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S2 Ep21: Here's How Much It REALLY Cost To Fix The World’s Worst Mini

S2 Ep21: Here's How Much It REALLY Cost To Fix The World’s Worst Mini

The AutoAlex Podcast Oct 27, 2025 60 min
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About this episode

Exploring the costs of fixing Rory's notoriously problematic Mini, the hosts dive into a lively discussion about their automotive projects and personal updates. They debate the financial implications of restoring cars, with Rory revealing he's spent over £5,600 on his Mini, while the potential costs of a full restoration reach £11,670. The episode features humorous banter, insights on car ownership, and a heartfelt dilemma from a listener torn between sentimental attachment to a family truck and practical financial decisions. The hosts offer advice on how to navigate these emotional and financial crossroads.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

VW T1 split screen

"...working on his Porsche engine swapped VW T1 split screen..."

The VW T1 split screen is an old Volkswagen van that has a distinctive front design with two windows. It's popular for road trips and camping.

Car

Mercedes 500 SEL

"...listening in his new to him 1991 Mercedes 500, SEL and..."

The Mercedes 500 SEL is a fancy car that offers a lot of comfort and power. It's part of a series known for being high-end and luxurious.

Term

BC Coilovers

"...including the Febbi stuff. Also the labour. I've got the figure here. Do you remember that figure, Rory? Wasn't it like the figure you gave was 4,600 pounds?"

BC Coilovers are special parts that help adjust how a car rides and handles on the road. They can make the car sit lower and improve how it feels when driving.

Car

BMW M5

"...I paid just under that for my M5. That is true. So look, I've got one more question..."

The BMW M5 is a fast and luxurious car that's designed for performance. It's part of the 5 Series lineup and is known for being very powerful and fun to drive.

Car

Honda That Honda

"... Honda. No, no, no. I think that's game over for that Honda. Okay. So obviously, we're talking about a car t..."

The Honda That's is a small car that's designed to be practical and easy to drive. It has a unique look that makes it stand out.

Car

Honda Civic

"...'ve had to scrap it. Which one was that? Oh, your Civic. So we're going to take the engine out of it and..."

The Honda Civic is a small car that many people like because it doesn't break down often and is good on gas. It's a great option for getting around town or commuting to work.

Car

Honda Civic Type R

"...I'm not talking about the Honda Civic Type R. I'm talking about the car that I overpaid. Which is?"

The Honda Civic Type R is a fast and sporty version of the regular Honda Civic. It's designed for performance and is loved by car fans for its speed and handling.

Car

Renault Clio

"... I overpaid. Which is? All I'm going to say. The Renault Clio trophy. All I'm going to say about the trophy. A..."

The Renault Clio is a small car that's easy to drive and park, especially in cities. The five-door model makes it easier for people to get in and out.

Car

Renault Clio Trophy

"...I'm talking about the car that I overpaid. Which is? The Renault Clio Trophy. All I'm going to say about the trophy."

The Renault Clio Trophy is a special version of the Renault Clio that is made for performance. It's known for being fun to drive and has features that make it faster and sportier than regular models.

Car

Mini R56

"What, the R56, your turbocharged one? The R56 is awesome. I don't know how long it's going to last, but for now it's awesome."

The Mini R56 is a version of the Mini Cooper that was made between 2006 and 2013. It's popular for being fun to drive and has a turbocharged engine that gives it extra power.

Term

turbocharged

"What, the R56, your turbocharged one? The R56 is awesome. I don't know how long it's going to last, but for now it's awesome."

Turbocharged means the engine has a special device called a turbocharger that helps it produce more power. It does this by pushing more air into the engine.

Part

spoiler

"And the spoiler, oh, that spoiler that you bought was awful."

A spoiler is a part that goes on the back of a car to help it stay stable when driving fast. It can also make the car look sportier.

Term

R53

"So what we're going to do is you've got the R56, you've got the R53, both Cooper S's. And Alex is buying an F56."

The R53 is an earlier version of the Mini Cooper S, made from 2002 to 2006. It's recognized for its peppy performance and fun driving experience.

Term

R56

"So what we're going to do is you've got the R56, you've got the R53, both Cooper S's. And Alex is buying an F56."

The R56 is a model of the Mini Cooper that was made between 2006 and 2013. It's known for being a fun and stylish small car.

Car

Clio Trophy

"I have got the Clio Trophy. It needs new front suspension, which I'm going to rob off another car."

The Clio Trophy is a sportier version of the Renault Clio, which is a small car. It's built for better performance and handling, making it more fun to drive.

Term

Nürburgring

"What about the Nürburgring? We're going to go to Landau. You want to go to the Nürburgring because you still haven't driven your car on."

The Nürburgring is a well-known race track in Germany that's famous for being very challenging. Many car manufacturers test their cars there to see how they perform.

Car

Mini R53

"What about an R53? Oh, yeah, easy. Yeah. I do think you could get one of these with this amount of mods and all that blah, blah, blah."

The Mini R53 is a version of the Mini Cooper made between 2001 and 2006. It's known for being small and fun to drive, and many people like to modify them to make them unique.

Term

go-kart mode

"...Does yours have a little thing that says go-kart mode? No. Does it not? Okay, well, the new one's doing. That's so gimmicky and shit."

'Go-kart mode' is a special setting in some Mini cars that makes them feel more fun and sporty to drive, almost like a small racing car. It helps the car handle better on the road.

Car

BMW M3

"Yeah, but you can't. It doesn't count because you've made it unique. No, you still bought a 330i. Shut up and calm down. I love it. He changed this subject when we proved him wrong."

The BMW E46 M3 Touring is a sporty version of the BMW M3 that also has extra space like a wagon. It's fun to drive and has a strong engine.

Car

BMW E46

"...ther cars I own. They're all kind of unique. BMW E46. M3 Touring. Unique. Yeah, but you can't. It does..."
Car

309 GTI

"309 GTI. Cleo Williams. You've never driven it."

The Peugeot 309 GTI is a fun and sporty small car that was made in the late '80s and early '90s. It's known for being light and quick.

Car

Cleo Williams

"309 GTI. Cleo Williams. You've never driven it."

The Renault Clio Williams is a special version of the Clio car that is made for better performance. It has a stronger engine and better handling.

Car

Golf GTD

"I really wanted an F31 or a Golf GTD. I was looking at them obsessing over it."

The Golf GTD is a version of the Volkswagen Golf that is designed to be sporty while still being fuel-efficient. It's a popular choice for those who want a fun car that doesn't use too much fuel.

540R
Car

540R

"...my 540R is a little update. I think where I left it off last time, it was broken and not running. I've taken it up to my mate,..."

The Lotus 540R is a sports car that is very light and quick. It's built for people who love to drive and want a car that feels very responsive and fun on the road.

Car

BMW 330i

"he could maybe look at my 330i. Yeah. So that's actually a moment, it's 320 horsepower..."

The BMW 330i is a car that combines good performance with comfort. It's part of a series of BMW cars that are well-liked for their driving experience.

Term

horsepower

"it's 320 horsepower, and he said there's no reason with a smaller pulley, bigger injectors and a different map..."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. The higher the horsepower, the faster and stronger the car can be.

Term

M54

"And then we'll put another M54 in it. How long will that take? Two days. Minimum two days."

The M54 is a type of engine made by BMW. It's known for being strong and running well, making it a popular choice in their cars.

Car

BMW 520D

"In the Range Rover on the 520D?"

The Range Rover is a fancy SUV that can drive on rough terrain but also feels nice inside. It's popular for people who want both adventure and comfort.

Car

Land Rover Range Rover

"...first ever road trip we drove past there? In the Range Rover on the 520D? I think we did go through."
Car

BMW 540

"...I've got a couple of copies of that in the back of my 540."

The BMW 540 is a luxury sedan that offers a good balance of performance and comfort. It's part of the 5 Series lineup from BMW, which is known for its quality and driving experience.

Car

Jaguar Fpace

"For a while now, I have wanted to buy a Jaguar F-Pace, and due to the diesel variant being generally cheaper, I was predominantly looking at those."

The Jaguar F-Pace is a luxury SUV made by Jaguar. It's designed to be both stylish and practical, offering a comfortable ride and good performance.

Car

Freelander 2

"FYI, I currently have a 2009 2.2 Freelander 2HSE, but it's getting a bit old now, and I'd like a newer car."

The Freelander 2 is a small SUV made by Land Rover, known for being good off-road and comfortable to drive. It was made between 2006 and 2014.

Car

Land Rover Freelander

"...oking at those. FYI, I currently have a 2009 2.2 Freelander 2HSE, but it's getting a bit old now, and I'd li..."

The Land Rover Freelander is a small SUV that can handle rough roads and off-road adventures. It's also comfortable enough for daily driving.

Term

Ingenium engine

"However, you have all, thankfully, warned me off that with your chat about the Ingenium engine."

The Ingenium engine is a type of engine made by Jaguar Land Rover. It's built to be efficient and perform well, used in many of their cars.

Term

2.0-litre diesel

"...Considering the 2.0-litre diesel is then out of the question,..."

A 2.0-litre diesel engine is a type of engine that uses diesel fuel and has a size of 2.0 liters. Diesel engines usually get better fuel economy and have more power for heavy loads.

Car

Porsche 911

"...8,000 miles without changing the oil on a Porsche 911 GT3, and then taking it on track."

The Porsche 911 is a fancy sports car that's really fast and fun to drive. It's famous for looking cool and being able to handle well on race tracks.

Car

Land Discovery Sports

"Yeah. I've seen evokes and discovery sports on 30,000, 40,000 miles that need turbos, DPFs, ..."

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is a roomy SUV that can go off-road and is great for families. It has lots of space and features for comfort.

Car

Rolls-Royce Phantom

"...yeah, so. Um, they've unveiled a new Rolls-Royce Phantom. Yeah."

The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a super luxurious car that costs a lot of money and is made with the finest materials. It's designed to be very comfortable and elegant.

Car

Bentley Flying Spur

"and then like a green, what is it like, the flying Spur with the nice diamond cut wheels on it, and the ..."

The Bentley Flying Spur is a really fancy car that feels super comfortable inside and goes really fast. It's made with the best materials and is very luxurious.

Car

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

"...ls-Royce next to say, for example, a 1970 purple Silver Shadow 1. You'd think, look at this old giffer."

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is an old luxury car that's very fancy and comfortable. It's known for its beautiful design and smooth driving experience.

Car

Honda Crx

"Shut up, man. Nissan Micra, Honda CRX, Volkswagen Polo."
Car

Nissan Micra

"Shut up, man. Nissan Micra, Honda CRX, Volkswagen Polo."

The Nissan Micra is a tiny car that's great for driving around town. It's easy to park and doesn't use much gas, making it a good choice for city dwellers.

Car

Bmw X1

"...t trio of cars. We have got the Fisca Karma, the BMW X1, or the Audi R8. I'm going to go Fisca Karma."
Car

Audi R8

"... We have got the Fisca Karma, the BMW X1, or the Audi R8. I'm going to go Fisca Karma."

The Audi R8 is a super cool sports car that looks amazing and goes really fast. It's packed with high-tech features and is a lot of fun to drive.

Car

Lamborghini Lm002

"...of cars. We have got the Ferrari Testarossa, the Lamborghini LM002, or the Bugatti EB110."

The Lamborghini LM 002 is a big, fancy SUV that looks tough and has a super powerful engine. It's very rare and was one of the first luxury SUVs made.

Car

Ferrari Testarossa

"...ight, next trio of cars. We have got the Ferrari Testarossa, the Lamborghini LM002, or the Bugatti EB110."
Car

Porsche Cayman

"...is Alfa Romeo 4C, the Alpine A110, or the Porsche Cayman. Cayman 2006."
Car

Alpine A110

"... The penultimate one is Alfa Romeo 4C, the Alpine A110, or the Porsche Cayman. Cayman 2006."

The Alpine A110 is a small, sporty car that's known for being really light and fun to drive. It has a classic look but is built with modern features.

Car

BMW Z3

"...ave got the Fiat Coupe Alfa Romeo 147, or the BMW Z3. I'm going to say Z3."

The BMW Z3 is a small convertible sports car that's fun to drive. It has a stylish look and is known for being enjoyable on the road.

Car

Toyota Camry

"I have four cars currently, a 2005 Toyota Camry daily, a 2005 Saab 92x Aero project,"

The Toyota Camry is a popular family car that is known for being dependable and good on gas. It's comfortable to drive and has plenty of space inside.

Car

Saab 92X

"a 2005 Toyota Camry daily, a 2005 Saab 92x Aero project, a 2004 R53 Cooper S project,"

The Saab 9-2X is a small car that's fun to drive and has a cool design. It's good for handling different weather conditions because it can drive on all four wheels.

31 cars featured

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