Why is there no crash data on the Mini? It is said that the car was designed to be safe and yet if you look at the NTSC web site you will see that there is no crash data on the New Mini. Now i realize the car is new in the states, but it has been in production for a while and there are cars here in this country. Not that i'm the suspicious type, but when the New Beetle was introduced the saftey factor was one of it's big marketing features, and they had the data to back it up.

Any ideas on this one?

p.s. i'm going to find the web site with the safety test information and post it here as soon as i can.

 

Funny that you mention that....
I was looking for crash tests on my 99 Prelude the other day.....
Nope not there!!! The car has been around since 97 and still no crash tests!
Go figure.
SW

 

I recently purchased a cooper, and the only thing that concerns me is that althought they seem to be very proud of all the safety features, NO CRASH DATA! I'm going to end up with shattered thigh bones because of a design flaw left untested

 

STUFF,
Welcome to the site. Congrats on the car!
I'm sure the data will be available sometime in the near future. No need to worry.
Based on the engineering data they show on the miniusa site it looks like it would do well in a crash. The only concern I would have is if an Excursion taged you. Given that their bumper would hit the windsheild!! Oh well.... Thats why they handle so well and brake so well(?) so we don't have to test it.

Speaking of brakes... anyone know the stopping distance? Can't be that much.
SW

_________________
Motor On!!..... Mini Me!!

 

143 ft at 60 253 at 80

 

The mini is said to be a safe car, but why is there no crash data?
This is the web site for mini with no data: http://www.nhtsa.gov/NCAP/Cars/1932.html

This is the web site for New Beetle w/ lot's of stars: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/NCAP/Cars/1918.html

Of course the lack of published NHTSA test data doesn't mean that no testing was done. You can be sure that BMW did internal tests. They would be subject to big liability and probably not allowed to sell the cars if they didn't. You can also be sure that they spent lots of computer time modeling the whole thing--as seen on the mini web site.

My only question is where is the data...They should publish it.
Can someone with contacts pose this to Mini? You can bet i'll be asking the dealer...

 

Ok. The official word from mini is that the car will be tested later this year. Here is there response to my question: "Where's the crash data?"

"Thanks for writing in!

The MINI offers state-of-the-art safety equipment including 6 airbags. For the front seat passengers, there are two front and two side airbags. Additionally, for front and rear passengers there are two Advanced Head Protection System (HPSII) airbags which deploy from the headliner above the side windows.

The MINI is built on an ultra-rigid body structure. Advanced suspension designs enhance the road holding capabilities of the MINI Cooper. Advanced braking systems add "WHOA!" after the "GO!".

Four-wheel-disc Anti-Lock Braking (ABS), Corner braking control (CBC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Flat Tire Monitor (No acronym for that one, whew!), Speed-Sensitive wipers, and an Automatic Anti-Theft Engine Immobilizer are standard features. An all season Traction Control System (TCS) is standard on the Cooper S.

You can order Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), and other amazing optional motoring features.

The MINI is scheduled to be crash tested for 2002. You can follow the government crash test results at:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/NCAP/Cars/1932.html

LET'S MOTOR."

p.s. i went to the miniusa web-site and sent them email...

 

(Wow my first post!) When the NTSB purchases a car for crash testing, they must be able to go to a dealer and purchase a stock car, right off the lot, as a sort of "secret shopper". Should they inform the dealer or the manufacturer of their intent to test the car, modifications could be made the improve the safety of the car to be tested - hence not a truly fair test. Mile-long lists at dealers and the fact that it is next to impossible to walk-in and purchase a new MINI off the lot will certainly put off safety testing for a while. I'm sure if someone wants to contact them directly and give up there # 2 spot in line they will happily take it .

 

While browsing my Cooper S brochure today I noticed something that I had not noticed the last 9,999 times I had read it. It states that the Cooper S "Fulfills all requirements to archieve four stars in European NCAP crash test". The 'r' in achieve was not my spelling mistake, I thought I should include it as it was a quote from Mini's European brochure. Thought you guys might be interested.

 

After contacting the NHTSA (National Highway Safety Administration)regarding crash data for the COOPER and COOPER S I received the following (on their site they state that the car is "TBT - To be tested&quot:
---------
Unfortunately we cannot give you exact date for your vehicle's test The NCAP list for model year 2002 vehicles scheduled to be tested. Test dates may change depending on vehicle availability, weather, etc. NHTSA begins testing early winter of 2001 and it will continue the spring of 2002. We apologize for the wait. Thank you for your inquiry and please continue to check our Web Site for further crash test ratings. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap
--------

Given this I guess we'll continue to wait... :???:

_________________
MINICOOPEROnline.com

 

Bump.

 

>>143 ft at 60 253 at 80

I wanted to fallow up to this post from the past......
I noticed a few days ago while reading through an article... the 60-0 stopping distance was rated at 112 feet for the Cooper. This figure is the one I would rather believe.... any thoughts?
Anyone else here have info on this?
SW

 

Thanks for the bump , sorry about the repeat post.