1980 Fiat Spider vs 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible--feedback?

[Carye]

Let me start by saying I don't mean to offend any of you--I imagine I may be comparing apples to oranges. But here are my wants:
-fun car
-convertible
-mostly weekend use as a 3rd car
-want a backseat to have option to take my 6 and 9 year olds for ice cream, drives
-as worry-free, low-maintenance, and low cost as possible

Can anyone give me feedback? I'm comparing a 1980 great condition Spider to a 2005 mini cooper convertible. The mini has a new engine (replaced by BMW) with 70k km (I'm from Toronto).

I'm not looking for a show car. I'm looking for a car I can drive, enjoy driving and have the top down and feel young again for a few minutes at a time. I want it to work when I have my opportunities to drive it, be safe for me and my kids, and if it could be versatile enough to be driven all warmish months (that's max 4-6months here) to work, to softball games and to the cottage on weekends--that would be awesome...

Help!
Cary

[redek]

The spider technically doesn't have a back seat, it is just a parcel shelf. Even if your children could fit back there, with a seat belt retrofit, they would quickly outgrow it. And due to it's age, it will not have the same safety (airbags, crush zones) and reliability of a 7 year old mini. It does seem that the mini would be the better candidate.

[courtenay]

You're the only one who can make this decision. First of all, the Fiat will not have legal seat belts in what passes for a back seat, so putting both of your kids back there is a non starter. I have no idea, nor do I care, what the mini has. Also, loading your kids and whatever else you need to go to the cottage for the weekend probably isn't going to work in either vehicle.
Sounds like you need to go back to square one on this whole decision making process and figure out which items on your priority list are really priority. I know I got rid of my '72 spider back in '75 after I was married, first son was on the way and we figured out that the car really wasn't practical to carry car seats and groceries around.

[narfire]

-fun car-convertible-mostly weekend use as a 3rd car-want a backseat to have option to take my 6 and 9 year olds for ice cream, drives-as worry-free, low-maintenance, and low cost as possible

Vw golf cabrio... if you want a convertable,or 4 door hardtop for practicality.
In Canada, the spider does not have a back seat. Seatbelts back there are a non starter if you have to get the vehicle inspected. As mentioned, these cars (spider) do not stand up at all well in a moderate speed crash.

[Carye]

Everything you all have said makes sense. Thanks for the feedback. I may be trying to do too much and to simplify. Trying to get beauty, practicality, safety all for under $10k may be totally unrealistic.
Cary

[wikkid]

When I found my Spider, sitting out back of a former used car and RV place, there was also a Mini with a For Sale sign out front of the place. They were asking something craxy like $24,000 for it... I said to myself that the difference was right there: a car for almost nothing; and even after I pour money into fixing it up, will still be far, far less expensive than a Mini or other fun little car.

But I enjoy fixing things.

Insurance is also a question: you would have an option, as a third car, to get less expensive insurance on your "collector/ vintage/historic" category car, but not so for the Mini.

Safety and reliability will have their costs. Many fun convertibles are out there, with loads more practicality. Chrysler makes one, Toyota, BMW, VW, etc.