I live in Lower Bucks County just north of Philly. Today I parked next to a clubman at the post office that made me want to cry. It is a Blue non s with silver roof and trim. This car was scrathed up, the wheel trim molding was coming off and it hadn't been washed in months, the interior was also a mess. If you own a mini you need to take care of it. The only time I have trouble keeping the outside of my car clean is in the winter when there are snow falls a couple of days apart.

 

Different strokes for different folks. Opportunity and resources make a difference, too.

I guess I missed the part in my ownership contract that said I must keep my exterior free from signs of use.

 

At least try!!! If it looks like that on the outside imagine what the engine looks like. I mean this vehicle is headed towards an early grave. It's maybe two years old and looks like 10 or more.

 

Yeah, I'm with you. If you take care of it, it will take care of you...!

Sadly, this is not as uncommon a practice as one would like to believe. Aside from the fun-factor, a MINI is essentially basic transportation, particularly a "Justa" like you observed; but I've seen cars that you would never expect someone to neglect (like Corvettes, 7-Series BMW's, etc.) looking like they'd just gone through a demolition derby.

It does make you want to cry sometimes...

 

Sheesh. Everyone knows that a clean car runs way, way better

 

Less drag and my aerodynamic, at least that's my excuse to clean it often

 

keeping it clean also gives other people a good impression of you!!!!! You never have a chance to make a good first impression.

 

what ya drive tell something about u

 

i agree. The way you keep your car says a lot about yourself. Just today, I saw another 2011, ice blue, "justa" parked in the central business district of town and honestly, I don't think the car has ever seen soap. It was beyond filthy. But also, outside of MINI's, I've seen an unfortunate amount of nice, higher end cars be neglected in the same way. What's the point in owning a nice car if you can't keep it that way??..

 

Funny, my MINI is always cleaner than my house!!

What does that say?!?

 

The car is smaller? Hard to hose down the inside of the house?

 

My jcw has never seen rain,beach,snow or sat outside at most for 4 hours.

 

No kidding - I can't count the number of times I've seen a late-model Mercedes/Porsche/Lexus/BMW that looks like it's been washed with a dry rock.

If you don't want to keep your car concours-ready at all times, that's fine. But it makes me wonder how they care for their other possessions. Would they put their tools away dirty?