Morris Minor Owners Club

Might seem like sacrelidge, but the way motoring costs are spiraling...I've seriously given a lot of thought to selling (or swapping) my beloved classic for a decent Mini.
For guys like me who live in a rural part of the country, an everyday small car, 1000cc and quick enough to keep up with modern traffic is a realistic option.
I love the Mog, but the truth is she only gets used for 3 months of the year or so. A good Mini still gives you the "classic" street-cred, but is probably more suitable in modern traffic given it has some oomph and things like disc brakes as standard. Does away with old ideas like trunnions, too which are a constant concern incase they ever need overhauling.
My first car is an Astra, but filling up has become expensive. The Government is pushing us ever-so-closer to driving small, fuel-efficient motors, so I reckon "classic" Mini's could well be in demand.
For me, a Mini would be used all year round and be a practical option. Can't really afford to keep the Mog too, I've limited garage space, so it's got to be one or t'other.
Decisions, decisions....

My 1098 Minor keeps up with modern traffic just fine on both the daily commute and long trips. You can upgrade the brakes quite easily if you want. Does the Mini not also have suspension parts that wear and occasionally need replacing?

I agree with Alex. I've run Moggie's on and off since 1994 and I have never had to change any suspension components except for some bushes. Just keep the trunions greased every 1000 miles (and all the other grease points - takes about 10-15 mins tops). Maybe I've been lucky but I prefer prevention rather than cure. We currently have a 948 and a 1098 and although the 948 is slower it still keeps up adequately on most roads. The 1098 is almost too quick for itself and I would rather have a 5 speed box or a lower back axle to help cruising speed/comfort. Also, I'm over 6' tall and 18 stone and I don't fit in a mini

A few years ago I got a decent Mini Mayfair for my son.
10 months MOT and a few months tax so I drove it around a couple of times.
Whilst if was fun I forgot what a harsh ride they have and, on reflection, would say given the choice I'd opt for the Minor evey time.
Personally I'd say the Metro if a lot more refined, sell for peanuts compared to a Mini and you can even get a diesel version.
There again I'm sure others will say there are better choices than a Metro - which I'm not going to dissagree although I wouldn't mind a mint early Van den Plas or MG version (we had a D reg facelift from 6 months old and it was actually quite a good car albeit various problems during ownership).

Paul Humphries

Metro gets my vote (it would, I currently have 2). Especially an 80s one, as they're slowly gaining "classic" value and status, are easy to work on, most parts are cheap and easy to source, and they're like a grown up Mini.

Although thanks to Mini owners you won't find one as easily as even a Minor nowadays!

I run one of each and to be honest in most cases the minor is actually a more practical car.

The mini is great fun, but requires just as much TLC as the minor to keep going, you still have grease points and same engine to maintain but with less space to do it all in! There are also plenty of times when the mini is just plain scary to use (think carparks and roads with speed bumps and that nasty scraping noise because your suspension just does not have enough clearance even as standard)

the minor is more comfortable and with a few tweaks just as good (think discs brakes + 1275 engine), the mini is a great go-kart of a car with fun handling but you certainly know when you have done more than 50 miles in it! The minor is still small compared to a modern box but probably has more internal room (esp the traveller) A fantastic turning circle the mini can't match (unless you use the handbrake!) and the economics of ownership would be about the same between the mini and minor.

Plenty to think about there, guys.

The Mini 'ball joints' need even mor attention than kingpins on a Minor - and are more difficult to renew (at least the bottom one anyway). Also unless you get a pre 73 Mini you will pay road tax - and these pre 73 cars are not cheap! The fuel consumption will be about the same - and yes unless you fit new suspension rubbers and dampers all round (about £300 for parts) then the ride IS v harsh compared to a Minor. I'm slightly taller and same weight as you PSL - and I do fit in a Mini just fine - although i recently upgraded my Mini to a TR 7 = plenty of room in that!!

I've had a Mini and own a Minor. The Mini was fun, but they are a pig to work on, suffer from oval bore wear due to one side of the engine getting blasted with cold air, and the other side roasted by the exhaust. The engine shares the same oil as the gearbox, which has transfer gears that are noisy as Hell after a few miles. My Mini used to eat engine stabiliser bushes, and snap exhaust to gearbox bracket every other month.

All in, I would say it is much cheaper to run a well serviced Minor compaired to a Mini.

Oh and the engine mountings in a Mini, must be one of the most horrid jobs to do on any car.

Not too many positives for the Mini, then.

I've owned and worked on Minis; and have driven Minors for 25 or so years. The Mini was fun, but as others have said, a pig to work on. Engine mounts need regular attention. Load carrying is very restricted. My first car is a Minor, as is my second, and my third. I travel 18,000 plus miles per annum in Minors, commute from a country location, and go long distance on main roads. No tax, low insurance, cheap and easy spares, no depreciation, adequate performance, good carrying, loads of fun, plenty of "cred" and a great bunch of owners. Why change?

As said above, the Mini has problems with its ball joints. I used one everyday (about 10 years ago now) and it was forever needing new ball joints.

And then there's the rusty rear subframe to worry about!! Engine mounts are easy enough once you know how - and they last a v long time in my experience! But overall - as an everyday low cost car - a Minor 2 door will be hard to beat. For best economy - use the 948 engine (or 848 if you can find one) with the compression ratio lifted to 10:1, - and the 4.22 diff from a 1098 version. It won't be fast - but it should be economical.

I say keep the Minor - they're far easier to work on, far roomier inside and feel less vulnerable on the road. Plus as BMC said you'll most likely end up paying tax on a Mini and £110 is enough to pay for more than 3 tanks of fuel on a Minor - over 700 miles worth, every year. Minis are also pretty pricey compared to Minors these days.

If you're finding fuel costs a pain (who isn't) and do a reasonable mileage then have you thought of adding an LPG kit to your Minor or Astra?

Not sure if anyone's done it to a Minor yet but it could make for some seriously economical motoring as although you get 10% fewer miles per gallon the fuel is half the cost. That could mean the equivalent of 70MPG on a run. The kits aren't by any means cheap (although they're cheaper for an old carb-fed car than a modern EFI one) but even then it could pay for itself in ~18000 miles.

Have no idea how easy this is to do, but the front brakes on my '61 one ton are disk brakes from a mid-60s Sprite. They appear to fit right in.

Braking is excellent, but having never driven another Morris, can't offer comparison.

Swapping a Minor for a Mini?

You'd gain nothing. Both require the same amount of upkeep.
The only thing the mini has in its favour is its superior handling imo.
I dont even remember my old 998 being that good on fuel - but then I did drive like a wa..zzock back then.

Asking a question like that on here, your going to get a biased answer. Ask the same question on a mini forum and you'll get biased answers toward the mini.
Do I understand your getting rid of the minor and the astra?

I've had minors for about 10 years while my friends, and recently my brother, has had minis. Yes they can be more difficult to work on at times, but from experience (as it's me that usually does the repairs) the mini is far easier to get parts for, cheaper to run and maintain, the upgraded parts are endless and quality is better. nothing wrong with mini ball joints or engine mounts if done properly. And yes if I could rewind 10 years I would go the mini route instead. Don't get me wrong, minors are great and I wouldn't part with my van for anything, despite recent agro. But I say go for it jojax64, buy a mini and have fun, take it easy

I'll be keeping the Astra for now. I was looking ahead a year or two, considering fuel prices and road tax issues. Motoring will become expensive, I've no doubt. Little electric cars are being built, and are supposed to be the way ahead. They can only reach 40mph or so, and need to be re-charged every 50 miles. Unless there is a country-wide network of re-charge outlets, that's going to be a practical no-goer.
The classic Mini looks like it ticks all the boxes. Small, quick and fuel-efficient. As previously stated, spares & parts are in plentiful supply, and not expensive either.
Just a thought worth considering...

Wanderinstar has an LPG Minor ! It is the way forward - and the 'kit' doesn't have to pay for itself - because it will always be worth what you pay for it - assuming secondhand, which it would have to be for a carb engine. New LPG kits are all made for injection engines.
But then again - an LPG Mini would be even better for economy!
A 50 mile electric car would cover most folks daily journeys - and NO road tax to pay. Snag is the batteries don't last for ever - and v expensive to replace.

i like my minor as not many people my age have them. realistically in my eyes a mini would be more practical though. if it werent for wanting to look different then i probably would have got a mini. either way, they are both great cars, so whichever you do choose, it's a good choice!