Minis as a first car (and in general!)

[clipclop5]

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

Love my Mini - my 2nd in a row. Always been reliable (had it from new, so nearly 9 years) and reassuringly solid. In the event of an accident, I would feel protected, whereas most small cars feel terrifyingly like biscuit tins on wheels.

Why does it have to be a Cooper, tho? Regular Minis are very nippy and fun to drive, and she'd reduce her insurance costs.

I'm sorry but the first part of this is pure rubbish. Mini's are certainly not mini. The are not even small anymore. Kwik Fit probably refused to work on it as they are so problematic.

Although I agree parts are expensive.

I would have thought a Cooper model 1.5 would be very expensive to insure, do an online search.

It is too soon to say if the newer ones are better personally I wouldn't buy one.

I’m under the impression that the Cooper hatch is the smallest model that they offer? What do you mean by a ‘regular mini’?

True they have grown a lot! Mine was the first of the "new" minis, they are noticeably smaller than the current crop.

@clipclop5 , there's a Mini that isn't a Mini Cooper/Countryman/Converible.
Meet The Range of MINI Cars & Configure Your MINI Model

My posts were based on petrol manual gearbox cars, not EV.

I have a mini that has a 1.2 engine. It's 2016 model so not sure if you can buy them new anymore. It's still nippy and the road tax is £20.

The Cooper and 3/5 door hatch are largely the same - the only one we’d be avoiding is the Cooper S due to larger engine. Although due to where we live, largely driving in the city and suburbs etc an EV would make sense for us unfortunately insurance would be through the roof so it’s not an option - we have to stick to petrol automatics for her.

On my third, first second hand Mini One D, second new Mini Cooper D, third second hand Mini 'Old Style' Clubman D, which is 11 year's old and counting. They can be a hard ride, due to the tyres, but these can be changed and mine were. To fix, not an issue and DH is a mechanical engineer and he had no trouble with repairs, all of which were service items, with garages covering most of mine under the old TLC, which I am not sure if they do any longer, but it was a great deal when they did. How they are driven and serviced makes a huge difference, like it does with any car.

My experience... have had a 2013 Countryman for seven years. It has needed a new flywheel and clutch but standard for the age / mileage. No other bother but other small maintenance-type things are expensive. E.g. Bulbs for mine are 70 each. Run flat tyres (as no spare)... pricey. My tax is expensive too.

I absolutely loved my mini convertible, great cars.

I've got a London 2012 model, bought it 7 years ago now! Very reliable but has cost me a fortune in run-flat tyres - I've learnt to avoid any unlit roads over the winter because of pot holes. Anything that wears out in time (brakes, timing belt, bulbs) do cost a lot to replace and I swear there's BMW voo-doo that means it's impossible to do even the simplest replacements yourself (I managed to break the windscreen wiper attempting to change it and I've changed several of those on previous cars no bother).

My first car was a Fiesta and my second a Corsa and they were easier to maintain. But I admit I fell in love with this Mini when I saw it, and part of the reason I've still got it is that I can't work out what to get next!

Loved all my minis- had 3. If they had a hybrid one, I would get one tomorrow.

The Cooper and 3/5 door hatch are largely the same - the only one we’d be avoiding is the Cooper S due to larger engine

Cooper just represents the trim level/engine. The models are Hatch, Clubman, Countryman etc and each model then has Cooper, Cooper S, JCW variants. There are certainly One First and One versions of the hatch which sit below the Cooper Hatch but these are woefully slow and will probably feel gutless in comparison to the EV she’s learnt in.

Thanks for this - really helpful

@Inkypot and @clipclop5
You are right, I should go for a test drive at a dealership. I do have a dream that I will own a Mini someday in the future.

And @clipclop5 , glad to hear that your daughter had a good experience at the Mini dealership!

Avoid the R56 unless its had all the known problems sorted.

@SkaneTos go for it and let us know how you get on! Though be prepared to report that you unexpectedly put the deposit down as soon as you hopped in the car

Yep.. we’d thought about getting her a run around polo just for the first year but apparently even they’re expensive to insure now. Insurance companies see them as ‘high risk’ due to the amount of 17 year olds driving them… can’t win these days!!

My daughter's first car was a Mini One. Nippy, no issues. They're great in snow (albeit not up a mountain deep snow) because they're a wheel at each corner so very stable. I've had three mini convertibles without issue. Now have a countryman.

DD20 bought one last year. It’s her first car and is 2012 plate. Been very reliable. Insurance is steep at £1600 with black box and me as named driver. But it’s very cool and she loves it. I’m actually looking into getting one now.

£1,600 is as cheap as chips!

Omfg she's a student just get her a normal 2nd hand car and be done with it

Granted I’m a fair bit older than your daughter so can’t comment on insurance. But I love minis. Got my first (57 plate)when I was 20, had it 12 years without a single issue. Breezed through every MOT and service. About 6 months ago I sold it to my sister for my 17yo nephew to use, upgraded to a newer mini (20 plate) and I love it. Still early days but feel confident Minnie II will fare just as well as her predecessor.

Love them x