Well...I just got back from taking my first drive in the snow and it handled better than I was led to believe. I've always done this with every car I've owned and that's been a few. Snow is fresh, dry and no ice. It made for a nice drive. I was surprised to find you can't make the wheels spin by accelerating. Kinda took some of the fun out of it but I guess it's a good thing for inexperienced drivers. Next comes the wet messy type.

 

Smart to test the waters. One thing about snow, it comes in many forms & all have varying traction. Fluffy powdery snow is not very slippery. The colder it is the less slippery it is also. Get the temps up near freezing & the snow becomes wet & incredibly slippery. Water on top of ice or hard packed snow is the worst.

All this being said a MINI with proper snow tires will do great.

 

Take off the traction control and you will spin the tires. Let the fun begin. Sometimes you need a little spinning in the snow to keep you momentum up.
Just not to much that you can't stop or control it. Love driving on the edge and and pushing the limits. What tires are you running? That makes all the diffeence.

 

My first winter lesson (at about 13) was to test the road for traction. After that it was driving on black ice, snow, slush. My father insisted I learn all I could. I'm sure glad he did. Have a Nor'easter' coming this week so I get to play again in what will most likely be wetter snow.

 

If you're not having fun...park the car. I've been driving on the edge for over 45 years. Got my first licence in the winter. Had a 450HP car (Chevy BB) at 17. My father insisted I learn to handle anything that came up. I just bought this Mini last Sept. and it has Pirelli eufori@ run flats. The car has 63k on it so I doubt their original. I did take the DSC off and gave it a shot. Think I'll leave it on since it's front wheel drive. Wish it wasn't, it would be more fun. All new techniques to master now. When I told my wife I was going out to test the car, she thought I was nuts 'til I explained. Although...I lay no claims to sanity.

 

Such a difference between FWD and RWD.
Have only owned 2 FWD cars in my life.
RWD were so easy to drive and control.
I don't have snow or ice to deal with (Thank God).

Have fun.

 

I will take a FWD car vs a RWD car in the snow anyday. Yes drifting the RWD is a blast but it just not have the hook up of a FWD. If I have to go long distance on a freeway that is ice covered I will take the FWD. Way less drama and way more traction. The engine is over the tires so yo have lots more grip. The down side is it also has to turn you too but just keep your speed under control. Give me FWD and fresh Blizzac tires and I will go more places that any soccer mom in her SUV.

I once left my Mazda 3 at the Canadian border while on a snowmobile trip to the great white. I returned to 2ft of frsh snow and it was still dumping hard.
Buddy dropped me off nd asked what i was going to do. Go home 3 hours south I said. Cleaned the windows and headed off. Only had all Seasons but more than enough. I punched through the brem and snow was flying and we were off. buddy had his 4x4 chevy Diesel pulling my 3 place enclosed trailer.
When slick give me a 4x4 with trailer on the back to keep me straght I am good to go. he decided it was to ugly to proceed around Mt Vernon. I got in the fast lane and was home in 2 hours doing 65 most of the way in the fast lane.

Even in the truck once I am rolling I switch out of 4x4 and run 2wd to save fuel and reduce the drag. Only need 4X4 when slow and hilly and you want have to have bite.

 

This (03S) is my 1st FWD, owned all trucks previous, two 2WD, one 4x4, last was a 2 wheel w/limited slip (bagged on the ground), lived most of my life in the mountains, never needed snow tires, i feel if you learn how to drive in this stuff, theyre not needed. Compared to my previous vehicles our 2 MINIs are tanks in the snow (wife doesnt have snow tires either). I found its definitely easier to drive with the traction cntrl off (whether its ASC or DSC), and more fun.
-For the record, i cant stand runflats, just throwing that out there.

 

I concur...run flats give a terrible ride, but I'll keep them till they wear out unless my tire dealer here can give me a good trade. I haven't bought snow tires since '72. I can't imagine putting snow tires on FWD car.

 

Snow tires work very well on FWD.

 

No doubt. I just keep thinking about those big American FWD cars I use to install snow tires on. Granted, that was more than a few years back, early 70's to be exact when most snow tires were bias belted. The owners always complained about how bad the cars handled when there wasn't any snow. Modern technology has given us much improved snow tires.

 

Depends what RF you are running. I hated them on my 2010. I was planning on yanking them off my 2011 JCW in the first month. Stiffer JCW and now 17" rims instead of the 16"s on my 2010 plus the nasty run flats. This car came with Dunlops and it rides way better than my 2010. I can live with them till spring anyway. Much better riding. New JCW is like a caddy compared to my 2010 S. This one I just don't understand why. It should be a bit stiffer and harsher but it is much smoother and doesn't thump on expansion joints like my 10'. I was very surprised.