Greetings Mini Lovers!

[jani11189]

Greetings to all mini lovers here in tsikot!

I'm albert and I'm also a mini lover but unfortunately i don't own one.. i'm so desperate to own one and i would really do my best to acquire one in the near future.. I'm now in the stage of finding a mini and I prefer a mini which I, myself would restore.. I don't care how much time it would take me to restore one (even if it takes me years!! I dont care!!) but I do care with my budget.. hehehe.. because i'm still a college student but i'm really willing and i'm really committed in finding the mini of my dreams.. I'm in love with the car.. and everytime i go out to the streets i always search for minis that may pass.. I really want to own one, i really want to restore one. and I think restoring a mini while i'm still a student would help me greatly in my studies(im taking up BS ME).. I'm already starting to save money so that when I find the mini to restore I could already spend on some restorations needed.. I hope that you - mini lovers, could help me in my quest of acquiring the car of my dreams.
Thank you!

Albert

PS. Where could I find minis for restoration??

Thank you very much talaga!

[donbuggy]

Hi albert,

I'm also a Mini fan who still dreams of owning one. Tell us all about your dream Mini.

1) garage queen or daily driver?
2) stock or modified?
3) what type (mark I, II, III, etc)?
4) what engine (850, 998, 1275)?
4) normal Mini, wagon, or Moke?

[rey_rya]

Hi albert,

I'm also a Mini fan who still dreams of owning one. Tell us all about your dream Mini.

1) garage queen or daily driver?
2) stock or modified?
3) what type (mark I, II, III, etc)?
4) what engine (850, 998, 1275)?
4) normal Mini, wagon, or Moke?

....ya Albert, why not share us your dream mini? we love to hear/read one. Thanks.

[jani11189]

Well.. I want a daily driver.. a mini that I would take anywhere with me.. Well, it depends what's cheaper.. i think stock would be cheaper.. I want a mini cooper(me pinagkaiba ba yun sa mk1-3??).. I don't care about the engine.. as long as my dream car would take me anywhere i want to go.. and I want a normal mini with very nice external finishings as well as the interior.. I really want to find a mini which I, myself would restore to perfect condition.. but i'm really having a hard time finding one because all i could find are fully restored minis and they are way too expensive for my budget.. huhuhu.. if i would find a mini cooper to restore, i would restore it nice and slowly.. i don't care if it would take me years.. I will give my best to my dream mini!!! I wish someone could help me find a mini for restoration..

[jani11189]

I really can't find a mini cooper for restoration.. I really want one.. I hope someone could tell me where can I acquire a mini for restoration.. thanks

[Batman]

Sir magkano po ba ang budget nyo for a start up project? There is one there sa tsikot carfinder sa mini na for sale at 85K, Another one there na unfinished project na naka primer pa for 65K ata, check it out! Madali gawin ang mini to the specs that you are looking for but the most important thing first is your budget.

[jani11189]

uhmmm... i found some cars sa carfinder d2 sa tsikot yung 65K sold na and yung 90K is inactive i think.. kaya baka sold na rin.. well, i'm still gonna save for my starting budget and beg my parents to help.. but i'm so sure that i wanna restore one.. i hope that by the time i already have the money there would be an available mini.. hindi ba pwedeng may lay-away plan ang mini para pwedeng hulogan???? hehehe.. estudyante pa kc ako.. kaya wla pa akong pera.. hahaha.. pero someday.. i'm going to have my own vintage mini cooper.. I will!! Thanks nga pala Sir Batman..

[donbuggy]

albert,

You can tell your parents that helping you buy a Mini is a good idea because:
1) a Mini will never go out of style.
2) Minis are highly sought after by other euthusiasts if you decide to sell it.

And according to the Tsikot forums:
3) parts are still available.
4) there are workshops that can repair Minis.

However, be aware of the Mini's weak points like:
a) the early driveshaft joints (the cross type?).
b) the Mini's engine and transmission share the same oil so it's a good idea to change the oil frequently.
c) Minis have only 4-speed transmissions, so its engine must turn at high revs to keep up with the other cars on the highway.

Other choices to make:
- Engine: A or A-plus
- ordinary Mini or Mini Cooper.

[jani11189]

I really appreciate your help sir donbuggy.. My parents are now quite supportive with the idea.. I just need some more persuasion.. and all they'll need is more cash.. hahaha.. i'm still looking for a mini cooper to be restored and i hope i would find one that would suit my parents' very tight budget.. Thanks..

[jani11189]

believe it or not.. i found austin minis worth roughly Php 10K-100K.. Unfortunately i found them in Chile.. check out http://www.chileautos.cl..

On the search screen that comes up:

For "Marca" - enter: "Austin"
For "Modelo" - enter "Mini"
For "A�o Inicial" - enter "1959" (ie: the first year Minis were built)
For "A�o Final" - enter "1980" (or whatever year your state/country allows)
Then hit the button: "Buscar"

10K-50K minis are in good running condition with not so good exterior.. 60K up are minis that are good all over..

I wish i live in chile.. i'm trying to make contacts on OFW's in chile.. someone trustworthy.. i'm going to try to buy my mini in chile because of its super cheapness.. Wish me luck guys.. I hope i find someone trustworthy.. BTW.. do you have any idea how much would it cost to ship the mini from chile to the philippines??? how about the customs???

THANKS!!!

[jani11189]

I'm quite confused with the figures they show at the chilean site.. The price that it displays are in "$500.000".. I'm not sure if it is in chilean peso or in US dollars.. because if it is in US dollars then it would only be 500 USD or about 25K PHP.. however if it is in chilean peso then it would be 969 USD.. or about 40K+ PHP.. nevertheless.. it's still cheap..

[Batman]

Sir, according to the book I have with regard to the history of the mini's the CHile Production was made out of fiberglass kaya siguro puro interiors lang ang in poor condition. I have not experienced personally seeing this cars since wala pang nagpasok dito nito. Maybe the reason so is because one, its in fiberglass, two its more expensive to bring in. Kung makuha mo man ng 40K duon ang mini for sure it will cost you just as much if you get the one available here na from japan. Shipping will cost you somewhere from 3K US to about 4.5K US. then comes tax duties! Even if you get it for free the shipping lang will kill you! Kaya nakakamura yung mga nagpapasok nyan dito satin is becuase they bring it in by bulk.

[jani11189]

wow.. ang mahal pala ng shipping.. i think i'm just going to look for minis here in the philippines.. if you would sum up the costs mukhang mas lalo ka pang mapapamahal.. huhuhu... anyways.. Thank you batman for the info.. di na ako makatulog because of the cheapness of minis in chile.. atleast i can sleep now.. hehehe..

[Batman]

I saw the minis in the site already. It doesnt come close the picture that I have in the book. So I think its not fiberglass yung mga binebenta dito. However your right confusing nga yung pricing if its in USD or Peso. If its 500USD bakit merong .000 after? Does it mean 500KUSD?? Mahal naman nun d ba?! Kung Pesos naman eh bakit $ and sign na ginamit?? Hmmmm.... Kung nakinig lang ako sa Spanish prof ko eh d sana hindi tayo nalilito ngayon...

[vince168]

OT:
Sir Batman may exterior features ba na unique lang sa Minis from Japan compared sa galing sa UK. I want to know lang if there is a way to spot a mini na galing Japan and UK. Sa Beetle kasi di ba they can tell if german or brazil sa exterior features gaya ng windshield iba sa brazil beetles. May ganyan din ba sa Mini? I might be wrong pero pansin ko pag Japan Mini yung plate number sa front is mounted higher nasa bumper na whereas pag UK nasa baba naman ng bumper.

Sir, according to the book I have with regard to the history of the mini's the CHile Production was made out of fiberglass kaya siguro puro interiors lang ang in poor condition. I have not experienced personally seeing this cars since wala pang nagpasok dito nito. Maybe the reason so is because one, its in fiberglass, two its more expensive to bring in. Kung makuha mo man ng 40K duon ang mini for sure it will cost you just as much if you get the one available here na from japan. Shipping will cost you somewhere from 3K US to about 4.5K US. then comes tax duties! Even if you get it for free the shipping lang will kill you! Kaya nakakamura yung mga nagpapasok nyan dito satin is becuase they bring it in by bulk.

[Batman]

Ur right sir, most of the japans came na may plate holder sa front w/c is higher. However, meron din dumating na mga mini from japan na wala nuong holder na yon. The most consistent na traits na japan mini is that yung front windshield nila eh namumuti mga kanto. kasi puro laminated ang front windshield ng mga japok. though meron din lumabas sa UK na laminated windshields but yung sa mga japan origin minis ang mga namumuti. Baka the reason kasi is the sudden change of weather from the transit of the car since maikli lang ang byahe at nabigla sa init, whereas from UK eh matagal ang byahe kaya mabagal ang change of climate. My opinion only!

[jani11189]

While I was riding the LRT 2 late this afternoon.. I was contemplating for I was already loosing hope of finding my dream car.. but suddenly as the train left gilmore station I caught a glimpse of a bright red classic mini cooper parked at the nestle facility in aurora blvd.. I was filled with joy from the split second that I saw my dream car.. it was just a glimpse.. but I know that it was a message from someone up above.. He's telling me not to lose hope in finding my greatest earthly desire.. restoring and owning my own car.. I remember after I got my driver's license after enduring one week in LTO.. the very first car that I saw after going out of LTO is a bini cooper.. well.. it's a sign.. hehehe..

I know that in the near future.. I will have my vintage mini.. I'm still very young and patience and determination is all I need as of now..

(ang drama noh??? hehehe... but that's how serious I am in finding my mini cooper.. hehehehe.. pasensya na sa drama..)

[donbuggy]

Albert has a serious case of Minitis. The doctor prescribes rest and a viewing of "The Italian Job" - the 1969 movie with original Mini Coopers and Michael Caine, not the remake.

[jani11189]

hahaha... i agree with you donbuggy.. i just can't remove the mini cooper off my mind.. i was even caught by one of my friends day dreaming in toy kingdom while holding a mini cooper replica in my hands.. i just can't take it out of my head.. i'm inlove..

[rey_rya]

Albert has a serious case of Minitis. The doctor prescribes rest and a viewing of "The Italian Job" - the 1969 movie with original Mini Coopers and Michael Caine, not the remake.

.......................hahahahaha...... nice ....donbuggy!