

thing is, good luck shipping a 95+ year mini into the states.

 

There are some already in the states. Be patient and have $$$ ready.

 

There was a 40th available here in Charlotte a couple years back that had >3k miles on it. Car looked liked it had just rolled out of the showroom. If I had the available funds at the time....
They are around just take your time.

 

Yes, importing it is going to be practically impossible, as the usual trick of "re-VINning" a late-model car with an early-model VIN plate generally doesn't work with such a new car - the inspectors pop the bonnet and see the ECU, AC compressor and modern electricals and the jig is, as they say, up. Purchacing such a car already in the States is going to cost you boucoup cash - I wouldn't be surprised of one costs you as much mor more as TWO carbed Minis in supurb shape.

But, I know how it is... the heart wants what the heart wants... Best of luck to you!

 

I have found a SPI 96' Monte Carlo with a/c, but the car has 50k miles, although has been gone through thoroughly with a recent full maintenance. How reliable are the SPI cars? Importing a car is not a big deal through Riverhouse, the problem is finding a car with a/c. I have someone looking for me at Mini fest East this weekend, hopefully there will be a mini for sale that fits the bill. I really am looking for a showroom condition mini, patience is a virtue. Frrom what I see the Japan market late model cars were the only ones that were fitted with a/c.

 

I see tons of posts on UK Mini forums asking for help with diagnosing SPI snd MPI engine issues. I think if you have the right tools and the experience with diagnosing an injected engine, then they are no more or less troublesome than a carbed engine, but if you DON'T have the right tools then it's harder. Carbs aren't as sexy, but mechanically they're easier to understand than an electronic "black box", and you have to keep in mind that it's very likely that you'll be doing most of not all of your own maintenance. I'd check in your local area and see of any of the local club members have experience with the MPI/SPI engines and have things like the right ECU code reader.

 

Check the availability of a code reader in the US - nil?
What about a replacement ECU? Sensors? I thought they were getting scarce in the UK as they've been out of production for eight years now....

Not to rain on your parade, I too am curious on what support is available for injected Minis?