MINI Cooper - READ ONLY

2671 messages, Last post on Mar 31, 2009 at 1:03 PM

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#5 of 2671 Good looking car but by edmundowilson Mar 05, 2001 (9:14 am)
A) Can super-size Americans fit in this extra-small import? B) Is anyone else worried about what a Ford Excursion would do to this car and its passengers in an accident? C) Can we expect typical British reliability on this car
#6 of 2671 accidents by qbrozen Mar 05, 2001 (12:08 pm)
That's all anyone ever points out to me when i mention the Mini. "That's a deathtrap!" As far as I'm concerned, when pitted against a bohemoth SUV, what small car isn't a deathtrap? Aside from that, I think that safety features have become so far advanced that it really doesn't matter if you're in a midsize sedan or a compact car. If you're going to get hurt in an accident, you're going to get hurt no matter how big your car is. In other words, if I go head on into an Excursion with a combined speed of 120 mph, I'm getting crushed whether I'm in a Mini or my 626.
#7 of 2671 re: accidents by edmundowilson Mar 06, 2001 (7:44 am)
You're right about head on, but what about getting t-boned at an intersection or side-swiped on the highway? I think those are much more "likely" accidents and also the kind of accidents where size does matter. If I'm going 35 mph and I get t-boned by an SUV at an intersection, I'd much rather be in a 626 or an Accord than a Mini. I don't think that the Mini is a "deathtrap." I think they are rather neat cars. But I would rather have my wife and daughter driving around town in my VW Passat than a Mini. Even though the pricing on both cars is comparable, both are neat looking and (I assume) fun to drive, I think the safety factor has to go I favor of the VW.
#8 of 2671 more on safety by qbrozen Mar 06, 2001 (7:56 am)
well, I think we're going to have to wait on the crash test ratings. The developers are claiming that the Mini is going to redefine compact car safety. With crumple zones and impact beams and airbags all around, but what car doesn't have those things these days? We'll just have to find out how much "redifining" there will be. Currently, I also drive an Alfa Romeo Spider in the nice weather, so, when it comes to myself, I just don't find that I'm terribly concerned with the safety of the car. But, as you point out, would I want my wife driving it around all of the time? Probably not.
#9 of 2671 re: more on safety by edmundowilson Mar 06, 2001 (11:16 am)
And if they can do more on safety, then I would be more than happy to buy one. I think it's a great looking car. As safety goes, another compact -- the VW Beetle -- has gotten excellent crash test scores, so certainly I think the Mini could follow suit. Certainly, a lot of what is great about driving is not analyzing crash test data and reliability reports. It's about what is fun. And certainly the Mini seems to promise the fun factor in spades. And anyone who drives an Alfa would agree on that point!
#10 of 2671 absolutely by qbrozen Mar 06, 2001 (3:59 pm)
I'm going to be there for a test drive when they arrive. No doubt.
#11 of 2671 17 on the waiting list by rickrover Mar 09, 2001 (11:53 am)
I put a $1k deposit on it about 2 months ago at my local BMW dealer, I'm number 17 on the waiting list. They stopped taking deposits after they had 20, which took all of 2.5 days. I'm hoping they offer the Mini Cooper S from the start, I bought a press kit from the Detroit auto show on Ebay, I've got the photo quality Mini pictures (8) framed and hanging in my office. I'm hoping to free my schedule up to the point of attending the New York auto show next month to see a Mini first-hand This will be a third car, it won't be my primary car. I plan to give it every performance upgrade I can, I'm sure Dinan will have some go-fast goodies for it. Hopefully 200+ HP won't be hard to pull out of the S supercharged engine. Replies to this message: mininman (May 07, 2005 12:21 pm)
#12 of 2671 wow by qbrozen Mar 09, 2001 (1:04 pm)
a deposit already. And without even seeing it? And not even knowing when its coming? Does your dealer even know if they are selected as one of the 40 Bimmer dealers that will get the Minis? The mini website still doesn't have that info. they just show the general location of the dealerships by state. I just can't do that. I have to see if I can fit in it. I plan to be at the NY auto show. I hope they let people in it and they don't just have a roped off showpiece.
#13 of 2671 maybe ... by wie_gehts Mar 09, 2001 (6:59 pm)
... his dealer just likes to take deposits. Hey, I can make a list, too!
#14 of 2671 No Biggie by rickrover Mar 11, 2001 (8:28 pm)
BMW knows which dealers will sell the Mini, there will be 72 of them. My BMW dealer's begun building it's Mini sales facility, a positive sign it'll be one of the 72. The deposit is fully refundable - if I like it I'll be one of the first to own one and if I don't, I won't buy one. I plan to modify it quite a bit, I like to tweak my cars, it won't be my primary vehicle.