hi

[kim]

Hi my name's kim and I currently drive around in a peugeot 306. I really need help with buying a car as I would like to change what I have preferably for the mini. I have been looking for about six months and i can't find anything. I have thought about doing it online but i don't know whether sites are reliable or not. I have heard of www.motormart.co.uk and autotrader but i don't know if its a good idea. what do you think?

cheers

[OldYellowMiniPhil]

The internet is a good place to get an idea of what cars are worth, and I think there is no harm sourcing a mini from the internet. BUT! I would advise you never to buy one without seeing and looking at it your self, pictures can hide so many lies!

A few people in the club may have minis for sale, if you have an idea of budget, age and roughly what you want why not post something in the wanted section.

Welcome to the board by the way :)

[bernadillo]

what kind of mini u looking for? (standard, modified)
what kind of price u looking for?

[t boy]

hi kim i got mine from the exchange&mart on the net

[Blue_Bitch]

hellllloooooooo kim ,as said already we have a couple of members who r selling minis ,so like phil said post on here and who knows u might b driving along in a mini soon i know 1 member who is selling as its surplus 2 wot he has also welcome to the forum:p :p :p

[Tommy Cooper]

I bought mine on ebay but looked at it and drove it before bidding (restricted my search to minis for sale within 25 miles of Brighton).

I looked at 4 in total - a dark pink mini 35 in superb condition but not the character of a cooper and only a 998 engine. I looked at another cooper (1990) which drove ok but had a new bonnet and the front end shook and vibrated (result of inj engine blow out!)

the one I ended up with has usual issues (rust inside bottom of doors) some bubbling of paintwork top of one door, paint bubbling / cracking at top of rear valance (under bumper but still needs sorting) but is (i think) mechanically sound and its a 1275 carb not injection so should be more reliable

If possible take someone with you that knows about minis (thats not me!) or at least buy a copy of the Haynes Mini Restoration Manual as it has a chapter on what to look for when buying a classic mini

[RNRMF]

As above really, don't buy just on photos - you need to drive before you buy. If possible take someone that knows about minis (or second best, someone that knows about cars in general) to take a poke at it.

There are loads of minis for sale in the mini magazines (mini mag and mini world) but because they know mini fans will be looking in there they are a much higher price than if you looked in autotrader/exchange and mart/friday-ad.

[Iceman]

Definately all great comments above but it is hard to find a really good one without spending a bit of money. Give yourself a budget and don't change it there will be something out there for you. Definately take someone with you and someone who nows mini's inside and out. Failing that as Colm says get hold of a restoration manual or look here (http://www.miniresource.com/guide01.php) it has a great guide to buying a mini. The main thing with a mini is bodywork try to get one with a really good shell and paintwork. Look in all the hidden places rear pockets all around the rear subframe area and the subframe itself, the sills, A panels and all around the area under the front wings. The reason bodywork is the most expensive to put right a full respray costing upto £1500. Welding is also expensive just to put a sill on around £70. Obviously a good engine is a must make sure it pulls smooth in every gear with no smoke and has no nasty noises. Check the oil cap for what looks like mayonaise and the radiator for throthing. Also check the dipstick and see if it has like water droplits on it this all points to head gasket. The thing is i could go on and on just hope you find what your looking for and hope to see you around in it soon.
FAZ

[Blue_Bitch]

one in the garage in woodingdean at the mo a cooper ,but wot a price thouht id seen wrong £5,500 aaa wot

[bernadillo]

a mates selling his white 1.0 for about £1600ish...its got 13" minilites, sportspac arches, ricaro seats, one off dashboard, skimmed head, new wiring loom, smooth bootlid, playmini exhaust and all the welding done...its got 12 months mot on it and is quite sporty....if ur interested, il get the whole spec.

[Michelle]

Good luck with finding a good reliable car to buy. As the others have said it all depends on how much money you have and also whether you like a classic look or modified look. Let us know how the search gets on.

[kim]

Cheers for the help and advice, with this much info I should definitely find the right mini for me. I will message back along the way to tell you all how im doing and hopefully what mini I have bought

cheers

kim x

[cooperman]

hello

[OldYellowMiniPhil]

My Cooper is now for sale it's absaloutly mint with a new ish body shell, I don't want silly money either. PM me if your interested. :) Phil

[Minus Man]

Hey kim and welcome to brighton mini club's forum.