alright guys. squabbling aside. what are some things i should do to improve this car / post. I know i need a interior picture, i need to vacume it out and have a decent day out to do so. How long do you feel these things take? months years HOURS!

If you dont like VTEC's comment on car, if you love VTEC's comment on engine.

Big Al i know you where in your own way encouraging the sale dont worrry no issues here.

and yes i prefer comments latent with sarcasm.

cheers.

josh

Well said (written? posted?). As I'm aware of at least one checkbook VTEC that knocked on the $50k door and another that stepped through it and never looked back, I'll say, Dave..."x2", save the donor mileage part. They come to these shores with more like 40-60K on them which is likely less than half their life and WAY more than a properly-maintained A-Series is likely to produce without rebuild(s). Not a knock, just that ensuing years between designs and metalurgy, etc. etc. allow newer powerunits to last longer. Of course, if you drive a few thousand miles a year, and sell it on in a handful of years, that's moot.

I'll throw this out there...

How many minis that don't have vtec motors, have had $10K, $15K, $20K+ lavished on them, only to be sold for 1/2 of that when the owner has finished, had his fun, then got bored.  We only notice the vtec ones, because, well, they are Vtecs and we all hate them and point, and laugh, and sneer at them. (ok, not all of us do)...

I am sure that if you had three guys build identical minis (in their garage), but the three minis have different front-ends - one a vtec, one a BMW16v headed or turbo 5-port, and another with just a freshened up 1275.

The 1275 mini cost, say, total $15K to build from the ground up not including the engine. Let's say the 1275 powertrain has $2k put in it. Maybe the mini is worth $12K? Certainly not $17K though....

Then you have the BMW 16v / turbo guy. These don't need a fancy pants front subframe, but would likely have a $6K in parts alone in the powertrain, so that's what, a $9K powertrain all said and done? This model of mini might only be worth what, $2-4K more than the std 1275 ($12K-$14K) unless he finds a lucky buyer?

Finally Mr Vtec. Perhaps he decided that the used (donor) 120K mile powertrainis fine as is - and he is probably right(!) So he spends $10-12K for the powertrain and subframe.

His mini is clearly worth more (witness the market and plain, common sense) than the boggo 1275. Definately $5K, maybe even $10K+ more (remember everything else on the minis is the same).

Overall, I'd pretty much say that I don't believe there is a huge disparity in "build investment" of vs "realistic sale price" between any mini be it VTEC or A-series if you keep it simple, and build it yourself. This will definately become "grey" when talking about "checkbook" builds however - but that too applies to A-series or Vtec regrdless.

Re: correct spellling of Honda's valve timing management system, the acronym "VTEC", now you're just messing with us! LOL!!!

Re: wording/tone of the original post, good to note that your evil twin has gone walkabout.

Re: think it out fully first, BINGO!! Too many people dive into these without a clue what they're getting into. That's why a number of us preach the caution of which you speak. I know I've told a number of such people to not do it.

BTW and FWIW, if one does a lot of the work themselves, is able to sell off the replaced parts at a fair price, and has had the car for awhile (while prices rise), it is possible to get out nearly whole, even of AWD VTECs. Not everyone has to sell at $.50 on the dollar. One might even manage to sell such a car for upwards of 90% of what they have in it. 

Now, if I can just sell that original MTB frame and suspension kit in the basement...

Al you just have not been offered the right trade. Now if someone came along with a nice Clubman VTEC maybe even an Estate trade we all know that you would be pondering that one.

Long live PACE ...............

Talk about up tight, you should have been here when Billy Bob and Quick Silver were going at it-Not uncommon to have a 4000 post thread over nothing-

So- "Certainly not a knock on your particular mini just don't like v-tec minis-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I think this says it all- And DirtyDinner, maybe you should lighten up and read what l said-

Maybe the word "ABORTION" was in bad taste, for that l apologize-

But, in respect to V-TECS, vtecks or or any Honda engine crammed into a classic mini, l have my own views-

And yes l have rode in/driven several-

My overview of the situation is, anyone contemplating this conversion, think it out fully first-

My experience from talking to several owners who have gone this route is taht after spending around $30K , they lose interest and then sell for 50 cents on the dolar if they are lucky-

In saying this l am not even talking about the engineering problems, suspension wise and other wacky problems-

I have turned down 4-5 trades where v-tech owners wanted to trade me their v-tech for a real unmolested classic mini-

And we are not even going to go to discussing an AWD v-teck and its' end cost-

So, l hope l have cleared up this murky point, but my views remain intact-

BIG AL-

When it stops snowing so i can paint it!

Weevebeenhad- I knew you'd get it. When's the pics of the trailer painted gona be posted?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohyqvDu3kIs 

more pictures added. here is minitecs video of her. 

And dont worry I enjoy the sarcasm, and saw it as just that.

You guys are RUTHLESS! HAHA no worries though. Im not to keen on selling it so Ill just stick to $18k to say im "trying" . 

Though as a kid i had someone offer $20k for my mini 1000. Like a dumb teenager and not thinking the guy was serious i didnt take up the guy on his outrageuos " Im rich and want to buy that car in a impulse buy " offer.

Also the mini doesnt have to appeal to everyone. Big Al you would possibly change your mind if you have driven one of the VTEC's its a blast. 

Dan yes it is. It is the DUI (Distinguished Unit Insignia) of U.S. Army Special Forces. I am a Green Beret. Thats realy cool your dad was in the First Special Serivice Force. Those guys started it all. 

And no idea why it cuts off the top of the avatar when I chose it it worked.

Dan i know that comes from the heart. 

And more pictures wouldnt load. Hence the links Im working on the other ones. Engine, interior ect. 

Hey I will if you will!

"I want to change that somehow" Air2air put that big rabbit picture back in your avatar that should lighten the mood lol.

Have to take the opportunity to say -

Having been active on a number of automotive forums for several years, this one is the most humorless and uptight by far.  Totally the opposite of what you'd expect.

Compared to the other mini forums this one is by far the best technical resource, and that's about it.  I want to change that somehow.

Okay.... but it does prove the point about what people write can be easily misinterpreted!

All this publicity is good for a sale.

Glws!!