Great Motor, Dodgy Subframes (Mini in general)

Member Name: GraWar

Product:	Mini in general
Date:	02/04/01 (128 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great handling, fun to drive, economical, cheap insurance

Disadvantages: bad subframes, ridiculous boot, too cramped

I have to admit that I am a little bit undecided when it comes to Mini's. Nobody can argue their cult status and popularity. If it wasn't a popular car then it wouldn't have sold as many as it has over the last 40 odd years and it wouldn't have been made for so long if it was poor.

However I have my slight reservations about the Mini. To start with the negatives there are a few things that would put me off buying a Mini. Firstly for me they are too cramped. I'm not a particularly big or tall person but the cramped layout would get on my nerves a bit.

It isn't just how cramped it is inside that counts against it though, it is how cramped the engine compartment is. Although it uses the very good A series Austin engine, which is renowned for being reliable and easy to service yourself, unfortuanately the positives here are offest by the fact that they are so cramped that they are actually very difficult to work on.

Mini's also have a bit of an achilles heal when it comes to their subframe. As the Mini is mounted so low, the subframe is very prone to rotting and a large percentage of Mini's have to have the subframe replaced during it's life. The boot is ridiculously small also so this doesn't count in it's favour.

You may think I hate the car from the above text. Well you'd be wrong because I can also identify just as many if not more positives about this motor. Firstly it has excellent go-kart style handling and driving position, which makes it hard to believe that anyone could ever lose control of one of these.

Add to that the fact that the bodies are light and engines are economical. Hence they are very cheap to run. They are also classed as group 2 insurance (the standard models are) which means that they are very cheap to insure also. And as I said earlier they use the excellent A series Austin engines which are reliable and user servicable also.

The last point th
at endears me to the Mini is it's natural aura. They really are nifty little motors and you really cannot fail to admire them. And above all don't forget they are British designed and built.

Summary: