S'more wwyd SHOULD I BUY THIS MINI.???

[Piggyinthemidriff]

So I have a small budget, but a friend of a friend is selling a lovely mini, great condition on for only 1200. Lady told me immediately that it needs a new gear box and clutch that's why it's cheap as it's worth 2000 really. Only the garage said oooo it could be a £400 job or could end up being £750 won't know till we take it apart. I'm nervous as I know very little about cars... Should I buy it? I should mention it's driving perfectly well at the minute, but making a noise so could go any time.

No. It's not in a great condition if it needs new clutch and gearbox. Too much of a risk. Buy a car that's in the condition you want it to be in!

I wouldn't.

But if you want to please get it independently inspected first.

I have bitter memories of buying a car that only needed 'one thing' and ended up being an absolute pig that I lost loads of money on.

DP just bought me a mini convertible, no space for a food shop never mind anything else.
And to be honest I am not surprised it needs a new clutch and geat box as they are very stiff and hard even when perfect. My discription of driving is clutch to the floor and brute force to change the gear. Minis are known for this

What kind of Mini? It sounds like a shitty heap to me. Why not buy a non-trendy car for £1000 that actually works properly.

Oh and I had mine checked by a main dealer so I know the 'horrible' handling is normal. And yes parts are £££ also if engine is electric there tends to be brake problems I am beginging to think DP and DMum want the life insurance money

No

It will cost you well over £1000 to get the clutch replaced (from bitter experience!) let alone the gearbox... I'd stay well away!

Buy it if you're completely happy to take the risk of it turning into a lemon but be prepared to lose a friendship if you think you'll be bitter if it does.

I wouldn't buy it. You're buying someone else's problem. Plus a gearbox and clutch are major repairs so I would worry about what would go wrong next.

Dont do it. I have a mini and have all sorts of problems with it. It guzzles oil like no tomorrow.

Plus they say its made with BMW parts, including the engine, which is actually a Chrysler engine.

Aside from that- DO NOT buy a car from someone you know.

Are you talking about a proper Rover Mini or a BMW Mini? I'm going to assume for £1200 you mean a Rover one. What reg is it? I would take a mechanic with you and if he thinks that's the only main job go for it, they are so much fun (you can prob tell from my name that I love them). They're generally easy to maintain if initially in good condition.

I wouldn't buy a Mini, let alone one that has problems.

No boot space, cramped back seats, hard ride, dodgy gear change and so on. Mine had run flats on and it was so uncomfortable I spent a fortune on new tyres. Absolutely could not use it with the run flats.

It's a bmw mini. I honestly don't care about trendy- I generally only drive beaten up cars, had a micra and a rusty Honda Jazz, it's just I'm getting fairly desperate and thought someone I sort of know would be best to buy from as unlikely to con...

Thanks for the responses, I think I will stay away.

Hell no. I work in a garage and nobody (including the mechanics at the local mini dealership) would ever have one. They are one of the cars I have in the most with the biggest issues arising (models across the board).

If it's a BMW Mini definitely stay away, that's quite underpriced I think even for one of the old ones? I don't think it's ever a good idea to buy a car off friends or family.

My sister drove one of the earlier bmw minis, it was constantly having issues, she spent a small fortune on it. I'd steer clear personally.

I've learned the hard way with Minis. First one, whole exhaust needed replacing @ €500, power steering pump went - €800 to repair. Second one, electrical control panel went beserk €1000 to fix, surprise surprise power steering pump went €800 to repair. They are so lovely to drive but will bleed you dry in repairs. Never again.

Don't do it.

The first mini's have a gearbox problem, there's a guy who advertises on eBay who rebuilds them. If I remember rightly its £500 ish fitted - do check. He's in Birmingham but has a couple of garages dotted about to repair them (I used his London one, really really good) They have warranties and are good.

They are not cheap to keep on the road, tyres etc are expensive. But if your happy dealing with it and want it, get it. The gearboxes are the weak point, so when that's done you know it's done

I've had the same mini from new for 10 years. Exhaust £200, tyres £70 a pop. Just don't take it to a mini dealer for repair.

Only 25k miles though. I prefer to walk.

I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

Just out of interest TheWitTank, what would you recommend??? I neeeeed a car!

I just don't get the whole 'trendy' Mini thing.

There's a BMW car showroom in my town and they sell new Minis from between £21,000+ and £25,000+.

Why on earth anyone would spend that sort of money on a car like the Mini is completely beyond me but loads of local people seem to drive them so clearly I'm missing something.

Not for me though.