Curiosity struck me this afternoon (Excel spreadsheets tend to lead to such), and while I'm sure there have been similar topics before, I was curious on how people currently felt.

This morning after getting out of my MINI I noticed it. It's odd how only the car's owner tends to spot it first, but there it was, staring right back at me. Another unsightly scratch. How it got there, who knows, but it was there. Of course, like all scratches, the stages of grief happen almost systematically:

1. Denial - "I bet its just dirt."

2. Anger - "Ah damn, is that the primer?!"

3. Bargaining - "I'll just buy some Scratch-X and this will all go away."

4. Depression - "Well that didn't work; now my car is worthless."

5. Acceptance - "At least it's not as big as the previous scratch, or the previous previous scratch, or the previous previous previous scratch."

So as you can probably decipher I found a new scratch on my MINI today. I remember my first scratch and how I called the dealership the next day and proclaimed that price was irrelevant to making my car look new again; though, even young me eventually realized that several hundred dollars was crazy to fix a tiny line. I bought this particularly MINI used so it came "pre-scratched". It bothered me at the dealership but experience has taught me, "You will get scratches".

You can get a clear car bra, but your car will be scratched, you can avoid interstates, but your car will be scratched, hell, you can avoid driving your car period but your wife will still find a way to scratch your car. I love my MINI's paint job, but boy those love metallic paint colors and their impossibility to easily fix.

So what about you guys? Do you meticulously take care of your car to the point of making sure it doesn't have a single scratch (and do whatever it takes to remove one)? Do you try your best to fix the tiny ones but accept them as part of life? Or, do you just say screw it and let those "beauty marks" happen?

 

I am saving for the day I repaint the whole car and have it clear bra'd(hehe brah) so I will have a new looking MINI again.

 

That's why I'm afraid to buy a brand new car. At least with used, I've already come to terms that it won't be perfect.

 

Guess that I fall into the category of fixing those that I can and accepting the rest. Have had Llanrhaeadr less than two weeks and have suffered some paw/claw damage. Will break-out the polish and go at it. I've explained to the cat that sleeping on my warm bonnet is not acceptable. That should do it, huh?

 

The patina of the life of a MINI. The scratches, chips, etc., are the testimony of a MINI spending its life doing what it enjoys - motoring!

 

My friend's new black 33x BMW has some fresh claws on the hood from their cat. The only defense I have for the cat is that its their fault for keeping the cat only in the garage.

 

Sexist much?

 

what about just powdercoating the whole car

 

don't confuse sexism with realism.

 

Point proven.

 

My wife and I have a bet going for who scratches Hobbes first. Prolly will be me

 

How much is the bet for?

And I'm now an official Spice Orange owner!! Just got Lil' Pumpkin yesterday! And man is he fun to drive! Boyfriend and I are taking him up to Port Jervis, NY today to drive the the Hawk's Nest section of New York Route 97 up to Hancock, NY. Should be an amazing drive!

Will post some pics soon.

 

Port Jervis? Mmm...Riverside Creamery and their fried ice cream.

 

I feel your pain. I received my first stone chips (2) approx 3 weeks after I brought my car home. :( I went for the bra, at least to minimize damage from road salt and sand during the winter months. However I will TRY not to freak out as my car ages. Hopefully he'll grow old gracefully, like our 10 year old 330i.

 

I feel your pain. I got EggMINI, used, and it was snowing when i picked iit up. when i got home(3hrs away) and there was no snow. I noticed a dent on the hood, looked like someone left something under the hood and closed it. I couldn't take it anymore, so i went to a dent specialists and he was able to take it out for only $75. Looks 99% better but i still know it was there.

Still have not figured out what to do about the couple of small rock chips in the front before i try and put on this clear bra.

Also have some scratches on the rear bumper top. but those will definitley need some work since they are deep. thinking of trying to find one of those covers for it.

 

Chloe, I've been maintaining the numbers for the SO owners club (SOOC?). If you're interested, pick a number and lmk.

Welcome to what I call "the other red meat" club (a gentle poke at those chili red owners who think they're "all that").