Whee, maybe the OZ car, but don't let him near EG!

How many of us had to wait until we were close to 50 to get our first Mini? I pile so many tools and work supplies (looks junky) in my Mini, my boys don't want to be seen out in it! They do like being in the passenger seat on my RHD, in the States, giving everyone else the impression of them driving! As for a first car, I got my oldest a Ford Probe, he has got more speeding tickets than I've ever had, so I wish I had got him an 850 mini, where he wouldn't want to drive it above 60! I should have let them drive the Ford Taurus Wagon, they don't want to seen in that either!!!

I actually ended up selling my '66 Morris Mini 'FLAME' to my 18 year old son Ben who loved Mini's since he was a kid. It worked out perfect because I had found the '62 Austin Mini Woody of my dreams and needed the funds to pull it out of England. A couple years later my son Ben sold the '66 to his brother Tim my oldest son who eventually sold it back to me, (you can see the Mini's together here in my garage when I still lived on the mainland). I wonder how many smiles there were in total between the three of us owning that Classic Mini!!!!!  Mini Estate

There's a saying about road racing - don't choose to race a particular car unless you could push it over the side of a cliff and walk away without batting an eye. I think that applies equally to young/inexperienced drivers. People often have to learn from their own mistakes. Why involve your nice car in the process? Save that until after they've cracked up a couple of beaters.

My opinion is get something practical for starters and if there's a desire there to be a car guy he'll find a car guys car.  Whenever I see these shows on tv where they fix up some old muscle car and dad buys it for his son I cringe.  

Whee, how time flys.. with your son reaching 16!  I have always had a mini as the kids grew up, so it was natural for my kids to want to drive a Mini.. I waited until they had a bit of driving in other cars under their belt and then they were OK to drive the Mini, but only with me in it!  My son ended up with a Capri 2.8i Special RHD from the UK as his first car, and my daughter a 78 Ford Fiesta with a 1600 Kent engine.. so they though the Mini was to small and noisy!  

A friend of mine let his son take out his Super 7 and it ended up wrapped around a telephone pole.. in the end he was OK, but it took a long time to rebuild the car..

well if he hasn't shown any sign of wanting to drive the Mini. I would let him decide on what he would like as his first ride to be! its what i would do!

A friend was once asked, "How do I make my Lotus 7 safe for a 16 year old?"

"Sell it."

Turns out the 16 year old didn't wreck it. He let a friend drive it and well, you know.....

When I went with Farmers they said no drivers under 25.

Thanks - I should clarify, by driving I mean occaisonal driving - not as his everyday car

My 2 Cents--- growing up with a british mechainc as a father i had my fair share of british mobiles.

16 fresh liscnce - dad didnt want me driving his truck and tearing it up - my first car was MGB-GT = Rusty Smoky - good project- we were always working on it.

After about a year - My mini showed up for sale - equally as rough - 998., doors falling off - Rusty panels, etc.

  Got it on the road became the prize of my life.  Still have it - fully restored - stays tucked away enjoying radomly 16 years later.

My parents revealed later- they didnt mind the mini because of few mini charactariscs kept me safe.   Small space- not many people ever want to ride with.

Not friendly or reliable for far travel. Keeps close to home - or said person finds alternate transporation. Others might find the car unsafe and not let others ride with your son.

Cheap on gas- Cheap to maintain - rather durable in the end.

 Risks. 

Unsafe - in major impacts.  although strong just not against SUV.s. ROll it down a clliff- OK

  If in an accident - any insurace will be little to no value without stated value insuance, or proper coverage

 If you're attached to it and he's not --- be prepared for dissapointment if the car is hurt, broke- blown up or damaged.

If he cares for the car he should drive safely -

If not - get a VOLVO - Brick.

Let it be wrecked.

 

 

 

My son will be getting his driver's license soon. What decisions did you make around whether to let you child drive your Mini or not? If you let them drive how did that work with US insurance?

I'm leaning towards not letting him drive the Mini at the moment, mainly because he's shown no interest on working on them with me. My daughter has, so maybe she gets to in a few years.

They will be learning to drive stick shift on another car eityher way.