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Car Forum / MINI / June 2004what is the best Mini?
I was thinking about what my list of all time favorite cars would include, cars that I would buy if I had piles of extra money lying around, and I think the Mini would be on it. I'll admit I don't know much about them, and really got turned on to them by the current BMW version, but the older style ones are cooler. All things considered, what was the best year for the Mini? Not looking to start an argument or anything, just wondering what a person would buy for the ultimate Mini experience. Tonyrama One of the weird Allcomers that they used to race in New Zealand, with a big V8 mid-engined setup. Crazy dangerous cars. More fun than a dog with two dicks, as the Australians say. Or the equally lunatic Twini-Mini - look that up. Cheers, Neil Classic Car Fair - NZ's best selection at http://classiccarfair.com 025 89 28 28 > I was thinking about what my list of all time favorite cars would include, > cars that I would buy if I had piles of extra money lying around, and I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > would buy for the ultimate Mini experience. > Tonyrama >I was thinking about what my list of all time favorite cars would include, >cars that I would buy if I had piles of extra money lying around, and I [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Not looking to start an argument or anything, just wondering what a person >would buy for the ultimate Mini experience. Well, it's very much horses for courses, isn't it? What sort of cars do you like. For many people, the ultimate Mini would be an absolutely original early 850. Probably the highest prices are paid for original early Coopers, with the rare 970S homologation special attracting a premium. Best driver's car would have to be the 1275S, though. Then there are the luxury versions from the likes of Radford, etc. Other people like vans or pickups or Clubmen or Elfs or Hornets or Mokes. No such thing as best. There's even something to be said for a late model Rover Cooper as an everyday car. On the other hand, if you're not interested in originality but just want something to have fun in, you can choose your own spec. Essentially, you can build anything you like, from full-race to high-end custom, as long as you have an identity and a shell. The after-market provides anything else. You don't even have to use an 'A' series and you don't even have to put it in the front. Just go for it. You won't find anything that's half as much fun for the money. Regards, David Betts davidb@minilist.org The Mini Gallery: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=64635537103&n=1366070334 > >I was thinking about what my list of all time favorite cars would include, > >cars that I would buy if I had piles of extra money lying around, and I [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > The Mini Gallery: > http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=64635537103&n=1366070334 Well, I like to drive. My current fun car (and three season daily driver) is a '93 Mazda Miata MX-5. I've heard that Minis are supposed to be close kin to a go-cart, so something along that line would be better. The MX-5 is also bullet-proff reliable, too, so that would be a plus. Tonyrama > Well, I like to drive. My current fun car (and three season daily driver) is > a '93 Mazda Miata MX-5. I've heard that Minis are supposed to be close kin > to a go-cart, so something along that line would be better. The MX-5 is also > bullet-proff reliable, too, so that would be a plus. I have a friend who went from 16 years of Yellow Mokes to a Red MX-5. The hardest part was identifying a suitable car to replace a Moke. She really didn't like the idea of doors or back seats and she wouldn't be seen dead in a hatchback! The first time I showed her an MX-5 we both knew we'd finally found the solution. Is she a hairdresser?  Signaturehttp://iBuyMinis.OsiTech.Net ----------------------------------------------- Wanted Austin Mini Projects. In any condition and in the USA. What do you have hiding in your shed? > > Well, I like to drive. My current fun car (and three season daily driver) is > > a '93 Mazda Miata MX-5. I've heard that Minis are supposed to be close kin [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > seen dead in a hatchback! The first time I showed her an MX-5 we both > knew we'd finally found the solution. > Is she a hairdresser? No. She's an engineer. Have you driven an MX-5? Mate, I've gone through 3 Miatas and my best one was my 90B before they started putting silly amenities in them. I find the comparison lackluster. A Miata is a boring modern car (yes it's more lively than say a modern Ford Crown Victoria) but it ain't no Moke. Signaturehttp://iBuyMinis.OsiTech.Net ----------------------------------------------- Wanted Austin Mini Projects. In any condition and in the USA. What do you have hiding in your shed? > > Is she a hairdresser? > > No. She's an engineer. > > Have you driven an MX-5? > Mate, I've gone through 3 Miatas and my best one was my 90B before they > started putting silly amenities in them. Presumably you would approve of my friend's early 1990 MX-5 with about 120,000km, > I find the comparison lackluster. A Miata is a boring modern car (yes > it's more lively than say a modern Ford Crown Victoria) but it ain't > no Moke. There is no modern Moke. Samurai? Slow and open. Definitely not classic and not very modifiable. >> Mate, I've gone through 3 Miatas and my best one was my 90B before they >> started putting silly amenities in them. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > There is no modern Moke. Yes and a crying shame. I bet if someone started selling MK1 Mokes and Minis they will make a neat bundle. I would buy another 90B Miata in a heartbeat BTW but it will never replace my Moke. Signaturehttp://iBuyMinis.OsiTech.Net ----------------------------------------------- Wanted Austin Mini Projects. In any condition and in the USA. What do you have hiding in your shed? > There is no modern Moke. >Well, I like to drive. My current fun car (and three season daily driver) is >a '93 Mazda Miata MX-5. I've heard that Minis are supposed to be close kin >to a go-cart, so something along that line would be better. All real Minis handle like go karts - other than perhaps those which have had a V8 shovelled into the rear seat or something equally extreme. All handle even better for a little bit of attention to the shocks and ride height. All suffer on the handling front if fitted with oversize wheels. The 10-inchers are best; 12-inch are acceptable; 13-inch are a no-no. >The MX-5 is also >bullet-proff reliable, too, so that would be a plus. Minis require constant attention. They never let you down completely, but there is always something requiring work. Regards, David Betts davidb@minilist.org The Mini Gallery: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?m=64635537103&n=1366070334 > I was thinking about what my list of all time favorite cars would include, > cars that I would buy if I had piles of extra money lying around, and I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > would buy for the ultimate Mini experience. > Tonyrama There is no such thing as the ultimate Mini, since they are all different. It's really a matter of opinion. For me, an Innocenti 1300 Cooper comes pretty damn close though, or a MkIII 1275 Cooper S. > > I was thinking about what my list of all time favorite cars would include, > > cars that I would buy if I had piles of extra money lying around, and I [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > It's really a matter of opinion. For me, an Innocenti 1300 Cooper comes > pretty damn close though, or a MkIII 1275 Cooper S. Nice indeed but my first choice would be the mini "hotrod" with the 16 V Jack Knight engine and 6 box. I only need the budget the man hours are no problem ;-) One of the most influential would have to be the '83 Mini Sprite. Without this there would be no 90's onwards Coopers, Special Editions or even the BMW mini as there would not have been a mini in the range when BMW took over Rover (if they would have still existed). The Mini was planned for retirement around 1984 [20 years before it actually happened] after the establishment of the Metro (the MG Metro and MG Metro Turbo were planned to take the latter day place of the Cooper minis). In 1983 with the 1275GT gone 2 years earlier and the mini in it's final 998cc wind down zone, they brought out a limited run Sprite - a wheelarched, alloy wearing, 3 dial GT dashed sporty mini with cooper style side stripe. The sales success that followed took the company by surprise and was the start of the new wave of specials that led on to where the mini ended up.. One word: Innocenti. Signaturehttp://iBuyMinis.OsiTech.Net ----------------------------------------------- Wanted Austin Mini Projects. In any condition and in the USA. What do you have hiding in your shed? > One of the most influential would have to be the '83 Mini Sprite. > Without this there would be no 90's onwards Coopers, Special Editions [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > surprise and was the start of the new wave of specials that led on to > where the mini ended up.. > One of the most influential would have to be the '83 Mini Sprite. > Without this there would be no 90's onwards Coopers, Special Editions [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > surprise and was the start of the new wave of specials that led on to > where the mini ended up.. Wow, these words could have been written by me!! Yes those pre-Sprite days were very dark indeed with the Mini range chopped down by the mini-Metro to just the City and Mayfair. The Sprite was a very pivotal model in Mini history. Anyway, my personal favourites are: 1. A nice original 850 2. Mk1 997 Cooper, with original spec brakes! 3. Mk3 Cooper S, with a Mini 1000 badge on the boot.... 4. Innocenti Cooper 1300 5. The '79 1100 Special 6. An '83 Sprite, and we've got one! 7. RSP Cooper 8. Paul Smith Mini 9. The final Mini Classic Cooper Sport LE, probably the best Sportspack Mini Andrew Murray UK Mini Owners Club Limited Editions Register http://www.minilimitededitions.co.uk Hi Andrew, It's cool to hear you have a Sprite - I've never owned one myself but I remember how exciting it was to see one in the showroom at Dutton Forshaw when I was a boy (moarning the demise of the GT). This was during the time my mum bought her (nearly new at the time) mini pickup. She still has it and it's still in beautiful low mileage condition (with original tilt) so missing out on the Mini Sprite wasn't as bad as it could have been. I've had great memories with all the mini's (and infact all a-series based vehicles) I've owned over the years. I still have is a Mini Midas which is just a great little car (and being fibreglass I can keep it outside in the rain without feeling too bad!). Life just wouldn't be the same without a mini of some sort! > > One of the most influential would have to be the '83 Mini Sprite. > > Without this there would be no 90's onwards Coopers, Special Editions [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > UK Mini Owners Club Limited Editions Register > http://www.minilimitededitions.co.uk Mine SignatureDavid Oh no its not, Mine is,,,,, I think the best mini is the mini that gives you the most pleasure, but not one of those BMW thingys, Fitzy > Mine > Oh no its not, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Fitzy In one word Correct. I did drive 300 meter with it (150 go and 150 back) You would give money to see the face of the salesman ;-) > I was thinking about what my list of all time favorite cars would include, > cars that I would buy if I had piles of extra money lying around, and I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > would buy for the ultimate Mini experience. > Tonyrama No one at all seems to have mentioned the best fun Minis of all. Mokes. You can buy a modern Japanese or Korean version of the Mini concept, but there is nothing quite like a Moke.
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