In theory...Bangernomics

buglawton

I would agree about the Mini City, compared to modern vehicles it is a tin can - not very safe. Whereas many 6-7 year old cars at 2-3 grand have 4 NCAP stars.

Rolandtheroadie

Mini's fell to bits in a crash when they were first built, it's not a new thing.

motorguy

catflea wrote: »

Granted the OEM gasket was weak, however if the replacement job is done properly with the MLS gasket there should be no danger of repeat for the lifetime of the vehicle - its also relativly straightforward to have the head skimmed rather than outright replacement.

My current car is a Rover 114GTA - the only difference in the engines is that the OP will have the twin cam version as opposed to the single in mine. Its a really nice engine to be sat behind and the car is a real hoot to drive.

So far its cost me a total of £550 excluding tax and insurance (and that includes the HG replacment) which I think is a steal for how much fun I've had in that car

I think the problem is with the 16v head though.

It just wouldnt be my choice to run as a banger - as much as i do actually love Rovers

motorguy

petrolhead69 wrote: »

yes, minis dont crash well, but is that really a reason not to get in one? I for one would be bored to tears without doing something that could end in tears every now and then, be it motorbikes, mountain biking, going on speedboats and jetskis etc. You can't stop doing the things that make you happy just because you might get hurt IMO

Wait until you've got kids learning to drive....

Young_Pretender

Back to the point:
I like bangernomics, but use it in a different way. I don't need a car, so it has to be justifyable as a hobby - and therfore the car has to be fun!

Used to run a Nissan 200SX. Pretty powerful, not the best handling but fun to drive. Bought for £4,100, sold 2 years later for £3,300 - that's a lot of bang for £800 over 2 years.

I now have a 1988 MR2 - one owner from new and 120,000 miles, it still runs like a dream. Paid £1,500 (top whack for one really, but you should see its history!) I've owned it 2 years, serviced it myself and spent a bit here and there - ioverhauled the suspension and brakes myself to get it ready for track work.
There can't be many 22 year old cars that will happily complete 6 hours on track at Silverstone or Brands Hatch in a day, but this is one of them.

For true bangernomics I think you have to be unfussy and unsentimental. A few friends do this - a 306 or Mondeo for £300, run it until it breaks or costs more than £100 to fix, bin it and start over.

rictus123

My car cost £485. Including insurance deposit(im 18 for what its worth) I had to buy a new battery for it and a back wiper(arm and blade) An s reg 206 1.4 lx with 124k on the clock. However body is in good condition and the gear box(common problem i beleive) seems fine. Iv spent a total of just over £1000 on it since i got it on the 8th of March. This has got me my battery,wiper blade+arm, official car mats, seat covers, a good interior shampoo to give it a good clean up, an offical rally steering wheel(boss kit to come soon to get it fitted with airbag), offical mud flaps and treated myself to a keyring.

Now after spending £80 to transfer on my private plate the car and a very good clean up the car looks alot newer than s reg and like it cost alot more than £485. Its mot runs out in November which is good as iv got £700 in a savings bond thats locked in until the same month. So i wont come up short should i get a bigger than expected bill. Tax is out end of April which is £68.75 for 6 months, compared to my van which was £104.50(cashing it in and scraping the van) so its worth it id say.

No signs of any rust yet really but i can see a bit thats getting a bit bubbly. Anyone know where i can get decent paint to touch it up?

I love the car and im attached to it. Im going to run it and run it aslong as i can. Cheap enough insurance, cheap enough tax and good enough on fuel. Every car costs money, its just about investing wisely and i think iv done well here.

[Deleted User]

My next main car will be a bangernomics. Spent 2.5K on a decent used car and so far in under 4 months I've had my wing mirror knocked off which cost be £30 to replace from ebay. A scrape on the offside front wing which someone did while I was parked and made off. And a little dent put into the black part of the rear bumper which some kid/vandal did with a screwdriver for whatever reason. Never spending that much on a car again never mind a brand new car!

Kilty_2

rictus123 wrote: »

Iv spent a total of just over £1000 on it since i got it on the 8th of March. .

Tell me you mean £100...

What kind of car is it?

rictus123

As above a 206 1.4. £1000 is cheap for a car, insurance deposit and alot of stuff for the inside that makes me absolute love it.

Kilty_2

rictus123 wrote: »

As above a 206 1.4. £1000 is cheap for a car, insurance deposit and alot of stuff for the inside that makes me absolute love it.

Oh you meant £1000 including the purchase price of the car, fair enough :rotfl: