[MIN 18]

I'm this close to getting the new mini and here comes a news about the mini cooper car crash of a taiwanese actress. The actress died because of the crash. Here comes my dad ranting about the small size of the mini and the safety it provides.

Can someone tell me how to defend my car of choice which is the new mini cooper s in terms of safety.

[RonBurgundy]

Hopefully this will give you all the information/reassurance that you need?

European New Car Assessment Programme: Safety Rating Details

[andy_leitch]

The Mini Cooper S or in fact all Minis are very safe cars. Here in the UK they're fantastic because we drive cars that are of a sensible size. In other countries in the world where everybody buys trucks and SUV's the Mini is maybe not the safest car on the road due to its size but the Mini is put together a lot better than most of these big trucks. It doesn't rely on size to give you security. I would say go for it. The car is very strong and handles about a thousand times better than a big car which will keep you from crashing in adverse conditions.

Final thought.

If it's slippery on the road and you're going round a corner the mini will probably keep you from crashing wheras in a big truck you'll probably crash, roll, burn and ultimately die.

If you're playing chicken with someone in a big truck i'd say it's better to have the truck

Assuming that your a person of adequate sanity i'd say take the mini.

Hope I have been of assistance to you

Andrew Leitch

[MIN 18]

But how about the rear impact safety? My dad's particularly concerned with it since the mini is a hatch

[Biscuit79]

Hiya

I had exactly the same worries - but... i had my first (and touch wood last) crash last year, in a MINI courtesy car. I lost control when a deer ran out in front of my car.

I lost control, went up over a verge, through a 3ft wide hedge, through a baby oak tree, through a strengthened wooden fence, and down a 4 foot drop into the field below (at 50mph) (after being airbourne for some time)

The car touched down on all 4 wheels, held its line, didnt roll and came to a stop about 100m down the field.

The car was written off, but mainly because the underside had been ripped off by the hedge/fence etc, the front was obviously slightly crumpled, but given the impact etc it did amazingly well - no one who saw what had happened could believe i walked away - and i did, without a bruise or a scratch...

I always gave the MINI it's due, but after that i had a whole new respect for it..

This is just my story and my experience, but i know there are other pretty remarkable stories on here about MINI's doing their owners proud...

[BRG-Mini-One]

In my view, if you want safety, don't go for the mini.

They are good but they aren't great, U felt that the car can crumple at the back quite easily and for safety there are plenty of other cars out there. They do look good though.

If you are after a more sturdy car I would favour something like an Audi A3 though.

[MIN 18]

Quote: Originally Posted by Biscuit79 (original)

Hiya

I had exactly the same worries - but... i had my first (and touch wood last) crash last year, in a MINI courtesy car. I lost control when a deer ran out in front of my car.

I lost control, went up over a verge, through a 3ft wide hedge, through a baby oak tree, through a strengthened wooden fence, and down a 4 foot drop into the field below (at 50mph) (after being airbourne for some time)

The car touched down on all 4 wheels, held its line, didnt roll and came to a stop about 100m down the field.

The car was written off, but mainly because the underside had been ripped off by the hedge/fence etc, the front was obviously slightly crumpled, but given the impact etc it did amazingly well - no one who saw what had happened could believe i walked away - and i did, without a bruise or a scratch...

I always gave the MINI it's due, but after that i had a whole new respect for it..

This is just my story and my experience, but i know there are other pretty remarkable stories on here about MINI's doing their owners proud...

WOW! What an experience. it's good to hear that your are OK. I guess that it's not all about our cars safety. But the most important thing is the driver himself

[MIN 18]

Quote: Originally Posted by BRG-Mini-One (original)

In my view, if you want safety, don't go for the mini.

They are good but they aren't great, U felt that the car can crumple at the back quite easily and for safety there are plenty of other cars out there. They do look good though.

If you are after a more sturdy car I would favour something like an Audi A3 though.

yes, that's what my dad is afraid of. The rear impact. Specially here in the Philippines when everyone drives like crazy in their jeepneys and crazy bus drivers. You need ample protection. But I JUST LOVE THE MINI!!!! Hope I can pursuade my dad to get one. if it would make any difference to my dad, I'd even wear a helmet while driving the mini

[Mini Moo]

Quote: Originally Posted by RonBurgundy (original)

Hopefully this will give you all the information/reassurance that you need?

European New Car Assessment Programme: Safety Rating Details

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

MM

[Biscuit79]

Quote: Originally Posted by MIN 18 (original)

WOW! What an experience. it's good to hear that your are OK. I guess that it's not all about our cars safety. But the most important thing is the driver himself

And if you're gonna crash, make sure it's in someone else's car!

(The dealership have just about forgiven me!!)

[Biscuit79]

Quote: Originally Posted by MIN 18 (original)

yes, that's what my dad is afraid of. The rear impact. Specially here in the Philippines when everyone drives like crazy in their jeepneys and crazy bus drivers. You need ample protection. But I JUST LOVE THE MINI!!!! Hope I can pursuade my dad to get one. if it would make any difference to my dad, I'd even wear a helmet while driving the mini

Lol!

My friend bought me a fake flying helmet to wear in mine!!!

[Paul]

Shame the latest NCAP results are not out for the new model. Interesting reading the NCAP site, almost destroys the myth that bigger is safer.

[South Shore Lad]

At the risk of committing sacrilege, I think you can group the MINI in with a lot of the other so called 'supermini' small hatchbacks - ie Polo, Fiesta, Clio, Micra, 206/207, Corsa, Yaris etc.

Thing is with these cars is that they are all pretty short in length, with minimal rear overhang. Consequently, back seat passengers are pretty vulnerable in rear end shunts. I'd guess that a bigger 'three box' design (bonnet/passenger compartment/separate boot) might offer more protection in such smashes.

Like Paul mentions, I haven't seen the NCAP results, but I believe they're as good as, if not better, than the cars in the class I've mentioned.

When it comes down to it, life's often about balancing safety risks with everyday fun/enjoyment and other practicalities.

SSL

[mab01uk]

You can,t beat the laws of physics but a modern small car like the MINI is a lot safer than older generations of larger cars but is bound to lose out to current generation larger cars. Like NCAP say you can only compare cars within the same group. Older SUVs/4x4s tend to lose out on stability & roll-over accidents although electronic driver aids are combating this to some degree.
As SSL said :-

Quote:

When it comes down to it, life's often about balancing safety risks with everyday fun/enjoyment and other practicalities.

eg. A motorcycle is far more dangerous than any car but has certain advantages & is a lot of fun but in the end you have to weigh up the risks acceptable to youself.

NCAP Quote:-

20. Are large cars safer than small cars? In frontal impacts between cars, the occupants of the heavier car or the one with higher structures tend to fare better than those travelling in lighter lower cars. It should be noted though that higher vehicles tend to be less stable and consequently more likely to be involved in accidents, particularly those involving loss of control, where overturning or an impact with a roadside obstacle may occur. These effects are currently impossible to overcome. As most people decide on the size of the car to buy for other reasons, Euro NCAP only makes comparisons within size categories. The rating of a car within its size category is a function of the quality of its safety design.
21. Can results be compared between different categories of cars? No. Results should only be compared within the same group. The frontal testing method mirrors a crash between two similar sized cars. The Euro NCAP tests cannot be used to predict the outcome of such crashes between cars of different heights and masses.

[steeve]

I think you should get a tank, there's plenty on ebay. Should be fairly safe in one of those.......

[jonnywhite]

I wouldn't get too hunng up about the size of the car being relative to it's safety. You only have to look at how well Renaults for example perform in the NCAP tests to see that. It's not just about how sturdy a car is but more how its 'behaves' in an accident. You don't necessarily want heavy and solid as the jarring/shock effect caused in an impact can cause trauma to the body. Having worked for years in the accident repair and insurance industry I've learned that what you really need is a car that folds and absorbs the impact in the areas designed to do so whilst keeping the passanger area intact. Mini's are pretty good at this, even for rear passengers.

Good luck in choosing the right car. Oh and don't crash it!

[jonnywhite]

And just to help you decide.............

YouTube - Mini crash!

(actually I hope this guy was ok)

[accce]

thet mini had a full rollcage. Not you factory safty equipment!!!

[jonnywhite]

Quote: Originally Posted by accce (original)

thet mini had a full rollcage. Not you factory safty equipment!!!

Very true....and a lot of other safety equipment. Spectacular though!

[nephilin]

Quote: Originally Posted by MIN 18 (original)

I'm this close to getting the new mini and here comes a news about the mini cooper car crash of a taiwanese actress. The actress died because of the crash. Here comes my dad ranting about the small size of the mini and the safety it provides.

Can someone tell me how to defend my car of choice which is the new mini cooper s in terms of safety.

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.