Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Minis as a first car (and in general!)

85 replies

clipclop5 · 17/02/2024 20:04

Thoughts and experiences please! DD is really keen on one - we took a trip to our local MINI dealership last week who have some very good deals and finance offers on second hand ones, certainly not as expensive as I was imagining and it does seem doable. My only concerns are:
a) insurance
b) reliability

The smallest engine size that they do is a 1.5l, which I am confused at as there are loads of young/just passed their driving test MINI drivers around! Are they all just paying extortionate insurance?

Re: reliability I hear very mixed opinions. Some people who’ve had nothing but trouble with their MINIs and others who have owned them for years with no issues. All very confusing! It would be a Cooper model from about 2018 onwards that we’re looking for if that makes any difference

OP posts:
Sunshineclouds11 · 17/02/2024 20:06

I've had a mini and loved it! No issues, I only had it for a year as needed a bigger car for children.
SIL had her mini for over 7 years also no issues.

Insurance wise:
Put yourself and partner down as named drivers
Commuting makes a massive difference also.
It is always going to expensive for her first year or so until she builds no claims up.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 17/02/2024 20:13

They’re lovely cars but…

check out the insurance for the actual registration plate that she’s looking at. Even those in low insurance groups can be eye wateringly expensive if they’re special editions. 1.5 litre engines are likely to be in higher groups to start with

adding parents isn’t necessarily bringing premiums down any more. Ds1 has just had nearly £300 back by removing me and DH

most people’s premiums are going up each year atm rather than dropping, so don’t rely on things getting any cheaper for her second and subsequent years of insurance.

Is your dd paying for it all? The final point will make a difference to her planning, especially if she might be heading off to a uni where cars aren’t permitted and her ability to work to replenish her savings is more limited.

YellowSunRays · 17/02/2024 20:14

Have owned two Mini Coopers and had no problems with either. Retain value well.
DS drove one as his first car (named driver and not main user).
They're a really solid, well built car so although engine is bigger than some small cars, felt it was a safe option.
Cooper is a little "trigger happy" though and maybe not ideal choice as a first car.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cars & vehicles
BillieJ · 17/02/2024 20:15

I have one, and I love it. I'm second owner, and it's the best car I've ever had for maintenance and repairs although it's almost ten years old now, so I suppose I should brace myself.

Original poster
clipclop5 · 17/02/2024 20:48

YellowSunRays · 17/02/2024 20:14

Have owned two Mini Coopers and had no problems with either. Retain value well.
DS drove one as his first car (named driver and not main user).
They're a really solid, well built car so although engine is bigger than some small cars, felt it was a safe option.
Cooper is a little "trigger happy" though and maybe not ideal choice as a first car.

Thanks for this, all really helpful info

Re: being trigger happy she learnt in a nippy electric car so I don’t think it would be a big change for her. She’s a very sensible girl but also has no real option to get ‘speedy’ either way as drivers here (Northern Ireland) are restricted to a 45 mph limit for their first year after passing!

OP posts:
Original poster
clipclop5 · 17/02/2024 20:56

Muchtoomuchtodo · 17/02/2024 20:13

They’re lovely cars but…

check out the insurance for the actual registration plate that she’s looking at. Even those in low insurance groups can be eye wateringly expensive if they’re special editions. 1.5 litre engines are likely to be in higher groups to start with

adding parents isn’t necessarily bringing premiums down any more. Ds1 has just had nearly £300 back by removing me and DH

most people’s premiums are going up each year atm rather than dropping, so don’t rely on things getting any cheaper for her second and subsequent years of insurance.

Is your dd paying for it all? The final point will make a difference to her planning, especially if she might be heading off to a uni where cars aren’t permitted and her ability to work to replenish her savings is more limited.

I will be paying for the car itself, she’ll be paying the insurance. She does have a part-time job which she’s hoping to continue through uni in order to fund things. Worst case scenario she has a good savings pot so she definitely wouldn’t be stuck.

The uni she wants to go to is within commuting distance of us so she’d be taking her car. She’s chosen a healthcare related degree so it’s a necessity for transport to placements etc

OP posts:
Hollyhocksandlarkspur · 17/02/2024 20:59

I had a gorgeous mini cooper convertible and it was huge fun to drive I loved it. But after only about three years (it was a couple of years old when I got it too) it had something wrong and garage said it was a right off as to fix it the whole engine would have to come out. So sad as I was going to just keep it longterm. A huge waste of money too. The garage said they love people who buy minis as it brings in so much work.

Original poster
clipclop5 · 17/02/2024 21:05

Hollyhocksandlarkspur · 17/02/2024 20:59

I had a gorgeous mini cooper convertible and it was huge fun to drive I loved it. But after only about three years (it was a couple of years old when I got it too) it had something wrong and garage said it was a right off as to fix it the whole engine would have to come out. So sad as I was going to just keep it longterm. A huge waste of money too. The garage said they love people who buy minis as it brings in so much work.

Do you mind me asking what year it was made? I keep hearing that 2016 and onwards models are a lot more reliable for some reason, not sure if it’s true or not though

OP posts:
10ThousandSpoons · 17/02/2024 21:07

Sunshineclouds11 · 17/02/2024 20:06

I've had a mini and loved it! No issues, I only had it for a year as needed a bigger car for children.
SIL had her mini for over 7 years also no issues.

Insurance wise:
Put yourself and partner down as named drivers
Commuting makes a massive difference also.
It is always going to expensive for her first year or so until she builds no claims up.

If you do this you'll both actually have to drive it.

Try looking into the black boxes for insurance?

KirstenBlest · 17/02/2024 21:09

Get a nearly new Fiesta or Corsa. Reliable and cheap to repair if anything does go wrong.

A 2018 mini will probably have been owned by the sort of person who wants a car that looks a certain way, so won't necessarily have looked after it. You'll need FSH, lowish mileage etc.
You'll be looking at things like changing the timing belt, MoT etc.

Something like a new timing belt on a Mini will cost about twice what it will cost for a Corsa.

DiveBombingSeagull · 17/02/2024 21:12

DD had one for her first car. She and I (as a named driver) loved it.

But it was horribly unreliable and very expensive to fix when it went wrong.

She herself (afterwards) admitted it was a heart over head purchase.

10ThousandSpoons · 17/02/2024 21:16

KirstenBlest · 17/02/2024 21:09

Get a nearly new Fiesta or Corsa. Reliable and cheap to repair if anything does go wrong.

A 2018 mini will probably have been owned by the sort of person who wants a car that looks a certain way, so won't necessarily have looked after it. You'll need FSH, lowish mileage etc.
You'll be looking at things like changing the timing belt, MoT etc.

Something like a new timing belt on a Mini will cost about twice what it will cost for a Corsa.

Edited

Good idea. And not so heartbreaking if it gets vandalised

Original poster
clipclop5 · 17/02/2024 21:17

DiveBombingSeagull · 17/02/2024 21:12

DD had one for her first car. She and I (as a named driver) loved it.

But it was horribly unreliable and very expensive to fix when it went wrong.

She herself (afterwards) admitted it was a heart over head purchase.

Yep.. that’s DD’s self confessed issue at the minute. Definitely fighting her heart and her head!! If it’s what she really wants then so be it, she has friends who have had no issues with their MINIs but I’m just scared that we’ll be the unlucky ones. I suppose it could happen with any car though, who knows!

OP posts:
SirSamVimesCityWatch · 17/02/2024 21:22

They are hard to work on because they are, well, mini! So everything is squished in and replacing or repairing one part can mean taking apart the whole front end of the car just to access it. For this reason, often your bog standard garage won't do it - I went from a focus to a mini cooper and had to switch from the Kwik fit I'd been using happily enough for three years to a specialist independent mini garage. Also parts are expensive because they are part of BMW. So any repair and maintenance is expensive.

Insurance will be very expensive.

KirstenBlest · 17/02/2024 21:30

I wouldn't recommend Kwik-Fit or Halfords. Ask around for a good local independent.
I've been using the same garage for decades and know loads of people who use it. Family firm and they're good. Not cheap but I've never felt ripped off.

The Fiesta is being phased out, but the parts will be available for a long time. The Mini is quite a big and heavy car for the amount of space in it.
Check the economy if DD is likely to be making long journeys.

If you were asking about the original Mini my replies would probably be quite different. They were fun.

A family member has a Mini.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 17/02/2024 21:38

My first car was an old mini, back in the early 90’s🤣 Beige exterior, brown seats and I was on first name terms with the breakdown people🤣

Now I’m a grown up, my first brand new car was also a mini but new style clubman cooper s which we got a few years back

They are very fast, I wouldn’t want my dses to be driving one! Not sure how much less nippy the non sport versions are. I’m on my 3rd cooper s and have loved them all.

Bluevelvetsofa · 17/02/2024 21:42

Mini servicing and repairs are expensive.
I found them quite uncomfortable, with a hard ride. Particularly the convertible.

Original poster
clipclop5 · 17/02/2024 21:46

Doyouthinktheyknow · 17/02/2024 21:38

My first car was an old mini, back in the early 90’s🤣 Beige exterior, brown seats and I was on first name terms with the breakdown people🤣

Now I’m a grown up, my first brand new car was also a mini but new style clubman cooper s which we got a few years back

They are very fast, I wouldn’t want my dses to be driving one! Not sure how much less nippy the non sport versions are. I’m on my 3rd cooper s and have loved them all.

DD is used to a nippy car as she learnt to drive in an EV, it wouldn’t worry me much anyway though as she’s a sensible one!! We’ll be steering clear of the Cooper Sport, definitely wouldn’t be a wise decision insurance wise! Have you had any problems re: reliability with the newer ones that you’ve had or is it just the older version?

OP posts:
SirSamVimesCityWatch · 17/02/2024 21:48

If she's learnt to drive in an electric, does she actually know how to drive a manual petrol? Aren't electric cars all essentially automatics?

Original poster
clipclop5 · 17/02/2024 21:53

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 17/02/2024 21:48

If she's learnt to drive in an electric, does she actually know how to drive a manual petrol? Aren't electric cars all essentially automatics?

No, it’ll be an automatic petrol

OP posts:
RedBarnOwl · 17/02/2024 21:56

I have a Mini Cooper as a little run around. I drive it in spring/summer but don’t like to drive it in snow so it’s garaged over winter due to where we live. This is my fourth one and I absolutely adore it, easy to park and low emissions so I can take it into the city if I need to go there (we can’t take high emission cars into the nearest city to us). We normally buy new, keep them for 4 years and have never had a problem with reliability. Our DD still has my 2016 mini and she loves it just as much as I did. They’re fun little cars.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 17/02/2024 22:06

@clipclop5 no problems with our new minis at all. To be fair we have changed them every couple of years but they have all been perfectly reliable and are a really comfortable drive.

I love Mini’s and can’t imagine having anything else now!

MinnieMotor · 17/02/2024 22:08

Had the R56 model which was registered 2008. Most unreliable car ever so hoping they've sorted out all the reliability issues now.

Lucyintheskywithadiamond · 17/02/2024 23:12

I am on my second mini. First one was a clubman which I gave to my son when he turned 17. Second one is a mini convertible sport and I love it. Bought it just post covid after 2 years of us not having holidays abroad. My dad and sister have recently bought their minis too. Not had any bother with either one of mine but I find they are not economical with petrol.

Shitzngiggles · 17/02/2024 23:23

I've got a 2014 mini cooper, I've had it 6 years, I'm the 2nd owner. Never had a days trouble with it, sails through all the mot's. Great little car and yes it is fast.