If you want to see how much things have improved over the years...watch this new crash test with an old car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xwYBBpHg1I

You didn't need any airbags or even seat belts in the old days. Why? Because they made 'em tough out of good strong metal. None of this plastic crap.

 

Wow, that video sure dispells the common belief that older cars were built like tanks. They may have been heavy but the results just show how much better newer cars are designed to channel the stress and reduce the forces on the driver. The '59 Belair drive is toast.

 

I would say that "the driver" is what makes the car more safe. If a "retard driver" is behind the wheel, they are the one's making the road NOT safe for other people that are on it. Crashes "not at your fault" can't be avoided, but I can say from driving 9 different cars and all, including an SUV... the build on the mini, stiff, sturdy, fast pick up, and handling makes this car alittle more safe than a car with great body roll on turns. Just IMO...

 

I'm new to Mini and this is a great discussion. I am a long time motorcyclist and the Mini seems like a bank vault to me! It's solid and handles very well.

There are a couple motorcycle safety principles worth mentioning. Some feel we are moving too much toward "safe crashing", dress in your gear (which I wear all the time, really) and you'll be OK in a crash. But #1 is to avoid the crash and train to do that. Second is, tell me how you'll crash and I'll tell you what gear to wear. We have no idea exactly what the details of our crash will be!

Personally, I manage risk as best I can by managing the situations I put myself in. Maybe someday I'll wish I'd bought the Malibu, or not, for now everyone is a lot happier to see me in the Mini "death trap" than the murdercycle!!!

 

I agree that one should drive defensively and avoid the accident. The Mini is great for that...as long as you don't have a cell phone in the car. Cell phones (bluetooth,hands free,etc.) impair drivers as much as if they have a 0.08 blood alcohol. It isn't the holding it in your hand...it's the conversation. This isn't my opinion BTW...it's based on current research. Cell phone use will be much more contributory to increased chance of injury and death than the size of the Mini.

 

I also run my driving lights as I think it helps make the smaller MINI more visible. There is a thread here discussing this and some don't want to burn their xenons but I will take the wear on the xenons for the improved visability. Who knows it m ake even wake up that person on the cell phone getting ready to pull out in front of you.

 

Lexa, I'm knocking on wood here as I've owned 3 MINI's and never had a crash but had a full sized Chevy sedan hit me while I was in a BMW 328ci , The Chevy was turning off a highway (fast) she hit me pretty hard, Long story short her car looked like it wrapped around a telephone pole (I'm not kidding) , My car had minor bumper damage and one head lamp cracked .
Lexa BMW makes very safe cars the MINI handles like a dream on the highway I live in Florida I have not had to deal with snow but when rain,wind ,giant trucks are trying to blow you off the highway here in FL. this car is as steady as a tank.

JohnNJohn

 

How can you possible think that Bel Air is safe at all?? The Malibu with all "the plastic crap" is 1000X safer than the Bel Air. Its got something called "crumple zones" and the front part is supposed to absorb as much of the impact as possible, otherwise you'd be toast, as you would in the Bel Air.

 

Apparently you you didn't realize that I was being sarcastic. Look at the crash test. The Bel Air dissolves. Of course it isn't safe. No air bags...no seat belts...total death trap. That was the point of my comments but expressed as sarcasm. There is actually no comparison. A pedestrian would be safer.
Read my post again but read the last part ("you didn't need...") like you're an old guy who thinks old stuff is always better. Good strong metal (the car dissolves) ...See? It's funny.

 

Check This site

 

Note to the OP,
I agree with the discussion on MINI's maneuverability, handling, good brakes,and general accient avoidance principles. However, MINI can't rewrite natural laws (momentum, conservation of energy, etc). So we all drive highly maneuverable, lightweight (2600#, give or take) cars that will always be at a disadvantage when collisions occur. Yes, they have every safety system available but they will still come out on the short end of an encounter with a 3/4 ton pickup or full size SUV.
That, IMO, isn't something most people consider, as evidenced by the way many of us like to enjoy our cars in traffic.
Not trying to spoil the fun. I'm just trying to tell it like it is.

 

you guys rock! so much info.
the original poster is now looking at escalades
next time your in texas and get those blaring xenons
in your back window give yourself a pat on the back

 

This is why I must say goodbye to my 2 MINIs and to NAM. I have decided it is in my best interest to buy the largest, heaviest vehicles I can find. Right now I am looking into used city buses, RVs, and tractor trailers. Or maybe if I got a dump truck and filled it with lead? As long as I am not at a disadvantage when collisions occur, I won't have to worry about coming out on the short end of an encounter. I WILL WIN!!!!

 

A little over a year ago as I was planning on selling my first Mini to my 18 year old daughter I started wondering the same question of how safe a Mini was especially in a teenagers hands. One of our close friends and all be it with race seats installed and a roll bar which did not have the roll cage to protect the sides had an accident. This car hit a large palm tree side impact at around 55 miles per hour. I had seen this car at different points along it's Modification journey so when I pulled up to the shop to see it 21" pushed in on the drivers door with the floor board space by the drivers feet only 8" from center hump to door I was in shock. The car had smart deployed the airbags meaning it only put the drivers side curtain the seat did not have an airbag as it had been changed. If you look in the pictures the car took the blow, yes it was totaled but the driver received a concussion and heavy bruising. The passenger received a broken shoulder bone and cracked rib. Look at the pictures and they give you an idea of how the car works from the explosive charge on the battery cable that cuts power after the accident and all the other ways our cars keep us safe.
http://gallery.me.com/john.suzie#100043

 

In ALL high speed interstate accidents, cars should be totaled .


They might be having a deal this month on military tanks though

 

You mean dangerous like Mad Max/Road Warrior dangerous...i.e., "High Fatality Road"? My '08 MCSa window sticker was covered with stars for crash ratings, all 4s and 5s. The stars I suppose are meant to reduce confusion in the consumer market, but it seems that it only adds to it.

Unless I'm mistaken (and it wouldn't be a first time) the star crash ratings are not relative to vehicle size (i.e. compact, subcompact, full size, SUV, etc.), so a 5 star rollover SUV ( that was a joke) would be as "safe" relatively speaking, as my '08 MCSa which has a 5-star rollover rating.

If anyone has any conflicting data or knows better or otherwise, please weigh in. FYI, my other ride (besides my '09 JCW Clubbie) is an '07 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and I feel no safer in that than I do my MINIs, and much prefer the MINIs cat-like reflexes to the cruise-ship like reflexes of the Caddy. That being said, MINIs can't tow 8K pounds either...

Good luck to the OP...

 

If so many people are so hung up on safety, why don't I see people with full roll cages in their daily drivers? How come I don't see people driving around with helmets on, with HANS devices, Nomex firesuits, etc.?

(OK, OK, I know why I don't. I'm just trying to make a point.)

 

wow, I didn't realize I would stir up so much emotion and controversy when I asked this question. I have decided to buy the Mini Clubman but now we just can't get the damn thing ordered! It's been a little difficult given the fact that Austin, TX doesn't have a dealership yet (they are building it tho). And, sales taxes in this state are sky high for some reason. But we are working on it. May buy in another state.

I in fact do live right off a hwy that doesn't have any medians AT ALL and is called "Death Hwy" or 'Blood Alley"! However, I don't drive by myself at night and I plan to stay in the right lane during the day when I go into town. I really appreciate everyone's input!
Thanks!

 

A tentative congratulations then, keep us posted when you get it all ordered and squared away...

As for the highway, maybe they should look into those cool signs with the skull + crossbones like they had in Mad Max/Road Warrior...just watch out for the guy on the bike with a mohawk, chaps and a crossbow!

 

I really don't know how this website works so hope you get this.
I do have a skull scarf and a belt with a skull belt buckle. Guess I should start wearing them when I get my car. Skulls are very in right now in case you didn't know!

Am a bit nervous about this car. I am used to a 745i. Big big difference. Hope I like it! I'm not really the sporty type.

 

The thing my wife noticed as soon as she got in the Mini is how easy it is to stay out of trouble. With the handling and power combination if you need to move quickly and still maintain control it is easy to do. Just remember when you park in a parking spot to not pull all the way in. This way when the big 4X4 parks next to you someone knows your there

 

Tron after you saw the Frackmobile vs Palm Tree did you sell your MINI to your Daughter??

If Frackmobile had a passenger, you said it did, why didn't the safety restraints go off for them??

 

Yes my daughter now 19 has been driving her Mini an 04 for almost a year. She is stationed up in Oregon so lots of wet weather and twisty mountain roads. She looked at the pictures while she was in basic training for the Coast Guard and mentioned that she understood that although the car can handle alot the driver needs to stay within their limits. She has improved her driving habits and style over the past few years. As for the passenger in Fracky's car the four point harness was not as tight as it should have been and for the airbag if you notice it did not fire the steering wheel either it deploys them where needed. The interior of the car looked like a bomb had gone off in it as evident by several of the pictures that show how the dash came apart due to the car wrapping around the tree. Had the rest of the air bags all gone off the interior of that car would have been really small. Being able to prevent the accident is huge which is why I have the CG Lock on the drivers seat belt on all cars and knowing that they have designed the safety into these cars gives me the peace of mind when my wife and daughter are driving these roads.

 

Sorry Sometimes sarcasm is hard to detect while on a forum

 

A lot safer than my 1900 lb 82 VW Rabbit S without airbags!
At least it had the 5 mph bumpers (last year for them).

Actually, The MINI isn't all that light for its size, and the chassis
is suprisingly sturdy with a good crash rating for its size.
Look at the older F-150 crash tests - yikes.