What's a minor like as a daily drive?

[estwdjhn]

I'm considering buying a minor as a daily driver.

I'm no stranger to classic motors, having run a 1954 Rover P4, 1967 Six clyinder Landrover, and countless diesel Landrovers as regular runabouts.

I'm therefore not afraid of 1)Naf handling, 2)not having a 0-60 of 3secs(tired diesel landys are lucky to reach 60 most of the time), 3)Cabin noise, 4) Naf brakes 5) Doing my own repairs (to a point - I have rebuilt landy engines in the past, and welded cars up for MOT's, but I don't like doing it on a weekly basis...)

Anyway, the current diesel landy is about to be launched onto eBay (read needs too much welding for the next MOT (March), and the (non free) roadtax is up at the end of the month), and I'm pondering its replacement.

I fancy a change from landys for a bit, and I'm wondering if a minor would fit the bill.

The main questions are:

What do they cost. I'm after somthing with a reasonable bit of MOT(say six months), but I don't care how tatty it is, nor do I mind if it needs some work. Would £500-750 see anything like this come up. (Again, I'm used to landrovers, the current one was £450 five months ago).

What do they do to the gallon, my route to work is either 20miles of dual carrageway(35mins), or 13miles of stop start(45mins). One of the reasons I fancy a minor is that I'd expect to get more MPG than the landy (now diesel is at 108.9 running costs are starting to get to me, at 27-30mpg).

What should one look for when buying a car - I'm guessing its mostly tin worm...

Mechanically, how well do they stand up to lots of use - my experience with landy's is that while things regularly break, its rare that the faults can't either be lived with until I've got to work and back, or fixed on the spot...

Does the engine size make much if any difference to the insurance normally, and is it possible to get sensible priced insurance for younger drviers (I'm 20, clean licence, currently paying £350 TTFT on the landy)

Cheers
John

[bmcecosse]

" I'm therefore not afraid of 1)Naf handling, 2)not having a 0-60 of 3secs(tired diesel landys are lucky to reach 60 most of the time), 3)Cabin noise, 4) Naf brakes "

Well - you won't get that from a decent Minor!! The handling, noise and brakes are all good - and the 0-60 time is not too bad and can be easily improved. Go for it.

[alex_holden]

They're fine as a daily driver. £500-750 should get you a tatty saloon with an MOT. You should get well over 30MPG on a daily commute. On a long rally last year I averaged 44MPG. Yes, biggest thing to look for is underbody rot. Because the cars don't have a separate chassis, a lot more of the bodywork is structural than on a Landy, and repairs to the floor are more difficult. They're reliable if they're in good condition - a lot depends on how well it was looked after by previous owners. I don't think the engine size makes a difference to insurance as long as it's got the same size it was manufactured with. If a larger engine has been fitted (eg. a 1275) you might have to pay a bit more.

[Kevin]

Hi and welcome John it sounds like a Moggie is just what you are looking for and you should find something within your budget as you are not looking to be too fussy and the fuel depending on driving conditions should be 35 - 38mpg, if you want more direct advice a visit to your local branch would be a good thing, you haven't filled in a location so I cant suggest where your nearest one is.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I use my Minor daily and find them very relaible, though Im probably biased as I never owned any other type of car! Probably getting about 35-40ish miles to the gallon. As you say rust is the big problem and for your budget the car will probably need a fair bit of work. Saying that you can sometimes find a bargain!! There are plenty of minors to choose from, have a look a at few and take one for a good test drive before you buy. Look out for rust just about every were but especailly around the chasis legs and spring hangers. Parts are so easy to get.

Insurance depends on wether its your everyday car and if its garaged. The club have a great scheme through AON. My daily driver, is £250 a year unlimited miles and kept outside with the other 4 for another £120!!!! And even better the free tax...

Would definately recommend a late car with 1098cc engine for daily use, it has also got proper indicators, better wipers and a heater as standard!

[estwdjhn]

I'm in Stockport, South Manchester - I'm sure I did tell the forum that, but it probably got lost in the wash (or press of the refresh button more likely).

What people are saying sounds interesting - where would you suggest looking for cars - I'm not a massive fan of eBay for buying (IMHO a lot of junk gets posted, and it tends to go for over odds prices, certainly if Landrovers are anything to go buy).

The other question is what are spares like, both in terms of avaiblity and price - are some engine/models better catered for than others...

[estwdjhn]

it has also got proper indicators, better wipers and a heater as standard!

Oh, ah... thats sounding a bit newfangled. I'm still used to my traficatored P4, and the total inability of most drivers to see them... also used to no heater (I've only ever had one landy where the heater worked, and that only demisted the passenger screen...)

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

The later cars are much better catered for in the parts line. Most of the service bits can be got at your local motor factors as minis used the same bits. Anything before 1956 has an 803cc engine and is WAY to sloow for daily using, prior to 1952 its a sidevalve and parts are getting hard to come by now, my last purchase was the black lowlight in the pic and Ive been waiting for 3months on a dizzy cap to arrive..... Check out ESM spares (East Sussex Minors) i find them very reliable and quick to post.

Manchester Branch have a rally soon in the bus museum, go along and talk to some of the members. Theres aslo a restorerin Mancheter under some railway arches, though I cant remember the name!

[chickenjohn]

I run my (almost) completely standard Minor as an everyday car.

The handling is good! (don't confuse grip wiht handling), I get 39mpg on an average week (including commuting) and 45mpg on a run.

It has the original drum brakes, which are fine if you keep a decent stopping distance.

0-40mph performance is good enough to keep up with the flow of traffic- only really feel slow on the motorway.

[dunketh]

Mine gets used everyday of the week and does silly mileage. I even use it for holidays - the last one being a 12 hour trip in total (there and back).

I've never had any problems with comfort or driveability. Standard brakes are good too - provided they're in good nick.

The only negative side to a Minor is the noise - though I think this is part of its character. If you fit a stereo make it a loud one.
Being a landy buff you'll be used to not hearing yourself think at anything over 60 anyway.

MPG for me can vary between over 40 to just under 30 depending on traffic/distance etc...

If you fit a Midget engine it makes it all the more fun then as mid range acceleration has to be experienced to be believed.

[jon1739]

go have a look at Minor Millenium company, they are in Chorlton not a million miles away from you and always have a good selection of cars in various states. Very helpful too.

[bmcecosse]

Always keep an eye on the Sales section in this forum!

[wibble_puppy]

Welcome, John, and I hope you find a car that suits you It would be a good idea to join your local branch of the Club so you can get some expert eyes to go with you to look at any cars you are thinking of buying. There's also a buyer's guide on the Technical Tips section of the main Club website.

Let us know how you get on!

wibble

[RustyandTad]

John,

I may have started a trend! I start thinking I need a Minor and the whole Series 2 Club jumps ship! (OK, maybe just one other person).

I think you will have a bit of a better choice over there. A mate on my side of the pond has stumbled across a pickup and got me interested. I am thinking about it as a daily driver - better fuel consumption than even a diesel Landy - and keeping Rusty as my weekend, get-away-from-it-all, vehicle.

Good luck on your search. There is a nice article about buying - if you haven't found it yet look down in my post "Am I Crazy?" The people here seem very nice, and unlike the S2C board, sane.

Tad

[estwdjhn]

'ello. Small world it seems. There's at least one other familiar name on here...

There does seem to be some choice here, if rather less choice of cheep car's than I would like

My hand is kind of being forced, the current landy is dropping to bits at a rate of knots, and its going to have to go before the chassis falls in half in one of the potholes on the A34. I can't sort bitsa out with the tdi until the summer, so I need cheep short to medium term motoring. And, with insurance in the UK as it is, that means classic. Now, also, MPG is an issue, and that means small classic - My old P4 was great, but at 22-24mpg in traffic, hardly practical. Hence a moggie seems a sensible option. If I like it, I might keep one for a bit, if not, they should be readily saleable...

I will have to pop round to meet the local owners group - typically the nearest local meet is tonight, and I'm busy elseware...

[dunketh]

If I like it, I might keep one for a bit, if not, they should be readily saleable...

One of my best mates is an SII lover/expert and he loves the Minor.
There's a lot of similarity between the two - both being fairly 'agricultural' by modern standards.
The old 'if it doesn't work - find a bigger hammer' adage is as true with Minors as it is with landys.

[eastona]

I do 50 miles a day in mine, it's a '69 4 door. Standard apart from alternator and halogen headlights (no radio )
benefits
no road tax
£110 p.a. insurance (fully comp, work use, protected NCB etc)
I regularly get 38-42mpg
Fab to drive
People smile (especially women )
cheap to repair / service than a modern car
quieter than a L-R
They're very tolerant, mine sailed (almost literally) through the floods in July where other more modern cars didn't.
a starting handle (you've already got that!)

not so benefits
isn't as fast as a modern eurobox, although mine does pop along quite quickly
people assume you're travelling slow and not "driving it like you stole it", so I find they tend to pull out in front of me.
they do need more regular servicing
brakes need a good shove, but you'll be used to that!
On lots of short journeys in winter (5-10 miles) a dynamo may struggle if you're using lights, heater, wipers etc in traffic a lot.

I bought mine for £460 on ebay, took a bit of a punt and it paid off, a bit stupid, but I was prepared to take the risk.

I love mine

[dalebrignall]

i thimk they are great to drive good fun and reliable

[DanRodd]

Im 19 and have just reinsured my Moggie for another year,Mot due in April.I passed my test last Feb,and having had a few other older cars,will not have anything other than a Minor,and i think i shall stick to that till the end of time!The Minor really does become like a family dog,it always starts first time,it always gets me where i want to go,and the difference with my Minor and everything else ive had(cars and bikes)is that I KNOW that it will always get me wherever i need to go to,if i had to drive to France tonight i know i could turn the key and just drive.
Of course they take a bit of tinkering and servicing to get to this stage,but once you have fixed a fault,it stays fixed.
IMO the standard brakes are fine,i have not long ago replaced the entire system as it had been stood for 5 yrs,including new drums,and they are good enough to make you fly out your seat if you really give em some grief!lol.The other thing i like is that it is universally loved,ive noticed that even people who hate us classic drivers almost find it physically impossible to hate a Minor,you just cant!
Spares are cheaper and more readily available than any classic car i can think of.if you had a normal 60's saloon its pretty much all on the shelf and you can have it the next day if you want.Get one,you wont go back!

[Matt]

Spares are cheaper and more readily available than any classic car

Slight correction... lose the classic ;)