Interesting car for daughter No.1

[Parky]

Mini will tick a lot of boxes and depreciation not likely to be that much of an issue. But is she any good at running repairs because that one looks like it's going to be out of action for some issue or another on a pretty regular basis.

 

The cuteness will soon subside when it has dumped her at the side of the road because it has rained somewhere about 500 miles away. Don't get me wrong I love Minis but couldn't entertain one if I needed reliability

[myglaren]

To regress to the Grande Punto, my second daughter had one from new, scrapped at four years old, many warranty repairs - gearbox and power steering were first to go.

 

I had it a few times when she borrowed my C5 estate to shuttle crap around and didn't find it objectionable but wouldn't have liked a permanent swap.

 

Often did swaps with her younger sister and loved her SAABs (an Aero-S and a 900 cabriolet) and Rover 75.

Clio and Fiesta not so much.  Nor the 106 and mini's.  Which she hated herself, likes a bigger car.

[FakeConcern]

Mini will tick a lot of boxes and depreciation not likely to be that much of an issue. But is she any good at running repairs because that one looks like it's going to be out of action for some issue or another on a pretty regular basis.

 

The cuteness will soon subside when it has dumped her at the side of the road because it has rained somewhere about 500 miles away. Don't get me wrong I love Minis but couldn't entertain one if I needed reliability

I did explain this to her & pointed out that I put new A panels & outer sills on one of my 1275GTs at only 4 years old!

[Craig the Princess]

How many seats do these have?

 

 

4 seats, Greg would have to walk.

[HH-R]

Don't keep asking me why Greg, it just happens to be that year!

[HH-R]

To regress to the Grande Punto, my second daughter had one from new, scrapped at four years old, many warranty repairs - gearbox and power steering were first to go.

 

I had it a few times when she borrowed my C5 estate to shuttle crap around and didn't find it objectionable but wouldn't have liked a permanent swap.

 

Often did swaps with her younger sister and loved her SAABs (an Aero-S and a 900 cabriolet) and Rover 75.

Clio and Fiesta not so much.  Nor the 106 and mini's.  Which she hated herself, likes a bigger car.

Blimey, scrapped at 4 years! Saying that, I really wanted to cube my Panda at 5/6 years old. If I was a richer man I'd have done it.

[HH-R]

Is the Bini for sale on here any good for her?

[FakeConcern]

Is the Bini for sale on here any good for her?

Thanks, I've sent her the link!

[For Fiats Sake]

So rear doors no longer an issue?

 

My prediction is that she'll end up in a Bini or Fiat 500.

 

Natch Fiat 500 is better car as is smaller and less wankerish.

 

I thought all girls wanted was a pony anyway?

[vulgalour]

 

 

 

 

Sorted.

[FakeConcern]

So rear doors no longer an issue?

 

My prediction is that she'll end up in a Bini or Fiat 500.

 

Natch Fiat 500 is better car as is smaller and less wankerish.

 

I thought all girls wanted was a pony anyway?

Apparently she doesn't like Binis, so that's out. As for rear doors & 5 seats, she'd prefer them, but will do without for something she really likes (I think!)

[fairkens]

Heyzoos Christopher is this thread still going?!

 

Is there anything left to choose from?

[HH-R]

Little Red Corvette.

[SiC]

RX8 ?????????????????????

 

Running out of cars!

[Lacquer Peel]

Nissan Serena 2.3D LX.

[Cavcraft]

Stop the press, we have a winner*

 

 

 

£99 deposit, no more to pay ever. Well, not to me anyhow.

 

 

[gordonbennet]

Result she doesn't like Binis, you won't be on first name terms with the bloody service lad at the Bini showroom nor scouring about to find some bugger to put yet another timing chain kit on.

 

Might be a bit over budget but Toyota did a really pukka Yaris for about 2 years around 08/09, 1.8SR with the Avensis engine slipped under the bonnet, thats got to be a semi hot hatch that looks like any other Yaris on a set of alloys.

[SiC]

Result she doesn't like Binis, you won't be on first name terms with the bloody service lad at the Bini showroom nor scouring about to find some bugger to put yet another timing chain kit on.

 

Might be a bit over budget but Toyota did a really pukka Yaris for about 2 years around 08/09, 1.8SR with the Avensis engine slipped under the bonnet, thats got to be a semi hot hatch that looks like any other Yaris on a set of alloys.

 

A bit older was the T-Sport

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/toyota/yaris/t-sport/

 

I really, really wanted one of these when I was 19!

[Eddie Honda]

Citroen C3 either one with a sporty engine or a Pluriel version for wind in the hair?

[FakeConcern]

She really likes the look of this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-METRO-GTA-1275-/321987172960?hash=item4af7ee5a60:g:JdYAAOSwqrtWpNRe

 

How viable would this be as a daily driver? She does about 30 miles each way. I can't remember how keeping up with the servicing compares to a Mini, plus when I had one it was pretty new so any garage could pump up the suspension etc. I'd hope that this one having survived so long already would not be prone to rust. Neither of the Metros I had were rusty, but my dad bought an all white C reg MG & got rid after about 2 years as it had turned orange!

[Parky]

She has taste, I'll give her that!

 

Better daily proposition than a Mini IMHO and that one looks alright. Specialists should be able to take care of most stuff but it will still potentially be more labour intensive than a newer car. hound have a look, WCPGW?

 

Your daughter sounds like she needs to be on here!

[FakeConcern]

She has taste, I'll give her that!

 

Better daily proposition than a Mini IMHO and that one looks alright. Specialists should be able to take care of most stuff but it will still potentially be more labour intensive than a newer car. hound have a look, WCPGW?

 

Your daughter sounds like she needs to be on here!

WCPGW??????????? Indeed.

 

Do you know if suspension is a problem or if it's likely to have metric size tyres that are either expensive or not available? Anything else I haven't thought of?

[MarvinsMom]

that GTa is sat it on 13 inch tyre like off of an MG turbo, so tyres are not an issue.

 

servicing wise, it will want an oil & filter change at 5000 miles and there are 4 grease points, one for each wheel, that want attention at lest every 5000 miles if not sooner

 

if it i been run all year round get shit loads of dintrinol/waxoyle/old engine oil all over the floors, sills and wings.

 

i think this will not have points and that, the mg engine which this has, has some elcectrical voodoo instead.

 

suspension cans can loose gas pressure, but there are folks around who can refill them. there are some new cans which sometimes turn up on fleabay but x-part has no stock of them now. and some second hand ones do come available often too.

 

ball joints and wing arm bearings are easy to get, as are brake parts and all mechanical bits, most of which are sheared with the mini.

 

similarly wings and that can be found, genuine ones are as scarse as hens teeth, but pattern ones are around, though some fit better than others. good doors and tailgates also do turn up from time to time. as do outer sills. repair panels for the floor too are damn near impossible to find

 

oddly i have found getting this done on the metro can be a bit of a nightmare, as "mechanics" who are unfamiliar with them dunno where the computer plugs in. last year for the mot i ended up having new wheel cylinders and master cylinder fitted cos the back brakes weren't work hardly. eventually they did get enough effort out of them to pass the test though i think that they haven't solved the problem, just worked round it, as they didn't change the pressure limiter valve while they were buggering on, even though i'm certain that this part was at fault. and even presenting them with the Haynes BoL and ARG's workshop books didn't help. 

 

but what do i know, i've only owned the car for 5 years.....

[Parky]

People get MGFs pumped up so the facilities are out there, the BL pervs will know for sure.

 

Metric tyres - yup could be an issue so finding some imperial alternative wheels would be a smart move

 

Other than that I only know that they rust, panels are getting rare, the turbos eat gearboxes and they are easy to pinch. Pretty much the same applies to any eighties hatch though

[Eddie Honda]

That looks flat as fuck at the front. I know it's a GTa, but I remember them sitting higher when new.

 

Whiney pre-historic A-series. 4 on the floor. Offset pedals.

 

WCPGW/WGW.

 

It's a miniMetro FFS.

 

[garethj]

As above, the problem with something like a Metro is finding an elderly mechanic who can diagnose a misfire when faced with points, a condenser and an SU dashpot.

 

What about the Pug 206 idea from a few pages back?

[Craig the Princess]

It's a Metro, even with electronic ignition they are as basic as can be. Yes a Hydragas sphere might go pop but replacements for Metros are not hard to find. Grease gun style Hydragas pumps are around £50 on the Bay.

 

Get it bought.

[FakeConcern]

I'm hoping we can get to see the Metro & a red Mk1 Twingo over the weekend, however Daughter No1 may be working & Mrs. Concern wants me to replace 2 radiators in the house so not sure that will happen.

[Longblackcoat]

Don't want to sound like Mr Sensible, but having seen the state of my wife's Metro after someone drove in the side of her, I'd not put anyone I loved into one. The passenger door ended up touching the gearlever, and this was a 20mph urban accident.

[FakeConcern]

Don't want to sound like Mr Sensible, but having seen the state of my wife's Metro after someone drove in the side of her, I'd not put anyone I loved into one. The passenger door ended up touching the gearlever, and this was a 20mph urban accident.

Hmm, might have a rethink on that then, thanks.