Let us know who did the work so we can avoid them.  The only areas that were a problem after the restore of my 1963 (myself) were areas where I skimped and did not follow my own advice. Of course it goes without saying, don't do a have arse job and expect it to be reliable.

Oh, keep a set of coveralls, canvas blanket and tools in the boot for those unexpected trouble days.  You can make a lot of friends having those items when it's not your Mini in trouble.

Classic Mini SPI
Mini Cooper Street Rod In Progress Too

ThudMeister

I don't trust my 2006 MINI let alone a classic as a daily driver, as a former dealer (2 times) I always told folks with your sort of question (or "my daughter/son wants on to go to college") the same thing, have a backup car, Expect it to leave you stranded from time to time and then you are okay. Actually on the son/daughter thing I told them not to bother, I didn't want to be responsible for a persons kid being stuck at night in the middle of nowhere.

Strangely I have found unrestored nice original cars much more reliable than anything that has had a full or partial rebuild. I guess they were in good shape from being taken care of and that goes along with what others have said.

Peter

No more cars left, Westpaminis is now just a memory, Good luck to all those hard working dealers left out there, We can tell you its not easy. We have fully enjoyed meeting all the fine folks we have in the business.

I'm with Dean, you will need a backup vehicle just in case.  Replace all the lucas components with good stuff as they fail and eventually your Mini will become much more reliable.  There a many aftermarket items that can make them pretty reiiable too like electronic ignition (123 dizzy) upgraded and maintained carb(s), ARP studs, replacing rusty bits - never put an old bolt or nut back on, use new ones, unleaded valve seats.

You can make them show cars with original components or you can make them more reliable, you choose.

Classic Mini SPI
Mini Cooper Street Rod In Progress Too

ThudMeister

I'm with the "if you maintain it, you're good" crowd, but with a caveat: have a backup car.   No, make that two caveats: have a backup and buy a good one to begin with.  (I bought cheap and wouldn't recommend it to anyone!) 

I'd certainly drive mine on a daily 40 mile commute, however there are times when I just don't have the part I need on a shelf and have to wait for one to show up.  To that end, I generally buy extras if I'm getting something that's not too expensive.  After six years, I've got a pretty good stock of parts, but if my brake master went out, I wouldn't be driving for however long it took to get one in.  Luckily, I walk to work and can get anywhere else I NEED to go on public transport, so I don't have a backup.  With a 40 mile commute and no parts supplier in town, I most certainly would!

Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything.
Charles Kuralt

Autox/Rallyx Videos

My son drove this Mini for 10 years as a daily driver to/from university, to/from work, summer/winter (with snowies on S rims), holidays/trips to California as well as Oregon, Washington, Montana, all over B.C.'s southern interior.  Minor rear-ender in front of our home, boot repaired and off again...

However, he learned how it went together, how to service it and took very good care of it as his sole ride.  It got regular servicing.  The only time I helped him after we built it was when the 1st Pertronix module failed within 3/4 mile of the house because of a bent dizzy base plate.  Drove down and we reinstalled the points/condenser (later straightened the base plate and put another Pertronix in - still firing with its current owner).

Questions are: does one understand the car and will one service it?  If so, no reason it can't be a daily driver.  If not look elesewhere.

Mini friends!  Mini rides!

Restored/modified Mini 1000 with 1380cc power unit, 2.95:1 FD, adj. suspension, S discs/drums, 10x5 Minilites, 165x70 A008s, custom trim and matching custom trailer.

If you're that worried about safety, stay indoors with a crash helmet on...

Bigger cars for safety is a vicious circle, which leads to ever bigger cars, the average driver being less control of them leading to more accidents, which leads to bigger cars for safety...

Metric is for people who can't do fractions.

Perhaps you need to consider the safety issue.

In nearly any collision with a modern car, a Mini will lose big time, and so will its driver. This comes from personal experience as a Mini driver, and as a paramedic.

 

The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion. -Arthur C. Clarke  (1917-2008)

I voted yes, but you may struggle with the price tag.

I use nothing but Minis everyday, and think nothing of jumping in and scooting off on a 400mile round trip with no prep and no spares carried.

Metric is for people who can't do fractions.

Oh damn, I voted yes before I read $5000 for a reliable mini. Change my vote to no way buddy. I haven't seen a running mini for that price.

My Mini's are un-officially sponsored by Coor's brewing company.

Most of the reliable cuddlers are die hard Minites who are so experienced they can adjust their valves while the engine is running.

My Moke is a dependable daily drive even in 105 Texas weather BUT we do take a break during our 40 mile commute to let things simmer down under the hood especially after exiting the freeway. To me short of throwing a rod we'll get home one way or another. To someone else it screams unreliability.

And that's about it, in a nutshell. I've been using LBCs as daily drivers going on three decades. You take care of them, and they will take care of you.

However, with today's inflated Mini prices, in the States $5000 may be limiting. You might consider some of the siblings?

My current daily driver:

 

"Once set up they are basically bulit proof" Thank you 1963S! Your right!!! I think if you are "in tune" with your mini and fix the little problems before they become big problems they will last forever (and all the small British cars are very easy to work on). BUT if your not "in tune" with your car it will turn into a disaster.

Ok????? Am I the only one with a reliable Mini....

No...but I am surprised that we don't have a whole bunch of people with the same experience.

I've used my mini for commuting since 83. Admittedly I spent 8 of those years in the US and the Mini was in storage. However, after 4 years storage, I spent an afternoon checking it over and getting it going. The next day it went through roadworthiness and was straight back into the daily grind.

In 25 years its had a new engine; because I decided the 1071 was too valuable to "use up", two gearbox rebuilds; the first on a scrap 4 synchro I bought to go motokhanaring (like autocross) and the second because I messed up the first and a new alternator. Along the way there has been regular servicing (each costing about a 10th of a regular Honda service) and a few upgrades. I replaced the S body with that from a Traveller because I was having problems fitting hay bales and sacks of chook food in the S.

If I had the money maybe I'd get another Honda for commuting but the purchase costs, servicing and taxes etc would just mean less money to spend on the Mini; so why bother.

IMHO, the major problems people have with Minis stem from lack of use. People buy a 30 to 40 year old car with unknow history and expect it to work like a 5 year old appliance. When you acquire a mini you need to fix it once, properly, and then get on and use it regularly.

Once set up, they're basically bullet proof.

Cheers, Ian

If you can work on the jeep you can work on the mini.  It's almost as easy as an old VW when you have that idiots guide book.  I consider my Mini real reliable (knock on wood) even though it has not been a daily driver for years and it was a lot closer to new back when it was a daily driver.  When it was a daily driver I did have a few issues mostly coil and ignition stuff plus rain/moisture with the ignition.  Just my $0.02 is buy a mini as a second vehicle.

Ok, well I agree with you on many of those points.  I was just trying to get a general idea, if I had the time to tinker this summer I would be on the market right now, but the Jeep takes too much time as is, needs a whole cooling system rebuild, so for now I am on the Mini sidelines, watching with enthusiasm, maybe one day...

Opps, Murphster05 - I didn't mean to seem like I was attaking you personally. You could be the one who actually would take care of a mini. I'm just speaking generally. I've sold a few old small British cars and you won't beleive the people I turn away. Teenage kids that know nothing about the car and just ask how fast it goes. Women who want to use it everyday and drive 80 mph to go to work and one guy who says he's buys old neat cars and when they break he throws them away and just buys another! Ouch! I think I speak for everyone when I say that these cars have lasted for 40 years or so and we would like to see them go another 40+ years.

Wow 356, I don't usually call people out on new forums, but you are really pushing it...STFU

Thank you to everyone who gave me POSITIVE GOOD feedback and didn't act like a pretensious ass.  I respect your love of some awesome vehicles, and I wish I ahd the time to commit to one of these cars to buy one and build it into something reliable.  Thanks again. 

Ok????? Am I the only one with a reliable Mini....and MG....and Triumph? My little cars work amazingly well, but then again I know whats wrong with them if they break and know how to fix them. Someone who buys a Mini on a whim is not going to be so intuitive and neglect the car and worse yet, not care or respect the car. And thats sad.

Damn, you made me laught out loud (at work, too!) on that one! 

willy