[monica]

Has any other parent out there had the pleasure yet of having to justify buying a MINI? People have looked at me in horror when I tell them that I am buying a MINI because "Where am I going to put my son?!" In a car seat, in the back seat of my new MINI you idiot. You would think I was suggesting strapping him to the back of a Harley with bungee cord. I'm scared that at any minute DYFS is going to down my door. I thought a MINI was a rather perfect choice - it's affordable and adorable. I only have one son and am not planning on spawning a litter anytime soon And it strikes me as the perfect car to drive since I do live in SUV hell and spend a fair amount of time darting out of the way of zonked-out, car-pooling, soccer moms who are doubting their station here in life. Yes it is a small car but it is also a smaller target
Any supporters on this out there?

[fprodget]

My 4 and 5 year old are dying for our car to get here. It will be an around town car for us. My wife drives a volvo V70 GLT wagon for any long distance trips. My wife is concerned with how close the back seat is to the rear of the car. I just tell her no one will catch us!! LOL

When my sister and I were growing up in the 60's, my dad stuffed us in the back of many different cars: Jaguar XK150, Bugeye Sprite, 63 Saab Monte Carlo and so on. My sister even rode in the back of the bugeye laying stomach down with her head sticking out between the two front seats. My how times have changed with car safety.

[Keith]

I have a 10 year old son who loves the car - it is the car car he always wants to take when visiting a friend. The big car of the family is my wife's BMW 323 convertible - also a 4 seater. Carrying the whole soccer team is not an option - you get used to it. We both decided that we would not choose the car we drive every day based on an infrequent need. We take less on vacations that we used to and it is amazing how easy it is to adjust.

[monica]

Yeah I have to admit that the back seat going to the end of the car is my one concern. Considering that the only fender benders that I have had have been someone rear ending me, but always in traffic or at a stop sign where nobody was moving fast enough to cause more that a dent and some stress. Now here is a thought, please no one out there lynch me on this one but why exactly is the back seat safer than the front seat? And would it be possible to put my son in the front seat, if I have the airbags disabled? in a car seat of course.

[fprodget]

I have asked about disabling the passenger front airbag and my dealer says they cannot do it.

I do not necessarily think the front airbag is a real danger to my 5 year old. I do not know by memory the actual statistics, but I do not think any front facing small children have been killed by airbags when they wore their seatbelts properly. I believe the only deaths were children who did not have their seatbelt on and some rear facing infants. Maybe someone out there knows where to find the real statistics. I am probably going to allow my some to sit in the front seat with the airbag on.

[wingspan]

Just do it. No argument. We put William (now age 6) in Muffy (94 M Reg Mini 1.3i) from birth. Shopped/drove all over the south of the UK with him in the car seat. By age 4 he had done more London to Brighton runs in either Muffy or Magnus (67 E Reg Austin Cooper S 1275) than a lot of others (three

A MINI has "got" to be safer/more agile/better constructed than a Mini, it goes without saying.

Besides, like the big 5 series BM ad says, you need to redefine the definition of "avoidable" accident!

cheers...magnus2

[BigMack]

The MINI is safe because:

1.)))It is nimble and quick.(DSC Option)
2.)))They can't hit you if they can't catch you.
3.)))Lots of air bags.
4.)))Sturdy construction.
5.)))Good visibility

Quite a few people ask, "arent you afraid of an accident in such a tiny little car?"
My reply is, I'm afraid of any accident, I feel safer in the MINI than any other car I own.

[HarryHBMCC]

Our 16-month old son LOVES the MINI! He loves watching the speedometer as clocks are one of his favorite toys. He goes to sleep in it no problem. Getting him into his forward facing car-seat in the back seat of the MINI is no problem with the wide opening doors and easy-entry seats. I have to take the headrest off the rear seat in which he sits (just pull up and pop the button). There are already tethor anchors on both sides.

I feel perfectly safe with him in the back of the car. In rear end collisions, you are both going in the same direction so impact speed is actually much lower (if you're doing 30 and they hit you doing 50 the difference is just 20). Head on, you add the speeds. The rear bumper is pretty beefy on the MINI. I feel safer without front AND side airbags around him since they have not been tested on children and I don't think you can turn them off.

There is enough space in the hatch to store diapers, spare clothes, cooler of food, dining-room booster seat and a small fold-up stroller if you take the cargo shelf off. This is without folding the other seat. By folding the other seat you gain even more room.

It is a much more practical car that I thought it would be. We've gotten groceries in it many times. For long trips it is a bit small when you must carry playpens, high-chairs and clothing for two adults plus a child but you could do it if you _really_ prioritized.

Harry

[carnellm]

I have a 10 year old daughter (tall as a 12 year old) and a 6 year old son. They both love the car. Even though they have more room in my wife's Ford Escape SUV, they would rather ride in the MINI because it is "fun". Good kids. Even with all four of us in the car, we have plenty of room - and I am 6'2" and shall I say on the LARGE side.

As for safety, I will echo a sentiment above. I feel very safe in this car because I know I can avoid accidents. It is quick and nimble so I can avoid or get out of trouble. Very unlike alot of other cars where you must trust raw tonnage to carry you through an accident. I drove my MGB to work everyday for the past 3 years. Only dent it got was when a Honda backed into it in the parking lot. Again, able to react and avoid accidents.

So I say, buy a MINI and give your kids something to enjoy. And teach them early that they don't have to be sheep and follow the flock.

Just my opinion...

Michael

[Garfield]

I have a 4 and 2.5 year old, both are frequently driven around in the MINI.
Take this for an example, how many other two-door cars can you almost stand on the rear floor to buckle them in. It's got LOTS of room.

After watching a car drop a wheel off the road and spin today, I've thought about safety even more. That car unweighted the entire side of the car at 60mph. If that had been an SUV, it would've rolled AT LEAST twice. Now, how safe is the MINI? I concur with all the reasons about being able to AVOID the accident, something most of the truck buying soccer moms don't have a clue about.

[ScottG]

Just went through this discussion with my wife. The MINI on order will replace my commuter car, so our 4 month old won't be riding along very often, while our "family car" a Volvo S80 will handle most baby duty. I still went to the dealer and threw the car seat and stroller into the back of a MINI to prove to my wife it can and will be done.
My comment to friends who question the safety issue is this: nobody in their right mind wants to be in an accident, especially with a child. Driving smart and defensively with an agile and small car is a good thing. SUV's in Los Angeles must be 25% of the cars on the roads. Yes they are big, but they are also clumsy and handle poorly. I feel safer in the MINI than any other small car, including Porsches and sports cars.
If I'm planning on being in a wreck I'd always choose my Volvo S80 (pretty much the safest car around), but then again, I'm not PLANNING to wreck.
-Scott

[rich]

I am comfortable putting my 2 y.o. in the new MINI from a safety POV

I am concerned however about car-sickness - I suspect the firm ride & handling characteristics may make it a bit sickness-inducing for a little one in the back seats

[daver]

For teh record teh passenger airbag CAN BE disabled by your dealer. This has been an official message from BMW, following the results of the NCAP-crash-test, they even would make it more clear(bigger stickers I presume) that it is a no do, putting a childseat in front when the passenger airbag is not disabled.

SO if you dealer states that he can not disable the airbag, contact MINI/BMW-HQ or get another dealer.

Safe driving

[monica]

Thank you all so much, I knew I wasn't alone out there. SUVs are big and clumsy and the inherent danger with them lies in the fact that most people driving feel that their family will be safe just because they will end up barrelling through everything and everyone in their path. I have always enjoyed cars that reacted well and were nimble and stable. But sometimes I just get so angry at the utter disregard some drivers have for the fellow human beings on the road. I do't want to be in an accident and my family's safety is top prioriy but it would kill me to know that I seriously injured or possibley killed someone in what would have been only a nasty fender bender. People need to stop and think "Is this overkill?" SUVs and Trucks are odd really because in most cars your first line of defense is to avoid and accident - PERIOD. But if need be fast reflexs are key. But if react too quick in one of these monsters and you can watch your whole family become airborne. Safe? Possibly, but a bit tramatic for all. And if the SUV driver does remember not to drive a truck like a car someone could get mowed down. And that's when I get the heck out of the way. I'm that little gnat buzzing around your head on a hot summer day. The one that you big clumsy hand can never swat away.

Did anyone with a car seat in front facing carseat in their MINI have the airbag in the backseat disabled (the one that pops out by your head during a side impact collision)?

[HarryHBMCC]

The head protection system airbag is up high by the windows and doesn't go near the child so it doesn't need to be turned off. It is positioned for adult height noggins which are well above where a child would sit.

Harry

[MiniMRK]

Just got back from a road trip with my 5-year-old. I put him in a booster seat in the rear behind the passenger seat. It's a nice arrangement since I can see him and he has access to books and beverages. He had a great time and I feel pretty comfortable as far as safety. I've also had my 10-month-old in back (forward facing child seat) and that works well, too.

[boygenius]

My 3 y.o. and my 1 y.o travel in the MINI alot. I had a TR7 before I got the MINI and my kids never rode in it, too unsafe. They love to ride in the MINI. The two cars seats just fit in the back. One time I asked my son if he wanted to go on some errands with me and he asked me if we were taking the little green car. I said no, we had to take Mommy's car because I did not want to move the seat. My son said never mind. Needless to say, I moved the seat so he could come with me in the cool car.

On a side note, I have no problem with my son in the front seat. With a few precaustions. The seat must be moved all the way back and he must be sitting in his booster seat with the seatbelt in the proper position. It is my understanding that the airbags can detect the weight of a passenger and fire accordingly. Also, all the safety freaks who cite all the data about kids in the front seat neglect to mention that the majority of kids who are injured while sitting in the front seat DO NOT have a seatbelt on. Tha's my rant. I'm done now.

[daver]

Quote:

Originally posted by boygenius
Also, all the safety freaks who cite all the data about kids in the front seat neglect to mention that the majority of kids who are injured while sitting in the front seat DO NOT have a seatbelt on.

Exactly! The seatbelt; such a basic and easy to use aid in avoiding serious injuries (and death) and so many people not using it. And when adults don't use it, the kids tend to follow that (bad) example... So all you MINI-enthousiasts let's give a good example to the next generations and wear your seatbelt.

Enough preaching for now...let's get driving....fasten you seatbelts...and GO....

[bill_eley]

I have read this thread with interest. I have six-yr old twin girls, and my wife is terrified to let me get a Mini (I just put a deposit on a purple haze 'S' this afternoon). So what if you are rear-ended by a huge SUV going 60 mph while you're at a stoplight? I don't see a lot about rear-end collisions involving Mini's. What can I tell my wife? Are there any internet sources of info on this? Thanks.

Bill

[Poisonedwell]

Monica - sorry to hijack your thread but how awesome would it be to have Open Road BMW become a MINI dealer. I mean, it would be like 5 min for you and 10 for me. Forget Rt. 1 in Princeton, Rt. 1 in Edison sounds much better.
And yes, I agree 100% that the MINI is much safer than any SUV