does anyone have much experience with parking their MINI in boston? especially in areas like north end, beacon hill, fenway, back bay. and resident parking if you have experience with that, too. also, has having MINI helped parking around there and how has your car physically held up? (if you can't tell, I'm considering moving into boston, but a bit apprehensive about the street parking situation). thanks for your help!

 

I've parked all over boston with Mini's for the past 1.5 years. With my '03 MC first and the '04 MCS that I drive today. My car is holding up fine, but heck, I owned a car in NYC so anything is better than there! The only problem I've had was on Beacon hill. I'm never going to park on those hills agan. I got a nice dimple in the rear bumper as battle scars to remind me of how crazy it is over there. Word of advice, Take the T if you're going to Beacon hill.

Other than that, I love having a car this small in the city. I can whip around slower traffic, avioid wandering pedestrians, and find plent of parking when all is said and done. The Mini is the best thing to own next to a motorcycle when it comes to parking. Conversely, our Outback and my previous car, a Passat, we did not have as much luck with finding a parking spot, even in a resident only areas! ack!

 

I live right around the corner from jurni, so my experiences have probably been pretty similar. Sure, the car's easier to get into tight spaces, but who wants to park in a tight space and risk getting bumper dings? That said, there are certain situations where it's great - places where no other vehicle would quite be able to fit at the end of a block, or next to a hydrant, that kind of thing. I'm always very careful about what kinds of vehicles I park next to and how close they are, and I've managed to get by with only a couple of very minor scratches. In September I'm moving to Brighton Center, where the parking is much easier - I can't wait!

Other than Beacon Hill and the North End, neither of which I would ever own/park a car in, I wouldn't worry so much about other areas of the city. It's not too difficult to find large parking spaces to give you a buffer zone.

One caveat: beware of moving into a very college-y neighborhood like Allston, which is where I park since Brookline has no overnight parking ( ). If there are lots of bars around, you tend to get groups of drunk hoodlums walking around at 2:30 AM kicking side view mirrors off of cars. They'll go all the way down a street and nail every single one. This actually happened on the street where I usually park (Brainerd Road) while my mother was in town for the night and had her Accord parked right behind my car. For some reason we were spared, but at least 20 other cars on the street got hit.

Edit: the other thing about Beacon Hill and the North End, in case you didn't know, is that they issue many more permits than there are parking spaces, so you would very often be out of luck, especially returning home late from a weekend. There are waiting lists in the North End that are seven years long for people to get spaces in parking garages for $300 a month!

 

Hey Chris, long time no see! We're moving to somerville and we'll have a drive way, so no more parking dings, well, not as much!

In the MC, I was a dingbat and parked my car into any space I could squeeze into, and boy did I pay. The rear bumper had a bunch of dings. on the S, we've been more careful, sans the apartment shoping nightmare we had while parking on beacon hill.

One thing I have to mention, is that the Mini is very visible and you tend to notice the other mini's in your 'hood. Chris' mini is no different for he has a sweet exhaust that you hear when walking down Comm ave.

Unfortunately, I've had my valve stem covers nicked on both mini's and parts of my roof rack taken so expect a lot of attention in the city. Try not to be too mad/sad if something happens.

I agree. Hydrant crunching and cross walk squeezing are a blast with the MINI!

It happens way too often, those bastards!

 

Maybe I'm biased, but I parked downtown, out in Beacon Hill and in Harvard Square...

Firstly, harvard square meter cops are insane. I was 5 minutes over (had to rule the kingdom on my throne- bad timing!) and BAM ticket...

What erked me, tho, is how many people bumped into my car. At the time, I had a C5 vette. I had to get the bumper repainted because 2 seperate times someone backed into it and scuffed it or cracked the paint One time was in beacon hill, the other in harvard square. ...and I was only there for a total of 4 days!

 

I live in Back Bay and have deeded off-street parking. If you are buying a place, pay for off-street parking if you can...you won't regret it.

I will never park my car on the street, simply b/c of the way everyone backs into each other. Otherwise, you're safe IMO. So if you don't mind your bumpers getting chipped up, then you are ok.

 

I hear parking spots go for $50K and up in the Bay. There's a news article that discusses someone paying $100K for a parking spot.

Crazy!

I'm moving Somerville. We have an off street parking spot and can walk to the Redline. No more dinged bumpers for me!

 

I live in the north shore, but work right next to Fenway (can see the scoreboard from my office window). I did the hunt for 2 hour spaces and metered spots for a few months, this grew old. I managed to trade a co-worker a monthly comuter rail pass subscription for a parking spot at the Beacon St. lot. Life is much easier.
I think Storrow Dr. is much more unforgiving to bumpers then on-street parking. That strech is a nightmare.

 

Minichrist,

good to see that MC hammer still lives on. The've paved Most of Sorrow. The strecth by fenway and the esplanade was done last week.

 

Yup, somebody just sold 3 spots near my place for $360K

It's either that, rent for 400/month or deal with the street...

 

no need to worry! none of the areas that u mentioned in Boston should be as bad as parking in Dorchester. I live in Dorchester and park there everyday... and have had no problems .