Chrome sucks, it is a think of the 90s and at best early 2000s. Black is the new chrome.

This is of course IMHO.

I don't hate those with chrome but to me it usually is to "cutesy" or need lots of cleaning. Black is mean and lean.


OK you had your "IMHO", heres mine- I love chrome. I think Black is for people who are too lazy to clean and take care of their vehilce. "Cutesy", " a think of 90s" ? Tell a street rodder, a guy with an old Vett, T Bird, old Caddie, or some guy with a 70's mussle car that his ride is "cutesy" while standing next to your Mini. Really, you see any irony in that? Come on due...

 

We all have different tastes, I think it depends on the overall look of the car.

I am sure in the future black won't be "in" anymore and it will be something else.


Speaking of chrome...

 

Except for the stock wheels (heavy and rather so-so looking) and the nasty RF tires, I love the MINI just as it was delivered to me. I like the shiny bits.

 

This is why I love my wheels. the small thin line of yellow around the edge really fixes that issue. I was going to go with big black wheels on my truck but didn't like the look you describe. I saw some folks who fixed that also by putting a touch of color around the edge of the wheel and it worked very well. Never got around to it but was happy my Mini came with those wheels.

As for the chrome. I'm a motorcycle guy, sportbikes primarily. Chrome is the way of the Harley and we sportbikers don't want any kind of association with the Harley crowd, and vice versa. Thus we don't tend to go the way of the chrome. I hate chrome on my bikes and have never been particularly fond of it on my automobiles. I can't say exactly why, but I just don't like it on MY cars. I might look at and drool over your car that has chrome, but it's not to my taste.

 

I don't agree with Harley and sportbikers not associating. A bike rider is a bike rider.
My Mini has minimal chrome but my Harley. Check out my thumbprint.

 

I do see the irony but being 6'-6" in a MINI causes more attention than telling someone their chrome is cute. I do have an appreciation for chrome on cars of that era but being born in '86 to me they are a bit dated and not my thing usually.

It's like lower vs lifting a pickup truck some doesn't see the point in a lowered truck and I probably would not do it but I can appreciate the custom work and through that goes into it even if I never want to own one. To me chrome is the same thing.

In all actuality I am not removing the chrome on my R50 because it has the cute look of the CR/W look of a mini (similar to the post below yours). The cavet to this though is that I plan on selling it this year so any money put into it won't be wise and I never liked the car from day 1, the wife "had to have it".

 

Actually I tend to be the same. However, my friendly wave is returned with a middle finger only by the HD crowd.

 

As you say on your first post it really is a matter of choice.. I had star alloys on my ride when I got it, really hated them with a passion, I could not afford to change them so got them painted gloss black and now do not mind them at all..because my car is such a dark colour I have decided to go the black out route as it suits the colour.
My husbands car is a lovely blue and it really suits the chromed look as it goes with the colour..there is a big trend at the moment in the UK for guys blacking out the chrome it does alter the line of the car and if done well it does give the car a whole new line and personality..
I love both cause I love minis full stop and one of the wicked things about them is that no two cars are the same they are an expression of their owners taste and personality..
Here are our two clubbies, which like us are as different as chalk and cheese...
My clubbie pre black out..

now....


my husbands clubbie


They are the same model but each have a distinct personality like us...

 

I see Mini sells an All Black Cooper model in Mexico! Aye caramba!
http://translate.google.com/translat...prmd%3Dimvnsfd

 

Sorry to hear that. That sucks. Dallas Fort Worth must have a different breed of HD riders because down here in lower Alabama I'd say 95% of HD riders are cool.
I even see CR's riding with HD riders.

 

I like the chrome on Fenimore. At least for now, I see no reason to change it.

 

For me it was about going all black and red. I like the combo and I want my MINI to be unique. Now here in NAM I've seen quite a few other blacked out chili red MINIs but around where I live she's quite unique and for me that's what it's about.

 

That all back still has the chrome on it though.

 

I like both. There are great-looking Minis and MINIs in both styles.

IMO though, Electric Blue doesn't go well with the blacked out look, hence mine has chrome.

 

White and electric blue is bright as hell though/ There is a guy in our club that has an EB/W and white wheels also it has the clear tail lights and it is BAM! in your face. I like it though.

 

I couldent agree more. I ride a Harley and drive a Mini. I love all kinds of bikes and all kinds of small sporty cars. I dont let brands or how its modified get in the way of apprecating what people do to their vehicles. Its a shame people get so wrapped in the small stuff, they cant even enjoy themselves and wave to a fellow biker or Miniac. By the way, I loved all the chrome on my old MGs and Austin Healys too... If someone wants to rattle can their ride flat black, more power to them. It's just not for me. I have seen some tastefully done blacked out rides too. Do what you like and dont worry about what others think.

 

I hope the chrome accents on my MINI last a while...it's trying for a classic look, or can, so that's what I had in mind by ordering chromeline exterior and interior. I thought it was just enough.

As several have said...easy enough to change it out for vinyl-wrap body color, black, or something else when my tastes change. My memory includes 1960's ye olde British sports cars that combined leather, wood, and chrome bits inside; that's what I'm hoping for. Oh, but without dodgy Lucas electrics and positive-earth wiring.

 

Mono color can look great when done right. The all Black or all red JCWs are fantastic looking cars. But a Justa done with restraint can hold it's own in the charm department. Retro is still very cool! I ordered a Chili Red Justa with white roof and stripes. I wanted a retro car all the way.

 

I feel the same way about Indie Blue and white. I can't back things out so my chrome and "chrome" looks perfect.

 

I like chrome as well and it will never go out of style. I have a JCW Coupe and I'd like to add more chrome: the Cooper's chrome slatted grille and rear hatch handle. I don't see how people argue that black plastic looks better than chrome. I do have black wheels, but the Black Star Bullets have a ring of brushed silver as well as along the spoke edges. With all-black wheels, there's just a void in the wheel-wells.

My classic-look R50 and my modern-look R58:

 

I have had much younger people say to me that it is cool to see chrome on a car again. The Mini is based on a retro through back, but if you don't like chrome, well take it off. I like the retro look with the chrome so it is staying.

 

Totally personal preference. When my car is clean, the silver wheels, chrome grill and white bonnet stripes really pop. I like the contrast.

No offense to those like the blacked out look, but I find black wheels hideous. To me, they look like cars with soft brake pads owned by someone too lazy to wash the car. And trying to make a MINI look mean or aggressive seems pointless -- no matter how much you try to butch it up, it's still a cute car

And I guarantee, if MINI's came from the factory all blacked out, people would be chrome dipping everything just to be different. As Homer once said, "Remember, you're unique -- just like EVERYbody else."

 

Black is played out. That is where this is kind of starting draw lines. You either have chrome or black not all the myriad of other things you can do, like hot pink trim(that would be so hawt!!)

 

depends on what kind of look you are going for ... i wanted a mean sleek look and im sorry but black and red is a lot meaner looking than chrome ... i personally dont think all the chrome on the mini looks nice but doesnt mean i hate chrome. On some other high end cars the chrome trim i do diggggg ... just not on minis, well my minii

 

Some are better with lots of chrome: blue, light grey, orange others i think are better with more black: black, red, dark grey, green.

i got pw and i think body color is nice. i do have belt line black out but the hl rings, repeaters and door handles are body color. still need to get the r50 gas cap painted and i'll throw that on. chrome on xenons and tail lights is still there. a little goes a long way..

green with black looks great! blue with chrome looks great.. good times