Okay. So you take a normal mini. 10 foot long. Then you think, "What do I need all that space for?" So you lob out the front seats, pick up yer angle grinder and chop it in half. A few times. And get rid of the roof (What dya need one of those for in England?)
So now you've got 4 bits ... Read review
Advantages: You can park anywhere! You get a suntan in a traffic jam. The obligatory smile.. Disadvantages: You have to be made of rubber to get into the car when the roofs up.
Okay. So you take a normal mini. 10 foot long. Then you think, "What do I need all that space for?" So you lob out the front seats, pick up yer angle grinder and chop it in half. A few times. And get rid of the roof (What dya need one of those for in England?)
So now you've got 4 bits of car. Throw away the middle bit and the roof, and weld the other two bits together and you get an 8 foot long death trap! So a bit of strengthening.. ... ...(what's the point of doors anyway -Dukes of Hazard never needed them..?) Now you've got the makings of something quite amusing...
Several vats of filler later, and a few kilometers of sandpaper and you're ready to spray the thing with some paint. Ferrari Rosso red seems appropriate.
So you end up with an 8 foot long go-kart, no doors, no roof, no problem parking any way round you want, and more of a head turner than ... more
Okay. So you take a normal mini. 10 foot long. Then you think, "What do I need all that space for?" So you lob out the front seats, pick up yer angle grinder and chop it in half. A few times. And get rid of the roof (What dya need one of those for in England?)
So now you've got 4 bits of car. Throw away the middle bit and the roof, and weld the other two bits together and you get an 8 foot long death trap! So a bit of strengthening.. few box sections accross the middle, weld the doors shut (what's the point of doors anyway -Dukes of Hazard never needed them..?) Now you've got the makings of something quite amusing...
Several vats of filler later, and a few kilometers of sandpaper and you're ready to spray the thing with some paint. Ferrari Rosso red seems appropriate.
So you end up with an 8 foot long go-kart, no doors, no roof, no problem parking any way round you want, and more of a head turner than most other £50k sports cars! When someone pulls up next to you at the traffic lights in a £150k Ferrari, puts down the window and tells you "You have a cool car" you know it was worth it...!
A few light April showers later and you wonder about the whole roof philosophy... Holding the umbrella while meandering along the M25 isn't gonna look good when you get got by a speed camera. Head along to Oxted Trimming Company (In Oxted, -they do all the roofs for Caterhams) and a few poppers later you've got a roof. After figuring out how the hell to contort through the cloth windows to enter the Tardis you're ready to face the British Summer.
It's only a 1000 auto, but thats quite fast enough, and the auto just adds to the go-kart 'squirt and go' feel. The steering is like nothing else i've encountered. At low speeds you can throw the car round anything -turning circle pretty similar to that of my push bike! Be warned tho -don't apply the brakes at high speed - the car will pull a stoppie! (-back wheels come off the ground and try to overtake you!)
As long as you keep the back bench seat and are prepared to argue with any bobby with a lack of a sense of humour, you can fit 3 people into the cockpit (put in a seatbelt in the middle). The leg room is generous compared to that of a normal mini. The boot is as vast as any other, so you've got plenty of space for all those suitcases.
Why should you do this? It's the funniest car I've ever driven. Every time i get into it I can't help but grin. Even traffic jams are fun! Other mini drivers not only wave and flash but pull emergency stops to figure out what went wrong!
Why shouldn't you do this? You spend your life trying to explain to people why you're driving a car thats been savaged by a tin opener. But it makes people laugh -that can't be bad really...
You need to see it to understand - leave me your email and i'll send a pickie or two...
Good Mini Contacts (Dial 192 if number not listed -sorry):
Custom Roofs: Mark at Oxted trimming Company, Oxted (Roof and doors all fitted cost £600!) To make your long mini a convertible: Kieths convertibles, Summerset. (normal roofs, roof frames, or he'll do the whole car including everything for about £500!) Parts: www.minispeed.co.uk 2nd hand: www.loot.com owners club: www.miniownersclub.co.uk Insurance: Adrian Flux are superb for custom cars -£200 or so! 08700 692202.
PS - since i first wrote this op several more mini categories have appeared.. and i should also point out that (to my knowledge) coopers are only 1.3 not 1.6!
Advantages: Fantastic handling, very smooth ride and stylish looks Disadvantages: Not as fast as the ol-style Mini Cooper, and the centre mounting speedometre is slightly off-putting at first
...- maybe the sale of Rover to BMW was not such a bad thing, this baby drives like a dream. The BMW gearbox is very smooth, while still retaining a solid feel so as not to be too slick for its own good. The handling is superb, power steering is a god-sent and the responsiveness is very good. It is still weird to be actually driving a MINI and having such a smooth ride, due mainly to the sports suspension and 15 inch alloy wheels, but the fun of driving ... ...very smart, chrome panelling all around and bucket seats that are very comfortable. The hints to the old style car are all around, rocker switches still control most of the functions and the centre mounted speedometer dates back to the originals of the sixties. This placement is rather off-putting at first, having to look sideways to check your speed, but I dare say that after a few drives you will get used to it.
The specifications on the version ...
GazzaR 09.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Rover Mini Cooper 1.6
Advantages: Looks good, handles well, cheap to run and very fuel efficient Disadvantages: Can be prone to rusting, not good in extreme rain
Introduction
The classic mini is a car loved by millions. Small and light, cheap to run, with timeless lines, those who drive them always seem to develop a soft spot for them. Having been built the same (or very similar) for over 40 years, a new version which is notably different is being produced by Rover. Opinion
I love my mini. Its great fun to drive, and a whole lot more interesting than a micra. Parts are cheap, insurance is cheap, and to ... ...There is an annual London to Brighton mini rally, and minis have featured in several famous movies, the most famous of which being "The Italian Job". There is a great sort of "community spirit" among mini owners, who will flash lights or wave when they pass.
Drive
Minis handle beautifully, having a very low centre of gravity and short wheelbase. They usually accelerate quite well as they are very light cars, and will often happily do 90 or 100, ...
hokers 21.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Rover Mini Cooper 1.6
Advantages: Fun, cheap to run, quick Disadvantages: GTi drivers want to race you
...face. Just go to your rover dealer and try one, you will want to buy one before the plug's pulled in September. They just skate round corners however fast you go, and will keep up with most 'warm hatches' on the straights.
With the last of the line being produced at the moment, they are excellent value - under £10,000 including full leather interior and a silver roof!
Servicing's cheap, everything's cheap. I've had my Mini for over 4 years and ... ...compare that to the Saxo's who crashed into you! Tyres? £25 Petrol? Even at £4 per gallon it's still very cheap to run - you should get around 40mpg running around town.
Negatives? Just remember it's not a hatchback when you buy it and you'll be fine! (Although the replacement BMW Mini will have a hatch, but this will not be a true Mini) ...
nuclearcitizen 08.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover Mini Cooper 1.6
Advantages: So much fun to drive Disadvantages: Can be susceptible to rust in places
Even though mine does not have that big an engine (1.2), it has excellent acceleration, as it is so small and light. You can turn on a penny due to the short wheelbase. It drives like a go-kart, so it is so much fun to drive, as it has stiff suspension, and a large upright steering wheel.
Inside it is simple, with two dials, the speedo on the left and the stats on the right (Fuel, temp etc). There are however some problems with the mini: A problem ... ...the lights where there is a join, the buckets on the inside of the doors are a bit flimsy and likely to break off. The lights inside the button on the dashboard also often go.
In conclusion I feel that the mini is probably THE most fun car to drive in the world however it is a bit susceptible to rust so check it regularly, and repaint bits that are going rusty. ...
rwhandle 29.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover Mini Cooper 1.6
Advantages: Excellent design, this car is affordable and cool at the same time Disadvantages: If you're used to power steering and ABS brakes, it will be a challenge at first
Having passed my all important driving test in early April, I was desperate to get behind the wheel as quickly as possible. I knew I would be put on my Dad's insurance when he gets a new car....IN BLOODY JULY! So a few winks and nudges in my mom's direction (who owns a Mini Cooper!!) quickly installed me as a temporary driver on her insurance!! I've been in the passenger seat of possibly the most funky and cool car on the road many times, but nothing ... ...is timeless and has looked cool for decades. Somewhat marred by my "P" plates signalling I'm a new driver, I still felt like I was driving a very cool car indeed!
During the learning process I drove my Dad's freelander on a few occasions, and very nice it was. Power steering, sprung gear box and all the extras you'd expect. But somehow, without all of the fancy extras, the Mini has a certain je ne sais quoi which makes it stand out from the crowd. ...
jambo5678 08.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Rover Mini Cooper 1.6
