First Step: Buy an issue of Mini Magazine and Mini World. The two publications dedicated to the Mini. This is a great starting point as reading the articles and looking at the adverts and classifieds will give you a great idea of the values of various Minis and the cost of owning.

There is a huge selection of Minis out there, some needing alot of work, some needing minor work, and some in good condition. You must first decide if you want to save a bit of money by taking on a car needing work, or pay a bit more to get a nice runner. The major obstacle with owning a Mini is rust. When buying a Mini, finding a car with a sound 'shell should be your first priority. Engines can be sourced & replaced very cheaply. The A-series engine (the one fitted to all Minis) was also fitted to Metro's, some Maestros & Montegos and other Austin & Morris cars. This means that finding a decent engine to put in your Mini isn't a problem. We'll come back to engines and bodywork later.

Now, once you have done a little research on Minis in general, it is time to decide your budget. It's a good idea to set a ceiling, but look for cars 10-20% below this, incase any nasty surprises happen after purchase - e.g - the boot floor develops a huge rust patch, or the engine blows. So, now you have your budget sorted. You should also have an idea of what type of Mini you would like. If you haven't however, please head to the next page, where we will deal with all the Mini Variants and their pros & cons for the First time buyer.