Check Mate at Castle Combe

[Ferroequine]

I'd have to say that I honestly don't like the interior, the decal looks somewhat cheesy, but the wheels are nice. Don't care for the bonnet stripe neither.

[Beastmaster]

Quote: Originally Posted by e180881

Congratulations! When do you pick it up?

Thanks

Sometime towards the end of October, it is just a straightforward Checkmate with the one addition of a multi function steering wheel.

From reading on here, the Checkmate seems to be quite a provocative car with people loving it or loaving it.

The way we see the interior, it has been well thought out. The blue and silver exterior has been brought inside the car in a very consistent way - the dash is blue and silver, the seats are blue and silver(or silver grey), the doors are blue and silver and finally thesteering wheel is blue and silver. We think it works very well indeed. Finally the head lining is dark anthracite, which in truth I think can be dark an oppressive. however, in this case it works well as it contrasts what must be the lightest coloured seats in the mini range.

On the outside the blue and silver combination is lovely. The way we see it the stripes pull this theme together, though in fact the stripes are not standard on the checkmate - they are a no cost optional extra. We love the checkmate decals on the side. because they do not cross panels but stay on one section, they have a retro look to them, indeed an almost amateurish home made look to them. Most side graphics you see from the aftermarket world, are very polished affairs sliding along the side of the vehicle perhaps broadening to the end these look more like something you would do yourself on an old classic mini. Bizarrely perhaps, it is for that reason that we simply love the graphics.

We also have a peugeot 206cc in the light green colour - lots of people absolutely hate that colour, but we love it and Apple loved it enough that they made a mini iPod in the same colour so we could have one matching the car.

Obviously, the Checkmate is not to everyone's taste - same goes for a green 206cc, but at least you can see that we have bought one because we simply loved it and that is the right reason for buying any mini.

Finally, all minis are individual, but the paradox is that in truth all of us mini owners with our individual cars are promenading their individuality like a uniform, thus becoming merely varitions on the same. Uniquely, with the Checkmate (he says mischievously) we might actually meet another mini owner with the exact same specification, trim and coloured car!

Anyway, like all peops on here waiting for their new mini to arrive, we simply can't wait.

[118]

I may have seen yours on it's way down the production line then . I understand what you are saying about the silver / blue theme, but I felt there was a bit too much of the theme going on inside really, but that is just my opinion . I really like the Checkmate graphics, especially the bonnet design with the different colour scoop - like you say, it seems to be a love it / loathe it car (all 3 of the special editions seem to be though ). Personally, I love it from the outside, as it looks very smart , but I'm not too sure about the inside (I certainly don't loathe it though!)