1989 Rover - Austin Mini Mayfair from UK and Ireland - Comments

Oil seals burst, sills rusted, misfires, general bad running despite having 15,000 miles.

The most enjoyable car I've driven, despite it being very temperamental. It's a great car that I'll never sell.

This was my review which I wrote about 18 months ago. I have since sold the car and bought a 1993 Vauxhall Nova and I can honestly say it is a MUCH better car than the Mini.

Being honest about it - the Mini is possibly the most flawed car ever and it was kept alive only by rose tinted memories of what it is. Fair enough, it was a good car in the 1960s. but the 90s? No chance.

Fair enough, it does drive well and handle SUPERBLY, but it is slow, uncomfortable, difficult to work on, and as for the engines being unburstable - that is a load of rubbish. Mine had 21,000 miles on the clock and leaked oil permanently.

As for the friendliness between Mini owners, it's not all it cracked up to be. The Mini club I was a member of were not welcoming at all - it was like a clique of people and I and other new members were treated like incomers to their group.

I'll go one further. Rose tinted spectacles is what it's all about. That goes for all BLMC "classics" which in reality are rusty, unreliable heaps upon which motoring journalists of the time poured nothing but scorn. I include Sprites, all TRs, Bs, Minors and dog of dogs... the Stag.

I think the burstable engine thing generally refers to their durability, for eg - have you ever tried to blow an 850 - impossible! They all leak oil, water etc it wouldn't be a mini if it didn't.

You can fix the oil leak for only a few pounds. I saw in Mini magazine an oil leak fix kit.

I currently have two Mini's both have at some time suffered an oil leak, however the repair only cost me around £20 at a reputable mini garage. So far I've had no more oil leaks!

Stop dis respecting the Great Brittish motor industry. I think it's amazing a country the size of this can produce such great cars, look at huge countries like China and Russia; what cars have they made? NONE!!!