Should I swap the Mog?

[Rob_Jennings]

drive down the average road near me with pot holes and speed bumps, or go on a boggy rally field, or even entrance ramps to car parks or drives and the minis greatest failing comes to light poor ground clearance at the best of times

engine parts are all pretty much swapable (check mini suppliers when you are looking for engine parts have saved a few quid that way) so no difference there, panels are easier to get for a mini but big mechanical (gear box etc) are not cheaper

I reckon it comes out about the same in costs in the end and if you look out on the roads probably about same number of minis and minors (at least near me) which if that is true means the mini is in faster decline!

[Sidney'61]

These electric cars that need to be charged every 50 miles will only be efficient when most of the country's energy sources are renewable. At the moment the electricity used in them is probably still made using fuel... which seems to render the whole scheme pointless.

[Robins]

Well electric isn't free, and it will rise in price very shortly, so charging these cars will cost. And the batteries have a short life and have a HUGE carbon foot print in production and disposal.
LPG kits do not hold value, and don't add any real value to a car, and will reduce the power in an already under-powered minor. They are available new for carb engines, I have a mate involved in the fitting business. ok if you do enough miles it will pay for it's self but that is a lot of miles before you see saving in the pocket, and that sort of miles in a minor will cost dearly in maintenance repairs. And theres nothing to stop the gov putting higher taxes on LPG as well.
Really to save money you need to sell both cars, and buy a good solid mini if thats what you plan to do. Get a later one as they are nicer to drive and 12" wheels give much better ground clearance. Give it some goodies to breath easier and tune it for econamy.
Only you can make the decision though.

[chrisd87]

Just been having a quick look on the internet, and the first result on google throws up a firm about 10 miles from me who sell a new LPG kit for a carb-fed car for £440 inc VAT. That would pay for itself in less than 10,000 miles. By contrast a kit for your Astra (assuming it's multi-point injection) would be just under £800.

To my mind there is very little point in swapping a Minor for a Mini on grounds of fuel economy. I'm not just saying that because I'm a fan of the Minor either - the Mini will probably give you less than 10mpg difference. You may as well stick with the devil you know! Replacing the standard Minor 'pea shooter' exhaust with something more free-flowing whilst leaving the rest of the engine substantially the same may also get you better economy.

Ultimately if you want ultra-economy then there are other options worth considering. The Toyota Aygo/C1/107 will get a genuine 55mpg in everyday driving and over 60 on a run. Or a micro-car like an Aixam - get the diesel one and it'll do 85mpg, but they only have a top speed of 50mph! Either that or a small motorcycle - Honda CG125s will do ~110mpg even when thrashed, and I've had 70mph out of one (downhill, with my head on the clocks). My current Honda 250 will do 75mpg quite comfortably, will out-drag most cars away from the lights and has a top end of just over 80mph.

Personally I reckon Minor + LPG is the way to go. It's something I'm considering myself in fact, after seeing how inexpensive the kits can be.

[jojax64]

Lots of food-for-thought there, guys. I guess I've just got a real soft spot for the classic Mini, the Mk.1 in particular. Ideally, I'd love to have both the Mogster and a good Mini...even if I had to SORN the Mini in the meantime.
Space is the problem. I'd never consider keeping a classic outdoors, and my piddly little lock-up (which costs nearly £40-a-month to rent ) just about houses the Mog alone.

[les]

To even ask that question, to me indicates that you are not totally happy with the minor! Go for the mini they're great little cars, I was fortunate enough to own a mk 1 s which gave me many years of service. It was one of my best motoring experiences. Spares are still around and maintenance is pretty straight forward. The later years might be more suitable from a rust point of view, unless you're into restoration.

[jojax64]

Not into restoration at all. Don't have any welding skills, or a bottomless bank account.
Nope, I'm at a stage now where whatever classic I buy needs to have been brought up to spec by a previous owner!

[les]

A car bought up to spec and a lack of a bottomless account don't go too well together. One possibility is an Allegro with an 'a' series engine( no I'm not joking) these cars are bullit proof, just miss the free tax thing though!

[jojax64]

Allegro....recently voted the worst British car of all time, was it not?

[kennatt]

I have found a diy lpg kit for my scimitar for £500 but after checking with my insurance co.found that they wanted a certificate from an approved fitting engineer so the diy option appears to be a no go unless wanderinstar has anything to offer please.The scimitar does 19 to the gallon so an lpg kit would sort of give me the equivalent of 38 and end my thoughts about selling it

[jonathon]

If you want cheap motoring then go for a Peugeot 205 diesel. cheap to buy, service, insure, and tax.
Classics will always cost you money whether it be buying a minter,or restored one, or restoring one, the costs will far out weigh its value. They will never match the likes of the Peugeot when it comes to running costs and reliability, plus you can leave the Pug outside in all weathers.
The cost of the LPG conversion on the mog would equate to around 4,700 miles worth of diesel in the Pug.

[paulhumphries]

Or a micro-car like an Aixam - get the diesel one and it'll do 85mpg, but they only have a top speed of 50mph!

DON'T have an Aixam or any other modern microcar if you want to drive it like any other small car.
Think of them like a covered scooter for short journys only.
They are horrenous for spares (main agent only) 1000 mile service intervals with fully synthetic oil etc means cost per mile is higher then just the fuel used making something else that does 50-60 mpg comparable.
I had a diesel Aixam and found, after the novelty wore off, I ended up taking my MKII Granada (2.0 LX auto) out despite being 4 x as thirsty !
I stopped using it and it stood untouched for a year before deciding that not worth the hassle and sold it.
BTW I've still got a Microcar RJ125 - early 1980's version with 125cc two stroke engine
I miss the Granada and wish I'd still got it (LPG'd) but not the Aixam

Paul Humphries

[Sidney'61]

If you want cheap motoring then go for a Peugeot 205 diesel. cheap to buy, service, insure, and tax.
Classics will always cost you money whether it be buying a minter,or restored one, or restoring one, the costs will far out weigh its value. They will never match the likes of the Peugeot when it comes to running costs and reliability, plus you can leave the Pug outside in all weathers.
The cost of the LPG conversion on the mog would equate to around 4,700 miles worth of diesel in the Pug.

Have French cars ever been reliable?

[dalebrignall]

i ahd renault 5 gt turbo that was very reliable as have been both my pugs.

[jonathon]

I think they have , my Peugeot 405 covered 220,000 miles with very little effort and the service history prooves it to have been very reliable, especially as it spent its last few years towing caravans and cars.
Our old Renault 4 van was also very reliable cheap to run and very practical.
I'm sure others have stories to proove the opposite,
My point in suggesting a 'modern' over a classic is bourne out by the huge amount of failing or poorly minors on this forum alone. A modern will be cheaper all around especially if on a tight budget

[paulhumphries]

Our E reg 205 GRD managed just under 300,000 miles before being simply worn out.
It was used by my father as a "stop / start" company car for 220,000 of those miles and that is where all the wear occured.
I can easilly see a well maintained / longer type journeys 205 diesel easilly capablle of doing far more than the mileage we did as the body was still 100% rust free (interia badly worn, drivers door hinges worn, gearbox poor, groans & creaks from suspension etc caused it to be scrapped when MOT due - not engine)

Paul Humphries

[les]

Allegro....recently voted the worst British car of all time, was it not?

By those that haven't owned one probably, you can only speak as you find, there are a lot of armchair critics about!!

[paulhumphries]

Allegro....recently voted the worst British car of all time, was it not?

By those that haven't owned one probably, you can only speak as you find, there are a lot of armchair critics about!!

I've had two - 1500 & 1750 HLS's.
I actually like them and tried to find a 1.3 for my wife but decent ones were rarer than the larger engined variant (this was in early 90's)
I still think the estate version is a really nice shape.

Paul Humphries

[les]

I still think the estate version is a really nice shape.

Yes quite unusual.

[jojax64]

Anybody fancy an Allegro, then?

http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/in ... opic=92672