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I do. And I get on average 5 days between breakdowns. Rubbish. Anyone else feel mine pain or do all your mk1's perform smashingly?

i used mine everyday for about six months, right up until i pulled it off the road to restore it.
it ran hassle free, mostly.
my biggest issue was low-beam headlight bulbs, in the passengers side. still haven't got it figured out, i'm suspecting a "crook" earth on that light.

I have used MK1's every day, but not for a few years with a daily commute of nearly 70 miles I dare not risk it regularly, call me a coward

Surely one of your mk1's would be more reliable than the Alfa, Mark?!

steve1071 wrote:Surely one of your mk1's would be more reliable than the Alfa, Mark?!

the alfa was reliable, it needed to go to the dealers every two weeks!!!!

what a shit car that was!

I drove a series of Minis everyday after I passed my test many moons ago, but generally these were mid 80s to early 90s models. Happy to report very few break downs over the many years I drove Minis daily. After I restored my Traveller in 1999/2000 I drove it daily from March right through to mid September or so, but once the roads started to be salted she was retired to the garage and my 1994 Mini Tahiti was pressed back into daily service. I have never used my Mk1s during the winter months.

Since I bought a more "normal" car (MG ZR) new in 2004 I've not used the Minis daily at all. During the summer months though they do get out a few days a week back and forth to work on days I'm going to be stuck in the office and not on the road.

Although with the rotten weather we've had here in NI this winter so far and the amount of snow I may have to restort to going back to daily Mini driving again - 8x17" rims and low profile tyres are worse than useless!!

I am using my S every day at the moment, totally reliable. I have used it probably two or three days a week for a number of years and occasionally I take it south on a 1000 mile run. James (KA2S4) uses his car almost daily too.

Al

guru_1071 wrote:

steve1071 wrote:Surely one of your mk1's would be more reliable than the Alfa, Mark?!

the alfa was reliable, it needed to go to the dealers every two weeks!!!!

what a shit car that was!

haha there the worst cars ever, on more than one occasion ive had an alfa in at work and its come in for something like a bottom arm bush or a bearing or rot or oil leaks or seazed calipers etc (the list goes on haha) but on two occasions the starter motors have failed on two different alfas! out of the blue whilst sat on the ramp!! try telling your customer that! only an alfa owner would understand! freaky or what!

Not at the moment, but I have done many times, both Mokes and Minis. I've only owned a real car for five of the last 25 years.

I've always found that its best to have at least two vehicles to choose from. I hate having to try to get a car fixed in the cold and dark so that I can go to work the next day.

Tim

Hmm, I had an 156 for 2 years without any problems

66S wrote:I am using my S every day at the moment, totally reliable. I have used it probably two or three days a week for a number of years and occasionally I take it south on a 1000 mile run. James (KA2S4) uses his car almost daily too.

Al

Yip.

I only use the Audi if i need to tow something or make out in the back seat.

I find my minis to be pretty reliable, also nice to know that if anything does go wrong there's a better than even chance i can fix it and it won't cost the earth either.

J

KA2S4 wrote: I only use the Audi if i need to ... make out in the back seat.

Perfectly feasible in a Mini . I've even slept in the there (on my own) a couple of times. Can't say the same for the Moke though.

Tim

I drive my Mk2 cooper car co every day, have done for the last 3 1/2 yrs, rain snow or shine, I do 56ks round trip too and from work. The wife was using the Clubman GT for 3 months also but has now got a Honda Estate as her, the 2 kids, pushchair and a weeks food shop was a bit of a squeeze. Both cars have been totaly reliable.

I'm afraid it is currently a Mk V that I use for my daily ~120kms of mostly motorway traffic and traffic jams. Apart from a 2.95 diff, it's completely standard/original, including it's 998cc engine, which works perfectly fine. I used to use my 1975 Mini 850 (later with 998 Cooper, and finally with 1275A+ engine) as daily driver for over 10 years until I had a Volvo 245 for about 3 years, which in the mean time is gone again.

I guess I have just been a little unfortunate. Although the simplicity of a mk1 is part of why I bought one. I guess that once I have replaced all the broken bits it should serve me quite well. Fingers crossed.

I used mine to get to work all through the summer rain or shine! (mk1 cooper), that's when it was written off . Hard to believe that was nearly 2 years ago now. I suppose that's the risk you take when you use it on the roads with other drivers! By the way, its nearly ready for paint, hopefully will see the road this spring. Can't wait It won't put me off though,I will still use it for work in the summer!

john

minimade wrote:I used mine to get to work all through the summer rain or shine! (mk1 cooper), that's when it was written off . Hard to believe that was nearly 2 years ago now. I suppose that's the risk you take when you use it on the roads with other drivers! By the way, its nearly ready for paint, hopefully will see the road this spring. Can't wait It won't put me off though,I will still use it for work in the summer!

john

The other risk is unless you have secure parking at your destination any classic Mini is very easy pickings for a thief, including by kids and those that have them completely dismantled and on ebay the same day for parts or weighed up for scrap by the local 'metal collectors'. Several of the many classic Mini's reported missing this year have sadly been nice Mk1's.