Crash: MINI Cooper vs Chevy Tahoe
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The sizzle in the Steak
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 71,436
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From: Southern California
Crash: MINI Cooper vs Chevy Tahoe
Some SUV buyers tend to feel that they're captaining the dreadnoughts of the road, impervious to all harm and thus free to futz with cupholders and electronic gadgetry rather than pay attention to traffic signals. In this incident in Texas- which, fortunately, did not result in any major injuries- a Chevy Tahoe was T-boned by a Mini Cooper and flipped right over. LeMons Neon racer and Enzo rejuvenator Matt Groner sends us these photos and a description of the wreck written by his friend, who was behind the wheel of the Mini:
These pictures were taken by one of the firemen who were called to the scene, with his camera phone. The officials who responded to the accident could not believe that the Mini (and I) sustained so little damage. The other vehicle involved is a Chevy Tahoe. I was driving south on a one-way street and the other driver was driving west, also on a one-way street. The other driver ran a red light (that had been red for a long time) and appeared in the intersection just in front of me as I came through. I didn't even see them. I hit the passenger's side of Tahoe head-on, and the Tahoe rolled. In one of the pictures, you can see the Mini-shaped dent in the vehicle that is on its side. The driver of the Tahoe was unhurt and did get a ticket. She was also insured.
These pictures were taken by one of the firemen who were called to the scene, with his camera phone. The officials who responded to the accident could not believe that the Mini (and I) sustained so little damage. The other vehicle involved is a Chevy Tahoe. I was driving south on a one-way street and the other driver was driving west, also on a one-way street. The other driver ran a red light (that had been red for a long time) and appeared in the intersection just in front of me as I came through. I didn't even see them. I hit the passenger's side of Tahoe head-on, and the Tahoe rolled. In one of the pictures, you can see the Mini-shaped dent in the vehicle that is on its side. The driver of the Tahoe was unhurt and did get a ticket. She was also insured.
Score one for the Mini!
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+1 to german engineering, like a tank...
dɐɹɔ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,522
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From: Lexington, KY
It didn't go underneath it, the mini hit the tahoe square and flat right on its side, you can see the huge dent in the side of the tahoe and the now flat fronted mini.
looks like the Tahoe was slayed.
Senior Moderator
Joined: May 2001
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From: Windsor, ON, Canada
Not surprised by the image. Smaller car = smaller crumple zone so it has to be stiffer. It is probably engineered to use the crumple zone of the 'bigger' car to convert kinetic energy (movement) into deformation (of the body). The For example, the Smart car is engineered to take advantage of the larger car's crumple zone ... or else the occupants in the Smart car would be toast.
The Mini t-boned the Tahoe ... and usually the weaker part of the body is on the sides, so the Tahoe crumpled there. Coupled with the higher center of gravity (and a poor driver at the helm for running a red) -- not surprising it tipped over.
But on the surface, it does look amazing that a tiny car got little damage while the big hulking truck got crushed and mangled.
Maybe it's just me ...
The Mini t-boned the Tahoe ... and usually the weaker part of the body is on the sides, so the Tahoe crumpled there. Coupled with the higher center of gravity (and a poor driver at the helm for running a red) -- not surprising it tipped over.
But on the surface, it does look amazing that a tiny car got little damage while the big hulking truck got crushed and mangled.
Maybe it's just me ...
MINI's come with super strong front bracing... you will wear down a drill bit before it gets half way through the front reinforcement bar/bumper.
I saw a wrecked MINI on the side of the freeway once. The front bar was unmolested, and the doors were also surprisingly in good shape.
I saw a wrecked MINI on the side of the freeway once. The front bar was unmolested, and the doors were also surprisingly in good shape.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
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More MINI's saving people: http://www.wheels.ca/Motorsports/article/377285 
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