Rover Mini Saloon (88-01) - Review

Mini is hardly Fort Knox, but a fitted alarm may deter thieves and will certainly look favourable to your insurance company. Early models lack the sophisticated anti-theft protection of modern day cars, although there is adequate security on Mayfair and Cooper models. Occupant safety is poor in pre-1996 models, although side impact bars and airbags were introduced on later cars.

As with any older car, senior Minis will need regular servicing and plenty of tender loving care. When buying an aging model, pay particular notice of the service history and number of previous owners, as hard-driven cars tend to wear out fairly quickly and will not represent a sound investment. Although the engines are fairly reliable, the interior trim and switches are a little brittle over time and untended bodywork is also prone to rust.