1989 Rover - Austin Mini City E 1.0

Summary:

Great little car, fun to drive, and just a bundle of joy

Faults:

The trailing arm bushes wore out at 92000 miles.

Welding around the front subframe mount, the boot area and underneath.

I cracked the casing on the final drive, which resulted in taking the engine out to replace.

The exhaust needed replacing.

Headlight switch needed replacing.

General Comments:

I think this is a great car, so much fun to drive! Handles really well on the small back roads, if not a big bumpy and bone shaking, but that's all part of the fun!

The work that I have had to do to it was well worth it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st July, 2009

1989 Rover - Austin Mini 1.3 MG Metro

Summary:

If your ever going to get a fun car, get a Mini

Faults:

The engine that was in there was a 998cc engine. It kept having problems, like it was slower than other 998's, serious oil leak problems, and other running problems, so I changed the engine for an MG Metro 1275.

The reason for the change, was I wanted a faster engine, and wanted a upgrade, and I'm glad I've don't it!

General Comments:

Wonderful car.

Handles very well, and sticks to the road.

Fun to drive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd September, 2005

1989 Rover - Austin Mini City 1.0

Summary:

The ultimate Mini beast!

Faults:

Terrible oil leak that no one could seem to find or fix.

Exhaust kept falling off.

Accelerate cable got stuck on.

Trouble stating.

Wheel bearings went.

Anything that could really!

General Comments:

This was my first car and after a test drive I just new I wanted it! Just the look of the Mini is great, it's a classic with tonnes of style.

Not the fastest of cars, but it doesn't need to be, its acceleration an ability to take corners at high speed s is great. Mine had a 10 inch steering wheel with bucket seats and it felt like you was driving a go-kart all the time.

Parking is so much easier wen you can just plonk it down anywhere. Also parts are quite cheap and fuel consumption is very good.

Ideal 1st car, wicked in the summer, poor in the winter. Id love to have another one, but as a second car, just for days out!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th July, 2004

1989 Rover - Austin Mini 30 998cc

Summary:

A classic in every sense of the word

Faults:

Battery kept going flat - turned out to be the Minidisc player I bought. A quick snip and some electrical tape soon sorted it.

Some minor rusting at the bottom of the door panels and below the headlights.

Passenger-side seatbelt can be a little temperamental, a quick squirt of WD-40 sorted that out.

General Comments:

A great first car: cheap to run and very nippy.

People will smile as you pass - it's the automotive equivalent of being blond, we mini owners really do have more fun.

Takes corners like you wouldn't believe.

Quick off the mark considering the small engine.

Very fast acceleration, again considering the engine size.

The car will go a lot faster than the 90mph on the speedo; unfortunately you don't realise how fast you're going until you look at the speedo.

A bit noisy between 50 and 60mph, but quite quiet above that.

Stock speakers aren't impressive: very tinny as you'd expect.

Don't expect creature comforts like power steering, electric windows, a clock on the dash, or even a dashboard at all. The car is so fun to drive that you don't notice these shortcomings.

It will seat 4, but it can be awkward getting them in/out.

An excellent first car even after 15 years. You get the feeling that the car will outlive you if it is loved.

The car against all other small cars are compared, none of today's "super-minis" have the familiar retro charm that the mini has.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th May, 2004

29th Aug 2005, 15:32

It is a lot more quicker at against newer cars today not bad for 16 years old.

1989 Rover - Austin Mini THIRTY 998cc petrol

Summary:

Mini Thirty - This Car is an Absolute Gem!

Faults:

Very Little - Austin-Rover/British Leyland/BMC often made lemons/friday-afternoon cars, this is much documented! However, this baby is the opposite, in contrast to my previous Austin Metro (with the same 1.0 A+ engine), this car drives like a dream. Had to have remedial work on windscreen scuttle and new doors due to usual mini rusting!

General Comments:

The Best Mini I have owned (and I've had seven over the years!). The fastest 1000 I've ever driven (and it's COMPLETELY STANDARD!), this car never misses a beat.

Even if it has been stood dormant in my garage for six months, it fires straight up and half a mile up the road doesn't even need any choke!

FANTASTIC CAR!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th March, 2004

25th Aug 2004, 12:26

Sorry, just got to write in reply to that of the mini thirty! in A+ engines were not fitted it was just the A series engine. The A+ was not issued until after this car. Some of the very late thirty's may have had these engines, but as standrad they didn't.