Such a car will give the child mucho kudos when she hits her second year and can take it on campus where it will not be seen as a cheap to insure option but as a slightly eccentric and very studenty thing to drive but you may find yourself spending a lot of time acting as "Dad's Recovery Service" and even more time under the vehicle. That said they are easy to work on .... tho' I don't know how easy spares are to get for them.
That said I gave up working on my own car repairs and maintenance years ago when I sold my last Mini.
I mean WTF is an "Engine Management System"? All beyond me ~ if it can't be fixed with a McEwans tin and Gum-Gum tape or a twiddle with the carburetor settings I'm lost. Easier on my knuckles and temper to let the garage maintain the cars these days.
I looked under the bonnet of my Lacetti the other day ~ Only things I recognised were the dip stick, oil filler cap and where to put the washer fluid. 
Insurance comes with 12 months breakdown cover thrown in apparently, as does unlimited mileage and continental driving cover too!
Trouble with modern cars of today is as you rightly say, they generally speaking cannot be fixed with an 'ammer, tub of grease and screwy anymore.
All this plug in diagnostics shite now.
I'm no great mechanic, but when I got Festa last year, the alternator was totally goosed.
Cost me £38 for a new one, and 30 minutes to swap over.
Can't even see the bastard alternator on me every day hack!
