Hi folks! I'm a brand-new registered user (been trolling the site for about two weeks now, but I've decided to take the plunge!). Test-drove the car in the first week it arrived here in Toronto, Canada, and was smitten from the get-go (still have the smirk on my face from the drive!).

Now on to my concern du jour: It took me awhile, but I finally noticed the complete lack of side rub strips on the car (being smitten and all, you tend to ignore little things like that...)! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the styling and can't see how they could add rub strips without totally ruining the design, but it's a minor concern of mine before I commit to buying one (oh, who am I fooling, I'm gonna get one... but I have to rationalize it just a little bit more...). So, what has your experience been, you lucky world-wide owners (what is the term for New MINI owners- MINIacs?), with parking your MINI within scratching distance of other cars/traffic/small children with sharp toys? I scoffed at my brother-in-law parking his huge brand-new Ford pickup truck at the farthest reach of the parking lot when it was new, but I'm starting to realize how he felt...(hey wait a minute, his truck HAD rub strips. And it's a truck. It's supposed to get scratched...).

Just one more thing, not really concerning my question: Finally saw my first MINI actually driving on the streets of Toronto yesterday (Wednesday)! It was an electric blue Cooper S, I think (is that even possible this early in the game here?) eastbound on Bloor St. Was that anybody here? And then Thursday morning, a co-worker of mine actually phoned me from the street, telling me to look out the window at a yellow and black MINI parked on the street at Bloor and Avenue Rd. (I've been, um, sharing my new obsession with the co-workers)! Again, was that anybody here?

OK, that's all for now,
Redjet

If the MINI would have them it wouldnt look right :( :(
To solve the problem you take uo 2 spaces when you park :p :p :p

I live in London, and the car gets dinged on average once every 2 weeks - All the damage would not have been prevented by side-bump strips.
The worst one was someone driving down the side of the car into the wheel-arch extension ... fortunately they're plastic, and replaceable.

Regards side-strips, I would have thought that some nice chrome ones similar in shape to the chrome bumper inserts would be a good idea, and not do too much damage to the image!

J.

Originally posted by Johnboy
Regards side-strips, I would have thought that some nice chrome ones similar in shape to the chrome bumper inserts would be a good idea, and not do too much damage to the image!

J.

Have you been talking to Monsta by any chance?!? ;)

Dom

I would like to suggest carbon fibre strips :D

DAver

Yep, my MINIs been dented already too, and rubbing strips wouldnt have saved it, its just behind the drivers side door handle, too high for the strips to be any use.......:(

Mine has a dent in the strangest of places. Next to the side repeater on the driver's side.

Not sure how it got there, but it happened in the car park of a hotel and I was mighty annoyed when I found it. You don't notice it that much but I know it's there so it bothers me!

Originally posted by monsta
Mine has a dent in the strangest of places. Next to the side repeater on the driver's side.

Not sure how it got there, but it happened in the car park of a hotel and I was mighty annoyed when I found it. You don't notice it that much but I know it's there so it bothers me!

And I keep pointing it out to you as well monsta!:D lol