Mini Cooper for new driver?
Discussion
Our daughter's learning to drive, so looking at insurance costs of small car for when she (hopefully) passes.
Mini One (probably R56) was one option, but they're rare locally, so I got quotes for a Cooper as well.
On a provisional license, with her as main driver, both parents named drivers, 4K miles/year, cost for either car is ~£250/300
On a full license, the One is ~£1100-1200, and the Cooper is £1200-1300.
I was expecting a massive hike, but it seems there's not much difference. I'm worried I've missed something.
Any caveats about something like a Cooper for a new (but sensible) driver?
Mini One (probably R56) was one option, but they're rare locally, so I got quotes for a Cooper as well.
On a provisional license, with her as main driver, both parents named drivers, 4K miles/year, cost for either car is ~£250/300
On a full license, the One is ~£1100-1200, and the Cooper is £1200-1300.
I was expecting a massive hike, but it seems there's not much difference. I'm worried I've missed something.
Any caveats about something like a Cooper for a new (but sensible) driver?
I always found Minis to have good insurance.
Those quotes look good. I'm 21 and I'm looking at a Volvo V90 d4 diseasel which is c. £2800, a boggo Yaris 85hp is 2k.
You should want a first car to have adequate power to get away from bad situations/not have to struggle up a hill, the Mini has that to it's advantage over other first cars without being too powerful for a new driver.
I say it's a great choice and she'll love it.
Those quotes look good. I'm 21 and I'm looking at a Volvo V90 d4 diseasel which is c. £2800, a boggo Yaris 85hp is 2k.
You should want a first car to have adequate power to get away from bad situations/not have to struggle up a hill, the Mini has that to it's advantage over other first cars without being too powerful for a new driver.
I say it's a great choice and she'll love it.
As you're probably aware the R56 Mini One was initially a 1.4 litre and then became a 1.6. If you are looking at the One 1.6, then one difference between it and the same age (probably facelift) Cooper is that the One had longer gears than the Cooper, and in the 2011 One 1.6 I had, 6th was only useful above 60mph, which was really annoying. Iirc the Cooper got a stop-start system (perhaps at a facelift), where the One didn't, meaning the Cooper had similar/the same CO2 figures as the One.
I really disliked the clutch on my One (probably combined with the long gears). It, and probably lack of exercise, caused me problems with my left knee. Also it rattled a bit and I didn't think it was as well built as the impression it gave.
I'd also look at the reputation of the engines used, as all the petrols were BMW/PSA PRINCE engines. I gather the non-turbos were better than the turbos, but you'll often see posters on similar threads suggesting you stay away.
The ride on my One with 15" wheels was fairly firm, and I think they only get firmer with bigger wheels and sports suspension.
I really disliked the clutch on my One (probably combined with the long gears). It, and probably lack of exercise, caused me problems with my left knee. Also it rattled a bit and I didn't think it was as well built as the impression it gave.
I'd also look at the reputation of the engines used, as all the petrols were BMW/PSA PRINCE engines. I gather the non-turbos were better than the turbos, but you'll often see posters on similar threads suggesting you stay away.
The ride on my One with 15" wheels was fairly firm, and I think they only get firmer with bigger wheels and sports suspension.
silentbrown said:
Our daughter's learning to drive, so looking at insurance costs of small car for when she (hopefully) passes.
Mini One (probably R56) was one option, but they're rare locally, so I got quotes for a Cooper as well.
On a provisional license, with her as main driver, both parents named drivers, 4K miles/year, cost for either car is ~£250/300
On a full license, the One is ~£1100-1200, and the Cooper is £1200-1300.
I was expecting a massive hike, but it seems there's not much difference. I'm worried I've missed something.
Any caveats about something like a Cooper for a new (but sensible) driver?
It's likely the algorithms suggest that the 1.4 is more likely to be owned by first time drivers and hence more likely to crash. My daughter had a 1.6 Cooper/120bhp as her first car, took it from 80K miles to 140k miles, great little car, just give it very regular oil checks etc.Mini One (probably R56) was one option, but they're rare locally, so I got quotes for a Cooper as well.
On a provisional license, with her as main driver, both parents named drivers, 4K miles/year, cost for either car is ~£250/300
On a full license, the One is ~£1100-1200, and the Cooper is £1200-1300.
I was expecting a massive hike, but it seems there's not much difference. I'm worried I've missed something.
Any caveats about something like a Cooper for a new (but sensible) driver?
The same scenario panned out with her second car, she's now got a 170bhp Mito Cloverleaf, which was less to insure than the 0.9 little twin airs, I assume for the same reasons.
Good luck
Moorlandman said:
Those quotes are too cheap for a 17 year old - assume she is older? or are living in the Shetlands
My niece is learning to drive and my sister was offered £4k for their F56 Cooper, so they decided to keep it (known service, history, provenance) for her.Similar pricing as the OP. £300 whilst learning and £1,200 -£1,400 if/when she passes. This is for Harlow, Essex.
I know the gearbox on the early ones are made of chocolate.
Apart from that they are great cars and cheap insurance for what they are.
It was on our list when we were looking for a first car for our eldest daughter, however they were stupid money compared to the usual Corsa, Fiesta 206 etc..
Got a 206 1.4 petrol locally for £500 which lasted her 3 years, when that failed MOT due to emissions we decided on a Fiesta 1.4TDCi just because they were loads around, they were reasonable to buy and running costs were buttons.
That's gone from 80k miles to 125k miles and still going. Now being used by my son to learn in.
Apart from that they are great cars and cheap insurance for what they are.
It was on our list when we were looking for a first car for our eldest daughter, however they were stupid money compared to the usual Corsa, Fiesta 206 etc..
Got a 206 1.4 petrol locally for £500 which lasted her 3 years, when that failed MOT due to emissions we decided on a Fiesta 1.4TDCi just because they were loads around, they were reasonable to buy and running costs were buttons.
That's gone from 80k miles to 125k miles and still going. Now being used by my son to learn in.
No, you're not missing anything.
My 17yo daughter has an 07/57 R56 Cooper - my Dad's car from new - and it cost £1400 to insure it with Ticker (black box) once she passed her test.
One thing to note - we found her best price through Go Compare and playing around with the start date on the left of the results page changes the price.
She passed her test on 16th March and we accepted the quote on that day. But she sensibly opted for a start date of 3rd April as it was £500 cheaper that way than if she'd started it immediately.
She can't park at college anyway and we were away for the Easter weekend. So apart from the obvious frustration all of us PHers would have felt, it wasn't a problem. A shame though for a 17yo who could do with getting on the road right away.
My 17yo daughter has an 07/57 R56 Cooper - my Dad's car from new - and it cost £1400 to insure it with Ticker (black box) once she passed her test.
One thing to note - we found her best price through Go Compare and playing around with the start date on the left of the results page changes the price.
She passed her test on 16th March and we accepted the quote on that day. But she sensibly opted for a start date of 3rd April as it was £500 cheaper that way than if she'd started it immediately.
She can't park at college anyway and we were away for the Easter weekend. So apart from the obvious frustration all of us PHers would have felt, it wasn't a problem. A shame though for a 17yo who could do with getting on the road right away.
Cheers, all good info.
Removing myself and Mrs SB as named drivers, and the quote went up 50%. Obviously everything could change by the time she actually passes, but it sounds like this could be a plan.
As it's also likely to be a runaround for us if she's off at Uni, something with some oomph will be appreciated. Will have to se if I can fit 6'3" me into it first, though.
Removing myself and Mrs SB as named drivers, and the quote went up 50%. Obviously everything could change by the time she actually passes, but it sounds like this could be a plan.
As it's also likely to be a runaround for us if she's off at Uni, something with some oomph will be appreciated. Will have to se if I can fit 6'3" me into it first, though.
silentbrown said:
Cheers, all good info.
Removing myself and Mrs SB as named drivers, and the quote went up 50%. Obviously everything could change by the time she actually passes, but it sounds like this could be a plan.
As it's also likely to be a runaround for us if she's off at Uni, something with some oomph will be appreciated. Will have to se if I can fit 6'3" me into it first, though.
You can, I'm the same height and loved driving it, fantastic steering on the R56. Try and get one with the Chilli pack, will give her cruise etc which is really handy for a new driver, both my kids use it frequently.Removing myself and Mrs SB as named drivers, and the quote went up 50%. Obviously everything could change by the time she actually passes, but it sounds like this could be a plan.
As it's also likely to be a runaround for us if she's off at Uni, something with some oomph will be appreciated. Will have to se if I can fit 6'3" me into it first, though.
silentbrown said:
Removing myself and Mrs SB as named drivers, and the quote went up 50%.
I picked up an SP30 - in what is now my daughter's MINI - in November. So I initially left myself off as the named driver.But in the end adding me in as a named driver alongside Mrs T still brought the price down despite the conviction.
Mind you, I daren't drive it now it's got a black box!
BertBert said:
I agree, the insurance quotes look too low to me.
Same, my daughter is 17 next month so I have been doing quotes on cars assuming she was 17 for months now.£2k for a picanto/i10/vw up
£3k for a clio 1.2
Wish I could get insurance on anything for just over £1k!
This is leafy Surrey.
ThingsBehindTheSun said:
Same, my daughter is 17 next month so I have been doing quotes on cars assuming she was 17 for months now.
£2k for a picanto/i10/vw up
£3k for a clio 1.2
Wish I could get insurance on anything for just over £1k!
This is leafy Surrey.
You're falling for the idea that a slower, smaller, lower-grouped car is cheaper to insure. £2k for a picanto/i10/vw up
£3k for a clio 1.2
Wish I could get insurance on anything for just over £1k!
This is leafy Surrey.
It's more complex than that. In practice, insurers will have loads of stats telling them a 17yo in a Picanto etc. is actually an accident waiting to happen.
Because so many 17yo's start out in those little cars and so many 17yo's have bumps.
Presumably their data in respect of 17yo's in MINIs etc. doesn't tell them that.
I have tried all sorts of cars, from old Vauxhall Astras to the Pistonheads best kept secret for new drivers, the Volvo C30.
All in the £3k range.
As for the mino not being a car driven by 17 year old, all her friends who have already passed have a mini.
No offence but I hate them and the prince 1.6 engine is crap so she won't be getting one of those.
All in the £3k range.
As for the mino not being a car driven by 17 year old, all her friends who have already passed have a mini.
No offence but I hate them and the prince 1.6 engine is crap so she won't be getting one of those.
We've had an F56 MINI one in the family for ages in a rather nice eggshell blue.
It's a 2011, 35k miles and is as tight as a drum.
Great MPG, Safe and sturdy, straightforward on maintenance and costs also.
Despite being the entry level its great fun to rev out and now slow by any means.
Definitely recommend one
It's a 2011, 35k miles and is as tight as a drum.
Great MPG, Safe and sturdy, straightforward on maintenance and costs also.
Despite being the entry level its great fun to rev out and now slow by any means.
Definitely recommend one
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