[fadec]

On my way to work crossing a bridge I was following two trucks. The front truck spun out on some black ice on the bridge. BTW it was in the high 20's this morning! Anyway, one truck spun into the other and they slid around like hockey pucks for awhile. All this time I was in back staying nice and strait never breaking loose or anything. Well, as I approached the trucks, (the trucks were now blocking the road) another car didn't see me stopping and hit me in the rear! Next thing I knew I too was the hockey puck....

Luckily I was far enough back from the trucks so that I wasn't pushed into them and nobody got hurt in any way. It was actually slow moving, just very slippery.

The damage report? Well, the rear bumper, all the plastic around it, left tail light outer shield, reverse light, metal between tail gate and left light, the tail gate and exhaust pipes are either broken or bent. Though all the legal lights work. Even the red lens part of the left tail light is intact. Now with the tail gate damage I haven't tried to open the tail gate, but nothing on the inside shows any bending. The only thing that really bothers me with the damage is the crease between the left tail light and tail gate. This is the only part that looks to require major body work. I also hope the exhaust isn't pushed into something I can't see. I looked around as much as possible and everything looks to be clear.

Through all this two things about the MINI really stood out during the entire situation. First the car handled very well on some very slippery roads. Second is how sturdy this little car really is.

I was hit by an 1985 Oldsmobile!!! I was able to drive away with only relative damage..... HE DID NOT! His poor car got totaled! His bumper, grill and radiator were on the ground. I'm sorry to see anything like that happen to anybody, but I still have to say.... For a mini to hold up that well against an old Oldsmobile is, to me, pretty remarkable!

Now I have to find a dealer and get the little one over there for a look. I think that would be in Arlington(Fort Worth area?). When I'll have the chance to go the 265 miles I'm still not sure.

Take care.... ~tim

[NEMINI]

Glad to hear no one was hurt, MINI's can be fixed/replaced much easier then you can.

[tavis1]

Glad to hear you are OK. MINI'S are pretty strong. This site is chalked full of accidents and people walking away and cars that are in still good shape. Its hard to convince non-MINIers of that. Friends say at work "There is no way I would buy one of those, there death traps." I tried to explain the safty features and the accidents I read about and they don't believe it. Oh well, that just means less Coopers in this town wich is a good thing.
Tavis1

[SugarBelly]

Quote: Originally Posted by fadec

Two things.... First the car handled very well on some very slippery roads. Second is how sturdy this little car really is.

I was hit by an 1985 Oldsmobile!!! I was able to drive away with only relative damage..... HE DID NOT! His poor car got totaled! ....For a mini to hold up that well against an old Oldsmobile is, to me, pretty remarkable!

Great to hear you're well, you were keeping a "safe & proper distance" & your MINI did it's job preserving you! Sorry about your MINI.

Do us a favor, fadec. Please share your wheel & tire specs.

It sounds as though your active attention to the road & driver's skill is what kept you safe, fadec. Yet, I'm still interested in your baby's shoes.

[obehave]

Sorry to hear that. I got bashed into this summer. Not a great thing to have happen.
Glad all's well and hope your car comes out good as new.

[ayn]

Glad u'r okay, sorry to hear that... I was in a similar situation and I made sure my hazzards were on so ppl knew something was going on...

Did you have rear fog lights (or have them turned on)? Just curious... I'm going to have mine activated in about a week...

--Andrew

[fadec]

Thanks everybody for your well wishes.

SurgarBelly: I have the standard Pirelli runflat 205/45/17's with R-90 wheels. Nothing special. These are tires with just over 17K on them and plenty of wear left. My MCS and driving skill really got me out of becoming fodder in the truck accident. Just wish the Olds. had been paying more attention.

ayn: I don't have rear fogs installed. My MCS is a Jan.-02 pre-production build, they weren't available then. Not sure if they would have helped in this situation either. Though misty, the conditions provided enough visibility for him to see me in time. This is why he walked away with a ticket.

[PJ12345]

Do you have any pictures? I want to see the relative damage.

[Electric Sheep]

Glad to see you're all right. I was involved in an accident myself around a month back, so I know what it's like. I was quite heartbroken after mine and I still haven't got the car back!

Anyway, good to see you're okay and that MINI did it's job - i.e. protecting you. My own accident showed just how strong MINIs can be.

[ScottyB]

How terrible. Dont know how Id feel if someone smashed up my MINI.

Glad youre ok though!

[EBMCS03]

Glad to hear no ones hurt but sorry to hear about your car... If you have pics and if you dont mind... I would like to see how the damage is.

[bobbiej]

I too just had an accident on 4/1. A Dodge Ram pick up ran over my left front end literally right over the top. I was not hurt, he crushed my left front down onto the tire, so had to be towed, $6000 later they are finally working on my car, should have next week sometime. here is the list that I know of that had to be replaced.

hood
inner panel
xenon headlight
trim piece over wheel
side mirror
side panel
tire & rim
side signal light
scrape on door has to be repaired also

but I walked away, totally ed off but I walked away.
glad you weren't hurt and your car can be repaired.

Bobbie