Cooper Stops on a Dime!

[jimmy_racoon]

Friday before Christmas, I was motoring for one last visit to the shopping mall. Some airhead in a Nissan Murano appeared directly broadside in front of me, while trying to shoot across the road. Can't quite figure out how he didn't see me, (Chili Red/White Cooper with headlights on!)

Anyway I only had time to slam on the brakes. Thought my foot was going to go through the floor boards! I was so close to his passenger door that I could have reached in and changed his radio station! Luckily, the DSC and Anti-Lock brakes did their magic and I stopped about 3 inches from his door.

Any other car and I would have been IN his passenger seat!

MINI's Rock! Motor on.

[xtremepsionic]

You need stripes on your bonnet :P

Glad the MINI stopped well! If there is anything to be proud of, the MINI definitely have one of the shortest stopping distance of all cars.

[MINI-Morgan]

Poor mini must have had its life flash in front of his headlights.

Mini's are great for stopping quick. Probably due to there unusual high rear brake bias.

[jimmy_racoon]

Definitely a learning experience. Although styling may be the first impression of a MINI, performance quickly surpasses once you get behind the wheel. MINI owners get the best of both!

xtremepsionic: I checked your gallery and you may have a point. Stripes would add some contrast that would improve my visibility. Now you got me thinking-thanks

BOYR4CER: seemed like the MINI "knew" it would stop in time...I think the other driver had the life flashing-probably had to go home to change pants. It's still snowy over here and it is amazing that the MINI could stick to the pavement with such control. Maybe the 15" holies helped.

Motor on.

[uncle albert]

Quote: Originally Posted by BOYR4CER

Probably due to there unusual high rear brake bias.

See, now this I don't understand. Whenever I've had to do some sudden braking maneuvours, particularly from high speed, the back end goes incredibly light to the point of having to keep the back end in check with some corrective steering - even when braking in a straight line.

This to me implies heavy front brake bias, although obivously I don't understand the concept of "brake bias". Anyone care to explain it to me?

James

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by uncle albert

See, now this I don't understand. Whenever I've had to do some sudden braking maneuvours, particularly from high speed, the back end goes incredibly light to the point of having to keep the back end in check with some corrective steering - even when braking in a straight line.

This to me implies heavy front brake bias, although obivously I don't understand the concept of "brake bias". Anyone care to explain it to me?

James

The light rear feeling is just a feature of weight movement under braking and there is no way to get rid of it. But you can certainly reduce its effect slightly by lowering the car(Less suspension travel) and using harder suspension. The car will act that way anyway..... the rear bias is somewhat controlled by EBD sensing how much grip is available on each wheel and increasing braking to that wheel. I first came accross EBD on my old Civic Type-R and I must say I was very impressed. The idea is a sound one too! Put an extra 50KG's in the boot and you're rear tyres will has slightly most grip under braking, so why not use that to your advantage.

But back to the question, brake bias. I believe the Mini is setup for 65% Front and 35% rear braking which is fairly high compared to other manufactures that like to play on the being really safe area. but since the Mini usually comes with a decent size tyre and is on the more fun to drive scale the rear bias has been increase to take advantage. Now under extremely hard braking this will make the rear even lighter as the rear tyres are trying to maintain grip under braking. Come up to a corner and stamp on the brakes and i'm sure you'll see the effects of a large rear bias. But then anyone doing that needs to go back for driving lessons

People often wonder why the Mini cost so much?? well there it is, its fun and above all safe. I know what car i'd prefer to be about to have an accident in! Its a seriously tough car and no wonder its a Euro NCAP four star car.

[BlackFerret]

i can vouch for that!!!!

its rocked rolled and squished but i still walked away with more of a grin than i started with....

only mini can create a car fun at crashing.....

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by BlackFerret

i can vouch for that!!!!

its rocked rolled and squished but i still walked away with more of a grin than i started with....

only mini can create a car fun at crashing.....

Yeah Gordon here is the one person I know that can come out of rolling a car a few times saying how fun it was !

Any news about them letting you have the car back??

[xtremepsionic]

Well, even though the MINI might have relatively high rear brake bias, it also has a computer controlling the brake forces (cornering brake control) which will prevent lock up of any of the wheels. I'm fairly certain it works, because during some very hard down hill cornering and braking, I can feel the ABS kick in, but only at the back, so it doesn't lock up the rear brakes.

Without CBC, or ABS, a car with high rear brake bias will tend to lock up the rear brakes in cornering and oversteer, but I don't think that really applies to the MINI.

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by xtremepsionic

Well, even though the MINI might have relatively high rear brake bias, it also has a computer controlling the brake forces (cornering brake control) which will prevent lock up of any of the wheels. I'm fairly certain it works, because during some very hard down hill cornering and braking, I can feel the ABS kick in, but only at the back, so it doesn't lock up the rear brakes.

Without CBC, or ABS, a car with high rear brake bias will tend to lock up the rear brakes in cornering and oversteer, but I don't think that really applies to the MINI.

You must be driving a 2005 car..

[xtremepsionic]

Quote: Originally Posted by BOYR4CER

You must be driving a 2005 car..

Hmm, is CBC a 2005+ thing? Didn't know.. Maybe its on all Canadian spec MINI and I mistakenly thought it was a standard option across the board.

[MINI-Morgan]

Quote: Originally Posted by xtremepsionic

Hmm, is CBC a 2005+ thing? Didn't know.. Maybe its on all Canadian spec MINI and I mistakenly thought it was a standard option across the board.

CBC's been there since day one. But from experience of driving countless minis over the last 4 years I have to say the 2005 are so much more stable around corners. The 2002 models were always fairly loose especially the MCS with S-Spokes + Runflats.

[BlackFerret]

Quote: Originally Posted by BOYR4CER

Yeah Gordon here is the one person I know that can come out of rolling a car a few times saying how fun it was !

Any news about them letting you have the car back??

i checked the insurance notes and bits and bobs the reason they paid me £15,175 (when i bought it for 15,300?!?!?!?!?) for my cooper is cause they now own it and want far too much for me to buy it back!

[MINI-Morgan]

I saw another crashed one just like yours the other day. Such a cheap repair so im not suprised it will cost you alot to get back.

[Annette S]

Quote: Originally Posted by jimmy_racoon

Friday before Christmas, I was motoring for one last visit to the shopping mall. Some airhead in a Nissan Murano appeared directly broadside in front of me, while trying to shoot across the road. Can't quite figure out how he didn't see me, (Chili Red/White Cooper with headlights on!)

Anyway I only had time to slam on the brakes. Thought my foot was going to go through the floor boards! I was so close to his passenger door that I could have reached in and changed his radio station! Luckily, the DSC and Anti-Lock brakes did their magic and I stopped about 3 inches from his door.

Any other car and I would have been IN his passenger seat!

MINI's Rock! Motor on.

This almost happened to me day before Christmas! Cruising along about 45mph? to exit from the freeway, turned my head for one second to check the lane next to me, and when I turned back, the car in front of me was at a complete stop! I stomped that brake pedal right thru the floor! I could hear a strange clunking sound like the brakes wanted to lock up (but didn't!) and it felt like my whole back end was going to fly up in the air. But thank goodness, my MINI stopped immediately! I felt like I was an inch away from the rear of the other car, but to be honest, I don't think they ever suspected they were ALMOST hit! (and right away I checked behind me - no one coming up to hit me -whew!) So then, when traffic started moving again, I just casually put my foot back on the gas and slowly kept going...(No one had a clue that my legs had turned to jello!) I love my car.....!