48 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

The Mini is much like most other '60's classic cars in terms of crash-worthiness. They are not and never will be as safe and crash-worthy as a modern car.
However, if a person is into classic cars that won't deter them and they will restore them to be as strong as they were originally and they will drive them defensively.
If someone has a serious concern about driving in a classic car, then it is best to stick with modern cars really.

In addition to Minis, my Grandson & I are currently restoring an MGB-GT and that has the same safety issues as the Minis, but we love classic cars.

[lewBlew]

Don't forget that the car's use is important. Lots of people drive BMWs 100 miles a day on the motorway. They could be tired, the journey is repetitive, the car is powerful... How many of us do that kind of mileage in our Minis? Do we use them for commuting? Are we likely to fall asleep in them? Do we have 150bhp on tap? No.

 

So yes, an accident will be worse in a Mini or any other old car (of course) but they are used less and by a different kind of driver.

 

Also, minis are small so there's only 1/2 or 1/3 of the car to be hit!

[Tamworthbay]

On the plus side, the manouvreability of a mini has got me out of a couple of scrapes in the past. I can think of two distinct occasions where any other car woul have had an accident, one where I had to swerve so hard I thought the wheels would fall off (idiot overtaking 100yds from me, coming towards on a country lane- I went up the verge and I to a field entrance) and a blow out on A landrover on the M1 - it felt as if the car had been an inch wider I wouldn't have made the gap between the spinning landrover and the central reservation.

There are loads of other lesser incidents where being in a mini helped no end.

[minisilverbullet]

On the plus side, the manouvreability of a mini has got me out of a couple of scrapes in the past. I can think of two distinct occasions where any other car woul have had an accident, one where I had to swerve so hard I thought the wheels would fall off (idiot overtaking 100yds from me, coming towards on a country lane- I went up the verge and I to a field entrance) and a blow out on A landrover on the M1 - it felt as if the car had been an inch wider I wouldn't have made the gap between the spinning landrover and the central reservation.

There are loads of other lesser incidents where being in a mini helped no end.

Totally agree. the directness of the steering, the 'closeness' with the car, knowing where and what all four corners are doing all contribute to the get out trouble card, the mini often plays