Yesterday my wife drove Spike, and met me at our new rental house that we were tuning up before perspective tenants browsed through. When she got the supplies out of the boot and closed the hatch she put both her hands completely on the edge and proceeded to close the hatch. I ran over and gave her ‘instructions’ on how to close the rear hatch without touching the paint, especially when there’s dust and possible grit on it. A few rolled eyes later I think she got the message.

Am I being to fanatical? Is there such a thing???

To what lengths to you go to baby-your-Mini?

 

My girlfriend knows how to close the boot using the inside hand holds, how to open the door using the inside release through the windows, and she knows how to shut the door using the inside of the door.

 

My wife and i had too many arguments and i gave up trying to keep it in good shape... I just take care of it the best i can. and no you are not too fanatical. i am the same way i like to keep something i paid for like new.

 

How funny. My boot always seems very gritty and dirty, even scant hours after I've finished detailing it, so I DO tend to be more careful...and every time hubband SLAMS out of the car (even passenger door) I have to yell at him. I don't think it's fanatical at all...but then again, he IS slamming the door...

 

Outstanding!!! She is well trained

 

Interesting replies. It seams that those of use who are married don't have as much 'control' over our spouses as those who are still in the blissful dating stage in their relationship.

Hmmm this could be the basis for one of my kids Phsyc 101 projects

 

I can wipe off a hand print, but the door slamming drives me up the wall.

I'm a bit OCD with the MINI to my wife's distraction.

 

Oh, I dunno...i think it depends on the spouse. Mine is still "in training" - we've only been married for a little over three years, and only one.5 of which we've been able to live together. We got married when both of us were already set in our ways, so....he's still in some mega reverse-bachelor-un-hygenic-and-uber-observant-focused training. The slamming drives me INSANE - he does it to my truck, too. I don't care what he does to his BMW, but don't mess with MY vehicles like that!!! He DOES tend to trash his car (dirty stuff inside, etc.)

If the spouse (or even the significant other - no marriage license necessary!) understands the MINI thing, or even a little harmless OCD, it's a lot easier to get them trained. Hubband just thinks I'm completely off my rocker about the MINI...but then again, he often thinks that about many of my...*ahem* "foibles" and "quirks." What can I say? I add SPICE to his life!

 

Yes, you are....but this is pretty normal for MINI owners. I always chuckle when I see MINIs parked far away from other cars in parking lots...and then nudged to the outside edge of an end parking space. I totally get that!!!

Keep at it....there is a right way to close the boot and a right way to close the doors. Don't give up...she'll do great!!!

 

My wife's not bad, just some eye rolling but not too much arguing. My 19 year-old boys on the otherhand are incredibly rough on everything. I figure it won't register with them until they actually have to start paying for their own stuff.

Keep the stories coming, this is fun to read.

 

'Tis the god-given right of every wife, I think.

After over six years of MINI ownership, I must say all my kids (now 28, 26, 24, 22) are all very well-trained concerning the proper handling of a MINI. Makes me proud!!!

 

Here's my physics. My wife doesn't operate anything mechanical on my Mini except for the passenger vent. I open the door for her, close the door for her, stow her gear for her. As a result, she doesn't wreak havoc with the paint or the door (her family are hereditary slammers), and she likes to drive with me .

Before you roll your eyes, it's more effective than training and I get credit for being a gentleman.

 

It takes every kind. I pointed out to my teenage daughters how it is done from the inside mostly so that they could avoid getting their hands dirty in the winter.

Here is a story that will make you cringe. When I was working as a Nissan service adviser many years ago a man came in complaining that his car wouldnt run. Well, it was checked out and found that he had neglected to check or replace the oil in about 15K miles. This was before the common use of synthetics and the extension of miles driven between oil changes. The car wasnt a new car so certainly used some oil. One look inside the car showed the man's lifestyle as it looked like it hadnt been cleaned ever. You couldnt see the back seat because of the amount of trash and paperwork, etc., that was in the back. The front and rear floors were invisible also and were about the level of where the seats should have been. I doubt the outside of the car had ever been washed. You wouldnt believe it unless you witnessed it with your own eyes.

 

I got one, too.....a lady I know who had trashed her car's interior to the extent that the enire back seat and passenger side was up to the windows in trash. That's right...solid trash up to the windows!!!!! Only semi-clear space was where the driver sat. Now, don't worry, this was not a MINI owner and if you knew this lady it was right in character w/ the rest of her life!! Pretty sad.

 

I saw an early 90's Toyota rolling down the street last week that looked like that. I can only imagine how bad the inside of cars like that must smell.

 

yes you are.
I love my mini as much as the next person but it's still only a car. a hand touching a hatch wont put anything but ultra fine scratches in the upper most surface of the paint. you put the same amount of scratches in the paint each time you wash and dry it. no matter how carefull we are, it's gonna get nicked, scratched, bumped and bruised.

P.S. if you want the GF to stick around for the long haul lighten up a bit. they don't get the "car thing" like we do. save that for after your married.

 

I figure once or twice won't harm the paint, but the repeated usage will. Sounds like you've worked out the kinks in training the GF/wife

 

Hey you're ruining things for the rest of us guys

 

you have to realize that the GF would have to touch the exact same spot for many yeras before it would do any harm. So i wouldnt sweat it.

as far as the GF wire thing, the difference is once there married it's harder for them to walk away

 

*AHEM* We gonna have trouble w'it you, newyawk??? Some of us GF "get" the "car thing" better than our BFs, THANKYOUVERYMUCH.

 

I attribute the OP's behavior, as well as the resulting comments as a personality thing that most humans manifest at sometime or another.

I totally understand the "proper method" of closing the hatch/doors- for me it's not a wear and tear thing, but a "finger prints drive me up the wall" thing. My roommate thinks *I'm* obsessive that I wash the car inside and out once a week, but thinks its normal to go ballistic over a scuff on her shoe. She'll make herself late obsessing over whether her outfit matches or, heaven forbid- LINT!? *gasp*

We all have our idiosyncracies- Having a female roommate is pretty entertaining in that regard. The OP should find the one his wife obsesses on and at an opportune moment, say, "oh- you mean like the closing the hatch thing?"

 

LOL!
my wife is at the point that she dosent want to touch the mini. she still dosent get why I park a mile away in major parking lots. I respond by telling her it's an 04 without a single door ding in it, and I want to keep it that way

i get such a kick out of those smiley's

 

Same goes with my hubband. He just walks away shaking his head when i start on a MINI kick. Doesn't even have to be OCMD...

And thanks. I take refuge in sarcasm.

 

I thought I was OCD before I got my MINI - it's 10 times worse now...

My partner was schooled very early on how to open/close the door (get it to the last "stop" and give a gentle push, touching only the door handle)...I pull down the hatch from the inside until it's almost shut then I push on all four corners of the license plate to shut it (this seems the most effective way for me)....

My friends all get tutorials before their first ride on "How to Ride in the MINI and Not **** Off Atomic"...I have 1 friend in particular that likes to ride with his arm dangling out the window, and he subconsciously rubs his hand on the outside of the door as we're tooling along (I found this out on the last car, thankfully not the MINI - he's not allowed near it).

My mother rode in the MINI last weekend, and when she got out, she closed the door by pushing on the top of the window - I almost had a cow. She will get the tutorial next time, if there is a next time...

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who is particular about their MINI in this way...

 

My wife jokes that we need to take another car so we can drive from where I park the Mini to where we are going! However, she has adopted the OCD lifestyle even with her Volvo which has 120,000 and I must say looks like new; no door dings, bumper dings etc., and is washed (by hand) at least once a week.

Saturday night we took my freshly washed MINI to a movie and under the neons of a parking lot I noticed a few roof streaks, so out came the detail spray and Hydro for the touch-up. She just laughed and shook her head, said I love you, and waited while I touched up the roof.

I think I'm one lucky guy!

Gene