It’s something I’ve noticed since I got my MINI is how close people like to pull up your *** at the light. When I had my Honda, BMW, Toyota, VW people rarely got on my ***.

I’m starting think it’s a small ***** thing with these people.

 

One thing I am still not used to in my little MINI. If I can't even see the front bumper of the car behind me, or all I can is the grille of a bigger SUV/truck, we've got issues. That stuff really gets under my nerves.

I totally feel you.

 

Yeah,

Bothers me too. So I added the Mini Fini hitch and put a Super Bumper on the rear. www.superbumper.com makes them for 2 inch and 1 1/4 receiver hitches. For cars and trucks.

Lets just say they keep a nice distance away now.

 

You might have better brakes than them. I almost got rear-ended by a tool in an old pickup yesterday. I stopped at a light that was going to yellow with plenty of time for me to stop comfortably without any drama. The guy in the pickup was squealing tires a few seconds later, and I pulled forward a few feet into the large intersection to let him stop in time. Of course, him driving too close to me for his ability to stop was somehow my fault and I got honks and gestures until we pulled away...

 

I thought it was just me being paranoid in the beginning but I don't care if it is just me. I can usually get out of a close situation at an intersection but not always. Now I flip on my hazard lights if someone follows to close and it seems to work or maybe I just think it does...

 

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Maybe that is WHY the gen3 cars got the HUGE tail lights....
Blind them....so they have to stay back!!
Or maybe their car is just trying to make little mini's with yours.......

 

I don't really care if we are at a traffic light unless it is on a hill because I drive a manual and I am afraid of rolling into somebody. The reason for doing it though has positive effects and that is more cars through a traffic light.

 

I honestly think that is why the new F56 has such huge tail lights..Even though I think they are way to huge in appearance im sure they will help people see them! ha ha If they don't then theres something wrong! lol

 

I was always taught to leave enough room in front of me while stopped at a light so that I could pull out around the car in front if it stalled, without having to back up in case the car behind was too close.

 

I notice that too i think its maby because its a hatchback and its bumper doesnt stick out very far they feel like they can get closer than a car with a trunk and rear bumper that sticks out 3 feet

 

At 146.8 inches (for the r56) MINIs are among the shortest cars on the road. This is great for street parking, but IMHO enhances the tailgating effect.

 

My grandfather taught me the same thing.

 

My personal rule for space is I have to see the vehicles tires in front of me. Behind me is their problem, they better have insurance..

 

The cars behind you aren't pulling up any closer to your car than they do to any other car they stop behind. What's happening is the *** end of your car is a lot closer to where you set and as a result they're closer to you when they stop but not closer to your car.

 

this.

the car basically ends at the rear windshield. that, combined with being smaller than most other vehicles, is the cause.

i agree though, it does get irritating when it seems as if people are literally about to drive into your back seat. when i get someone too close, i use noise intimidation :D

a quick rev up to even just 4k rpm coming from the race header, through full 2.5" piping, into a muffler no bigger than my head, out a 6" rectangle tip right into your face, kindly gives people an audible reminder of how closer they are.

 

It's just an illusion. Imagine someone pulling up 2 ft behind your Honda, vs someone pulling up 2 ft behind your MINI. From the drivers seat in both cars and looking at the rear view mirror, in the MINI the car behind will look a lot closer. Because it is in fact that much closer to you the driver, owing to the MINI's short length.

 

I never thought of it as being an "illusion" but it totally makes sense, haha. Either way .. 2ft away from a car is never a good thing. If someone rear ends that person, you'll probably get tapped too. There are cars that "look" close, but then there are cars that actually do just get too close. Makes me nervous, lol.

 

I'm guilty of it myself in both my Mini & my Lifted truck...I hate when people leave room enough for another car and then some at lights...

that said...I hate HID Kit GUY behind me at the light with the 7000K Obnoxious Whites with improper light dispersion pattern blinding me...

 

Well,

Been in too many accidents (not my fault) so call me paranoid. Rear ended on the highway as traffic stopped and so did I, then about 15 seconds later bam!

Hit by a drunk that walked away from the scene back to the trailer park (scum) and police did nothing. Girl friends car, got a ticket but had insurance that is all. My truck at the time 17K damage.

So I always worry about accidents, been in too many. Also, many not nice people. NOT TO COMFORTING WHEN POLICE TAKE OTHER PARTY AWAY IN HAND CUFFS. And I was alone with this person? Happened!

So I installed front and rear Dash Cams. They download to my iTouch via built in Wifi on the spot. Sweet. See www.blackvue.com or www.blackboxmycar.com Gives me piece of mind so when some goes terrible wrong I have evidence.

Accidents can happen to fast. How do you get the plates? Color? Make? Model? In the truck accident I was in shock and damn near unconscious. Now I leave it to the dash cam which also watches car while parked. Nice too!

I don't operate on the theory everyone has insurance, will do the right thing, or are a decent citizen. My experience has been everything but that scenario.

That is why I added the Super Bumper www.superbumper.com so hopefully I won't be stuck again paying my deductible and having my insurance company handle the claim.

Yeah, they don't get as close to me at stop lights but still very close. With Super Bumper I don't worry. But yes, if the car behind them rear ends them I will be hit but hopefully damage will be minimal. Just a simple bump on the Mini and the cometic work is like $1,500 or more. On the good side I have been told repeatedly that Mini's are built like a tank. I feel safe and car is well built and damage is minimal in a Mini compared to other models. Safety is a plus! But that only goes so far in a Coupe. If the other guy is in a Monster Truck with an Off Road Package duck and pray?

Have to have a sense of humor and at least put odds in my favor.

 

At night I just hit the rear fog lights... Keeps all A-holes from getting too close. Hell, almost blinds them.

 

This is why I did THIS. It either makes the person really mad or it makes them keep their distance once we start moving again

 

I can't help but laugh. Your user name will become real if you get some guy mad enough that he starts shooting at you.

 

Haha, that's what my mom and dad are always telling me.

 

I love the noise it makes too.

Seriously though, I too think it's an illusion. I notice that when I'm parallel parking my perception is off, I feel that I am much closer to the car behind me than I really am.