Hey everyone

As my paranoid self, I like to carry around a 4 D cell Maglite flashlight. They are extremely bright and are made of very good material. It also makes an extremely good beating stick if needed. I want to find a spot in my MINI that allows me to have quick access to the flashlight from the drivers seat but is still inconspicuous. The flashlight will also double as illumination when in need What do you guys think? I will need to still use the seat normally, like letting people in the back and such.

 

Do you have the drivers side parcel shelf (under the steering column)? If you do, you could keep the maglite there. You could even install a couple clips to keep the flashlight from moving around/falling out.

 

You could get the euro shelf and keep it there!

http://www.detroittuned.com/products...20050318012400

 

We both posted the same thing at the same time!

 

I'm don't think there is enough clearance below the steering column with the Pacel Tray to fit a 4 D Cell Mag lite. It would need the entire length of the shelf to fit that lite.

Example photos in place:
http://www.outmotoring.com/euro_parcel_tray.html

In a previous car I mounted the lite clips just in front and below the rear seat on the passengers side. I could reach around and quickly grab the lite.

Not sure if that same approach would work in the MNI but it might be worth a try.

-Randy

 

I'm a firm believer that you just never know when you might meet someone who needs to be shown the light, so I keep that same Maglight in my Mini. I've found that is wedges nicely without clips in the driver's side door. It rests comfortably parallel to the floor and wedged behind the diagonal bar. The only thing bothersome about that position is that the spare bulb rattles when I hit abrupt bumps and I keep forgetting to bring some cotton out from the house to wrap the bulb.

 

I think Smith & Wesson trumps a flashlight and see no point in carrying any kind of weapon in a car

 

^ good one chows

 

Why spend the money on a maglite? Just get a Surefire. Oh, and if you think a Maglite is bright.....ha! Surefire's temporarily can blind you.

-Cody

 

What about doing something custom? Like the bentley that has the umbrella that gets stashed in the door. That would be cool.

 

The 4D Mag is particularly well suited for rechargeables; the custom 4D ROP mod puts out 1150 lumens for 50 minutes per charge, while the 2D sized Surefire M6 Guardian is rated for 500 lumens for 20 minutes and uses up six expensive CR123A cells (about $42 worth from Walmart or $10.50 from Surefire) in the process. That's right, the $400 Surefire costs $126 per hour to run if you buy the batteries locally.

The 3D Mag based Mag85 puts out 1200 lumens using 9 AA rechargeables.

I personally have a (~1.5D sized) MagHID that delivers about 350 lumens for 2 hours on 8 AA thanks to the high efficiency of HID. It'll even run on alkalines. Try that with a Surefire.

 

I was thinking that too! I'm not gonna try to fend off someone with a gun with my flashlight! But, you know, maybe it has been proven effective.

 

A nice crowbar is what you need.
Painted to match your MINI of course.

 

I really don't understand this paranoia

What are you all worried about? Carjacking? If thats true, they got Mr. Smith & Wesson on their side ... you lose.

You all drive on the wrong side of the tracks? Worried about marauding bands of MINI haters just looking for MINIs to trash?

What is this fear that drives one to carrying weapons in their car?

I am sure in some states, it might be legal to get Tasers or stun guns or pepper spray or whatever but a flashlight? If you are actually outside of your car in a confrontation with someone with your flashlight ... bad idea. You have no idea who you are confronting and what weapon they may be carrying (some fine products made famous by Mr. Bowie).

I am not trying to be facetious or funny but serious. Is this a road rage thing?

 

A flashlight is a useful tool. You can't see what you're shooting at in the dark without one, it buys you a few seconds to draw your weapon while they're blinded and can't aim, and how else will you find all the spent shell casings to remove the evidence?

 

Not necessarily a "road rage" thing. Just Americans protecting themselves from the disease that is spreading across the country faster than a wildfire. Stuff happened back in the day, but now a days, things have gotten progressively bad, and it's only going to get worse. That's why I'm protected by Glock.

 

Bad things happen and have happened all the time. However, I would imagine if things degenerated to the point that your outside the car with your "flashlight", its a bit too late since someone else can always trump it.

 

 

Well obviously I wouldn't be fending myself against a gun with it .. but you guys never know whats out there. You also are automatically assuming any aggressor will have a gun (meaning planned assault). I'm talking about the unforeseen situations. And no its not road rage, I'd rather focus on the road than trying to focus the light into someone's face. Plus it just feels even the tiniest amount better knowing that you at least have something to defend yourself with against a raging drunk or something. I sometimes have to work in the dead middle of the night in downtown... in empty office buildings .. dark dark garages .... :impatient . I have yet to use it for this reason though.

Anyway, maybe the order I put the reasons for having the maglite in the car was misleading. In reality, i use the flashlight for what it is. to illuminate my path through the dark. I live in the suburban areas and on the outskirts of it too. So there are lots of places that don't have street lights and I have to make my way up stairs that are pitch black at times.

Plus a good 4D costs about $20 compared to above $100 for for surefires.




The euro shelf looks like a good idea, not just for the flashlight but for other things as well. I kinda don't want to spend the money for it though, maybe later on down the road. I jsut got my MINI and already i need to cut back on the mods I'm going to try spunkytuna's idea and see how it works. Then maybe i will consider the clips, although I hate the idea of drilling anything at all into the MINI. Thats why I got the front license plate mount that goes into the tow hook.

 

I keep a Surefire G2 ($36) http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/.../0/prrfnbr/878 in all of my cars and they are much brighter, more compact and handy than the clunky Mag Light. And if you would like something to aid in self defense and can't/won't carry a firearm, then look at something from these guys http://www.foxlabs.net/Aerosols.html much more effective than an impact weapon (Mag Light) with less training required. Spray them in the face and drive away, then call the cops to take a report.

 

The G2 is a nice light for $36 but the similar Maxfire LX is only $16 at Target including a holster and comes with a clicky switch and a glass lens instead of plastic like the Surefire. The bulb also costs $5 instead of $25, but then the G2 does tend to put out a cleaner looking beam. If you really wanted to, the G2 bulb does fit into the Maxfire. (But note it costs more than a whole Maxfire).

Either is perfect for keeping in the car due to the 10 year storage life of the lithium cells.

 

I've got the Maxfire LX. It just hasn't made it to my car yet. It's def. a bright light for its size. It over-powers a couple of the other flashlights I've got around my house. I'm going to get another one so I can have one inside my house and one in the MINI.

As for weapons part. Its pretty blinding at night if you flash towards someones face. Or if you want something to hit 'em with then go with a(n) ASP Baton. (Not sure on the spelling, I call 'em Riot Batons too). They're compact, some a little shorter than a Maglite but much skinner. It would fit nicely between the seat and door frame on the driver or passenger side.

 

"Someone" can always go faster than your MINI as well. Doesn't mean people shouldn't spend money to make their MINI faster, does it?

Imagine this scenario - Dude confronts you at a stoplight, says he wants to get down and dirty and starts waving a pen light menacingly in your direction. Well hey, you pull out your 4D Maglite, and mister tough guy goes back to his muscle car cowering. Then you drive off quickly before he can pull out his Smith and Wesson.

 

the "flashlight showdown at the OK corral" was a hoot!

seriously, get whatever bright flashlight suits your fancy, then go to a truck stop and pick out a "tire thumper". you can find some with beautiful woodwoking, and a leather strap to keep it on your wrist. that will better cover your "mag lite in hand" armament level...

 

I have an Inova T3 that's something like 85 lumen white LED. 2 hour burn time using 2 CR123 batteries. It's pretty simple to pick up the mil-spec batteries too as they have a 10 year shelf life. Surefire sells packs of 12 CR123s for $25 or something.

It wouldn't be an effective skull thumper though. It's only about the 6.5" long. But it sure will blind. I made the mistake of doing that to myself a couple times.

No with regards to the whole defense with a flashlight and other more potent things. It's not about wanting to use it, it's about being prepared for potential situations where it would very very very useful. Like I told a friend of mine who's working security, you never draw when the situation is still in control, only when the situation has gone completely out of hand and there is no other choice.