I just sold my car 3 months ago and I've been walking to work and busing to everywhere else. I m tempted to buy myself a new Mini (non-s) for quite sometime now. The main reason which puts me off buying is that I really do not want to park a brand new car on the street. I do not have a garage because the place I rent only has one garage for the owner.

I used to own a modified 92 miata. I parked the car on the street for a year. It's been broken in once with nothing stolen but shattered window and egged once . I live in Richmond, BC, Canada where vandalisms always always happen.

What do you think? Is Mini a very attractive car for vandalism or theft? What color would you think is safer for parking out overnight?

Thank you. I really want a Mini!!

 

one thought in terms of the egging may be to get an outdoor car cover??

 

Sorry. You can't park on the street. It's in the manual... "Mini must be garaged to prevent theft and vandalism". Page eleventy-three, section 7, paragraph b, subset 4, in italics.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

Don't do it. Wait til you have a place to park off the street. It'll get trashed.

 

Get a Pit Bull and tie it to the car when parked.

 

Better yet. A trunk monkey. Or in this case. A boot monkey.

 

Ugh, I've had one of those before. You thought you had trouble with vandalism before?

 

Get one of those covers that makes it look like a Scion.

 

nobody is helping? Thanks for suggestions anyways.

 

They have...

They are stating that the MINI is a very stand-out car, and thus, will be targeted more so than your neighbour's Camry and such.

Also stated that a car cover will help with the egging, but if someone is willing to bash a window in, a car cover will not prevent theft. The MINI is very obvious in the sea of plain cookie-cutter cars. To put this in perspective, just imagine parking a Porsche outside...

Don't park it outside, it won't love you as much... but the vandals will.

 

hmm... thats odd, in my manual its underlined

 

Thank you Noegel. I will just wait then.

 

Well you could always go ahead and get your MINI but you will have to find another place to live before you take delivery. At least somewhere off the street, a carport with a car cover...something to protect. Even as well built as the MINI is it does attract attention most everywhere you go and especially while parked and no one is around. Do keep us posted though

 

It’s a fact you’ll have to deal with no matter what car you buy, if you have no garage you will have to park somewhere.

I don’t have a garage, but I do have a driveway to park on. My neighborhood has had its troubles in the past, but I’ve never had anything happen to my MCS and It’s been parked almost on the street for over 5 years now.

 

I'll park my MINI wherever I please.

I pay my insurance agent to stay awake at night worrying about what might be happening to my MINI.

 

Yucca P is right. Are you going to hide all of your life because bad things happen to people? Man up. Indulge yourself!

Oh, be leary of using a cover because they can trap moisture against the paint. It's probably less wear leaving it exposed. My car has been egged a couple of times but I've been able to clean it off in less than a day. Just gotta make sure you carefully flick all of the shell off with a finger nail before cleaning, because the shell WILL scratch the paint. Check your insurance for "egging" coverage (seriously).

 

Look on craigslist or some place like that maybe someone is willing to rent out their driveway or garage or something.

 

I don't think a car cover is the way to go. Think about it--in a line of cars, don't your eyes go to the one under the cover?

You can't hide your cars from the bad guys. Yucca is right--get insurance and let them deal with any problems.

I think I'd go for one of the less conspicuous colors. Not red!

 

Mine is out front right now and will stay there - if it get stolen - so what, its just a car. If a thief wants something, they will get it.. With the way these key/disk work - it wont be just some kid who takes it...

I ride a Harley and a lot of the Harley people are freaky about parking their bikes out - Same feelings... Ride, enjoy, park and what will be - will be...

 

You can park on the street! This is not a good question to ask MINI folks around here as most would not do it. I am in that camp but there is a club member around these parts who parks his on the street in the city of CHicago. Sure, his car doesn't look as nice as some other peoples cars but it is his car and parking is just too $$$.

 

I think the neighborhood you park in has more effect than the type of car you are parking.

 

Gee....I grew up in Richmond, and it's really not that bad, especially compared to other parts of greater Vancouver. And I noticed that you had gotten broken into once. If one idiot is going to detract you from buying a fun car, perhaps a 1986 beige Taurus is more of a deterrent?

Just giving you a hard time. I'd say go buy the Mini if it fits your pocketbook.

 

Did they make the Taurus in 1986?

 

I certainly don't like to park mine on the street, but I will if I have to. Garage spots are hard to come by in my neighborhood and lots of people have MINIs. There are at least a dozen that park on the street. I've never seen any vandalism done to any of them. I think as long as you don't leave anything in your car, it won't be targeted for a break in. If you're worried about bumper scratches, you could always get a "bumper badger" (http://www.chariotauto.com).

 

A smallish one though.

First cat walks by and you have to track the car down by skidmarks.