MINI for first time driver

[IndigoFlamingoes]

The dreaded topic in our house at the minute... DD passed her driving test 2 weeks ago so we’re on the look out for her first car. She learnt in a Mini and is really keen to have one - the only issue is that after spending all day yesterday trawling through various Mini dealerships and looking at used Cooper hatch models I’ve come to realise that it’s incredibly rare to find one that’s less than a 1.5l engine. Now very confused as to how so many new 17/18 year old drivers are driving them, it seems like half of her friends have one! Are they all just paying extortionate insurance or am I missing something?

Young people all pay extortionate prices for their insurance.

I wouldn't go to a mini dealership for her first car. I'd be looking at older, used vehicles so from second hand garages that look ok.

I used to have a mini. 2015 1.5l. They're solid reliable cars and I really think they're a great car for young people.

Get insurance quotes first for these vehicles and something not young person at all. Insurance is based on previous data so stereotypical young people's cars are more expensive. For example, many young passengers die in a corsa or saxo (back in the day) they do not die so much in Skoda Octavia's.

Yep, I’m aware that insurance is going to be pricey no matter what we get her unfortunately (the wonderful joys of teenagers, and the cost of living crisis!!)

The benefit of going to a proper Mini garage for us is that they are all ‘approved’ used and come with a year’s warranty attached which we feel is likely going to be worth paying a bit more for. We’d rather get her something relatively new (3/4 years old) that will hopefully last her for a few years into uni and possibly beyond.

I have one they aren't cheap to maintain properly.

I would say you get minimum protection buying from BMW plus the cost of servicing and MOT with them out weighs the warranty. What about a used mini one? BMW insurance is usually cheaper for mini than anyone else.

The Mini One is the model with the less powerful engine. With some extras they look like coopers. But it's still a 1.2.

Thank you - yes, the Mini One would be ideal. I’ve been searching for them and they seem to be very hard to come by though!

A mini is a really bad choice as a first car for a young driver.. v expensive to insure
Look for an older, less common car with the smallest engine you can find

The mini one will look more boring though. It won't have enhanced bumpers or nice wheels. If she wants the cooper, get the cooper and if it's unaffordable, it will be worth waiting for.

Has she driven any other cars? My son learnt in a Mini and it wasn't until he started to practise in my car (a VW Up) that he realised that he really didn't like the gears in the Mini.

I've got a 4 year old Mini Cooper 1.5 litre and my insurance doubled for the first 2 years (been driving 11 years) echo above not cheap parts/to fix when something goes wrong.
Much more sensible with something like a Citroen c1, cheap to run and repair!

She learnt in a brand new Auris cross hybrid and is driving my A1 at the minute. She much preferred the height/size of the crossover, finds my Audi very low down, small and uncomfortable so hoping that having a relatively chunky Mini would help her

Sorry - above was meant for @hotchocdrinker !!

Minis are chunky but very low also

Put an actual registration of a car you would consider getting for her into Go Compare to get an idea of insurance costs. Try with and without a parent as an additional driver - our ds’s was cheaper without us added. Don’t assume that her insurance will go down after a year - most people’s premiums are going up considerably year on year at the moment.

Will she even be able to take a car to university? Many don’t allow cars in halls of residence.

I wouldn't purchase a mini for a new driver, Google cheapest insurance you are looking at Aygo, hyundai I10 , basically for small cars with 1ltr engines