Slumpp.....I would go that route in a heartbeat if I didn't live in snow country. All wheel drive is mandatory I found in the past 8 years. We just get too much snow and ice. Your thoughts on the run flats are actually one of my biggest worries with this car. I figure I'll use them till they wear out then replace with non-runflats and put a slime repair kit in the car. In my case, this actually means needing two other sets of tires....summer and winter....ouch! But, that is the case on any car we buy.

 

One of the first magazine articles on the countryman pulled the run flats off and replaced them with the tires That I purchased for my R53.
They are continental DWS .
I will price them for the countryman. But I have not found the perfect time for a mini, yet. They seam to be hard on tires.

 

I'm not sure what I would do. It was not my first choice when I ordered it last year and would not be first choice again.

I would probably get something bigger. I had an 02 Jeep Grand Cherokee as my winter / dog car but it died prematurely. I would look at a new jeep GC or CPO of current body styles of X3 or 3 series. Jeep is supposed to have a turbo diesel as well as an 8 speed trans with the V6 in the GC 2014 model year refresh coming early in 2013 - those were the two powertrains I was holding out for to replace mine.

I know they're not even similar vehicles but I just need a 4 wheel drive vehicle for the winter and something with a bit of practicality to balance out the other three cars that are tons of fun but only have two doors each.

 

We had ours for 8 months and 10,000 miles. It was totaled in a t-bone crash, not our fault.
I have been looking and comparing cars since June. I flirted briefly with the Audi A3 and then went heavy on the Infinity EX35. I am sticking with the Countryman All4 S, auto. It is the only car I have owned since I started buying them at the age of 14 in 1959 that would cause me to drive out of my way just to get a few extra miles in. I spent my life racing and riding motorcycles and can no longer do either. The closest thing to it for me is the Mini Countryman.
Ours was an All 4S with automatic, all options except navigation.
We will buy another around June of 2013 if not sooner, this time with navigation to include all the option packages.
Color is to be decided, the last one was Royal Grey.
Bruce

 

minijackcorn....how did you fair with the t-bone accident? I was wondering how good it would do if hit like that. I would think with all the airbags it should be ok, but was still curious.

 

Mstover, the wife had a cut on her finger that needed stitched. I had a broken sternum, 5 broken ribs, and a couple of spinal fractures. The wife is a better gauge of how the Mini handled it than me. I have RA and regularly break something or tear a tendon on my own. The Countrymans cabin was fine, that despite a buckled top and bent frame that prevented the doors from opening. And yes, we both had on safety belts. The wife was holding one of our French Bulldogs. She (our bulldog) made it through without a scratch despite being popped by the air bag and hit by the floorboard.
Ping me if you want any further details.
Bruce

 

I did!

Sold the Pepper White '03 MC in 2008 for a new Crossfire.
Separation anxiety took hold and we bit he bullet, sold the X-Fire and ordered the MCS Clubman...

 

I may have to take back my previous response. After two weekends in a row driving in snow at high altitude, that little car is quite good in crappy conditions. Glad I have the winter tires though.