austin mini cooper 998cc review

Picture courtesy of John Richardson.

Average Ratings

Performance	9/10
Practicality	8.4/10
Reliability	7.6/10
Value for Money	9.2/10
Reviewer Rating	9.6/10
Overall Rating	8.7/10

100% Recommended5 out of 5 Reviews

• Overview
• Reviews
  • Carus's review
  • 1 Comment
• Write your review
• Ask a Question

By Carus on 13th Apr 2006

Carus's Ratings

Year Manufactured	1987
Length of ownership	2 yrs
Doors	2
Performance	10/10
Practicality	10/10
Reliability	3/10
Value for money	10/10
Overall value	10/10
Carus's recommendation

Good Points

With a stage one engine kit the mini is extremely nippy, however with four people in the car the petrol consumption is awful. Downhill with the wind behind you the mini can reach speeds of 100-125mph, however the car more comfortably drives around 70-80mph. On top of this you get the unbeatable mini handling, brilliant!

Bad Points

Unreliable as a rule, having said that most that goes wrong can be easily fixed yourself. The only real problem is the mini is not an all-terrain vehicle in any sense of the imagination, a journey can easily become unbearable if the road is bumpy and the weather is wet. The mini has a rather interestingly placed distributor gap, right behind the grill, which means in wet weather be prepared to stop occasionally and always carry a can of WD40.

General Comments

FUN FUN FUN!!! Alright you're not the fastest or most reliable car on the road but remember you are an icon. Drive in a corsa and you may be quicker and more reliable but in a mini you will turn heads, and see people smile ear to ear as you roll-on-by. Every journey you take in the mini is exciting (a mini adventure), and as for breaking down the engine is the simplest ever created so what better chance to practise! You'll never be bored in the mini, and although small you'll not feel inadequate even sat next to a Ferrari, in fact you even get to feel superior when you sit next to the more mundane cars. Its not just a car its a feeling.

Total Respect: +3