New Mini

[jennyjoan]

Only I'm investing in the suite (hopefully) - I would love to buy a new mini car. Was talking to friend tonight and she is seriously thinking of buying . I think they're lovely. Anybody got one lately.

[LeonBlank1995]

Don't buy a NEW one!!!! Get one about 40% cheaper with the same warranty that's just a year old.

[Zacs-Master]

Mrs Zacs is on her 5th (an all electric one presently).

[jennyjoan]

my first 3 were minis - second hand but I loved the compactness.

[jennyjoan]

yes the friend would like the electric but me myself whatever happens in the buying of a car - I don't want automatic.

[jennyjoan]

good idea Leon

[jno]

they're not so very mini any more. The four-door version is bigger than my little Jazz. The latest Which tests rated the Jazz the Best Buy small car, just ahead of Minis, and the Fiat 500 was the best city car, which is a smaller category still.

[jennyjoan]

just looked at autotrader - second hand - OMG - mileage is OTT - like 77,000, 100,000 etc - do think I will stick to my old hyundai with 25,000 miles.

[jennyjoan]

hope friend goes through with it - her car is 16 or 18 years old and she does have a bob or two.

[jno]

oh yes, if you've got a car with only 25000 on the clock and you're happy with it, keep it. I've always kept cars till they're so old they have to be shot.

[ladybirder]

jno exactly. I sat behind a new Mini in my Honda Jazz and the Mini was taller than my Jazz.

[jno]

ladybirder, my first car was a mid-60s Mini and it was much smaller because they didn't have safety features like crumple zones. It was just a tin can on wheels, you slid the windows, and pulled a cord to open the door, and high-beam was a button on the floor you trod on. It got me around, though.

[Blubster]

I've been sore tempted to downsize and get a mini, but as I'm getting on in years, I wonder if I'd just look stupid or look to be having some kind of mid-life crisis. Aren't minis for the younger set?

[jno]

as long as you can get in and out without everyone hearing your joints creaking...

[Blubster]

@JNO - Good point. :D

[ladybirder]

I had one in 1981 jno. Can't remember much about it except it was a GT. I hadn't had it long and I lent it to a friend for a couple of hours and she had a crash and wrote it off. What I do remember is then selling all the parts off and spending two days solid on the phone. It seemed as if every man and his wife wanted to buy some part or other and I became an auctioneer as one person outbid another. Mini GT parts must have been in short supply.

[ladybirder]

Blubster I'm thinking of doing the opposite and getting something higher up like a Toyota RAV as I've had two of those before over the years and they are so easy for getting in and out. The last thing I would consider is something lower than my Jazz.

[tonyav]

Blubster I'm thinking of doing the opposite and getting something higher up like a Toyota RAV


Very reliable car, ladybirder.

[ladybirder]

Absolutely Tony. As I said I've had two, both 3-door as that's all I need. Toyota stopped making them years ago so the prices are increasing with age. My children tell me the sensible thing is to stay with my trusty Jazz but ...

[jno]

I like my Jazz; but it's a hybrid and sometimes wants to think about it before switching back to petrol at the lights. Apart from that, it's cheap (licence fee £10), gets around town well and has been fine on the odd occaasion I've ventured onto a motorway.

Why don't you like automatic, JJ? I love it. Gives your arm and your foot a rest.

[tonyav]

Toyota still make Rav's, ladybirder ( not the older shape that you have in mind ), check them out on Ebay, Autotrader etc.