[gazzabj]

I have just taken delivery of my cherished Mini and was wondering whether the car is more of a target to vandals then other cars.

My car is currently being parked in a road near a train station and although I have parked there in other cars, I wondered whether my Mini would be a good target because of what it is. Plus its Chili red with white stripes so does tend to stand out quite a bit.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Thanks

Gaz
(UK)

[TheBlackKnight]

I had my MINI keyed right in front of me down the door, chased after the bloke (of course to apprehend him and not to beat him senseless) but didn't catch him. The upshot of it was that I had to spend most of the money I'd been saving for mods, on getting the scratch sprayed out by BMW.

Now the scratch has been taken out, you'd never tell it was vandalised and to be fair, the car looks like it just rolled out of the factory. But I've learned my lesson - I'm always careful about where I park it now. MINI seems to generate a lot of mixed feelings....mostly jealousy I suspect.

I think another MINI2'er had paint chucked over his car as well, quite a while ago - personally, I'm really picky about where I park. Seen that advert on TV where the woman points all the CCTV cameras at her Toyota Yaris? That's exactly how I feel now!

[Texy]

This is definately one of my worries too - but then I am paranoid!

As for adverts - I think the peugeot advert showing jealousy is more akin
to MINI than for a 307 (or whatever model it is).

Texy

[m&m]

Parking my mini up and having to leave it, especially out of sight is a horrible feeling. I do get very worried that someone will vandalise my car or dent it when they open doors etc. I had to take Mini to the supermarket a couple of days ago (try not to take it to these places - to many Mums with kiddies who have no respect) and managed to park in the furthest row from the supermarket with about 30 free spaces, so I parked right in the middle. Happy that there was noone remotely close to Mini I went in to do my shopping. When I came out I was horrified to see a Mazda parked right next to my MINI, I couldn't believe it, of the 30 free spaces he parked a few inches away from me!! - I was not happy I spent about 5 minutes scrutinising the side of my car to make sure no dinks or dents and drove off vowing never to take Mini there again - suppose the other driver couldn't help himself as I would want to park next to my Mini too!!

If I see another Mini I will park next to it as Mini owners tend to have the up most respect but I do try to avoid taking mini out if I have to leave it somewhere in case of vandals - this feeling doesn't go away and it's something you will have to get used too!!.

[TheBlackKnight]

Quote:

Parking my mini up and having to leave it, especially out of sight is a horrible feeling. I do get very worried that someone will vandalise my car or dent it when they open doors etc. I had to take Mini to the supermarket a couple of days ago (try not to take it to these places - to many Mums with kiddies who have no respect) and managed to park in the furthest row from the supermarket with about 30 free spaces, so I parked right in the middle. Happy that there was noone remotely close to Mini I went in to do my shopping. When I came out I was horrified to see a Mazda parked right next to my MINI, I couldn't believe it, of the 30 free spaces he parked a few inches away from me!! - I was not happy I spent about 5 minutes scrutinising the side of my car to make sure no dinks or dents and drove off vowing never to take Mini there again - suppose the other driver couldn't help himself as I would want to park next to my Mini too!!

I feel EXACTLY the same!!!

[gazzabj]

Its very worrying I must admit. I just got my wife to go check up on the car, which seems ok at the moment. but I dont think I'll be doing it again, its far too worrying and if something happens it'll cost an arm and a leg to have fixed!

Thanks for all your responses.

Gaz

[CooperS3xy]

I even regularly check the car when its parked on my drive!

[Tracie]

If I can't find a free space when I do the weekly shop I tend to park next to a new car if poss or fairly new car...and yes I do feel like Sherlock Holmes when I get back to Manfred, Im lucky that I can park him in the garage at night and we have a fairly secure parking at work

[scooperman_uk]

lucky for u. vandalism of vehicles is done by cowards.... petty criminals who cant face you. get a CCTV installation to watch your MINI.

[MaTTy_P]

i was thinkin about puttin up a webcam link to mine. any1 know if this is possible?

[dansmini]

I'm glad there are others who feel the same as I do about the car. I hate to leave it out of site. I am very lucky though, in that it goes in the garage when I am home and the parking lot here at work is a private lot and is monitored by security to boot. But if I didn't have a garage, I'd be screwed because there are a TON of punk kids in our neighborhood. Just last weekend they egged my wifes car and her car has been keyed. I just laugh because her car is a 1993 Dodge Shadow my mom gave her (it has bigger problems than a scratch or being egged), so we don't care. I know they would be drooling at a chance to get at the MINI, but I will never allow it to happen. I would have to take drastic action if it did, though.

[minionefun]

i have installed gates with a lock and movement lights and 2 cctv cameras connected to auto recorder with time and date , i had my car keyd cos £480 to get it out if this happens again they will pay .

[GTmini]

Left my MCS parked behind a friend's house (he lives near the beach...high traffic on the main streets) with my sunroof vented and someone decided to dump their leftover beer into my car. He/they actually took the time to pour it in such a manner to get it to poor through the vented roof into the car and onto the seats/floor. Nice to see how people can put plenty of effort into certain activities

Even after a cleaning and carpet detailing, the stench sucked (it was during the summer)...even moreso since a) it's rotten beer and b) I don't drink at all, which made it extra asinine. Luckily, thanks to a product recommended on here ("Odors Gone" or "Odors Away"...I forget) I was able to eliminate the smell, although I've still got sticky gunk in my chair tracks.

My former neighbor's gf (most likely) with her beat up Civic dinged my car less than a week after it arrived...of course there's no way I could legally "prove" it other than the fact that it wasn't there one night and it's there the next day.

ahhhh, people...

[EBMCS03]

Ya the joys of owing a unique car... having to worry about it all the time. But Thats the Joy of it I feel its a challenge to keep it in tip top shape... some people might tell me its a car drive it its ment to be dinged and scratched but to me its not... Its ment to be in tip top shape looking NICE and Brand New all the time. It makes it look more expensive. I dont mind having to walk an extra few feet or extra lenght of the parking lot if it means my car will be safer and less prone to dents and dings. But never park alone where it attracts attention... try to blend in and be safe. Its a art form. Lets play the NO DING CAR GAME!

[BRGreenie]

Yep - it does seem that keeping your car squeaky clean does seem to attract more vandalism. I a, usually a lazy *** so my car gets grubbier and grubbier going months without a (quick) clean,

One car I had, I spent the whole Saturday afternoon cleaning it after owning it from new for two years without doing anything. I remember looking out the window Saturday night and seeing it gleaming under the street lights and thinking 'Wow that looks good'.

Next morning I woke uo to find that someone had nicked two hubcabs and the bonnet star ( it was a Merc ).

Kinda put me off cleaning even more after that.

[tavis1]

Quote: Originally Posted by m&m

Parking my mini up and having to leave it, especially out of sight is a horrible feeling. I do get very worried that someone will vandalise my car or dent it when they open doors etc. I had to take Mini to the supermarket a couple of days ago (try not to take it to these places - to many Mums with kiddies who have no respect) and managed to park in the furthest row from the supermarket with about 30 free spaces, so I parked right in the middle. Happy that there was noone remotely close to Mini I went in to do my shopping. When I came out I was horrified to see a Mazda parked right next to my MINI, I couldn't believe it, of the 30 free spaces he parked a few inches away from me!! - I was not happy I spent about 5 minutes scrutinising the side of my car to make sure no dinks or dents and drove off vowing never to take Mini there again - suppose the other driver couldn't help himself as I would want to park next to my Mini too!!

If I see another Mini I will park next to it as Mini owners tend to have the up most respect but I do try to avoid taking mini out if I have to leave it somewhere in case of vandals - this feeling doesn't go away and it's something you will have to get used too!!.

I so hate that. I too park a million miles away from everyone and when I come out there is always some fool parked next to me. Idiot's. I then too look over the whole car carefully. I pitty the fool that puts the first ding in the door. They will have more than a door ding when they come out. When I went to pick up my MCS, EBMCS03 was there And I told him now I park any where. He then said, "No you won't" and he was right.
Tavis1

[m&m]

Quote: Originally Posted by tavis1

I so hate that. I too park a million miles away from everyone and when I come out there is always some fool parked next to me. Idiot's. I then too look over the whole car carefully. I pitty the fool that puts the first ding in the door. They will have more than a door ding when they come out. When I went to pick up my MCS, EBMCS03 was there And I told him now I park any where. He then said, "No you won't" and he was right.
Tavis1

And can you believe it , it happened again last night in Asdas car park!!!!! I need some kind of alarm system that shouts a warning when anyone gets within five feet and lights start flashing etc!!!! .....is there such a thing??

[alicantecooper]

It seems after reading the thread there are others like myself! I will show the thread to my girlfirend later so she can see for herself it isn't just me. I must admit the car has caused some problems, difference of opinion etc...

Anyway I used to park in 2 spaces to avoid door dings etc...but that annoys people so try and park on the end of a row. This way you can park it right up to the edge which does give the next car good space to SWING open their doors. Has worked for me so far...touch wood....especially as people here treat their cars really badly! I can't wait for parking control being standard on all cars....paralell parking is a joke. Reversing until banging car behind, turn in forward and bang the car infront. I would say almost 80% cars here are scratched. THIS IS NOT A JOKE.

Ben

[m&m]

I have tried the parking in 2 spaces as well and you're right it does annoy people so I've given that a miss - I'll try the parking at the end of a row and see how it goes - thanks for the tip

Sounds like you have to be very careful though - all them baaaaaaadddd people with there cars in your area

[gazzabj]

Seems I have started quite a good thread here. As alicantecooper said "I am not the only one"

Gaz