Not the driver to the outside world kind.

My question goes the other way, that is, MINI visibility to other drivers. In my so-far-never-ending-quest to configure my future baby, I thought B/B would be the way to go. But I now have concerns that given MINI size, an all-black car might not be seen well by the typical SoCal "driver". I have ideas for stripes that may help, but that is also up in the air. So I may go back to LY/W or EB/W or ??, I just don't know yet.

Has anyone percieved problems with the color of their car. Thanks for your input.

 

I too live in the land of SUV's ... Colorado. Some of them have even been on a dirt road too! Color is important. In the not too distant past there was a car company called Bricklin ... yeah they were crooks too ... but their cars actually got an insurance discount based on their color.

All that being said, I had little choice in the color of my MINI (LY/W). The day I went for a test drive the salesperson informed me that it would be an 8-10 month wait. They had a MINI on the showroom floor however that was being used to show off some of the stealer add-ons. Had all the options I wanted so figured what the heck. Drove it away 2 weeks later.

After picking it up ... I find that it is very noticed by all the monster trucks in our area. Serendipity can always beat careful planning!

Hope this helps some!

Cheers

Geoff

 

If you can see a person on a motorcycle, you can see a whole MINI Cooper !

Don't think this car is so small no one can see it ! It's just as wide as many other sports cars and compact size cars on the road (66&quot and it's about 1.5 feet shorter.

Get the color you want! The Black / Black MINI really is sharp looking!

Even at night, if they can't see you coming with full Xenon lights, fogs and running lights on. . . They are blind!

My Dad years ago used to tell us that we needed to buy white cars so other drivers could see us. He bought a blue van, then a red pick up, then a silver Honda.... so even he didn't want to be seen in a white van, white pick up or white Honda!!!

 

Studies have shown that the safest car colors are greenish-yellow, followed by cream, yellow, and white.

The least-safe colors are red and black.

This has mostly to do with the way the human eye works (perception) and the best contrast with the environment (interpretation).

I believe a highly contrasting roof would be the safest choice (eg. IB/W not IB/B).

 

The scariest time I've had since April '03, was when we were in Gulf Shores Alabama (not that 'place' has any relativity) and I waited for my wife to come out of a store, while stationed in a parking lot 'non-space,' someone started pulling out and my wife began shout "Pull ahead, Pull ahead!" This 'individual' could/had not seen MCS and was backing full out towards us. We freaked!!!! I pushed the horn button...and pulled out as fast as we could.....NO DAMAGE!!!! LESSON: Assume NO ONE can see you. As if you were on a bicycle or motorcycle!!!!!!!!! CAUTION!! I'm still having FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :smile: :smile:

 

>>If you can see a person on a motorcycle, you can see a whole MINI Cooper !

Having been a motorcyclist for many years, I can, without fear of contradiction, say that motorcycles are invisible to cagers (car-drivers, in motorcycle-speak). Hell, car-drivers can't see a city bus. How the hell are they going to see a little motorcycle?

"Conspicuity" is the term used in the motorcycle community to express visiblity to cagers. Using the foglights in the rear as extra brake lights is one step in raising conspicuity. Driving as if you are are invisible is another well known strategy to avoid getting run over.

Assume they don't see you. I have a Cosmos Black MINI, and not even other MINI cagers see me. The contrasting white roof is a good conspicuity strategy.

They really are out to get you.


_________________

 

My dad is a motorcycle rider and he has added visiblity enhancing features to his bikes like reflective tape and fog lights.

My dilemma also has to do with the image I want to portray with the car. The B/B badass or the sleeper/cute go kart. Thanks for the ideas, keep 'em coming.

 

>>My dilemma also has to do with the image I want to portray with the car. The B/B badass or the sleeper/cute go kart. Thanks for the ideas, keep 'em coming.

Well, why wind up as the baddest *** in the whole cemetery?

Idea: Have the dealer activate the daytime-running lights. Should be no extra charge if they do it during dealer prep.

 

A few more points on subject of driving safety. Who know - might save a life or two.

-- The most dangerous optical illusion is the one which tricks your brain into thinking you're driving much slower and safer than you actually are in heavy rain and blizzards, and especially in simple haze and fog conditions, when in fact you're actually driving much too fast for those conditions. In other words, fog diminishes your sense of speed drastically -- and sometimes, fatally.

-- People who habitually back into their parking spaces in parking lots, garages and driveways run over a lot fewer toddlers, animals, pedestrians, cyclists and even inanimate objects than people who don't, especially when they get back into their cars and leave, which they can do with much greater visibility (and speed).

-- In America pedestrians who walk on the improper (right) side of the road are twice as likely to be killed as those who walk on the recommended (left) side, facing traffic. And bicyclists who ride on the wrong (left) side of the road are more than five times as likely to be killed (mostly at intersections and driveways where motorists, especially those turning right, don't look in their direction enough) as those who ride on the recommended (right) side, with traffic, where motorists approaching from cross-streets do usually notice them in time.

-- The best and safest car, boat, plane, truck and SUV drivers engage in exercise programs which deliberately isolate and strengthen their leg, arm and torso muscles with emphasis on their obliques, wrist, ankle and especially, their INSTEP muscles. This enables them to continuously make tiny, precise "fine-tuning" control adjustments of their vehicles while they drive, instead of, for example, just stomping on the gas and brake pedals with a "lead foot."

----------- ARRIVE ALIVE ---------------

 

I hate daytime running lights, I feel they are a waste and a distraction rather than a visibility aid.

As for the B/B, I have some ideas for adding unique external markings that let you know I'm there. Thankfully, I have plenty of time to make a choice.

 

You want B/B...? Just get it. Always drive with the belief (knowledge?) that everyone else is incompetant. There are lots of solid black cars out there, and I have yet to hear of a black car death epidemic. As it's been said, the MINI is just as wide, if not wider, and taller than most other compact vehicles out there. The only thing you *might* have to be a little more careful about is blind spot perception, as the MINI *might* fit better into the blind spot of another vehicle. But if you're a conscientious driver, you shouldn't be hanging out in blind spots, anyway.

I really don't think it's that big a deal, personally. Get the car you want and love it. Don't worry.

 

you've been on a few of the SCMM runs right? The MINI is'nt a low visibility car. (I wish it was) the Miata is by far lower. just get any color you want, everyone will see the car fine. It's not that small, its a front wheel drive 3series chassis.

and as for badass, get the mini in any color, then get it repainted in matte black/ metallic black. European car's MINI pulled it off very nicely.

 

of all the minis I have seen on the road...the yellow seems the easist to see for me....cool color IMO, my pure silver looks a little boring now next to the yellow....almost got red, but I have had so damn many red cars over the years (still have 2 red ones now), that needed a change, laugh ! I think I would buy yellow now after seeing it on the road....cheers

 

I understand your concern. I liked the dark silver (gray), but had seen ones with black roofs and ones with same color roof and felt they were a little too stealthy. Instead I opted for the white roof on my DS and made sure I had the daytime running lights programmed. Guess I'm too paranoid.