Hi All:

With my MCS arriving this coming weekend (insert wildly emotional feelings here), I'm working on my garage to make room. The problem is, I have two older Volkswagens (a 59' and a 63') in the garage, and I'm having problems "prioritizing" as to what will stay inside.

My thoughts are that the MINI is a new car, fully insured, and is easily fixed/replaced if something horrible (or minor) happened. Conversely, the VW's are extremely hard to find parts for, rust easliy if left outside, and not to mention a good body shop that could repair them if something happened.

Just curious if anyone else is in the same situation? :smile:

Best Regards,
-Justyn

 

My neighbors have about $150k worth of cars that they leave outside so that their overwhelming piles of JUNK can safely be stored in the garage. I think they are nuts.

I'm not saying that your classic VW's are junk, but maybe you should consider selling one of them so that you can keep all of your cars protected.

Are either of the classic VW's worth more than the MINI?

 

Do you drive them all often? Why not park your MINI inside and cover one of the VWs with a nice outdoor cover. MINI paint seems to be somewhat soft, so I highly recommend pampering it. My IB parks outside always, and its doing fine, but I do work at keeping it pristine. (...probably ultimately a losing battle.) If I had a garage, I'd definitly use it. Have fun with your new S!!!!!

 

My hubby's Corvette lives in our single car garage. Wanda is always parked outside, and we wash her a lot and try to pamper her as much as possible.

I agree with Yucca. Perhaps selling one of the VWs would not be such a bad idea...or as jds mentioned, put one of the bugs outside with a nice cover or under a canopy.

Congrats on your new baby! Once you drive your MINI home, you WILL want to garage her/him. You'll see.....


Clo/Wanda

 

If I had the choice, my MINI would be housed at night, but instead, it sits in a carport, pretty well protected on 3 sides, and far enough in that there is no direct weather exposure beyond temperature. I will NOT use a car cover, since any grit between cloth and car can't help but be rubbed against the body during the use of same.

 

Mine's outside. (Next house will have a garage!) Lots of washes, plenty of wax and protecting other surfaces. The drive is pretty shaded, so that's nice. Tree sap and other outside stuff are not difficult to remove if the car is kept up well. Seeing that spending time washing, detailing, etc. is therapeutic to me anyway, this hasn't been an issue really.

Have opted for not using a car cover -- daily drivers are going to get dust.

 

If I had your situation, the MINI would definitely sleep outside. The MINI you are about to get will never be a collectible and it'll basically be worthless within 10 years. OTOH, your VWs are truly rare and collectible and their value and your enjoyment of them will only increase.

Have fun with your new MINI!

 

Thanks for all of the comments!

Both of the VW's are restored, and valued at around $10,000 each. My other problem is that we have a narrow driveway, and my fiancee' also parks outside. If I were to park one of the Beetles outside, I'd be constantly uncovering it and moving it to get the MINI out.

Cheers,
-J

_________________
Soon to be 04' Pepper White/Black, Aero Kit & Driving Lights

 

i have to agree with 911 and String that outside is fine if you wash frequently and keep the pitch and bird doo off the paint. I'd keep the vdubs in if it were me. 911 is right about lost value in 10 yrs, Unless BMW stops making them next year.
Enjoy your MINI

 

>>If I had your situation, the MINI would definitely sleep outside. The MINI you are about to get will never be a collectible and it'll basically be worthless within 10 years. OTOH, your VWs are truly rare and collectible and their value and your enjoyment of them will only increase.

Given the good VWs that you have I'd say that you could keep them in the garage and get an outdoor cover for the MINI and park it outside. You will use it daily so no sense parking it inside-too much trouble but do keep it keep and covered when you can.

As for value. MINIs hold their value very very well esp if you keep yours in good shape.

My 1995 Maxima SE was about the same price as a new MCS with options. It's got lots of miles on it at 108,000 but it is in good shape overall. I'm fixing it up now and the value is still pretty good about $4500-6000. I rides very well and is reliable. On the track it was passing everything including highly modded MCS but my instructor (a wheel to wheel racer) was at the wheel so I take no credit except I noted that there was no lack of performance with all original stock suspension/wheels, exhaust and even was running on reg unleaded 87 octane gas. I don't know that the MINI will retain as much or more value but even with miles on it I think it will still be in demand. Makes for a great project car.

 

Every night I buy 20 boxes of Huggies Pampers and bundle up my MINI.

 

>>Every night I buy 20 boxes of Huggies Pampers and bundle up my MINI.

LOL!!

 

I wish I had the luxury of a garage to house my MINI, but since I don't, I built a very simple carport to fend off the Seattle rain. If I had those Bugs I'd keep 'em in a garage.

 

Looks like the MCS will sit outside for now, unfortunately. :???: I think it will be for the best though....

Thanks for the replies,
-J

 

I wish I could park my car inside but with my dads 2004 twin turbo porsche cabriolet, his 1959MGA and my moms 2004 A8L, guess who gets to park outside. Investing in a car cover was my best option.

 

Mine is outside (off-street parking) and there are many parked on the streets around here too.

I just keep it clean and protected with wax. My 911 sat outside too, and it looked perfect when I sold it. It's all about the wax...and moving to a garage during the big snows or t-storms.

 

I park in a carport on the weekdays (don't drive to work) and a garage on the weekends or for trips :smile:

 

Keep the classics inside. My MINI lives outside, is washed daily, waxed often and seems none the worse for wear. Of course, it is my daily driver.

I do disagree with the prior post that suggests the MINI will never be a classic. Undoubtedly, they will drop off in value like any used car (even Ferrari GTO's did that) but the values will climb back up to reasonable levels before long. Of course, that is no reason whatsoever to buy a car - they are meant to be driven and enjoyed. If you have the foresight to keep it, all the better.

 

http://www.aclifts.com/ grab on of these things we get a discount on'em I saw this in the sponser directory.

 

My Mini is parked outside on the Boston Streets. It has a few dings in the bumpers from those who park by braile( dingbats!) The car is washed weekly and sometimes twice a week, and waxed monthly. It still looks good after 7 months!

 

Mine is left to the elements in the driveway.

My 69 Cadddy Convertible is the Garage Queen. If I left it outside, I would have a pile of iron oxide in a couple of weeks.

So keep a nice coat of wax on it!

Regards,
Red

 

more ideas...

Rent a storage! and NOT one of those air conditioned ones.
Make it a 20 x 20 and park both of your VWs there. When you want to drive them, go over and get them out of storage and run around in them. Keep your garage at your home for the car you use every day!

if storage in your area is expensive, then my 2nd idea is a covered, carport on the side or back of your home. Put in some double gates on the side of your house and drive the VWs back there. They'll be behind the fense and you'll only drive them out when you want to drive them. Put covers on them to keep them clean.

 

I think the storage garage is a great idea!

Or get a floor jack and park the VW'S sideways & you should beable to fit the MINI in the garage

 

My MC is outside 24/7, its fine, it's a car, they operate outside.

 

Scooter shares the driveway with the Durango. The garage hosts our 58 MGA and all the crap in boxes from moving that we have no place to put yet...