Daily Driver?

Hey guys and gals,
I am fairly new to the MG scene. I am looking to sell my current car, New MINI, for a smaller car (I know crazy, right?). I found this on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250231476462&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015

Item number: 250231476462 just in case the link doesn't work.

I have a few questions that go along with this.

Is a Midget a good daily driver? I will be commuting approximately 3miles round trip to school, work and home.

What are the common problems with the Midget? and How much, on average, does it cost to repair? I am fairly handy, I can do many things on my own. Up to something like an engine overhaul.

I've looked at the buyers guide here: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgoc&p=emg/mgmidg.htm

Is there anything else I should look out for?


Thanks for all of your help!

Addison

The part I find most suspect would be the "old" bondo repair. Better take a magnet with you when you go to look at the car (cover it in felt to protect the paint..) The problem with bondo work is that it often time replaces rusted metal... and seeing as the rocker panels are structural they should be solid and without rust. although it is the most popular place for rust to form. Make sure to inspect under the car.. take a look at all the seems floorboards and any structural component of the car (most of the car) That, if I'm not mistaken is not a factory top, its after market. Ive never seen one on a 70s car so I may be way off, but I believe them to be spuare over the rear window and not rounded. Either way its nice, but not original. ( Like I said I'm not an expert so i may be wrong and others will correct me.) In my opinion the car looks to be repainted judging solely on the fact that the trunk is still in what seems to be a black primer.

To me three miles is doable, Thomas (PAMidget) does about 50 round trip as I remember it. Parts are pretty easy to get and wont break the bank for most parts. MGs are also fairly simple cars to work on, very straight forward in my opinion.

Welcome to the forum, and keep us posted!

Adam

Addison, I don't know what part of the country you're in, but if you get any snow then the Midget isn't the best as a year round daily driver, they're pretty low to the ground so even a couple of inches of the white stuff can cause you some problems. They're also not noted for being very water tight in a heavy rain. That said you'll enjoy driving the car and probably find a longer route than the 3 miles just to be able to put some time behind the wheel, they're that much fun. I'm a fan of the early 70s MKIIIs but the later Rubber Bumper cars with the 1500cc engine make nice drivers as well and are generally a little less expensive to purchase. The buyers guide looks to be pretty complete. If you have the choice between a car with a good body and questionable mechanicals and one with good mechanicals and a rusty body, go for the good body, the mechanical bits are cheap and easy to fix in comparison to the body work. Here's an example of what looks to be a pretty good car at a reasonable price in the KC area. http://kansascity.craigslist.org/car/600232336.html Pricing should be similar across the country, perhaps a bit higher on the east and west coast.
Most maintenance issues are simple and straight forward and lots of help available here on the board if you run into problems. Learning to tune the SU carbs is not that hard, but a bit different from most carbs we're used to in the US.

Well, I live in South Florida. So if we get snow, driving around will be the last thing I'm worried about. Rain, well, thats a different story...

I saw on Moss that the parts are not deadly expensive, but the question still remains. How often am I going to have to be replacing them? Are they generally reliable cars?

As with any older car, the most unreliable parts are the normal maintenance items such as ingition parts, hoses and belts, and brakes. There are good electronic conversions available to take care of the ignition problems and hoses, belts, and brakes are the same maintenance levels as newer cars. If the engine has never been rebuilt you may eventually have to redo the valve seats as they weren't originally designed for unleaded gas, but you normally have enough old lead deposits on the seats to last for years of use with unleaded gas. In Florida you won't have to worry about elevation changes, so once the carb mixtures are right they should be pretty well maintenance free except for topping off the oil in the dampers once in a while. I don't use my Midget as a daily driver, but there are many who do and they seem to work well.

All of the above is very sound advice, except I would add that I use a rubber bumper car as my daily driver, and I still wish it were a chrome-bumper. Also, just a glance at the ebay ad showed where the seller is talking about the added value of a factory hardtop--his is not factory.
As to rain--I haven't seen a completely waterproof Midget yet; see how the door panels aren't completely flat? That waviness comes from dampness--most are like that. Still, looks like a prettty good car. Just be sure to check it out very carefully--shiny paint can hide a multitude of sins.
But in answer to your question--daily driving is very doable.

I'm going to repeat Bill's sound advice--the body matters (a lot), the mechanicals really don't matter very much (except as a bargaining point).

I am not home right now and I wont be for some time. Who knows if that one will still be for sale when I get back.

You say its not a factory hard top. What does a factory look like? Is there one?

Addison

Addison,

That looks like a really nice clean car. I would check it for rust, but it looks well taken care of.

I would think you would have a blast in that car in Florida! I had a daily driver, 71 Midget in Hawaii, and it was great! The top was hardly ever up.

If you could get it for right around $5,000, and it doesn't have rust, you would do well.

Bryan

Noobie Wrote:

Based on the little chrome badge visible behind the door glass, I'm going to guess that it's a Parish hardtop.

^^ I agree, I have one just like the one on the ebay ad and from what I have been told it is not factory. Its hard to come buy but I know Moss motors sells it. Retails for a little over 1,200 from them. I do think that it looks better then the factory one though.

My biggest problem with using a Spridget for a daily driver is theft, I've had a few softtops cut just so someone could steal something like a shift knob, the dopes don't even realize that they can just unsnap the top. The hard top would solve this but then you can't enjoy having the top down. Since they are low I've also have had folks break my lights while parking too close. That being said there is nothing like them for fun!

You guys are great help! Thank you SO much! :)

Addison

Addison,

I see there is one bid on the car on ebay, is that you?

No its not. I'm not a fan of the bidding. I would rather talk to the guy face to face and come to an agreement.

Let us know if you end up buying it.

I will let you all know if I get it. I doubt it'll be that exact one, just because of time.

Addison

Addison,
If you don't end up winning the bid theres another midget in Florida that looks like a solid driver.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-78-Roadster-1-5L-4-spd-76k-miles-SUPER-CLEAN_W0QQitemZ160226373362QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160226373362

Its a 1500 and looks to be in excellent shape to my eyes. The seat covers might be a little much for you, and the original head rest looks a bit worse for wear. But in my opinion a nice example of a midget.

Adam

Thanks for the help. Not a fan of the rubber bumpers.

And I don't think I will be getting a car, believe it or not. I'm looking into a bicycle. More economical for the short commute.

I would go for a 1275 crome bumper if you are going to get one.

to add, generally if you're looking into maybe getting a fair amount back, a chrome bumper with the round wheel arches in the back is a fairly rare setup.

Addison, forget what I said about a Midget not being water proof, it will feel like the Sahara compared to a bicycle. ;)