Missy wants a classic mini for her 40th (2 years away)
This fears me, the mini was a paper bag of a car safety wise, oh a great little car but not safe in a crash.
What to do?? Did think of one with a hefty cage inside, armor door skins, bull bars....is this a fruitless?
Unfortunatly she hates the style of the new mini (don't blame her)
I'd rather get her a Espace 
yeah I am aware that the beetle was almost as bad but that's why I'm keeping the 30hp engine, 60mph is fast enough in that.
hmm
[Edited on 18/8/11 by Mr Whippy]
The mini was actually quite a safe car in it's day, much more so than most of it's rivals. Minis get highly unsafe in a crash when the structure is rotten, especially the sills, so getting one that is as rust free as possible, and has had any repairs done to a high standard should be your first priority.
It doesn't really matter what car you are in, its the other thing thats going hit you.
In a mini, or in a Merc, if a 44 tonne HGV piles into you at 56mph, the end result is the same.
I drive a little tin box and I don't let it worry me.
Get her an 850cc Mini & take a plug lead or 2 off! Should keep the accident to a safe speed!
I stacked Minis on a few occasions in my yoof & would say they will stand up a lot better than some vehicles (G Wiz for instance
), you have to
hit something fairly solid fairly fast to actually invade the passenger space (motorcycle in the door isn't good tho'!), biggest problem is
that as soon as you hit the brakes on a moderately slippery road they lock up due to the skinny 10" rims, hence you are actually much more likely
to hit something in the Mini rather than a modern car with ABS. (& yes, I know a good driver can beat most ABS systems but I doubt an average
driver can!)
[Edited on 18/8/11 by russbost]
I think I should add her driving is rubbish...
in that case, give her the beetle, one less off the roads then 
Put a roll cage in it!
quote:
Originally posted by SeanStone
Put a roll cage in it!
quote:
Originally posted by SeanStone
Put a roll cage in it!
My Mrs drives a Citoen C5, and today I was most glad that she does. Got driven into from behind by a Renaut Espace, damage to her car, new rear bumper, damage to his car write off, headlights, bonnet, off side wing and he couldn't open the drivers door as every thing had moved back. Who said French, (Citroens), cars are rubbish? well looks like Renault are, :-) Bloody good safety cell if you ask me. Cheers Ray
1996 onwards had airbags and side intrusion bar things...
but it is still a death trap... the japanese make cute small cars and are quite safe, i think daihatsu made a kei car that looked like a classic mini,
google around for small kei cars...
quote:
Originally posted by Kwik
1996 onwards had airbags and side intrusion bar things...
but it is still a death trap... the japanese make cute small cars and are quite safe, i think daihatsu made a kei car that looked like a classic mini, google around for small kei cars...
quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
quote:
Originally posted by Kwik
1996 onwards had airbags and side intrusion bar things...
but it is still a death trap... the japanese make cute small cars and are quite safe, i think daihatsu made a kei car that looked like a classic mini, google around for small kei cars...
Id rather be in a mini than a locost in the event of an accident...
Women are much more likely to listen to arguments about safety - particularly if couched in terms of your concerns for her safety and the impacts her
loss or injury will have ion the family.
Lets face it modern cars are a whole lot safer than old - just watch out that she doesn't transfer those concerns to what you drive.
quote:
Originally posted by Ivan
Women are much more likely to listen to arguments about safety - particularly if couched in terms of your concerns for her safety and the impacts her loss or injury will have ion the family.
Lets face it modern cars are a whole lot safer than old - just watch out that she doesn't transfer those concerns to what you drive.
I rolled a mini when I was a lad. The rear subframe gave way pitching me into a field. Side over side three or four times. Even roten I thought it
stood up well.
I've also had the displeasure of rolling a mini and it stood up very well indeed. So my concern would be more around safety in a front ender or side impact.
I can only make an observation.
I've driven for 43 yrs and the only person I've encountered who has had a major shunt is here in Spain. It happened 20 years ago and it was
no fault of the driver. Since then, he and his family drive the biggest Volvos on the market.
By contrast, my last car, (insured for, and driven by 'er indoors) was a Lotus 340-R. We've had Morgans, a 'Vette, Renault 5 turbo,
Fiat Uno Turbo and much much more.
Plan to live, not to die.
My next project may be a mini. My lad wants to do one. 
I've crashed plenty of Minis and never managed to hurt myself. I've rolled two and on both occasions, pushed them back onto thier wheels and got home. The biggest bump was hitting a dry stone wall at 40mph (these walls are fast...). The front subframe got bent as well as the wings, bonnet, front panels etc but both doors opened ok and the new subframe mounted up square and true. I have no worried about my son wanting a Mini. Althoug he is only six...h
Mini's are not so good in a collision, but just about the best in avoiding a collision. SO agile!
My mate at work showed me some crash test videos of cars hitting a solid pole at about 30 (I think) and the results looked scary, but I reckon hitting an imovable poll at 30 is likely to do you serious damage in anything. I don't worry to much about the specific safety of one car over another as what you hits going to have a greater effect than what your in which is why most crash deaths are from single vehicle accidents, Street furniture and trees are far more likely to kill you than another car.