77 replies to this topic

[Mrpeanut]

My daughter will be 17 next year and a little 998 will be her first car. Cheap to run and insure, pennies to fix when they go wrong and panels cheap if she has the odd ding! What's not to like.

To the op. I'm down in Southampton and have a 998 within your budget. PM me if you'd like to know more.

[Mcgreen]

My daughter will be 17 next year and a little 998 will be her first car. Cheap to run and insure, pennies to fix when they go wrong and panels cheap if she has the odd ding! What's not to like.
To the op. I'm down in Southampton and have a 998 within your budget. PM me if you'd like to know more.

What would I be looking at insurance wise? I don't mind having a black box or anything. Need insurance as low as possible

[jt19]

I had a mini as my first car.
Bought it when I was 16 (2004) £600 taxed and moted! Wasn't anything special. White 998 Mayfair.

I think I paid £800 for classic car insurance with footman James.

[Mcgreen]

I had a mini as my first car.
Bought it when I was 16 (2004) £600 taxed and moted! Wasn't anything special. White 998 Mayfair.
I think I paid £800 for classic car insurance with footman James.

Cheers mate, I know I'm asking a lot but what would a round about figure be for 2017 then? I surely couldn't get classic car insurance if it's my first car could I?

[Mrpeanut]

My daughter will be 17 next year and a little 998 will be her first car. Cheap to run and insure, pennies to fix when they go wrong and panels cheap if she has the odd ding! What's not to like.
To the op. I'm down in Southampton and have a 998 within your budget. PM me if you'd like to know more.

What would I be looking at insurance wise? I don't mind having a black box or anything. Need insurance as low as possible

I wouldn't like to say but everything I hear from young mini owners is that a 998 costs so much less than anything else out there. I'd suggest a call to one of the classic car specialists like Adrian flux, footman James or Lancaster to see what's what.

[Mcgreen]

My daughter will be 17 next year and a little 998 will be her first car. Cheap to run and insure, pennies to fix when they go wrong and panels cheap if she has the odd ding! What's not to like.
To the op. I'm down in Southampton and have a 998 within your budget. PM me if you'd like to know more.

What do you think about the safety aspect, I know the lack of any safety features means it's lights out in a serious crash but they're so unique and charming. I just know my Dad would bring up safety when I bring up the topic to buy one

[Midas Mk1]

All about life, have no regrets, do it.

 

I still have the same smirk and grin every time I drive my Mini, just as I did the first time when I was 17. 

 

Yeah something more modern may be more practical, but don't look back and think, if only i'd done that...

 

It's a Mini learning curve, but see it as a challenge rather than being daunting :) 

 

 

MPi's make great dailys, just watch out for the bodywork as above. Minis rust, its just what they do, and as a daily it won't stay perfect. 

 

Took me a good few years to get over that fact, but at the end of the day, their meant to be used, enjoyed, not sat. 

Edited by Midas Mk1, 13 July 2017 - 09:16 PM.

[Mrpeanut]

Any car is dangerous if driven badly. Sure a modern car will be safer in the event of an accident but drive sensibly and maintain your car and no driver can do any more. None of us would drive mini's if we thought they were death traps.

[Mcgreen]

All about life, have no regrets, do it.
 
I still have the same smirk and grin every time I drive my Mini, just as I did the first time when I was 17. 
 
Yeah something more modern may be more practical, but don't look back and think, if only i'd done that...
 
It's a Mini learning curve, but see it as a challenge rather than being daunting :) 
 
 
MPi's make great dailys, just watch out for the bodywork as above. Minis rust, its just what they do, and as a daily it won't stay perfect. 
 
Took me a good few years to get over that fact, but at the end of the day, their meant to be used, enjoyed, not sat.

So let me get this straight.
MPI's are more rusty, but have more reliable internals?
And older pre 90's minis rust less but have more mechanical/electrical problems?

So what's recommended for a daily driver?
Sorry for all the questions just I am really intrigued

[Mcgreen]

My daughter will be 17 next year and a little 998 will be her first car. Cheap to run and insure, pennies to fix when they go wrong and panels cheap if she has the odd ding! What's not to like.
To the op. I'm down in Southampton and have a 998 within your budget. PM me if you'd like to know more.

What would I be looking at insurance wise? I don't mind having a black box or anything. Need insurance as low as possible

I wouldn't like to say but everything I hear from young mini owners is that a 998 costs so much less than anything else out there. I'd suggest a call to one of the classic car specialists like Adrian flux, footman James or Lancaster to see what's what.

Quote from Lancaster: £500 per year, is this good or bad?

[Mrpeanut]

My daughter will be 17 next year and a little 998 will be her first car. Cheap to run and insure, pennies to fix when they go wrong and panels cheap if she has the odd ding! What's not to like.
To the op. I'm down in Southampton and have a 998 within your budget. PM me if you'd like to know more.

What would I be looking at insurance wise? I don't mind having a black box or anything. Need insurance as low as possible

I wouldn't like to say but everything I hear from young mini owners is that a 998 costs so much less than anything else out there. I'd suggest a call to one of the classic car specialists like Adrian flux, footman James or Lancaster to see what's what.

Quote from Lancaster: £500 per year, is this good or bad?

Seems very good for your age but get a quote for a clio, corsa or similar and that'll tell you!

I think the choice of mini is premature until you've decided whether you're looking at a classic mini or a modern car. With that said, an mpi will push your budget up a lot, give you something more expensive to insure (1275 engine so more power, so bigger insurance at your age), more prone to rust (later cars were worse) and something not as easy or cheap to fix when it goes wrong. Stick to a 998 imo.

[alex-95]

I was driving a 1985 998 mini ritz when I passed my test at 18, insurance was just under a grand with mum and dad on the policy. I would look for an 80's or early 90's 998, they may not be super quick but sure does put a smile on your face. It done me proud with no major issues for 3 years but bought an 1275 MPI to replace it while I weld it up, but much prefer the rusty 998

 

EDIT: £500 to insure it, that's very cheap, make sure when you insure one it has agreed valuation else if it did get written off you may get peanuts back rather than what it's actually worth.

Edited by alex-95, 13 July 2017 - 10:41 PM.

[Mcgreen]

My daughter will be 17 next year and a little 998 will be her first car. Cheap to run and insure, pennies to fix when they go wrong and panels cheap if she has the odd ding! What's not to like.
To the op. I'm down in Southampton and have a 998 within your budget. PM me if you'd like to know more.

What would I be looking at insurance wise? I don't mind having a black box or anything. Need insurance as low as possible

I wouldn't like to say but everything I hear from young mini owners is that a 998 costs so much less than anything else out there. I'd suggest a call to one of the classic car specialists like Adrian flux, footman James or Lancaster to see what's what.

Quote from Lancaster: £500 per year, is this good or bad?

Seems very good for your age but get a quote for a clio, corsa or similar and that'll tell you!
I think the choice of mini is premature until you've decided whether you're looking at a classic mini or a modern car. With that said, an mpi will push your budget up a lot, give you something more expensive to insure (1275 engine so more power, so bigger insurance at your age), more prone to rust (later cars were worse) and something not as easy or cheap to fix when it goes wrong. Stick to a 998 imo.

Okay thanks for that. In the long run, if I got a 998 and it was all going strong. Where would rust (and how long would it take) be the most fatal/take the car off the road/won't pass MOT. If something like that happened I would have no clue on how to fix it and how expensive it would be.

[Mcgreen]

I was driving a 1985 998 mini ritz when I passed my test at 18, insurance was just under a grand with mum and dad on the policy. I would look for an 80's or early 90's 998, they may not be super quick but sure does put a smile on your face. It done me proud with no major issues for 3 years but bought an 1275 MPI to replace it while I weld it up, but much prefer the rusty 998
 
EDIT: £500 to insure it, that's very cheap, make sure when you insure one it has agreed valuation else if it did get written off you may get peanuts back rather than what it's actually worth.

Yeah I think it'll have to be a 998. When filling the value of the car for the insurance what do I put? The value u bought it for or something else? I must have done something wrong for it to be so cheap.
Also any helpful tips on how to convince my family who all own boring European cars with big safety ratings to allow me to get a tiny classic mini?

[panky]

Washing up for the next six months