Had one as my first car it cost me £500 and was just about ready for the scrap yard but the most fun car I ever owned, the engine could be fixed at the side of the road and Mini owners were simply the best, they would always flash light or wave as they passed you and stop if you had broken down. The Mini was a car you could go off and have adventures in, really important as a young adult exploring the world and independence. The only downside was the plastic fabric of seats baking in the sun giving you third-degree burns if you wore shorts.
The other day I parked my MK1 Fiesta next to a mini 1275 GT, omg is so much smaller than the Fiesta is almost a miracle that adults fit inside. It is a wonderful car!
The Japanese love old British stuff and are the reason the Mini stayed in production until 2000. They even give new cars retro styling to call back to the 60s. You can also see how the Mini influenced kei car packaging. There is no wasted space and the wheels are pushed out to the very corners. Four adults can fit snugly in a tiny but upright vehicle. These little cars were inexpensive yet could do just about anything. I'd rather have a little sporty runabout like this to blast on a back road than some massively-powerful sports car. Also interestingly, the Mini's transverse engine and gearbox inspired the Lamborghini Miura's packaging.
The brake button doesn’t check the brake lights, it tests the circuit for the brake fluid low light so if you run out of brake fluid it illuminates by itself, also that’s standard mini heater controls the aircon is jdm specific
The mantra of "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow." I'd argue started with the MIni. It proved and established you could have a fun, engaging car without the need to attract police attention and license suspensions!
I don't see the point of massively powerful cars for the road. Where can you safely and legally use all that power? Something like this or a Miata, you can use all of its performance on a winding back road and still be within legal and the car's limits. Give a high-HP car a little too much gas and it'll be sliding into something that shouldn't be hit. The British have always had tiny underpowered sports cars that could be taken to the limit on their winding country roads.
@@bwofficial1776 Adding to what you commented and replying to @msmoniz, I may be wrong, but I think it's worth daring to say...IMO this may have started with the MG sportcars from the 1930's. Or at least it may have been one of the starters, at least.
@@Roddy_Zeh I meant for the masses. Pre WW2 cars weren’t as ubiquitous for the masses and more toys of the upper class. Cars like the Mini and Beetle became attainable peoples cars with the Mini being actually fun to drive as opposed to the basic transportation that the Beetle was.
@@msmoniz Yes, but the MG's weren't expensive, I guess...in a way, they were "for the masses". Obviously not built to Ford T or Beetle numbers, but...😁 But indeed there's a joy in driving a slow car fast, getting the best from it without getting yourself in very risky situations and also enjoying the environment for longer. 😎 And the Mini also increasing thr FWD layout and, with its wheels at the corners of the car, basically like a go-kart...just perfect. 👌🏻😌
Note to the owner. I think the suspension needs pumping up. It's not level and down on the back. Its pretty easy to do if you buy the pump. It will improve the ride quality without spoiling the handling.
I love it! When I was in England, there was a switch on each car I had that allowed you to turn either the left side or right side marker lights on as it was a requirement for them to be on all night if the car was parallel parked along the roadway.
not quite, Mini became its own marque in 1988 until the end of production. Austin name was retired in 1987 and the company became the Rover Group after privatisation.
Is that Menominee Park? The road through it is just the worst, but it's much better than it was 10 years ago. There were potholes in the boat ramp parking lot and on the bridge that could have swallowed a Mini whole, or the Mazda 323 I used to drive through there. Park that car next to the little amusement train and it might look normal size!
@@chriszbinden1740 I taught (or tried) a couple of people how to drive stick around the park and parking lot, and the parking lot of the (recently demolished) school across the street. The bridge in the park is a great place to practice hill starts! Was the Wartburg one of yours as well? I saw it going through town the other day and ooh'd and ahh'd pretty hard.
@@chriszbinden1740 Awesome! If you see a guy gawking and waving in a white VW sportwagen, you'll know who. (Or a beige SAAB 900, if I ever get that sorted out again.)
This is my Mini, and I used to have a Trabi… there are a lot of similarities, the Trabi is a little more comfortable but Mini handles and brakes better. The engine and exhaust sounds are equally entertaining
I always thought these were a hatch. My entire life is a lie.
People have modified them to be.
Being a r55 mini owner I truly appreciate this video
Had one as my first car it cost me £500 and was just about ready for the scrap yard but the most fun car I ever owned, the engine could be fixed at the side of the road and Mini owners were simply the best, they would always flash light or wave as they passed you and stop if you had broken down.
The Mini was a car you could go off and have adventures in, really important as a young adult exploring the world and independence.
The only downside was the plastic fabric of seats baking in the sun giving you third-degree burns if you wore shorts.
The other day I parked my MK1 Fiesta next to a mini 1275 GT, omg is so much smaller than the Fiesta is almost a miracle that adults fit inside. It is a wonderful car!
Every time I see video of a grown adult climbing into one it's like they're stepping into Narnia.
The Japanese love old British stuff and are the reason the Mini stayed in production until 2000. They even give new cars retro styling to call back to the 60s. You can also see how the Mini influenced kei car packaging. There is no wasted space and the wheels are pushed out to the very corners. Four adults can fit snugly in a tiny but upright vehicle. These little cars were inexpensive yet could do just about anything. I'd rather have a little sporty runabout like this to blast on a back road than some massively-powerful sports car.
Also interestingly, the Mini's transverse engine and gearbox inspired the Lamborghini Miura's packaging.
What a cool little car, I've always loved the older Minis.
What a clever design, way ahead of it's time. And built-in driving pleasure, all you want in a car 🇬🇧
The brake button doesn’t check the brake lights, it tests the circuit for the brake fluid low light so if you run out of brake fluid it illuminates by itself, also that’s standard mini heater controls the aircon is jdm specific
Big hello from the uk. Love all your videos, great car
Very nice review. I’m a huge fan of these Minis as well and this was a pleasure to watch. Let’s see more “selfish” videos.
The mantra of "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow." I'd argue started with the MIni. It proved and established you could have a fun, engaging car without the need to attract police attention and license suspensions!
I don't see the point of massively powerful cars for the road. Where can you safely and legally use all that power? Something like this or a Miata, you can use all of its performance on a winding back road and still be within legal and the car's limits. Give a high-HP car a little too much gas and it'll be sliding into something that shouldn't be hit. The British have always had tiny underpowered sports cars that could be taken to the limit on their winding country roads.
@@bwofficial1776 Adding to what you commented and replying to @msmoniz, I may be wrong, but I think it's worth daring to say...IMO this may have started with the MG sportcars from the 1930's. Or at least it may have been one of the starters, at least.
@@Roddy_Zeh I meant for the masses. Pre WW2 cars weren’t as ubiquitous for the masses and more toys of the upper class. Cars like the Mini and Beetle became attainable peoples cars with the Mini being actually fun to drive as opposed to the basic transportation that the Beetle was.
@@msmoniz Yes, but the MG's weren't expensive, I guess...in a way, they were "for the masses".
Obviously not built to Ford T or Beetle numbers, but...😁
But indeed there's a joy in driving a slow car fast, getting the best from it without getting yourself in very risky situations and also enjoying the environment for longer. 😎
And the Mini also increasing thr FWD layout and, with its wheels at the corners of the car, basically like a go-kart...just perfect. 👌🏻😌
Note to the owner. I think the suspension needs pumping up. It's not level and down on the back. Its pretty easy to do if you buy the pump. It will improve the ride quality without spoiling the handling.
I love it! When I was in England, there was a switch on each car I had that allowed you to turn either the left side or right side marker lights on as it was a requirement for them to be on all night if the car was parallel parked along the roadway.
how did batteries not die?
Lol when the album out , a great lil car my friend had one back seat is ok for around 20 mins then it’s too much love it.
This is similar to the car Mr. Bean drove in his '90s show Mr. Bean
I mean, every clubman front mini is similar to what Mr. Bean used.
I can only imagine how fun it is to throw this car around.
That's why you need an original Cooper S
As a product developed at and for Great Britain, trunk space was pretty much not an issue, as long trips would be made by train.
Sooo... when are you getting yours?
that song u sing sounds really goooddddd
In '88 this would still be an Austin Mini. And tbf even after the name Austin was dropped they were still badged/registered as Austins.
not quite, Mini became its own marque in 1988 until the end of production. Austin name was retired in 1987 and the company became the Rover Group after privatisation.
My childhood favorite car
I want one. But a 90s version.
Mini FTW
Is that Menominee Park? The road through it is just the worst, but it's much better than it was 10 years ago. There were potholes in the boat ramp parking lot and on the bridge that could have swallowed a Mini whole, or the Mazda 323 I used to drive through there. Park that car next to the little amusement train and it might look normal size!
Good eye! Thats the park and Menominee Drive around the lake
@@chriszbinden1740 I taught (or tried) a couple of people how to drive stick around the park and parking lot, and the parking lot of the (recently demolished) school across the street. The bridge in the park is a great place to practice hill starts!
Was the Wartburg one of yours as well? I saw it going through town the other day and ooh'd and ahh'd pretty hard.
@@drewzero1 yep, thats my Wartburg. It and the black Polo I’ve gotten most of my driving time this summer
@@chriszbinden1740 Awesome! If you see a guy gawking and waving in a white VW sportwagen, you'll know who. (Or a beige SAAB 900, if I ever get that sorted out again.)
@@drewzero1 ive got a Moskvich that will be back on road in next few weeks, just as soon as I get the brakes done
So cool!
Cool 😀
I wonder if my Trabant feels like this?
This is my Mini, and I used to have a Trabi… there are a lot of similarities, the Trabi is a little more comfortable but Mini handles and brakes better. The engine and exhaust sounds are equally entertaining
@@chriszbinden1740 You're the last person I'd expect to get an answer from, and you've owned both cars!? What are the chances of that.
It would be at this stage Austin Rover Mini. Just about to be called Rover. Morris by that stage a dead brand.
Rover? Sucks to review a Mini Cooper.
Built by rover group.
Previously known as
Austin rover
Austin/morris
British Leyland
BMC