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Original poster

First cars!

67 replies

MaloneMeadow · 03/02/2024 20:49

DD has recently passed her driving test so we are now on the look out for her first car. A Mini has always been her dream but I am cautious as they have a reputation of being unreliable. Anyone got any experience of them? I should add that it’s her own money she’s spending, so she has a budget of around £10k. I will be paying her first year of insurance. Any suggestion of other good first cars much appreciated

OP posts:
pavillion1 · 03/02/2024 21:12

No experience on minis but i do think save the 10k and buy a banger for the first year then get the mini .

pavillion1 · 03/02/2024 21:14

Fiat is a really good option for a first car . Realiable robust and cheap .

Toddlerteaplease · 03/02/2024 21:15

I had a Hyundai i10. I loved it. Now on my second.

Spanglybangles · 03/02/2024 21:19

My first car was a Ford Ka….loved that car!
Popular options locally for teens seem to be Minis, Clio’s, Polos, that sort of thing.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 03/02/2024 21:26

You need something in the lowest possible insurance group. Check quotes for every registration before you consider buying it, just because it has a small engine size it could cost a fortune to insure if it’s special edition etc.

Insurance for new drivers easily costs £1500 plus per year for the smallest, most basic car and isn’t guaranteed to fall year on year as they build NCB like it used to. Some quotes are absolutely unbelievable.

Definitely look into this very carefully before you buy anything.

Midnlghtrain · 03/02/2024 21:33

I love my mini and I've got friends who've only had minis - never heard anything about them being unreliable!

Original poster
MaloneMeadow · 03/02/2024 21:33

Muchtoomuchtodo · 03/02/2024 21:26

You need something in the lowest possible insurance group. Check quotes for every registration before you consider buying it, just because it has a small engine size it could cost a fortune to insure if it’s special edition etc.

Insurance for new drivers easily costs £1500 plus per year for the smallest, most basic car and isn’t guaranteed to fall year on year as they build NCB like it used to. Some quotes are absolutely unbelievable.

Definitely look into this very carefully before you buy anything.

Tell me about it! I nearly fainted at the insurance quote for a second hand polo I had my eye on for her - £5k!! Absolutely scandalous.

Her instructor was saying to try and not go for any of the cars that are particularly popular with teenagers as insurers will class them as higher risk. So go for a VW Up instead of a polo etc.. it’s an absolute minefield

OP posts:
Greensleevevssnotnose · 03/02/2024 21:35

Something with a one liter engine. I have an Aygo it's £160 a year to insure and no road tax before that I had a panda which is bit cheapet

digestivebiscuits27 · 03/02/2024 21:36

Citroen C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo are good cars... all have a Toyota engine so v reliable. Mine is 15 years old and really basic inside but the newer ones have touchscreen and all that. The parts are cheap and they easy to maintain. I don't recommend spending that much money on a first car as the chances of being in a bump are quite high for new drivers (some of the things I did after passing my test make me shudder). Someone drove into me in a car park and although I was annoyed, I'm glad I was in an old banger and not something that I spent loads on!

Original poster
MaloneMeadow · 03/02/2024 21:40

Midnlghtrain · 03/02/2024 21:33

I love my mini and I've got friends who've only had minis - never heard anything about them being unreliable!

She is absolutely desperate for one as she loves the look of them, especially the ‘mood lights’ in the interior. I’ve heard both sides of the argument to be honest - I know people who love theirs, never any bother etc and then others who never seem to be out of the garage getting them fixed. Her instructor tried to warn her off them as apparently they’re not very well engineered and any instructors near us who teach in Minis are constantly having difficulties with them. It’s so hard to know, seems just to be a luck thing! She’s undecided too as although she really wants one she’s started to wonder if it’s worth the risk or not

OP posts:
Lilacshade · 03/02/2024 21:46

I learned in a mini in the 70s.
I bought a mini a few years ago, absolutely beautiful car, red with a black roof. Great fun to drive and stands out as lovely among all the dull boring cars.
I eventually gave it to DS and he never had the slightest problem with it. It's 9 years old now and immaculate, he just traded it in for ....another mini.
He got less than £6k for it so I imagine you could get a decent mini for £10k.

Mumaway · 03/02/2024 21:49

I had a mini and loved it, so my sister bought one and it was a complete dud- constantly breaking down, and eventually they took it back and gave her a 1 series.
You really need to look at getting something in the lowest insurance bracket- maybe a 107/Aygo/C1? Cheap to buy, cheap to run, reliable but cheap to repair

TootYourOwnHorn · 03/02/2024 22:07

I would start by looking at insurance quotes for various cars. Then I'd take her to actually test drive them once she's passed. She may love the look of them but actually driving them is a different kettle of fish. Mine was very fun but wouldn't recommend for a new driver. It was also very unreliable (although a few years ago so newer models may be better).

I agree with PP that she should get a banger for the first year and save her money for a mini once she's got some experience if that's what she still wants.

The fiat 500 is a nice option and you can pick those up fairly cheaply if she doesn't want a banger, very easy to drive and cheap to run and maintain (the 0.9turbo is free tax) nippy and a delight to drive while still being stylish.

Justleaveitblankthen · 03/02/2024 22:11

Toyota Ago, preferably in the gorgeous Blue.
Little workhorses and can't go wrong with Japanese. 😍

Justleaveitblankthen · 03/02/2024 22:11

Aygo

RosesAndHellebores · 03/02/2024 22:20

DD has a Hyundai i10 automatic but was 22/23 when she got it.

queenofthewild · 03/02/2024 22:21

I'm driving around in a 13 year old Mini. Never given me a moment's trouble. I was quoted nearly £1k for "essential work" by a rogue dealership. Took it to an independent garage for a second opinion who told me nothing needed doing to it. Find a good independent mechanic and it will run and run.

TheFairyCaravan · 03/02/2024 22:23

I was going to suggest a Polo but £5k for the insurance? Flipping heck! Have a look at VW Up/Seat Mii/ Skoda Citigo, they’re all basically the same car.

HelpMebeok · 03/02/2024 22:25

My dd got a aygo and loved it. It's got the cute factor of a mini/fiat 500

Original poster
MaloneMeadow · 03/02/2024 22:27

TootYourOwnHorn · 03/02/2024 22:07

I would start by looking at insurance quotes for various cars. Then I'd take her to actually test drive them once she's passed. She may love the look of them but actually driving them is a different kettle of fish. Mine was very fun but wouldn't recommend for a new driver. It was also very unreliable (although a few years ago so newer models may be better).

I agree with PP that she should get a banger for the first year and save her money for a mini once she's got some experience if that's what she still wants.

The fiat 500 is a nice option and you can pick those up fairly cheaply if she doesn't want a banger, very easy to drive and cheap to run and maintain (the 0.9turbo is free tax) nippy and a delight to drive while still being stylish.

She’s already passed and we’ve been to test drive a Mini at our local dealership which she really liked. She’s had the fortune/misfortune of learning in a brand new hybrid Toyota crossover so used to a ‘good’ and nippy car. She has an automatic license (for good reason) so there’s not too many bangers around in that category which is half of our problem! Fiat in all honesty wouldn’t be a choice for us, there’s also quite a stigma about them at least where we live so DD would like to avoid that

OP posts:
Catsmere · 03/02/2024 22:30

Would a used Toyota Corolla automatic be possible to find? I'm in my second car and it's a 2004 Corolla, lovely little car and very roomy for carrying stuff when you put the back seats down. I'm in Australia, automatics are the norm here, so I don't know how hard it would be to find one in Britain.

TootYourOwnHorn · 03/02/2024 22:44

@MaloneMeadow ah I see! That's a bit more difficult then.

Oh no, what's the stigma? I'm intrigued.

I guess go for the mini, you only live once, if it makes her happy then go for it! Worst case she can always swap it in later

FijiSea · 03/02/2024 22:46

Minis are expensive to repair as only official mini ( bmw ) dealerships x deal with them

ClematisRock · 03/02/2024 22:49

Yes to a Fiat.

My first car was a Fiat Uno over 30 years ago. Never needed attention and just went, whenever, wherever.

pavillion1 · 03/02/2024 22:50

ClematisRock · 03/02/2024 22:49

Yes to a Fiat.

My first car was a Fiat Uno over 30 years ago. Never needed attention and just went, whenever, wherever.

No they are too posh to own a Fiat 🤣