[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini Moo (original)

The NCAP report above was done in 2002, I understood the question to be about the R56?

I dont think the R56 has had its Taiwanese launch yet, & from the pictures it looks like a 2002-2003 model

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/3...450308.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/3...3813b3.jpg?v=0

[Ken Cooper]

Check this out - A Mini Cooper and a Ford pick-up truck in 40 mph crash tests:

http://www.bridger.us/2002/12/16/Cra...operVsFordF150

[Mike Clarke]

If you spend some time searching this site you will find many reports of serious accidents where the MINI has protected the driver from injury.

[ayilar]

I am OK with driver's side protection -- I am the driver, so that's my call to make. I am considering the Mini because I have decided that the risk-to-reward ration is worth it.

I would still like to have rear-impact protection data, for either the "old" or the "new" New Mini. I will sometimes carry my son in the back for the next two years, and rear-impact protection is therefore an issue with my other half -- same story as the first poster's father, I guess :-) ).

[~Marcus~]

Quote: Originally Posted by nephilin (original)

Just FYI, the actress died because she was not wearing her seat belt when the truck collided into the rear of the mini - therefore, the passenger side airbag did not deploy (impact from behind), resulting in her suffering from massive fractures to her skull. Her assistant, who was the driver, had her seat belt on and suffered only minor injuries and was discharged from the hosital after a few hours.

And the moral of this story is - put your seat belt on!!!!

Anecdotal evidence on this site suggests the MINI is very strong indeed, I got hit in the rear in my old MINI at quite a high speed and although the suspension was wrecked, the shell didn't distort at all, the rear hardly looked damaged. My back ached slightly for a day or two and that was it.

As the MINI is stable, has a low centre of gravity and can change direction quickly, you're less likely to get into trouble in the first place.

[R56SMAN]

Check out this link to another thread on this topic:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/2nd-gen-m...t-results.html

[21Blue]

Hi MIN 18,

don't worry about the safety of the MINI, it is top notch. I've seen much worse MINI accidents here on M2 and in other news, and drivers have managed to escape with minor injuries. As to the Taiwanese actress, yes she was not wearing a seatbelt. Here in Taiwan, people still are getting use to the idea of wearing a seatbelt. It is mandatory to wear one while sitting up front while its optional in the rear, maybe she had forgotten.

[British SD]

Like many MINI owners, when doing highway speed or on mountain twisties, I rarely have anyone tailing me and rarer anyone in the back seat so rear enders are not a large concern!

It depends what kind of accident you anticipate being in. Last month on icy roads, I witnessed a pickup slide sideways, go airborne off the guard rail and roll multiple times right in front of me. It was not pretty and not the kind of vehicle I would want to be driving in a multiple rollover.

For my kind of driving, hitting big wildlife (elk,deer,moose), rollovers, side impacts and head on's are my concern. I think the MINI with low centre of gravity, superior road handling avoidance, responsive brakes, crumple zone engineering and multiple airbags plays the law of averages well.

But in city driving with rear enders common and with people always in the rear seats, I would prefer my chances in other more suited vehicles!

[hcwang]

Quote: Originally Posted by nephilin (original)

Just FYI, the actress died because she was not wearing her seat belt when the truck collided into the rear of the mini - therefore, the passenger side airbag did not deploy (impact from behind), resulting in her suffering from massive fractures to her skull. Her assistant, who was the driver, had her seat belt on and suffered only minor injuries and was discharged from the hosital after a few hours.

If you looked at pictures of the actual wreckage, you would have noticed that the car was not that badly damaged. Really just an unfortunate case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

hi,
i totally agree with the view that this is just another unfortunate case. As for the actress who is yound and talented, most Taiwanese feel quite shock with this accident. As far as i know and the investigation held by the police, the car first collied into the central "fence" of high way and stopped in the middle of the outerline of the road. It is suggested that the actress was about to release the seat belt in order to leave the car..........then the accident happened!
there's nothing wrong with the minis. even when you're in a Volvo, the same thing would happen again

Have a safe drive!

by the way, i've placed my order for the R56 MCS with Chilli pack. That costs me around 24000BP (NTD 1390000). However, GOLF Gti with DSG in taiwan only costs 23000BP(NTD 1300000). What a cost for a mini in Taiwan and envy you guys in UK.

[Paul]

A repost from the other thread, but I like the comparison it makes:

Chrysler Voyager 2006 -- --
Peugeot 207 2006 -- --

That's Adult Occupant Rating, Pedestrian Test Rating, Child protection rating


An example (selective I know), that bigger isn't always better. To be honest though, if you look at the NCAP site, the MPV section doesn't look any more impressive than the supermini section in terms of crash test results.

[jlove]

Quote: Originally Posted by MIN 18 (original)

yes, that's what my dad is afraid of. The rear impact.

I suggest that you tell your Dad that you will always sit in the front seat while you are driving, not the back!

Seriously, I had a large tree branch, approximately 8" diameter - 20' long, across the windscreen during a gale, with a probably impact speed of about 40mph. The screen was caved-in, the wipers ripped off, bonnet dented but the A-pillars were undamaged and I was unharmed, although a little suprised! It would have been different end-on but I hit it in mid-air as it was falling and it bounced over the roof. I have no problem with its structural safety.

The big advantage of the Mini is in Primary Safety - that is the ability to avoid the accident in the first place because it goes where you point it... most of the time!

[CooperS4us]

Quote: Originally Posted by nephilin (original)

Just FYI, the actress died because she was not wearing her seat belt when the truck collided into the rear of the mini - therefore, the passenger side airbag did not deploy (impact from behind), resulting in her suffering from massive fractures to her skull. Her assistant, who was the driver, had her seat belt on and suffered only minor injuries and was discharged from the hosital after a few hours.

If you looked at pictures of the actual wreckage, you would have noticed that the car was not that badly damaged. Really just an unfortunate case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Do you have a link to pictures of this accident?

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by CooperS4us (original)

Do you have a link to pictures of this accident?

I put a link on post #21, but more here >> MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Actress - Xu Weilun involved in Mini Cooper Crash - Taiwan

Its perhaps important to realise that ther seatbelt was unbuckled only after car had come to a stop after the first incident.
Full details HERE
In this respect, I dont think there are many cars that would have fared any better in similar circumstances.

[radfordmini]

Looking through Exchange and Mart I came across this Mini Cooper S:

Exchange & Mart : Mini Cooper S Hatchback 2004, 17,000 miles, £4,995

(See Mini Cooper S, 2004, 17k, Electric Blue £4995)

I hope no one was hurt. I wonder if anyone will buy it & I doubt it would economical to fix it!

R

[Restyle]

Quote: Originally Posted by radfordmini (original)

I doubt it would economical to fix it!

You could be right !!

...but as the ad says "as you will see good man will fix in a couple of days " ...so maybe theres hope after all

[MIN 18]

Now that that mini is officially released in the states, any news on the 2007 mini safety ratings?

[Guran]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

A repost from the other thread, but I like the comparison it makes:

Chrysler Voyager 2006 -- --
Peugeot 207 2006 -- --

That's Adult Occupant Rating, Pedestrian Test Rating, Child protection rating


An example (selective I know), that bigger isn't always better. To be honest though, if you look at the NCAP site, the MPV section doesn't look any more impressive than the supermini section in terms of crash test results.

Careful there. NCAP ratings for frontal offset and side impact are only comparable within classes (e.g. Peugeot 207 is in "Supermini" and Chrysler Voyager is in "MPV"), and within a kerb wieght range of +/-115kg. This is a matter of both physics (heavier cars cause more damage to lighter cars) and vehicle design (high cars hit low cars at different relative heights ... if you get my drift). So a four star NCAP MINI won't give you as much protection as a 4 star NCAP large family car or SUV. Still, I'd much rather be in a 4 star NCAP MINI than a 1 star NCAP Rover 100!!!

[Guran]

Oh, and here's a great image for your desktop wallpaper:

http://www.euroncap.com/downloads/me...0/bmw_mini.jpg

[MIN 18]

Quote: Originally Posted by Guran (original)

Oh, and here's a great image for your desktop wallpaper:

http://www.euroncap.com/downloads/me...0/bmw_mini.jpg

Guran, Is that the old or the new mini? i cannot distinguish the old and the new one without its front end

[minimagyar]

Any news on this? I am hoping, and assuming, the new one will be better?