Classic mini vs. new MINI
My friends and I have revived a fun game we all used to play as children. It involves Minis. Like all the best games, it's very simple - if a mini comes by, and you see it first, you get to hit someone in the arm. It might sound a bit barbaric but I remember the game as being fairly tame, probably because minis were comparatively few and far between when we were kids. All that's changed, however, since the 2001 introduction of the new MINI (now in uppercase - only the marketing men know why). Thanks to BMW, who bought the mini brand from Rover in 2000, you can hardly nip down the shops for a pint of milk now without seeing four or five of them parked-up or passing you by. Sales-wise, the new MINI is becoming as successful as its 60s predecessor - and that means British streets are flooded with them. As you can imagine, my friends and I ended up with pretty sore arms. Soon even the most bloodthirsty among us agreed that the new model MINI should be ruled out of the punching game, and it reverted back to the excuse for occasional violence that we knew and remembered fondly. It turns out the new MINI is getting used to this kind of rejection. Despite BMW's best intentions, this latest incarnation has opened up a great rift of opinion within the mini enthusiast community - one camp embracing it as a natural model evolution and the other spurning it entirely. The second group mourns the classic mini, which they maintain has been 'killed-off' by the new one long before its time. The debate over which version is better is very relevant to young drivers, since mini has always been a popular choice for a first car. I dearly wanted one when I was learning to drive, but my safety-conscious parents insisted I buy a Fiat Punto instead. For those who were put off the classic mini by its slightly dubious crash credentials, however, the new MINI, which meets just about every safety regulation going, is a dream come true. So just which incarnation is better - mini or MINI? At Hoot, we're used to providing motor insurance quotes and young driver car insurance policies for both cars, and the subject has been bandied about the office for many moons. Here, then, are our findings: Size on the outside, size on the inside
The first thing you'd notice about the two cars if they were put side by side is the difference in size.
In this age of rampant miniaturisation (mobile phones, computers, Burton's Wagon Wheels) it's a surprise to find the new and improved 'MINI' is, well, a lot bigger than its predecessor: 2 foot longer and a foot wider to be precise. On top of this, the new car is also about twice the weight of the old one. BMW boffins maintain that this added bulk is unavoidable given the range of safety features manufacturers are required to fit in today's cars. Roll cages, air bags, computer braking systems, etc - all these things were unheard of when the classic mini was designed. Additionally, the use of a bigger, turbocharged engine in the MINI adds considerably to its weight, though it's claimed this is more than offset by the resulting enhanced performance of the new car. It might give it a safer and smoother ride, but packing all this modern technology in means that the bulky new model actually offers a less roomy environment inside for passengers. The miraculous trademark of the classic mini was the fact that it could seat four people in relative comfort while occupying little more room than the average chest freezer or large bathtub. But commentators have noted the back seats in BMW's offering could barely accommodate the waiflike frames of Hollywood idols like Mischa Barton or Keira Knightley, let alone an ordinary-sized person. BMW designers have responded to the issue of rear seat space in the latest model MINI by scooping a little more leg room out of previously well-padded front seat backs. But the 2007 edition also continues to grow on the outside - reports say by another 60mm in length over the first new MINI. Economy
There's no contest here - the classic mini is a cheaper car to buy, run and maintain in practically every respect.
First, a look at purchase price. A quick browse on eBay reveals the standard asking price for a road-worthy, used classic mini is about £600 (you can pay substantially more for souped-up, mint condition or one-off models, but these are meant more for collectors than young drivers looking for something practical). Asking price for a bog-standard BMW MINI one, by comparison, is about £6,000. The next expense is young driver car insurance. A few minutes on online car insurance comparison site Confused.com yielded a rock-bottom price of £301.95 based on my personal details and a 1992 model classic mini. The MINI one car insurance quote weighed in at almost double that figure - £525.95. This difference in price is presumably a reflection of its greater engine size - the MINI one comes with a 1.4 litre minimum (what does that 'one' refer to?) versus the standard 1 litre engine in the classic. It's interesting to note that the safety features trumpeted by designers don't bring the BMW MINI into line with its older, less safe sibling in terms of young driver car insurance premiums. Our third concern is road tax. It's the same story here as with motor insurance, as the price you pay is largely determined by the size of your engine. The classic is a clear winner. Number four - economy drive. Again the classic scoops the prize, as it's half as heavy and its smaller engine burns petrol more efficiently than its heavier sibling. A full tank of petrol for the classic mini can cost as little as £14, and that'll last the average commuter about a week. The last cost for comparison is money spent on spare parts and garage fees. Although no longer supported by its manufacturer, the classic mini benefits from a community of enthusiasts that's vibrant with part manufacturers. What's more, the parts were designed with simplicity and ease of replacement in mind, so servicing your own classic mini is a realistic proposition for anyone with the gumption to try. If something goes wrong with your feature-packed, computer-controlled new MINI, however, it necessarily means an expensive trip down to the BMW approved repairs garage. The list of user serviceable parts pretty much runs out after wiper blades, and your chances of fixing a problem by yourself are always going to be slim. As a result, garage fees and parts tend to be substantially more expensive for the new MINI too. How are they to drive?
Well, it depends what you're looking for.
There's no doubting the new MINI is a faster, more powerful ride with an array of modern enhancements. And while the critics decry its failure to live up to the classic model in terms of size and passenger comfort, all agree that in terms of its precise handling the BMW MINI performs just as well. So far so good for the new contender. On paper at least, performance is one area where its designers appear to have bettered their counterparts at Rover. But in more esoteric terms, argue the car's detractors, the new MINI once again loses ground over the old. Advanced safety features and a smoother ride make for an excellent modern small car, they argue, but they also rob the mini brand of some of its trademark recklessness and fun. There's something (probably an intimate sense of your mortality) about driving at 60mph in a classic mini, complete with rattling bodywork, inches-from-the-floor ground clearance and paper-thin steel construction, that you couldn't recapture at even 90mph in a new MINI. Conclusion: Classic mini vs. new MINI
The classic mini is the product of an era when it was acceptable to prioritise design features such as performance, handling or - in its own case - passenger comfort, over safety concerns. Today, the reverse is true.
Designers at BMW were torn between the wish to stay faithful to the mini's original design concept and the need to meet stringent new passenger protection rules, and the result is a compromise that has divided public opinion and become the subject of a debate which reaches far beyond the offices of a humble young driver car insurance firm. As is the case with all such long running debates, there is no straightforward answer to the question of old versus new minis. All we can ultimately give you is the following advice: If you're looking for a reliable, modern first car with a bit more credibility than the rest; if you've got anxious parents or benefactors and one or other of you has plenty of money; if you want power-this and computer-assisted-that and you don't like getting your hands dirty - well, then the new MINI is the car for you. If however you want a no-nonsense thrill ride of a car that can turn on a dime and park in a space the size of a matchbox, get a proper one.
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