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As much as the ignorant society would like to tell you otherwise, the MKI MR2 is indeed a safe car. It has a well engineered (some say over-engineered) safety cage that is designed to protect the passengers. When the MR2 was launched in 85, one of the engineers had made the comment that since it was their first mid-engined car, they ran into many things they did not expect, and when decisions came up where there was a choice between light weight and structural rigidity, the decided to go for the latter. This can be seen as in comparison to other similar small 2 seaters of the day, as the CRX was some 300+ pounds lighter than the MR2. Despite all of this however, the MKI MR2 still came out to be a somewhat light car weighing in around 2400 lbs. Another great part about the MR2 is that since it is so maneuverable, you could very well avoid an accident that you would not have been able to in a less responsive car.
Mark Nais gives his account when of the accident in his old MKI SC: Hiya everyone.... On Friday morning (3rd) i crashed my SC and rolled it on the way to work, the car is totally wrecked, the only parts that doesn't have damage is the boot+spoiler, engine & interior. I was going around a sweeping left hander, i'm still unsure why the rear end stepped out, i think it was due a number of factors, the road surface changes from chippings to smooth tarmac, i think the roads where damp and... most important is the fact that the road dips away subtly mid-bend which you can't see unless your looking back up the other way. so.. the rear-end steps right out, at this point the expression was 'oooh shit' and not wanting pile on lots of lock to bring it back, because i knew i would just pendulum the other way into the traffic on the other side. Well it kept going until i was maybe at 45deg hit the left hand kurb which sent the front end into the air which hit a stone wall... this sent me sideways completely i then slid sideways over an enterance to a farm, hit the wall on the other side of the enterance which flipped it and it rolled 1 3/4 times along a wooden fence and finished resting on the passenger side, where i climed out through the space where the t-bar glass used to be. I walked away unhurt apart from a bruise on one side, the most frightening part was afterwards when i looked over the car after it had been towed, i found a 3by3 fencepost that had pierced right through the drivers door missing me by a handspan, there where also more fenceposts down the back of the drivers seat. i'm thankfull that i came out unhurt, i can say now... the MR2 is a STRONG car, and i'm glad i ALWAYS wear my seatbelt. i'm gutted about my car, i had purchased it as an investment, it was perfect in every way, i'll be putting some pictures on my website in a day or two. it's not the end of my MR2 days, i'll WILL get another.
Armando gives his account of the the sturtural integrity of the MKI: <ajperez@indiana.edu> Hi all, this is a very sad story, but I would like evryone on the list to read it. The blue bird has flown, and shall never fly again! I went home for the weekend and was taking my roomate home on Friday. About 7pm Indianapolis time, I almost lost my life, and as well my roomtes. As we came up a hill on Canarrow St. ( a very twisty hilly dark road) I downshifted to slow down and when I let go of the clutch I felt the back end begin to slip out. When I looked over the hill, the car felt very light, and the only thing I saw was an electrical pole....I was going around 40-45mph, before downshifting.I panicked and did exactly what I wasnt supposed to....I slammed the brakes. The road was a little slick, and we slid straight into the pole, broke it in half, and flipped my '86 mr2, with both my roomate and I in the car (with our seatbelts). We slid upside down about 20-30 yards and the only thing I could see were sparks off the roof, I didnt even know I was upside down yet. When we stopped I managed to get out of the belt, and kick my door open, we both got out. My roomate has some minor scratches on his head, and I dont even have a bruise. I feel so lucky to be alive. I spotted a white cross embedded in the ground about 3 feet from my front bumper, and the guy in the ambulance told me that six weeks ago, a guy who was going to be 19 the next day had died in a similar accident in the exact same spot.....that cross marked the point of his death......I just turned 19 on February 17. This is all too real for me, and in a couple of days I will be unsubscribing from the list for a while. As far as the midwest meet goes, I dont know if Im gonna go. right now, Im happy to be alive and walking. When I was looking at the 2, I was also interested in a Fiero. One thing is for sure,....I am so glad that if this was going to happen that it happen in an mr2.... Armando ajperez@indiana.edu
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