23 replies to this topic

[Aled Owen]

I turned 17 some months ago but won't be getting lessons until late this year, due to financial reasons

I've been looking at modern cars but the insurance is like £5500-£6500 even for what people consider cheap cars! A Rover Mini is more in the reigon of about £3500, more reasonable I think.

D'you reckon a good one would come along at £2000 or there abouts, this would be for say a 1993 model Rover Mini.

[Sir Cheat]

£3500 for mini insurance!! Try ringing footman james.... Should do you for about £900 at your age on a 998 mini. As for £2000 for a good mini you could get one cheaper have a look around get someone that knows about minis to go look at them with you!!!

Welcome...

[danrock101]

£2k will buy you a minter, just get a 998 and the insruance will be under £1k with footman james or adrian flux as said above

[Sam Walters]

£2k will buy you a minter, just get a 998 and the insruance will be under £1k with footman james or adrian flux as said above

Not a chance in hell will 2k get you a minter!

[danrock101]

depends what you by minter doesn't it
My mate paid just under £1200 for a totally rust free (yes really), totally standard, advantage with under 40k on the clock. He's wrecked it now though, I paid £1400 for my first mini nearly 2 years ago and that was practically rust free when I got it.

http://www.pistonhea...les/2305003.htm
http://www.pistonhea...les/1967940.htm
http://www.pistonhea...les/2254668.htm

just a few that caught my eye on pistons heads

[Sir Cheat]

Them standard late 80's ones with low miles are the best ones to go for with only a few owners. Most of them sell for what Dan has said under £1500. There was one on ebay a few weeks ago near me. Seen here.. click was mint for the money it went for!!

[Aled Owen]

One of the terms and conditions of that Footman James Insurance is that I must be over 25, so it wouldn't be possible with them.

What's security like on the late 80s early 90s Mini's, I'm doubting they have immobilizers or alarm. Are these options easily fittable with third party devices?

[jb93]

Although it says that they don't insure under 25s, if you ring them up they will be happy to insure you

As for security, it's not great. However you can fit an immobiliser and an alarm to the earlier minis quite easily.

Edited by toaster93, 03 January 2011 - 12:08 PM.

[danrock101]

I'm 18 with footman james

[miniman24]

Yup, im insured with Footman, im 18 (was 17 when i bought the insurance) TPFT for £500, but the £900 that Sir Cheat said is more likely now with everything getting stupidly expensive... but give them a ring and theyll be more than happy to give you a quote

[Jacko-lah]

Okay.

How much to pass your test ? Budget £1000 ! (and if I'm wrong you'll be happy)

We paid £256 x 2 for insuring our cavalier via Marmalade, so my son could practice between leasons.

He had 14 Leasons at £20 each, failed his first practical test at £66 plus 2 leasons, had another 3 leasons and another test with 2 leasons, plus petrol when me or the wife took him out for an hour every other night, and at the week end


At the time I had a Volvo S40 which I scrapped, due to gearbox issues and purchased a mini, which fortunately my son can drive as a named driver. It cost £700 extra a year via footman james to add him to my insurance, on a classic policy. I now use the Cavalier for Work and the mini stays at home for my wife to potter (which is how the cavalier only did 30K in 10 years

[The-Womble]

Yep, I'm insured with Footman James at £600 at year TPFT on my 1275 and I'm only 17 Ring them up and get a quote!

[lapider]

im 17 paying 550 with a company called adrian flux for my 87 998 mayfair i paid 2 grand for my mini it was in good condition overall with a few small problems here and there but i did all the work myself to keep the costs down if you arent confident enough in being able to fix it yourself pay more and try to avoid troublesome costs. plus avoid rust at all costs. As apart from sills and the odd a pannel it could be costly to get the paint looking good and result in a re spray. plus give adrian flux a call i heard omewhere that they dont give insurance to under 25s on the web plus talking from experiance prices are generaly cheaper if you call

[Jon1]

wouldent advise a mini if your just getting one for cheap insurance ,as its a mini and it will break ,so its good to have a little know how ,not just because its a cool car

[Marty529]

Kinda of agree with Jon1 but on the other hand I gotta say that having a basic car as my first motor was the best way to learn, (that was a while back!!) and it stood me in good stead for future motoring probs. Also it's not a bad thing that you at least have a chance to repair it yourself rather than depend on a dealer and a computer to charge you a fortune to fix ya car and get you on the road again. Just be prepared for alotta patience and a steep learning curve!!! Good Luck on whatever decision you make.