Advice for first Moggie purchase

[PhilipW1039]

Morning all, I wonder if I could appeal to your helpful natures for a little advice please?

I fell in love with Moggies for the first time on Thursday, having driven 100 miles to view a Triumph Herald at M and M Automotive. Hated the Herald, fell in love with the Morris Minors as soon as I sat in one. They are just beautiful, and SO adorable! The fact they're called Moggies (Moggys?) only enchants me further!! So I've read reviews, forums, advice, security guidance etc but my question is: can I keep a convertible outside on the street or must it be a saloon?

I've seen all the advice about protecting the chrome, fitting a cheap tracker and disclock, and I'll buy a later one without trafficator holes to fill up with water. But a garage, even a pop-up, isn't an option and I will be enjoying it regularly not polishing it for a weekend outing. So please, honest opinions, madness to get a convertible, or doable? I saw the gaps around the sides of the roof you see....

[kevin s]

On buying the main advice is to make sure the body is in really good condition then get it rust proofed, my experience of storing convertibles outside is they tend to get damp inside which aside from potential rust issues makes them unpleasant to drive, I have 3 convertibles (TR7, Mx5 and Elan) they have all spent time outside and sufer the above issues, the solution we use is to fit one of the car top covers which goes down to just below the windows, this works a treat, should be fine on the street to as the reflectors and number plates are still visible.

On security a tracker or take something like the rotor arm with you is about the only option , the ignition system is so simple it can be bypassed in a few seconds so immobilisers are not really worth the money. An alarm may be useful if someone is around to take notice of it.....

[jimmy167]

Living outside exposed to the elements I would go for a saloon for durability and security ,I have a Traveller and would not like to keep it outside .
Get a nice saloon and it will save you a lot of potential problems .
Good luck on your search .

[myoldjalopy]

A convertible kept outside will eventually begin to deteriorate - its just a matter of time. It can be done, of course, but its hardly being fair to something that has only survived this long because it has previously been kept under cover. Maybe get a saloon and then, if and when you do have a garage, swap to a convertible.

[Myrtles Man]

The question that comes to my mind is - as it's to be a daily driver, why would you want a convertible?

[ManyMinors]

I have kept my convertible outside for years. A garage would be preferable I'm sure but it isn't an option. I don't have any sort of car cover and the car has never let water in - or no more than the saloon anyway. Mine has trafficators and these have never caused any obvious leaks either. The car IS well maintained, kept clean and has had fairly regular rust prevention carried out but has never required any serious rust repairs or welding. It is still in good condition but I do spend time cleaning and checking it over. It is important with any older car to keep on top of any maintenance and cure any rainwater leaks around windows and doors etc. By far the worst Minor I have owned for rainwater leaks was a traveller which I never fully cured! If you are determined to own a convertible and have to keep it outside there is no reason not to do so. At least being outside, there is plenty of air-flow around it and in this respect, the car is better off than being in a damp garage.

As far as security is concerned, that has never worried me much as we live in a "low risk area". I do have a steering wheel lock which I generally use. Naturally, a convertible is easier to get into so you should take anti theft precautions - and don't leave anything tempting inside the car "on view". The only disadvantage to owning a convertible now is the higher price you have to pay in the first place. That was not always the case of course.

[PhilipW1039]

On buying the main advice is to make sure the body is in really good condition then get it rust proofed, my experience of storing convertibles outside is they tend to get damp inside which aside from potential rust issues makes them unpleasant to drive, I have 3 convertibles (TR7, Mx5 and Elan) they have all spent time outside and sufer the above issues, the solution we use is to fit one of the car top covers which goes down to just below the windows, this works a treat, should be fine on the street to as the reflectors and number plates are still visible.

On security a tracker or take something like the rotor arm with you is about the only option , the ignition system is so simple it can be bypassed in a few seconds so immobilisers are not really worth the money. An alarm may be useful if someone is around to take notice of it.....

Thank you Kevin, I'd not thought of a top cover so that might really work. I had a 2004 MR2 until recently and loved it, but that damp you're inferring would be unpleasant; that's a good point, thank you. Not so worried about security as it'll be on the street right outside our house and we live on a nice avenue type road. Not quite Margot and Jerry but maybe more Tom and Barbara!!

[PhilipW1039]

Living outside exposed to the elements I would go for a saloon for durability and security ,I have a Traveller and would not like to keep it outside .
Get a nice saloon and it will save you a lot of potential problems .
Good luck on your search .

Thank you very much Jimmy, I think you've confirmed my thoughts it's just a question of whether the head or heart wins this one

[PhilipW1039]

A convertible kept outside will eventually begin to deteriorate - its just a matter of time. It can be done, of course, but its hardly being fair to something that has only survived this long because it has previously been kept under cover. Maybe get a saloon and then, if and when you do have a garage, swap to a convertible.

I think we're going to be where we are for a few years but I totally get where you're coming from re respecting the history and value of the car. Thank you very much for taking the time to reply.

[PhilipW1039]

The question that comes to my mind is - as it's to be a daily driver, why would you want a convertible?

Because I just love convertibles. They put a smile on my face in a way that nothing else does. But I understand you and in a 60 year old car, it might just tip me over the edge!

[PhilipW1039]

I have kept my convertible outside for years. A garage would be preferable I'm sure but it isn't an option. I don't have any sort of car cover and the car has never let water in - or no more than the saloon anyway. Mine has trafficators and these have never caused any obvious leaks either. The car IS well maintained, kept clean and has had fairly regular rust prevention carried out but has never required any serious rust repairs or welding. It is still in good condition but I do spend time cleaning and checking it over. It is important with any older car to keep on top of any maintenance and cure any rainwater leaks around windows and doors etc. By far the worst Minor I have owned for rainwater leaks was a traveller which I never fully cured! If you are determined to own a convertible and have to keep it outside there is no reason not to do so. At least being outside, there is plenty of air-flow around it and in this respect, the car is better off than being in a damp garage.

As far as security is concerned, that has never worried me much as we live in a "low risk area". I do have a steering wheel lock which I generally use. Naturally, a convertible is easier to get into so you should take anti theft precautions - and don't leave anything tempting inside the car "on view". The only disadvantage to owning a convertible now is the higher price you have to pay in the first place. That was not always the case of course.

Thank you for at least confirming that my dream is possible!! I just might not be quite mad enough to endure the convertible all year round, but we'll see. I'm going to buy a car that's already in good condition so I should just need to keep it that way rather than undertake a project, which also needs looking after.

Currently, I'm looking at one of these two:

https://www.mandmautomotive.co.uk/used- ... v46966401/

https://www.mandmautomotive.co.uk/used- ... v22468233/

Some good common sense re security too, thank you. I want it to be safe without needing to spend half an hour getting ready to drive it though and thankfully, we too live in a low risk area. At least, I think we do

[PhilipW1039]

Thanks to all of you for such helpful replies, and your advice of course. So grateful for you not telling me that I can't possibly keep a classic outside, which I'd have been ever so disappointed about!

[Chipper]

Another thing to bear in mind with the convertibles is they are nowhere near as rigid as the saloon, so you'll encounter scuttle shake, and possibly even doors springing open on rough roads; a good test of one is to jack it up and see how much the door gaps widen - you may well be shocked!

Ensure it is a real factory convertible and not an aftermarket conversion; the chassis number should begin with MAT... on the Minor 1000s.

Also, the flapping canvas and wind noise at 'high' speeds can be rather annoying (I owned a 1961 convertible for a while, but sold it to Canterbury Convertibles).

[Myrtles Man]

Of the two cars that you're looking at an MoT history check shows that the first one's mileage is greatly understated as it's been round the clock at least once, also you'll need to satisfy yourself as to the quality of the repairs done at various times in the past when it's had MoT fails because of structural corrosion. Check out some of the hair-raising threads on here from owners who've bought 'good' cars in good faith and quickly found that all that glitters is not gold.

As to the convertible, check out this reference https://www.carsnitch.co.uk/used-cars/m ... 04635.html also something a bit weird about the registration number HLJ 562D as it doesn't show up on the MoT check site.

[mobylette]

MOT.jpg (93.01 KiB) Viewed 2000 times

[Myrtles Man]

Well, that's a bit rum - it works for me too now but drew a blank when I tried a couple of times before my previous post.

[PhilipW1039]

Thank you chaps, and for the MOT check reminder. So I may need to spend a little more to find less problems. I think I'll take my time finding one....

I think I've decided against a convertible as it'll be great 20% of the time but drive me crazy at least 40%. Chippers points about the flappy material have helped, thank you Chipper.

A bit rum???

[ManyMinors]

Asking prices vary hugely but I would say that you should be able to buy a thoroughly decent saloon for £6000 - £8000. You'll be very lucky to get a genuinely good convertible for that price now though. It wouldn't be realistic to expect one at a dealer for £5950 to be a good example If original specification is important to you, neither of those cars have the correct interior.

[PhilipW1039]

Asking prices vary hugely but I would say that you should be able to buy a thoroughly decent saloon for £6000 - £8000. You'll be very lucky to get a genuinely good convertible for that price now though. It wouldn't be realistic to expect one at a dealer for £5950 to be a good example If original specification is important to you, neither of those cars have the correct interior.

Thank you, that's helpful as well. I can spend up to £8.5K but would prefer to buy a bit cheaper if I can, leaving a little for repairs and upgrading seat belts, ignition etc. I don't mind about originality as long as it's not awful, I.e. I saw one with modern Ford seats in!!

This, albeit from the same dealer, looks lovely initially and I have decided to go for the saloon, partly thanks to all the posts above.

https://www.mandmautomotive.co.uk/used- ... v72840330/

[Classiccars]

Don't buy from any con artists just outside Birmingham.Just because it says MOT as you can get them for rust holed cars