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I'm getting a Mini next month. I just don't want to have to take my Mini professionally washed every week or two. I don't like washing cars on my own. I am in college and probably would be broke if I have to professionally wash another white car like my Camry twice a month. So, could yall please help me pick the best color that is not too high-maintenance?
Pure Silver or Dark Silver are good for not showing as much dirt and dust. The MINI's boot, though, gets dirty...you'll have to get used to that. A quick touch-up detailing with Meguiar's Quik Detail works for me. I keep microfiber towels in Wanda's boot, along with the Quik Detail, for keeping her tidy.
washing your MINI does not take that much time or effort....plus it is a bonding experience as you become one with your MINI
being in college, if your dorm or apartment does not have easy access to a garden hose, there is always a do-it-yourself carwash bay and just feed the quarters...or better yet, find a girlfriend/boyfriend whose apartment does have access to a garden hose...or better yet, offer your girlfriend/boyfriend a ride in your car if she/he washes your MINI
I'd recommend a '71 Ford Pinto if you don't want to wash it. I do second the motion that EB doesn't show the dirt and even the HB is pretty good in that respect. You might be surprised how much you enjoy washing your MINI once you get it - I wash ours more frequently than any car that I have ever owned.
__________________ RIP (Horace): 2010 MCCSa HzB/B; His (Capt. Jack Aubrey): 2011 MCSa SO/B; Hers (on order) 2012 MCCSa BRG2/B
Silver, hands down is the least maintenance to keep clean and not show swirls etc. I'll never own a dark color again even though they look really good after a fresh wash and wax (which lasts about a day if you drive it anywhere). Silver can be filthy but 30 feet away you can hardly tell.
Do not buy Hyper Blue Black if you're concerned about dirt... then again, if you love washing your MINI as much as I do and seeing that stunning colour reemerge after a good bath, BUY Hyper Blue Black. :-)
On ANY MINI the entire rear end of the vehicle is a dirt/dust magnet. Aerodynamics does it.
__________________ MINIs On Top 09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO0zC99H6bQ 2005 MCS LSD, DSC, CBC, SPORT, Harman Kardon system XM Radio lifetime subscriber 17" S-Heavies with 205/45 Yokohama Envigors in summer; 15" ASA Blizzak REVO 1s in winter, M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement plates, Moss Motors PS Fan shroud
I had a car with color similar to Pure Silver that would get very very dirty and still look quite decent. It helps a lot for the appearance of the car if you keep the windows clean. Do a once over with the sponge/squeegee at the gas station when you fill up.
Silver or dark silver would be good choices for you. We are leasing a silver Ford Freestyle as a family car, and in the 13 or 14 months we've had it, I've washed the car once, and it still looks good (for a Ford wagon). I do clean the wheels every 2-3 months though since they do show brake dust rather easy.
-Keith
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2005 Mini Cooper - Black/White 5-speed
2007 Subaru Forester XT - 2008 Mustang GT - 1990 Mazda Miata
The cars I have had that don't show dirt much are either silver or gold - with gold actually showing less than silver. My other mini (minivan) is a gold color and it has to get pretty dirty to be noticeable.
Pepper white is surprisingly high maintenance, especially on the hatch. It's certainly not as bad as some dark colors I've owned in the past, but it looks dirty faster than I expected it would.
On the other hand, my wife's silver VW Golf can go unwashed for months and not look particularly dirty.
__________________ Tim in MD
2004 MINI Cooper S -- PW/B, moonroof, h/k -- SOLD
1976 BMW 2002 -- Inka, 9.5:1, DCOEs, tii brakes -- SOLD
2006 BMW 325i -- Sparkling Graphite, Sport, Xenons, 6 speed
1986 Porsche 911 Carrera -- Irisblau
White and black are the hardest, to keep spotless (oh rain please stop so I can go wash my MINI).
One thing to look into is some dealers do free weekly washes.
I'm incredibaly meticulous when it comes to cleaning the car, so my last vehicle only got washed bi-monthly. I wash the MINI every weekend, sometimes more, but it is not a chore or work as it used to be, it has really become a bonding experiance that I look forward to. I can easly spend 4-6 hours on the exterior another 6 inside and 2-4 in the engine bay and most recently 2 hours detailing the black plastic trim. The dealer gives me an exterior wash and vaccum in a 1/2 hour, they do a good enough job that I'm satisfied, but when left to my own devices the MINI must be as clean (or cleaner) as the day it left the factory.
So it all depends where your standards are. Slivers/Greys are know for being able to hide daily grime, but they don't have the same mirror shine of JB.
I just finised reading these articles may be helpful if you decide to do quick details on your own, remember it is more important to love the way the car looks, than to spend a little time washing each week.
On white tops, dust is pretty much invisible. Up until it sprinkles a few drops of rain, you know, the kind of where it isn't a soaker, but just a few drops here and there, THEN you'll see little dust puddles. Overall I find my Chili Red to hide the dust well, again, up until it rains a bit.
__________________ 2006 MCS CR/W - "TheRed Flash"- All Packages, JCW filter, JCW strut, Invidia exhaust, Alta 15%, Alta rear sway, TSW Damper V2.0 & just a blast to drive! CROC #00 2006 MC PW/B - 2nd MINI
My PW/B has been very difficult to keep clean, but I recently waxed it with Mothers Syn Wax, and I'm impressed at how well it keeps it from attracting too much dirt, even on wet roads. BUT this is not your color scheme for low maintainance - it just looks great when its clean!
pure silver..... hands down easiest to hide dirt, and it is not just the mini, for any car
my dark silver shows dirt okay, not great like pure silver, but not as bad as black or white.... that said, white roof gets REALLY bad in the rear under the spoiler in the winter
I disagree! I don't think my car gets dirty-looking very quickly at all. The downside is that it doesn't look as shiny and nice when it's clean either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoLikeSchnell
...especially on the hatch.
I agree! The hatch is bad news, especially because whenever I use the rear wiper washer or I clean the window at a gas station, all the dirty water flows down all over the boot since there isn't a channel to catch it.
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A car is safe in a garage, but that is not what cars are for.
I do second the motion that EB doesn't show the dirt and even the HB is pretty good in that respect. You might be surprised how much you enjoy washing your MINI once you get it - I wash ours more frequently than any car that I have ever owned.
RIP (Horace): 2010 MCCSa HzB/B; His (Capt. Jack Aubrey): 2011 MCSa SO/B; Hers (on order) 2012 MCCSa BRG2/B
Absolutely, even 20 feet away...haven't washed my PS/PS since last fall.
2006 MCS CR/W - "The Red Flash"- All Packages, JCW filter, JCW strut, Invidia exhaust, Alta 15%, Alta rear sway, TSW Damper V2.0 & just a blast to drive! CROC #00
