I'm buying a new Roadster after we move back to the Florida Gulf Coast in 2014. My test drive at Mini of Sterling (VA) absolutely re-kindled the love for my MGB of days gone by. The only question is color.

Midnight black strikes me as the most conservative and masculine paint available. And the toffee leather interior is classic. All to my liking! However, I'm a lazy guy. We use maid service, a lawn care company, a landscaping service, and an expensive car wash for our vehicles. Will the black metallic paint withstand the rigors of a fine car wash, or will I have to hand wash a black Roadster to protect the finish? Moreover, the black paint may show off nicks, scratches, dents and dirt more noticeably, though this is only speculation on my part. What is your experience?

 

In order not to steal this thread, I have PM'ed you my reply.

 

The finishing touch...perfection! Looks great with the Spice Orange. Well done.

 

If you really have an aversion to dirt and cleaning the car yourself, you may want to stick to the White Silver or the Pepper White. Surprisingly, the Spice Orange hides the dirt better than I expected. I live on the Gulf Coast myself and I am ashamed to say that "Julius" doesn't get washed as often as he should, but he still looks good due to the color.

The White Silver really hides the salt well that is present in the air here as does the Pepper White, the only thing with the Pepper White is that it looks "dingy" when dirty. Also, you may want to go with a Black wheel as well to hide the brake dust if you don't like to clean your wheels often.
(That's what I did)

 

We took our Roadster, Sunny Blue, on a drive to the Maryville Parkway to celebrate having our Mini for 30 days. On this trip we stopped at this overlook with a great view of the Smoky Mountains. We also turned 30 hours of Top Down Time during the trip. 30 Hours in 30 Days, We are loving this car!!!!!!

 

At the golf course.

 

Awesome shot and awesome Roadster.

 

We are looking for a home 5 minutes from the beach between Clearwater and St. Petersburg, so salt air film is certainly a consideration. I like the Pepper White, but slightly favor the masculine feel and classic appearance of the Midnight Black. As for brake dust, I would likely change the Mini brakes. We just switched out the brakes on my wife's Jaguar XF because of excessive brake dust. Big difference. Thanks for the tips!

 

Sunny Blue is a great looking Roadster. The JCW trim with the 'Roadster' decal looks really nice. Congratulations on your new acquisition!

 

August is a great bet. Right now we're having one of our "hot stretches" and it could last through august or it could be spotted with crappy weather. Past august starts to be more at risk for rainy weather, but we can wind up with warm weather in late September. It's just funky. The terrain causes lots of temperature inversions, too - keep going down the HWY 14 or 84 (which is on Oregon's side of the river, not nearly as scenic) and you'll get past into the Dalles which is closer to Idaho weather since it's over the mountains.

 

Superb pic, Mr. Bee.

 

Thanks guys, this is my favorite thread, I love looking at all the different pictures of Roadsters and the places people drive them!

 

+1

Very newb here but it's been great to go through page by page and browse those great rides.

 

Let me seek your honest opinion. I love this Roadster from MINI of Sterling. I'm a fit 57 year-old white male semi-retired lawyer, i.e., blue blazer, button down, khaki pants kind of guy. If you saw me driving this Roadster along the Florida Gulf Coast, would you think:

(a) "Look at the old white guy driving the flashy Roadster with red viper stripes and mirrors".

(b) "Cool. That's a nice looking Roadster".

(c) "That guy should lose the red stripes and mirrors and drive a plain Midnight Black, Eclipse Gray, or White Silver Roadster. Pepper White isn't very masculine."

I'll accept your criticism in advance if you think my concern over older guys driving sports cars is foolish.

Dave

 

Personally I think it's a pretty classic one so I wouldn't think twice about it.
Plus, with the dark interior it keeps the exterior more sporty so just go for it.

And in my opinion, never let people, even your family, tell you that you're too young for this or that. At the end of the day it's how you feel about it that matters. Life is too short to feel old
It's up to you to decide what's too young if you see what I mean. Otherwise you are just pleasing other's discomfort rather than your own comfort... just my 2ç

 

Good points, TG. I'll make the ultimate decision, but we all consider public opinion to some degree. A few contrary opinions wouldn't phase me. Thanks, TG.

 

[QUOTE=tampadave;3768875]Let me seek your honest opinion. I love this Roadster from MINI of Sterling. I'm a fit 57 year-old white male semi-retired lawyer, i.e., blue blazer, button down, khaki pants kind of guy. If you saw me driving this Roadster along the Florida Gulf Coast, would you think:

(a) "Look at the old white guy driving the flashy Roadster with red viper stripes and mirrors".

I'm 62 years old and just got a Roadster. I'm having too much fun to care about what other people think. The other day a SUV full of teenage girls rolled down their windows and screamed "Hay Mister, we love your car". They didn't say anything about being an old fart!!!!!

 

[QUOTE=Mr. Bee;3768990]Brilliant answer, Mr. Bee! Like other lawyers in Washington, DC, I've driven BMWs, Jaguars, and even a Cadillac over the years. But nothing made me go "WOW" like my test drive at MINI of Sterling. Just like my MGB in 1974.....

Sunny Blue has a bit of flash. Well done, sir!

 

It only matters if you're happy

 

Dave, I'm 63 in less than a month. Got my Roadster on my 62nd birthday. Couldn't be happier with it and I wouldn't give a rat's a$$ what people think. The white with red looks great. I went more classic, red with black stripes but whatever way you go, "to thine own self be true".

And a Mini Roadster is a great car for the Florida Gulf Coast. With the exeption of summer days and the predictable FL rain, my top is always down.

 

It's time to enjoy life. A mini Roadster is one of the best ways to do just that!.

 

MINI #1, jkapinos, Retired Rev:

Thanks for your encouragement regarding the Pepper White Roadster with crimson viper stripes. So far, I have a unanimous recommendation from the MINI community to select the Roadster of my choice without regard for outside opinion. Thank you!

Retired Rev, I'm a USF graduate (Tampa), so I'm excited to move back to the Florida Gulf Coast. One cannot sit at a traffic light with the Roadster top down on a hot, humid July afternoon at Madeira Beach.

Seems like all the older guys have nice Roadsters with viper striping. Awesome!

 

At 20 mph or less you can put the top up or down. With all the rain we have been having in the northeast it's been used a lot. I go from AC to top down sometimes two or three times in one trip home. With the weather we have had recently, sitting in traffic is like sunning on the deck. I have a good tan going just from my 150 mile daily drive.

 

A/C and heat make convertible life easy through the various seasons. But sitting at traffic light waits during hot, humid Florida days ..... miserable.

 

^+1