As much as it pains me to do it... I have to agree with RogerM...
PROPER Minis are great first cars, because they handle properly and give great driver feedback. They are also really really modifiable, so when the bug bites, you can spend a bit at a time.
Unfortunately they are also rot boxes, being a stupidly old design so, as Roger says, take someone who knows PROPERLY what they are looking at with you, as you can be paying thousands for a heap these days
Alternatively... having done a tonne of insurance searches for my friend's daughter... Fiat Cinquecentos / Seicentos are about the cheapest insurance on the planet AND they are superb good fun as well as being less rot prone and a bit more modern
Ferrari yellow Sporting is cool and fun, goes to the moon and back on a teaspoon on petrol and cheapest insurance you will find...
