Hello Briskodians

 

I joined here about 3 years ago and bought myself a very nice 56 plate (iirc) VRS - sadly, that didn't end so well and on the way down to collect it on the train, the dealer showed one side of it a country hedge...  oh, how we laughed at the £280, 14 hour train journey and the mass of primer coloured stripes all down the near side.  (NB, at no point was there any laughing)

 

Anyway, I looked for another decent one for another couple of months, gave up and bought a Mini Cooper S (54) instead.  That car's been great since then and still looks and drives like new but dammit, every time I go out on the road, I pass another 20 of them.  I decided though I liked the Mini a lot, I always felt like maybe I'd bought the wrong car (partly because I hated the stupidly chunky steering wheel) so I decided I'd have a change and found one locally this week.

 

It's not mint by any means, it needs some fettling - usual back door water leaks, some minor scratches, some leather re-stitching and the NSF wing has had some scratches and then been prepped for paint by a monkey with a 50 grit rubbing block.  The clear is smooth but you can see the scrapes underneath - not sure if this will bug me long term!  Otherwise, it drives well and seemed pretty solid and considering it's got leather which is in good nick apart from the stitching it was a good price.

 

It should be getting a fresh MOT in the next few days and then it'll need a service and I'll probably do the cambelt/water pump too, just to be safe as I suspect it hasn't had one (not mentioned in the service book which is a duplicate anyway).

I also need a second key as it's only got one with it unless it's hiding in the car somewhere - any idea how much they are?

 

I just need to sell my Mini now though I think I can just about raise the required money to collect it before if necessary - I'd rather not sell it to We Buy Any Car or similar as it's absolutely mint, loaded with £2850 factory extras and they only give trade price on a standard model.

 

 

Welcome . I only have 1 key aswell and as my mum sometimes steals my car its a pain. Anyway im sure i was priced £117 or around that for the key

Welcome.

Thanks, better than some, worse than others I guess!

Haven't picked the Fabia up yet, I changed my mind on the "take it with it's remaining MOT and get money off" and decided to pay the asking price in return for them getting it MOT'd.  I knew it needed a tyre and the cost of the MOT already ate into any discount and as it turned out it needed a new shock at the rear too so that turned out to be the right decision.

 

To be honest the asking price was already reduced and it was already a good deal despite the little niggles that have put others off.  Most people look at things like the broken stitching in the drivers seat and get put off thinking it'll cost a fortune.  I look at it and I think, I can do that in a couple of hours and it's made a basically solid car much cheaper - well, that and the rear door cards.  I know they leak and I know how to fix them and I can clean off the watermark so that's fine for me.

 

Bizarrely, no calls on the mini though despite me pricing it below the competition to save messing about.  It's a mint car inside and out, not dear, and in the most desirable colour and loads of extras - puzzled!  Only went in autotrader yesterday so this might be absolutely normal, I can put the Fabia on CC if needed but the dealer is fine keeping it for a week or two, don't really want to have both cars sitting on the driveway and paying temporary insurance rates.

Edited 17 August, 201312 yr by Buzzark

Mini sold (have deposit, collecting tomorrow), probably could have driven a harder deal but I set a figure I was happy with and stuck to that.  Genuine chap anyway so I'm glad it's going to a good home.

 

Should be able to swap insurance also tomorrow and collect the Fabia, have to get it taxed so if I can get a covernote emailed or something I can do that at the post office when I collect it.

 

Dare I say, it looks like things are working out OK timing wise...

Happy to hear its all going well

Mini left for a new home tonight and the Fabia had already snuck onto the driveway in the middle of the afternoon.  Looks a lot better now it's been washed, though not washed "clean" per se more sort of shown what a hose looks like and vacuumed inside.  :wonder:

 

iPod interface ordered   (Connects 2), rear window film has been given it's eviction notice and then I can get on with a few jobs - it's got that idle shake but it's not DMF so probably bunged up injectors or the EGR valve, or I guess knackered dogbone mount.  Runs fine while driving though so not too concerned.

 

Needs a service and I'll probably do the cambelt and ancillaries myself, doesn't look any more difficult than doing the pulley change on the mini - very similar procedure but more timing and less jacking up of the engine required.

 

Several hours in and my ownership period has already outlasted the previous one...

Mini left for a new home tonight and the Fabia had already snuck onto the driveway in the middle of the afternoon.  Looks a lot better now it's been washed, though not washed "clean" per se more sort of shown what a hose looks like and vacuumed inside.  :wonder:

 

iPod interface ordered   (Connects 2), rear window film has been given it's eviction notice and then I can get on with a few jobs - it's got that idle shake but it's not DMF so probably bunged up injectors or the EGR valve, or I guess knackered dogbone mount.  Runs fine while driving though so not too concerned.

 

Needs a service and I'll probably do the cambelt and ancillaries myself, doesn't look any more difficult than doing the pulley change on the mini - very similar procedure but more timing and less jacking up of the engine required.

 

Several hours in and my ownership period has already outlasted the previous one...

All those faults Re expensive to fix, DMF, EGR, injectors. I hope you did not pay too much.

DMF is quite expensive but as stated isn't at fault, EGR is easy to clean and injectors aren't too difficult either?  I didn't pay too much though either.

 

Thanks for your cheery post though!