OK, here's the update: THE CAR WAS GONE! From the world of the surreal, there was another black car parked under that tree. What, do black cars like dripping cherry trees?

The car parked there had started a pretty good accumulation of cherries and sap. So this tells me that the MINI must have been parked there for maybe three or four days. I suspect the owner of the MINI was shocked when he went to the car and saw the mess.

But then again, the windows showed indications of the driver working the wipers, so not sure what that is all about. Maybe the owner could not attend to getting it washed till the week or whatever. All speculation. But it's gone, for now. Let's hope it was on the road and to a car wash.

Anyway, the MINI S had lots of damage to it. Also had a City parking permit. So he must be one of the unfortunate residents who has to park on the curbs. I could not get good pictures at night [as you could see], but his his rear bumper was trashed [from cars hitting it when parking], there was a piece of front fender well/trim missing, his wheels all had gouges and scrapes, and there was that serious dent on the right front fender.

If I was stuck parking on City curbs no way I would have a nice car like that MINI. Pretty much all the cars that park on the curbs are trashed over time. I'd have a beater, if anything. Maybe a big tank of a car so that I could ram double parkers.

I'll take a look around over the next few days to see where he is parked. [Or she.] Since he had a parking permit, no doubt the MINI is a neighborhood car.

Moral of the story. Go out, appreciate your pristine MINI [a tender glance at your MINI and thoughts of affection will suffice].

Also, be thankful for what you have. I dunno about anyone else, but the pics of that MINI are depressing. Not only because of the cherries and sap, but because it is getting all banged up. Just sad, real sad.

Sidenote: See my thread on daily MINI sightings. Take note of the Pepper White S that has the new car plates on it. It's another MINI forced to park on the curb. So far the owner keeps it spotless.

I see that new PW MINI every bike ride. I am going to monitor it and see how long it takes before it suffers damage. He seems to park carefully, but it's others who will bang into his car and simply leave the scene.

 

Track that sucker down Michael! So that they may know the error of their ways!

 

On with the late night TV jokes.

 

too much information!

 

OK, here are some pics I took of the crime scene:

This is a pic of the black VW that is parked where the MINI was, last night.

Assuming that this person parked in the last five hours or so, note how much sap, leaves and cheeries have accumulated on the car. So the MINI may have been parked for days?

http://www.heartinsanfrancisco.com/M...'sTurn.jpg

This is a MINI that was parked on the same block, around the corner. Thought for a second I found the car, but this is not it. Kinda freaky that it was a MINI, was black and similar body style to the S.

Judging by the parking permit, the yellow thing that says "09," this is another MINI owner who has to park on the curb. But note the better condition of the car.

http://www.heartinsanfrancisco.com/MINIHorror14AnotherCurbParker.jpg


And here is the scene of the crime, looking all innocent with its siren song "Park here, here is a spot, park your nice car here, your search is over, and look at the nice tree to protect your car from the sun, park here."

http://www.heartinsanfrancisco.com/M...CrimeScene.jpg

Sidenote: Am I seeing things or are there four black cars parked in a row. And if you count the MINI that is to my back, along the curb, that's five black cars. The world of the unexplained, odd, very odd.

 

You know you liked it. Saved you a few quarters at the arcade.

Sidenote: Cost me a bundle, had to use almost a half bottle of dog shampoo. Hey, I was in college, money was tight. I should have charged my neighbor for the shampoo, at least.

That would have completed the scene, me knocking on the guy's door asking for $5 in dog shampoo costs.

 

Is there a gigantic b&w sign on that building that reads "NO PARKING" directly behind that tree?

 

I was going to comment on that, but did not want to make my post longer than it was. Did not take long for someone to notice.

No, that sign is in front of the driveway. It's the angle of my shot that makes it look as though the car is parking illegally. But look closely and you will see the driveway in front of the white SUV.

 

I DEMAND A RE-SHOOT!

 

I'm not going to point out names, but I have a friend who is a NAM'er that has 2 MINIs and both of his MINI look somewhat like this, I detailed his 06 JCW MCS for him and it was covered in tree sap and dirt and grime, it pretty much looked like that, the wash was nasty and the claybar was done for after claying it, he doesn't really have much of a option since he rarely drives the JCW, and the city he lives in planted these trees that cause major amounts of sap to drip off, and it'll get covered in sap within a few hours and he doesn't have enough garage space to put both MINI in.

 

I will cancel class tonight and get right on it.

 

I say that anyone in the area sould go and wash it were it is, get a nice groupe and wash and clean it

 

When I see a car like that I just figure the owner doesn't give a carp. So if they don't I don't either.

 

Yeah, that's the pits! But I didn't observe much brake dust...

 

Dude, I am so stealing that!

 

Does their licence plate say "Pig-Pen" on it?

 

Hey now, be nice y'all. That's a Mini that gets driven and the owner no doubt appreciates it. It's like a faded pair of Levis - someday they get a rip or a patch, but we still love them. We can all get along...

 

We were looking for a MINI to do detail demos at the Magical Mystery Mini Tour over the weekend. This would have been the perfect MINI to use.

 

This thread was a fun read. The dirty Mini is no big deal, my wife can make a car look like that in short time. I still love her but she dosen't drive "my car". Dan

 

Hey, it's San Francisco. There can never be too much spandex.

 

That always cracks me up. California is really such a conservative state with the sole exception of the Bay Area, and Davis.

Just don't confuse it with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Texas!

 

All states are conservative outside of Metro areas though. Including Texas.

 

Makes me wanna use my "Mini Citation Form" hehe.

 

midnight intervention.....
attack with 10 mini washers.......( car washers , not little people)
hang around the next day when the owner comes out and doesn't recognize their car...........
then go get irish coffes at the buena vista

 

Sorry to rain on your parade, but it's a plum tree, not a cherry tree. I have one out in front of my house (planted it myself). But I do NOT park my MINI under it!