Morris Minor Owners Club

kevin s wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 9:46 am 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 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 9:53 am 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 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 10:06 am 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 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:06 am The question that comes to my mind is - as it's to be a daily driver, why would you want a convertible?

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:46 am 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.

ManyMinors wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 4:54 pm 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.