Mini or Fiat 500?

[dobbslc]

The youngest boy is nearly 17 and we are getting him a car for his birthday, he likes the Mini and Fiat 500 so what to get?
We're at the low end price wise at about £2.5k
Are there any horror stories to look out for?
We looked at one each today and both were basically rolling scrap with some MOT.
Large oil leaks, dents and scratches all over, poorly fitting panels etc. The Mini stank of dogs and the back seats covered in paw prints and mud, who the hell thinks a car like this will sell?
Anyway all advice welcome.

 

[masleeve]

My advice is check out insurance first - our youngsters had aspirations and soon realised that learner insurance was fine but young drivers insurance once they passed their test was crazy .
They settled on the humble Kia Picanto- insurance around 900 vs 3k for a mini.

The picanto passed from one to the other cheap and efficient motoring for them to build their NCB .

 

[tigdlo]

Is insurance and running costs an issue? What age/milage/spec are these cars for £2500? Personally I wouldn't choose either for a first car, but if I had to an 8v 1.2 manual Fiat 500 would be my choice, age/milage depending.

 

[Memmeddu]

Fiat 500 would be a great choice in Italy, because of maintenance ,it has the Fire engine if gasoline
Or a Twin Air turbo gasoline 2 cylinder which you have to avoid at all costs no parts available and very fragile it's a disposable engine,or firefly or a multijet ,this last one would be a great choice because of it's toughness (it can manage over 600HP on stock engine components)
Depending on the engine
Gasoline engine are funnier but delicate
My punto has the 1.2 8V which is practically the same engine mounted on the 500 but the new versions have variable lift valves and lots of useless electronic which make this engine much more complex than the original engine born on the fiat Uno an engine produced for roughly 40 years

 

[mr haynes]

Classic mini yes, bmw mini no.
Think both the fiat and mini must be around insurance group 10 for the cheapest versions.
Agree with above and check for alternatives within lower groups and get some indicative quotes online

 

[angellonewolf]

as above buy whats cheap to run cheap to insure

my son found a hyundi quite cheap compared to some ones

 

[tom2207]

Not on the list , but very hard to go past a 107 / aygo , I have one and its mighty , and they are very reliable amd if you do bump one they are cheap to fix , low tax and low insurance.

 

[dobbslc]

The insurance for a Fiat is about group 6 the mini is 10 plus. The boy knows about the insurance but the tax is also way more on a mini!
I'd prefer it if he got a Fiat as it's cheaper insurance, less tax, better on petrol and a bit smaller plus not a BMW
I've tried convincing him to get a nice Toyota Aygo like his brother but he ain't impressed!

 

[arther dailey]

The youngest boy is nearly 17 and we are getting him a car for his birthday, he likes the Mini and Fiat 500 so what to get?
We're at the low end price wise at about £2.5k
Are there any horror stories to look out for?
We looked at one each today and both were basically rolling scrap with some MOT.
Large oil leaks, dents and scratches all over, poorly fitting panels etc. The Mini stank of dogs and the back seats covered in paw prints and mud, who the hell thinks a car like this will sell?
Anyway all advice welcome.

I remember what I was like as a lad , and possibly something like a volvo amazon would keep him safer as a first car , in fact any old classic would be way cheaper on insurance I think.

 

[dobbslc]

If I could afford a nice Volvo Amazon I'd be driving it!

 

[angellonewolf]

with luck sence might come to mind if he sees how much a month he might have to pay

 

[addjunkie]

The insurance for a Fiat is about group 6 the mini is 10 plus. The boy knows about the insurance but the tax is also way more on a mini!
I'd prefer it if he got a Fiat as it's cheaper insurance, less tax, better on petrol and a bit smaller plus not a BMW
I've tried convincing him to get a nice Toyota Aygo like his brother but he ain't impressed!

He wants something suited to old grannies…..picanto been a good example…….remember did you not know best at that age too!

 

[Wozzaaah]

As said, Kia picanto, Pug 107, Citroen C1 or Toyota Aygo, anything else will most likely bankrupt a new driver.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Fwiw, my first car was a 1973 hillman avenger in poo brown.
I genuinely can’t remember what I paid for insurance but I know it wasn’t a huge amount. I certainly didn’t struggle to pay it, that’s for sure.

 

[tom2207]

tell him he can have what he wants ,, the flashier the better ,, loud pipe and lowered ideally

but remember to tell him there is no way on gods earth he can have a 107 as they are just too cool and too much fun ,,,, end of story.




he will settle for nothing else than a 107 that way
its how the world works

 

[tom2207]

Fwiw, my first car was a 1973 hillman avenger in poo brown.
I genuinely can’t remember what I paid for insurance but I know it wasn’t a huge amount. I certainly didn’t struggle to pay it, that’s for sure.

mine was a 1500mk2 cortina 1969 LEL 486F ,, insurance was about 170 quid

but that was in the days when insurance used to go down each year as you built up no claims

ah they were the days.

 

[Wozzaaah]

mine was a 1500mk2 cortina 1969 LEL 486F ,, insurance was about 170 quid

but that was in the days when insurance used to go down each year as you built up no claims

ah they were the days.

My Avenger was a 1250L, reg RPD 459L. Paid just £20 for it!

 

[mr haynes]

How about something like a Skoda Fabia or would that not be stylish enough?

 

[dobbslc]

tell him he can have what he wants ,, the flashier the better ,, loud pipe and lowered ideally

but remember to tell him there is no way on gods earth he can have a 107 as they are just too cool and too much fun ,,,, end of story.




he will settle for nothing else than a 107 that way
its how the world works

How about something like a Skoda Fabia or would that not be stylish enough?

You obviously don't know my boy

 

[Bobupndown]

VW Up, Skoda Citigo, Seat Mii all group 1 insurance and £20 tax. Eldest son had one (VW) as a first car. Decent wee car. Second son turns 17 next year so we'll be on the lookout too. He'll do a lot of miles travelling for sport so considering a Corsa 1.3 Cdti.