I've owned a lot of cars in my time (gee, I sound like an old codger!), but I've never had one with a short body like the MINI. I have one worry about this car--what happens when the car is hit from the rear? Has anyone had this misfortune, and what happened to the interior--especially the rear seats?

 

Are you worried about the car, or you?
Plenty of rear enders, just do a search on 'crash' in MINI Talk.
If you're talking about you, it's a pretty safe car. Crumple zones, energy absorbtion and all that. See this thread for comments.
If you're talking abou the car, the unibody and short overhang mean a rear ender will take out the hatch and possibly more of the back. From the reports I've seen here, it seems the bumper and hatch take most of the abuse (speed dependent, of course.)

 

I'm worried about me, and a possible back seat passenger. Seems like there isn't much to crumple when that Hummer hits me.

That's a great thread on defensive driving, though. Lots of ideas!

 

Basically in severe accidents occupants usually walk away, and report here sad about their loss, as the car is almost always totaled in serious accidents, cabin stays safe but the crumples are done. There was one such accident posted where a MINI was rear ended by an SUV with a 55MPH delta, damage didn't go much into the boot.

 

wow...any link to the description of that rearender with the SUV?

I generally avoid, or try to , having any rear passengers if I am going to be on a highway, but I'm comfortable with rear passengers around town

 

sounds like you need a truck with a gun rack.

 

sounds like you need a truck with a gun rack.

 

I was unfortunately hit today actually so now I can answer your question.

So I was driving and then the car infront had to stop because the car infront of it was turning left. I had to stop and then the car behind me came rushing at about 70 km/h. Right into my bumper. It was a not too old Honda Prelude and had the license plate jabbing out from their front bumper. That hit my rear bumper.

When I felt the impact (this is the first accident I've ever been in), I thought the whole rear would be a goner. I pictured the front of that car in my rear seats. The crash made me lurch forward so much that I have whiplash and I hit my chin and teeth pretty damn hard off the steering wheel.

I got out and braced myself for tears. Actually, I was already in tears at this point... I didn't see anything. Just a faint scratch. Something that can be easily buffed out. I was thinking WHAT THE...?! because I guess it's really lucky that there was only a scratch. The bumper is not out of alignment either and yes my rear fog light still works. I would post a picture but you can barely see it on the picture!!

I was so shaken up I drove to a parking lot and sat there for a bit but then realized that hey, this really sucks but it could've been worse. If I was driving another car. So I consider myself really safe in my MINI now. Actually, I always did but now even more so

 

a year ago, I was rear ended at a stop light by a ford taurus who had his gas pedal stick (so the guy said) as my MINI assisted him to stop. I do not know how fast he was going but he hit me with such force that my sunglasses and some other stuff on my parcel shelf went flying....and he smacked into me, bounced off and smacked me again and then came to a stop by running up and on to my bumper..so I think he fell asleep with his foot on the gas.

The damge to my car: no damage other than the chrome bumber strip had a crease which is visible when the lighting is right. I drove it up to MINI of Peabody and they checked it out...no damage other than the bumber strip

But that was a hit at maybe 20-25 mph??? but I still try not to have rear passengers when going at highway speed

 

When you were hit, no airbag?