It Rained Again Today

Today was the second rain event we've had since I bought the MINI. And, for the second time since I bought it, I didn't drive it today.

The first time it rained, I just opted to leave it in the driveway. I drove my Jeep Wrangler to work instead. The MINI remained in the driveway, exposed to the rain, but not exposed to the dirtiest part of rainy weather.  Typically, rain in and of itself is pretty clean (acid rain and salty rain near the coast nonwithstanding). It's the road grime and dirty spray cast off from the tires of other cars that I'm trying to avoid.

Don't get me wrong. The MINI is already a bit dirty from dust, a small drop of bird poop, random tiny insects, fingerprints and some granules of dirt brought in by shoes. Most of these can be addressed by some targeted cleaning. If I were to drive it in the rain, however, I'd have to give it a full wash--and that's what I'm trying to avoid.  I'm not adverse to washing it. Quite the contrary, I WANT to wash it, but I want to do it right!

You see, the paint is the closest to perfect as it will ever be. I only have one chance to treat it right, from square one, and I want to make the most of this chance. First, I need to limit the contact I (or anything/anyone) makes with the paint. Second, I ordered some cleaning supplies that will hopefully help me wash it most optimally. (I'll leave what I bought and why for another post.)

In the interim, I managed to move around/clean out just enough of the garage to park the MINI in it. It's not ideal and a bit cramped, it works.

And that's where it sits for this most recent rain event. So technically, it's only been exposed to the rain once. Hopefully that will be the only time. :)

Here are some pics of the garaged MINI: