Something tells me that this isn't something as ominous as a random vandal.

Probably just some oblivious commuter on their way to their crappy rustmobile to drive them to their beat up mobile home with cardboard on the windows where they'll have a cold Hungry Man TV Dinner (salsbury steak no less), all the while yammering away on their cellphone about nothing of value just because it makes them think their important and completely clueless of the damage their $10 messenger bag is doing on all the cars they are rubbing it against...

Of course either way it still sucks, and was still done by some worthless looser...

 

 

That truly stinks. Having been the victim of a keying incident on a just-restored TR-6 some years ago, I know how you feel. Rest assured, what goes around, comes around - and usually in spades.

I'm sure your baby will look like new after being repaired.

 

Make that 201.

Seriously, this kind of thing really, really gets to me, and I have no regard for the sorry lives of such individuals. Hopefully the bastage gets hit by a semi and is dragged a considerable distance.

 

There's an inner pain inside a person that feels the need to destroy. Poor bastard!

Better days and Godspeed.

 

yea...those SUV drivers REALLY need to get some FUN in the life. Idea...
1. repaint car
2. park in same place as when the vandalism occured
3. wait for attacker to return
4. Beat the fun into their face with your MINI's jack !

that'll show em how much FUN a MINI is...yea...that'll show em!

 

I would like to convert that inner pain to outer pain - LOL!

 

Hi Donna,

Sorry about this! Too bad you aren't here in DC anymore, I am sure Wagon Work could fix the MINI right up!

No excuse for gangs in this country! It's just wrong to treat people's property like this, but they do... because they can.

Hmm, I wonder if you had a car cover on, would they have still keyed it?

Mike

 

Donna

Although it has been said numerous times, let me add one more "that sucks" and "I'm sorry" to the bunch. Your baby is beautiful...and very sad to see it marked up.
Best of luck finding a good body shop and may your repair time be minimal.

Elizabeth

 

Midnight is very sorry to hear of this heartless attack on Ariel.

I've never been able to understand this behavior. Theft, at least, I can understand, even as I condemn it. "I want that, so I'm gonna take it." Provided the perp has no conscience, they may get a "pleasure of having" similar to that a normal person gets through working to reach their desires. Detestable, but not incomprehensible.

Vandalism, on the other hand, especially anonymous vandalism, is at most simply vicious (as in the case of "domestic situation-induced" incidents) or, more often, incomprehensibly depraved. How can any sane individual justify "I don't/can't have that, so I'm going to destroy what another has built" ? Would that envy was indeed a "deadly sin," with the immediate consequences, life would be very different:

(news report Leading off our broadcast this evening, an unidentified individual has been found dead in a local commuter rail parking lot this afternoon. Eyewitnesses report that the man was found clutching a small metallic object in his hand, next to a parked car. A small scratch was seen on the door of the car, but the vehicle was otherwise unharmed. Citing the ongoing investigation, police have declined to comment on these early eyewitness reports, but community activists are already declaring that this a yet another example of "accelerated karma," and advising would-be miscreants to mend their ways post-haste, lest they be next...

Nice, neat, and no messy dragging-behind-SUVs involved!

I second (or third, or...) the suggestion to take Ariel's coture to the next level. Some really neat ideas-turned-real can be seen at:
http://www.houseofkolor.com/hok/gallery/gallery.jsp

If you can dream it, some talented shop out there can spray it!

 

Hunt. Destroy. Kill. (in your mind at least)
Sending telekinetic bad karma vibes to the culprit.
Somebody keyed my '85 CRX in front of my house - WTF? I can understand being jealous of the MINI convertible (though I'd still strangle the ba$tard if I caught 'em) but an old CRX??!

Condolences.

 

I am almost envisioning a gang of MINIs seeking vengeance like a pack of mini-Christines.

 

Reading about Ariel's awful day makes me want to equip Midnight with one of these (check out the video!):
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812...e.thrower.car/


Too bad they're illegal in the U.S. I have been told, though, that Texas allows the use of force, including the lethal sort, to defend property...

Although an agnostic, I concur... "The Architect of the Universe recognizes every creature's right to self-defense. Even the platypus has venomous spurs!"

 

I want to thank each of you for all your posts and genuine concern...it means a lot - I knew I could come here and cry on your shoulders...

Some of the posts and ideas are pretty good...:smile: If I knew who the little plick or plicks were that did this, I would LOVE to have the 201 MINIs show up and we'd SHOW THEM what it's all about!!!

I bought the car to drive and enjoy. I don't plan on having this spoil my fun..I will continue to drive it to the train station with the hopes that this won't happen again...and if it does, my bad....things like this happen all the time - you just always hope it doesn't happen to you.

Every dog has it's day and hopefully this schmuck will get his soon - Woof Woof....:smile:

I've thought about a car cover but it would just get stolen I'm sure - then I would get pissed all over again...

It is very obvious it was done on purpose because it's not an even scrape - it goes up and down all the way down the side - so somebody DID take the time to make it an art project......urggggggg.....the worst part is NOT knowing who did it.......it could possibly be somebody that rides the train, but I seriously doubt it.......

Thanks again all........:smile:

Chow!

Donna

 

Donna,

I'm so sorry to hear about your cabrio.

Commuter parking lots are hazzardous places-
Bad people can be lurking.
It would seem that this is not an isolated incident (Any way of checking with the police?) and I wonder if they lurk there often????
Probably kids

Did you have an alarm and was it ON??

I vote for repainting. Adding aero side skirts and paint the wheel arches and bumper valences while you are at it would be slick.

 

I am sorry to hear about this. I really upsets me when people do not respect other people's property.

Two years ago someone dropped a beer bottle on my roof. Luckily it just hit part of the roof instead of the glass on the sunroof. But it did put a tennis ball size dent in the corner of the roof. That dent put me back $1000. I guess that's what I get for going to a top five "party school."

I've also had gum stuck to it, urine on the driver's side door and my MINI valve caps stolen (multiple times).

Oh well. I believe in karma. What goes around comes around.

Best of luck getting it fixed!

 

Donna, did you notice if your Cabrio was the only vehicle damaged? I just wonder if the MINI was singled out for vandalism.


Clover

 

Sorry to hear about your car! I know how you feel. My car was keyed in my own driveway! Someone had keyed it this past August and I only had the car for a few weeks! It took a while for me to cool off about it. I bought a locking car cover but I honestly think my car is not safe anywhere. I've even considered putting up video cameras on my driveway. You feel so violated when someone feels like they can come onto your own property and vandalize your car. (And no I don't have a garage.)

I haven't had the key mark repaired yet because I'm afraid that if I got it repaired something else might happen to it. Brecht Mini has referred me to a couple of independent repair people who can take out minor scratches for cheap but the mark is too deep for them to repair. I may have to eventually have my car insurance take care of it but I'd rather not think about it right now. I get mad when I think about it and would rather not have to pay the $500 deductable. And then I think why should I have to pay for something that some @#%#! did to my car! See I'm getting mad again! Let me know what you decide to do. Hang in there.:smile:

Gil

 

that sucks. at least they didn't slash the top?

good ol' california.

btw, it's russ from dc (in phx). we should talk sometime!

 

That is the worst Donna. I hope the repairs are speedy and complete.

 

To answer a few questions up above, no I don't have an alarm. I'm not sure it would have done much good in this case anyway. I heard too many issues over on MINI2 about the alarm in the Cabrio so decided to save a few bucks and not opt for it.

Today I plan on calling USAA to get the estimate process started - depending on what they say - we may opt to pay out of pocket to get it fixed instead of filing a claim. I will also be calling the North County Transportation System to at least report the damage as they are the ones who are supposed to be providing security for the commuter lots. I'll also be stopping by the police station to file a report - just to have it on file.

I didn't notice any other cars with damage - of course - I was a bit pissed at the time and didn't quite take the time to look at any other cars.

And Hiya Russ - good to hear from you...

Chow!

Donna

 

Donna, so sorry to hear about this incident and I can understand how angry and bummed you must be feeling!

Where there is gangs, vandalism of this type is bound to happen. The keying of your car almost sounds like a gang initialization "rite" where a youngster is asked to commit a vicious act to be admitted into the gang circle. Very sad indeed.

Get it fixed and do report the incident to the police as it is likely the insurance company will ask for a police report to back up your claim. A MINI, spcially a Cabrio is a beautiful car but also a very tempting target for vandalism. You're right, luckly they didn't cut up the top, but probably that's next

If all possible, I think you should either take it to work or leave it home during the work week. Train stations are hardly safe places to leave your car and don't expect for it to be targeted in some form.

Best of luck. Have pics of the keying?

 

That sucks. Consider this me signing your condolence card.

 

I do have pictures - just haven't had time to resize and download them yet. I've contacted USAA, the police dept. (now I have a case #) and the North County Transportation Division who takes care of security in the commuter lot. They are reviewing camera tapes today - but the camera angle may not have shown my car - so I have to wait and see. I should have an answer tomorrow hopefully.

And darn, I really want to drive my baby to work - but it's not an option out here in San Diego for me. We live 40 miles north of the city and traffic is a complete nightmare as I'm sure you already know... So the train works best. So now I'm going back and forth of what to do... I hate to let this spoil my little bit of daily pleasure....

Chow!

Donna

 

Donna,

If they have cameras at the parking lot then park in plain sight of the cameras when you can. Consider an aftermarket alarm with a sensitivity setting. Nothing too obnoxious.
Heavy weight car cover with lock might help.

Next step-
set a trap and put out a stake out crew

Sorry to say we live in a "mean" world when we have to adjust for these inconsiderate and mean people.