I’ve been thinking of getting a more efficient car. Not right away, as I’ve only just started a new job and I’m still in the “two-week-let’s-see-if-I-work-out-and-if-I-like-the-job” stage. But I’d like to get a small car eventually. I’ve been thinking of an old Mini Cooper (around 1968) or a new VW Golf.
The Golf, being new, would have fewer problems than an old British car. It would probably be less polluting, have more power, and get better mileage. (I’m guessing about the mileage.) It would definitely have more room than a Mini.
On the other hand, a classic Mini would be cheaper to buy than an new VW Golf. It would also be very cool. (Much cooler than the BMW Mini.) And it would make a nice companion car to my MGB (when I eventually get that back). I think a 1968 Mini would be more fun to drive. On the other hand, I think it would probably be underpowered.
I have a zodiac and trailer that probably weigh about 800 pounds together. I have the Jeep to tow the trailer with; but if I could tow it with a small car, I might not need the Jeep. I’m sure the MGB will be able to handle it, as I know people used to tow small caravans with them; but I’d rather keep that car “clean”. I doubt a Mini would be up to the task. Can a Golf tow a light trailer?
So: Late-'60s Mini, or a new Golf? (Again, no hurry on your opinoins.)
I’ve only been in a Mini once, but I will never get into one again.
I was sure I would die by hitting my head against the windscreen.
All short cars are prone to lurching, but the Mini has one of the poorest suspensions ever. And I doubt this is fixed by newer models, as suspension is most affected by the placement of springs and struts, rather than their efficiency.
I have a BMW mini and when we get together, often some classic minis will show up, too.
It is a really cool car, but are you up for the inevitable repairs and maintenence an older mini will have? I realize you have an MGB, but do you really want two cars you always have to be maintaning?
I used to have three MGBs, so I’m accustomed to having a car down for maintenance. (Actually, they really weren’t as bad as I and others have made out in other threads.)
I’ve always liked small cars. I used to have a couple of Chevy Sprints. One thing that appeals to me about the Mini is that it’s really small. I like that. The Golf is also small, and I like that.
What’s the MPG of a Golf? About 30? 34? What’s the MPG of a classic Mini?
I can only comment from distant memory of my mum’s mini cooper. It was a seriously tight squeeze for an adult (it had little enough leg room for 10 year old me) and the seats tipped forward to allow access to the rear seating. Those seats were absolute death traps if there was an accident. The car was nippy as anything though, and suspension must have been decent for the modified version to win the Le Manns 24 hour, and for it to have been as succesful as it was in the rally version.
I’ll give you the MPG for my Golf. It is a diesel, however, and has automatic transmission. 34 in city driving, 45 on the highway. It would get up into the 50’s if I had stick shift.
I would guess that a traditional gas engine on a Golf would give you great mileage, especially with stick shift. Probably just a little below what I get.
Never having driven a Mini I can’t compare, but I’ve had my Golf for almost 2 years and so far so good.
My wife caught me looking at a Mini a while back, and suprised me by buying a Morris Minor. It’s been living in the garage ever since.
I wasn’t really ready for another British car, but I suppose this was a better choice than a Mini. The previous owner swapped in a 1275 Midget engine, which really fits well. Plenty of elbow room under the hood. The front seets seemed comfortable enough for the few short drives I’ve attempted.
There’s enough room in a Minor for a real transmission, and it sounds like the Datsun and Ford five-speed conversions for Midgets will fit without too much fuss. I think that’s a real strike against the Mini–from what I remember, they had a three-speed crammed into the oil sump under the engine. I’d want an overdrive in anything I was driving regularly, and I don’t know if you can easily fit one on a Mini.
I think Minors go for a bit less than Minis, and being a less “advanced” design I suspect they’re a bit easier to work on. Might be worth a look before you buy.
:eek: Wow! That’s great. I’d thought about a Diesel, because they can use biodiesel. Sounds “green” to me. (I saw a station up here that sells biodiesel, too.) I’d have to try one though. I want a quick car. How’s the Golf with an oil-burner and an auto?
Bad News Baboon: Thanks. I’ve bookmarked the link, and will check it out later.
P. Nym: I’ve seen Ford 5-speed conversions for the MGB, but I wanted to remain original; so I ended up getting an original overdrive transmission.
Bippy the Beardless: “Nippy as anything” is good. Though they were underpowered for climbing grades, the Sprints were quite agile around town. Very nimble and zippy. I like that in a car.
How big can you be physically (or conversely how small do you have to be to have it be comfortable) before the mini ceases to be practical transportation?
If you care about resale value buy the mini. As a collector car it will be worth as much if not more than what you pay for it now. The golf will just be an old car worth at best a third of what you paid for it in say seven years.