G'day everyone,

I am new to this forum! Now that I have passed the age of 30 I have decided that it is time for the Mini I have wanted since I was 12. I am currently a VW nut, I have owned four of em, restored two, and am a diesel truck nut as well. I am looking to purchase a mini when I get home from Iraq (where I am at now with my National Guard unit). What years are the good ones, certain models? I want a project, but I would like a complete car. ANy help would be great, thanks,

Dodger

 

This is a good place to start.
http://www.minimania.com/ClassDealers.cfm

Just some words of advice. Mini's need lots of love and attention and drive one before you buy- there not like any other car on the road.

 

I am looking forward to all the headaches they have to offer! I am one of the few people who enjoy a good mechanical nightmare. After so many years of classic Volkswagens I need a new challenge!

 

First, THANKS for your service!!!!!

This link also may help in your decision. (BTW great! car!!! I have a 2009 S with JCW rotors and suspension add-ons)

 

another member of NAMM with the fever.....lol...there is no medicine for this epademic virus except the actual purchaing and owning a classic...lol...good luck and dont let it ruin a marrage...lol

 

AMEN TO THAT!

 

Like jmusic said, thank you for your service.

I hope you make it home safely and find the Mini / MINI of your dreams!

 

Dodger,

Look into Overseas Car Purchases they sometimes can get you a great deal on a new car and I have heard of people getting Mini's thru them. As for what year is a good year? In my opinion having owned an 04 MC, 07 MC and an 08 MCS each year has its advantages and disadvantages; when I first got my R56 08 it was extremely hard to find any after market parts. Now lots of aftermarket parts are available and MODs are possible. I have no regrets getting the "S" and finding advice and information thru NAM is a great resource. Look into your local area for a "CLUB" as it is cool having one Mini going down the road however when you get several going to a destination it is awesome . From one service member to another keep it real and be safe.

 

+1
Thank You for Your Service!!

 

Whats your price tag? Pretty much everything you would ever need to bring a real heap back to life can be purchased, but your still into a few grand for a complete, pile of junk.

In my opinion its much better to buy a nicer car for 2 grand more now (or save your money up for a few months) than to buy a cheaper car and put two grand into it in parts. Even if you don't care about your labor in fixing the cheaper car at the end of the day you will have a nicer more solid car with the car that's in nicer shape to start with.

Look at as many for sale listings as you possibly can before you buy one. It's a good way to see what you like and what the problem areas are. You won't find two alike and every mini has a different story to go with it.

 

Let me join the others and express a big THANK YOU for what you are doing for all of us. Wish you a quick and safe return.

Get your hands on a Consumer Reports and they list the frequency of repair records for most cars by year broken down by category. It kinda provides an indication of where the problem areas are for each year model. They publish this every April but you can get it on line.

I have had my first MINI for 6 months and still look for excuses to take it on drives - FUN CAR!!

Good luck!!

 

Thanks everyone for the advice, and I have been looking at every ad I can find. I have even emailed a few people about em. I have three months left till I come home, so I have time to learn all the different years and what to look out for. I knowI will be getting one (the wife already said ok) it is just a matter of what one to get. I would like one that is already stateside and complete. I don't mind tracking down a few parts, but from experience it is just better to have a complete car to start with. Since this will not be my first classic, nor the oldest car I have ever had, I don't mind the challenge. I look forward to the story that what ever car I get has to offer.

Dodger,

To all of you who offered thanks for my service, I thank you for your support, we need it!

 

If its a classic you're wanting, look closely at the candidates - don't but sight unseen. Expect to find rust. They all rust. Expect to find patches (either welded or Bondo) that cover rust. Plan on storing your Mini in a covered area (i.e. a garage). This will allow you to work on it (a lot) and protect it from the elements. It may also allow you a cheaper insurance rate (Hagerty for example). Frequent this site and the MiniMania forum - Lots of expertise on both that can help you. Also, get books - Haynes: Workshop Manual, Restoration Manual, Owners Repair Manual are all good, required reading.

Keep your head down. Come home in one piece.

 

I agree with the complete car just because there are little bits here and there that add up to a fortune to find as parts. By parts though I mainly mean sheet metal panels. You are going to need a few repair panels no matter what kind of project you get. Pretty much any visible rust you see on the body will require a patch or a repair panel. The metal is too thin and alot of the rust comes from the inside out. I probably have at least a grand into panels and welding supplies myself.

If theres any cars you have specific interest in post pics or a link. Alot of the people here who have been through the same buying/restoring process can pick out problem areas.

 

Ditto on Stratman's comments. I recently started a rust removal and abatement job on mine. Bought a welder (necessary for any serious Mini owner - the cars should come equipped with one) and am learning to remove rust, weld body panels. undercoat, etc.
Another thought - whatever $ you put into the car, don't expect to get that money back when you sell it. Sad, but this a labor of love; you rarely hear of someone who has successfully 'flipped' a Mini.

 

Dodger just found a link that might be of interest;

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ssic-mini.html

 

Welcome! the Classic Minis are great. The best (or worst part depending on how you look at) is people always want to ask you about the car. Every time im out someone talks to me or waves or thumbs up me. Drivers of older British Cars wave and New Minis as well.Its great. Stratman and Shorn said it best. They all rust and have problems. I went and looked at 5 in person, each had its own problems. I looked at a really great running 1997 with bad rust problems! a 92 that from pics looked really nice, Went to look and the owners just let sit and rust outside, i popped the bonnet and found a huge rat! No thanks Minis have enough electrical problems with out rats helping. I found a winner on the 6th tho and even it has rust and needs parts updated but is very drivable/reliable. And on my next one ill look for things that i have learned from this one. The biggest thing i have found is parts are hard to get LOCALLY. Most common things like oil, oil filters, spark plugs and im assuming wires etc. are readily available, but i haven't found a nice correct air filter in stock, i grabbed a Mr. Gasket filter for now that fits ok at best. You cant just walk in and ask for Mini parts because they only have the New Minis in the system so forums like this and others will be of tremendous help for part numbers and alternate options for the parts. Also the tire shops around here couldn't get ANY 13in tires, So i had to order them up, but that just a warning and depends on if you have 13in wheels to have a spare if you in the same boat. Its mostly parts, but there are plenty of online dealers that are really good and have additional info on the parts that local shops might not know. Good luck with your search.

 

Minimania classifieds is the best place to start looking. My suggestion... look there at ALL of the options (Regardless of price) to get an idea of the year you want and the style you want. Then start to narrow it down by price range.

On another note, what kind of truck are you driving right now? If you say a new dodge ram, we can be best friends. haha. I have a 2005 Dodge Ram Daytona, and a 1989 Classic Mini. I LOVE my garage. :D I get the best of both worlds.. But sometimes it's hard to decide what key to take off the rack as I'm walking out the door. I guess that's a good problem to have.