I guess I am emotionally invested in my chili red Mini with American flag on the white roof.

The second day she drove it, she parked it in front of her high school and someone put a palm-shaped dent into the hood above the rally light.

Is it too nice and too delicate for a teenager to drive to school?

 

Hey! Welcome to the site!
Someone has already put a very similar (and luckily not noticeable) kind of dent on my Mini....

Cheers!
L.Mini

 

Let teenagers earn their stripes on a beater - even if your daughter knows to respect your car, I can guarantee you someone in her high school will not.

 

I've also got a Chili Red Cooper (with the UNION JACK on top) and my 16 year old son drives it to school every day. It's made me a little concerned but, I've found the other kids really have a respect for the car. They all really love it. I hope I'm not proven wrong one day. Also, my son's "earned his stripes" in many other ways and is as knowledgable about cars as a person of any age could be. I was fortunate to "grow up" in the car business, so to speak, and have a great appreciation of what it is to be 16 and have any car, let alone one of the coolest cars presently on the planet and I've just found that my son has been extremely responsible, totally appreciative, motivated to do well in school, sports (plays baseball) and music (plays guitar) and there's just been no downside, at least so far. I guess he knows if he messes up the car goes bye bye. I hope I'm as open minded when the first dent appears but, I've wrecked a few in my time and when all is said and done, it is just a car, its not a museum piece. Also I like the 6 airbags, all the safety features and the car stands out so much that I think every cop in town knows who he is, so he better be good. All his friends have SUV's and have all had accidents in them because those tanks are really hard to drive. The Mini is an exceptionally easy car to handle and he drives a "stick" very well.

The Mini is also less expensive than a GTI, Mustang, WRX and many, many other cars I considered getting that he could use and I would still want to "borrow" and the insurance was cheaper, too!

Bottom line, I'm more than happy to share this wonderful experience with my son and if I can afford it, when my daughter turns 16 in a few years, I'd get one for her too. Anywho, so far so good but, I do keep my fingers and eyes crossed and have a rabbit's foot and a lucky coin with me at all times.

 

<<< Would you let your daughter drive it to high school? >>>

What are you CRAZY???!!!!!!!!!

 

Yeah. I'd let my 16 y/o daughter drive to school. On a bus.

 

I don't have a daughter. At least not that I know of...

 

Is it too nice and too delicate for a teenager to drive to school?
, it is just a car, has been extremely responsible, totally appreciative, motivated to do well in school,
My view is, if I have the means I would let my kids drive MINI to school. MINI is the most practical car to have as it is economical in gas, doest'n take much space easy to park and a very good motivational instrument. The key words are as stated above, the kids must be appreciative of what's provided them by thier parents and I hope that is the case with your daughter. Car dents you charge it to Visa card, daughters happiness priceless.

 

No daughter, but we did let our son drive our new plum purple, roll bared, spoiler, tarted up Sebring JXi several times to high school. He proved to show respect for the car, we were sure that he really appreciated it. He is 2 yrs now into college but we never had any problems, abuse, damage etc. But those questions are best answered by the parent. You know you child best. Certainly you will choose the best answer for you.

I really respect the opinions of the answers that I read here. It really shows what kind of great folks MINI owners seem to be.

 

Daughter in highschool?? Hmmmm......,I'll drive her in mine. just kiddin'
Even if your girl respects it to the highest level, and treats it well.............Guaranteed there'll be some punk that defaces it somehow. They're kids. They're still getting over their rebelious stage in life. They don't have much respect for people or property. It's the way and life of most kids that age. It'll never change.
So in answer to your question, I'd say forget it. I'd even lay down a rule NOT TO, if it were HER car. I wouldn't want to see the car damaged if it were mine or my kid's. It's too nice and new of a car to park around a bunch of adolesent teeny boppers that haven't learned how to keep their hands to themselves. Flip her the keys when she goes out at night and/or the weekends to make up for it. Either that, or have her park away from the school, eg. near by parkade, etc.
I'm way too over-protective of my car. I'd never leave it in a school lot for any length of time.
Just my couple of pennies.

 

I guess I'm lucky. Mine doesn't want to learn how to drive a standard transmission. Normally I'd prod her to try new things, but this time I'm taking a step back.

 

It all depends on where your daughter goes to school. If it's a small, private girl's academy, I'd say no problem. If it's a regular co-ed city school, I'd be concerned. Not about your daugher, necessarily, but the other young kids. I'd tend to want to get her a used car for school, but let her enjoy the MINI on weekends and for special occasions. But you know your girl best. She may be ready for MINI. I don't worry about it being safe, with all those airbags. Also, if she helps to pay for it, well that'd be a real incentive to protect it.

Cheers!
Clover :smile:

 

Well, I think no matter where you park your MINI , there's a chance of some idiot being around. Increasing your chances of vandalism by exposing it to teenagers is well....it is a MINI right? Not a Lexus. Aren't they supposed to collect little marks of character? This sounds more like a bruise , though.

 

Regardless on how your daughter will treat your MINI, that's a parking full of people who might just not care... heck, I wouldn't let my kids (if/when) ever take my MINI... hell, my wife is not allowed to take it w/out me...

Rocketboy_X

 

you can try to pry the keys from my hand....


I'd say let her drive it, if you have two MINI's. If you have one, keep it for yourself but let her take it if she show responsibility and respect. It' s such a cutie car and makes everyone happy, you just have to look out for 'everyone'.

 

I was thrilled when my son said he wouldn't want to drive the MINI or the Miata to school. He stated the parking lot was an absolute disaster area. Kids constantly parking using the brail method. His indication was we need an old beater when he starts to drive to school. God I love this kid!!!! If you like your car, take my 15 year old's advice, it doesn't matter how responsible your kid is the highschool is full of non driving irresponsible spoiled brats!!!!!!!! NO MINI's in Highschool!!!!!!

 

My son gets the big green stega-Taurus wagon when my MINI comes in. I'm debating even teaching the wife how to drive a stick.

 

WHAT? Are you craaaaazy? If I had kids I wouldn't let them drive my POS car to HS, I just graduated two years ago, and I still remember how the parking was, there was hardly a day that would go by where a car didn't get bumped, and with everybody owning Honda's or some POS beater car there was no real way to tell who did it...

"UHH IT WAS GREEN"

As you look out into a sea of green cars...just doesn't cut it. And even when the kids who'se parents bought them nice cars would brign theirs to school, people would still hit them. They didn't care...

THATS WHY I PARKED IN THE TEACHERS PARKING LOT! LOL

I LOVED HAVING SCHOOL FOR ONLY 4 HOURS!

 

I have two daughters, ages 9 and 5. I've told the oldest that when she turns 16, the Mini is hers.
Her sister then laid claim to it once she turns 16. My guess is that by the time they actually turn 16 they will want something else. Of course it is a Mini so there will probably not be anything cooler, even by then.

 

Over my dead body would I let my 18 year old daughter drive my Mini to school. For her, she has a real groovy 1984 Chevrolet Celebrity.

 

Don't...altho i cant say anything of the sort has happened @ my school, you never know what a nice mini will make us high schoolers do.

This comes from a high school student... whos about to get a mini...to drive to school....




My Parents are GRRREEEAAAT!

 

I've thought about this long and hard and I've decided. I'd let your daughter
drive your Mini to her High School.

Florida Mini Owners

 

Originally, I bought the MINI so I can drive now and the next 5 years, than my wife gets the car when I buy the BMW I put off to buy the MINI. Than my 5 year daughter would get the MINI when she turns 16. That was the original plan.

New plan, the car is all MINE! MINE! MINE!

 

A friend of mine in Australia had sex with his gf in a classic Mini. Oh yeah, he's 6'5". Where there's a will, there's a way.

 

>>A friend of mine in Australia had sex with his gf in a classic Mini. Oh yeah, he's 6'5". Where there's a will, there's a way.


And this has what to do with this topic?