MotoringFile Most liked posts in thread: MINI Beachcomber Concept “Too Dangerous†For Production

Here's to FREEDOM!

Let's regulate some more stuff in the name of safety.

We have turned into a nation of wimps. :frown2:

 

Crazy......
If someone today was trying to introduce bicycles, it would never happen.

 

I would think it has more to do with Euro NCAP regulations than NHTSA ... they're more stringent. (ex. - Their pedestrian protection ratings were the reason for the longer nose and the higher ride-height of the R56.)

 

Did anyone seriously think BMW would put the Beachcomber into production?

Safety is a wonderful excuse and is regularly used by manufacturers to point the finger of blame somewhere else. But they don't have explain exactly which safety regulation they could not meet, as long as the invoke the Great God of Safety. It's a bit like crying "witch" in Salem - it always goes down well with the public.

If BMW ever did think about making the Beachcomber, rather than just appearing 'cool' by building a show car, I bet the cost of the extra custom panels on the side and rear would have been dwarfed by the cost of the changes to the seats and floorplan necessary to make the front seats able to carry the upper seat belt anchorage themselves. This can be done, but it ain't cheap.

I suspect the real danger of the Beachcomber was the danger of not making a profit.

 

How about we look at it another way?

How many great cars would have never seen the light of day due to not being safe?

The Shelby Cobra?

Most Ferraris?

Most early Porsche race cars?

They were not meant to be family wagons for transporting kids. They were made to go from point A to point B as quickly as their pilots were willing to push them.

All this regulatory BS needs to bleed over into the one area it is not: Driver training. Too many idiots without a clue as to how a car handles are on the roads. THAT element kills more people than any other of the supposed issues our all powerful government lists, but they refuse to acknowledge it.

We were supposed to be in flying cars by now, but can you imagine the havoc that would be upon us if we put today's average driver into a vehicle that can go up and down as well? :eek6:

It is a shame, because that looked like an awesome vehicle that could give Jeep a run for their money and it looked fun.

 

I agree completely. Driver training, in high school, use to be a must and at least it was something. Remember the old flying car that Bob Cummings drove in his TV series? Today it would never get "off the ground", so to speak.

Jim

 

Ahhhh yes, High School Drivers Ed.

Man does that bring back memories, the year was 1968....

Ha, my DE class included two of the hottest chicks in school, one was a cheerleader, the other was the "Bad Girl", they were both real hot hot hot. The best times were when I had to sit in the back seat with them on either side of me. The teacher was up front with another student driving. Of course the teacher had to pay attention to the driving and not what was happening in the back seat. The good girl and the bad girl were always in a very competitive mood, and I just happened to be the hapless recipient of their actions.

Those were the "halcyon days" of summer for me.

Sorry for getting sidetracked....

 

I am not talking about HS driver's ed. I am talking about car control clinics -- what cars do when they hydroplane or if you brake in a corner. They should be mandatory elements of receiving a driver's license and should be paid for by the person wanting a license. Part of the privilege.

 

Good point, but MM's DE class sounds like more fun and it made him the responsible driver he is today.

Jim

 

:beer I'll drink to that!

But Johngo is right, hitting it right on the head

 

If you choose the right car control clinic, then the babes are included...