9 replies to this topic

[Rooster10]

Morning all,

 

My son has recently turned 17 and we are looking for his first car. He would like a classic mini rather than one of the more main stream 'first' cars.  I have been looking and reading a bit but would appreciate a few tips from those in the know.  We are in the Leatherhead (surrey) area. Who in this area is good for maintaining and servicing etc please?

 

Has anyone come across Paul Higgs in New Milton - he seems to get quite a few in and been around for along time. Might be a bit far but probably worth it if there is no one local. I see there are various mini clubs in my area so we will go along to a few of the meets but thought I'd ask here too.

 

Look forward to hearing from you and becoming more involved in the community.

 

 

[mab01uk]

Most good classic Minis are now an expensive car (unless you buy a rust bucket to restore diy) so I always advise youngsters to buy a cheap 'modern' small car first, to get some driving experience and not worry too much about the various dents and scrapes that usually happen in your first year or so on the road. Also much easier to get fixed locally for a good price if your not into DIY Mini maintenance and repairs.....(and a lot safer in an accident if the worst happens).

Once you have that experience look for a 'good' Mini but beware even the last classic Minis are 25 years old now and can look ok but be a money pit with a nice coat of paint and lots of hidden filler and rust just below the surface. Learn as much as you can from your local Mini Club and make sure your 17 year old son knows it won't be as cheap or easy to run as an everyday car when compared to his mates Ford Fiestas or Vauxhall Corsas, etc!

[beardylondon]

I couldn’t agree more with mab, also pretty much any modern small car will be safer.
I’m in my 40s and have had minis for 30 years, but I certainly won’t be putting our daughter in a classic as her first car. Mainly because of what my old man says, it’s more the other drivers on the road, some who are in big SUVs and the like, that are the problem.

Most good classic Minis are now an expensive car (unless you buy a rust bucket to restore diy) so I always advise youngsters to buy a cheap 'modern' small car first, to get some driving experience and not worry too much about the various dents and scrapes that usually happen in your first year or so on the road. Also much easier to get fixed locally for a good price if your not into DIY Mini maintenance and repairs.....(and a lot safer in an accident if the worst happens).
Once you have that experience look for a 'good' Mini but beware even the last classic Minis are 25 years old now and can look ok but be a money pit with a nice coat of paint and lots of hidden filler and rust just below the surface. Learn as much as you can from your local Mini Club and make sure your 17 year old son knows it won't be as cheap or easy to run as an everyday car when compared to his mates Ford Fiestas or Vauxhall Corsas, etc!

Edited by beardylondon, 27 September 2025 - 06:57 AM.

[Ethel]

I'd look in to insurance too. You'd be in 2 relatively niche markets which is likely to affect the price & choice.

 

Mind if you buy a Mini in the same price bracket as an old but serviceable small hatchback, he's likely to no longer be a new driver by the time he needs to think about  insuring it for the road 

[Designer]

Hi,

 

I agree with Mabo and Beardy.

Taking Beardy's comment

 

 Mainly because of what my old man says, it’s more the other drivers on the road, some who are in big SUVs and the like, that are the problem.

 

The other day I took my daughter's Mini (Moop) out for a spin. Travelling down the Molesey Road I stopped at the Barley Mow roundabout in the outside lane for turning right, being first in the line of traffic.

Lady in a large SUV was already waiting in the inside lane to enter the roundabout. We sat for about a minute waiting for the traffic to clear from the right.

Moving first I drove forward into my lane to turn right then to my horror the SUV with pedal to the metal crossed straight ahead of me cutting the bend taking up both lanes and forcing me to hit the brakes turn the wheel hard right and go over the edge of the roundabout just missing by 6 inches the chevron sign, which are placed about two feet from the curb of roundabouts. The gap between Moop's nearside wing mirror and the offside rear door and rear quarter of the SUV was about 2 inches.

She just carried on to Hersham Centre totally oblivious of me being there and what she had done.

 

Having said that Moop was my dauhter's first car and she learnt to drive in it and as well as in my Turbo Volvo. But thirty years ago there weren't so many Chelsea Tractors/SUV and there were a lot more Minis on the roads so other drivers were aware of them.

 

Paddy

[MatthewsDad]

My son is taking his test tomorrow and is looking at his first car. Although he loves our mini and he's free to choose whatever car he wants - although in reality it'll probably be a cheap high mileage option - I would definitely draw the line at a mini. Three of his four mates who've passed their test in the last six months have crashed their cars, with friends on board on each occasion. I just want to try and keep him safe in his first year or two of being on the road.

[Designer]

Hi,

 

There is a post on the 5/08/2025 headed  Any Luck With Adding A 21 Yr Old As A Named Driver

regarding insurance for a 21 year old. Have a read.

Just put insurance in the search box and it will bring the post up.

 

Paddy

[MatthewsDad]

I might have been a bit negative in my earlier post, I'm just really worried about the incidents my son's pals have had. They're pretty sensible apart from when they get in a car. There are plenty of modern mini type options for new drivers that give a safer but sporty experience - Suzuki swift, Skoda fabia, fiesta etc. good luck with the search!

[mab01uk]

I might have been a bit negative in my earlier post, I'm just really worried about the incidents my son's pals have had. They're pretty sensible apart from when they get in a car. There are plenty of modern mini type options for new drivers that give a safer but sporty experience - Suzuki swift, Skoda fabia, fiesta etc. good luck with the search!

 

Back in the 1970's as a new driver I crashed my Mini in my first year on the road and had a lucky escape with minor injuries, only because I was wearing a seatbelt at the time which was not compulsory until 1983. A quick 'Google' confirms that 'young male drivers' still face the highest risk in the first year on the road due to a combination of inexperience, poor hazard perception, risk-taking behaviors like speeding and the potential for peer pressure from passengers. 

 

[Designer]

Hi,

 

If I was back in the position now of having a son or daughter passing their test and wanting a car of their own I would direct them in the direction of the cheapest to insure and maintain.

After a couple of years then see what change could be made to improve their street cred.

If they are constantly carrying passengers then their street cred must be good as they are the only one with a car.

 

Paddy