I live in Utica, NY, where we have lots and lots of snow (lake effect as well as the normal kind). We've had around a foot over the past day and a half, and I must say, I'm delighted to be back in a MINI. When I first drove my MCS 04 with its runflats I thought it was a terrible snow car, but as soon as I bought it some decent winter tires, I loved the road contact and maneuverability it had compared with several SUVs I've owned. I'm reliving the same feeling now, having just gotten rid of an 07 Jetta and picked up an 09 Clubman last week. I feel quite a bit safer in the Clubman with winter tires than I did in the Jetta with snows, again due to the incredible maneuverability. The only thing that scares me a little are the jerks in pickups with snowplows speeding around like ambulances. I wouldn't drive through a foot of snow with the MINI, but on even minimally-plowed roads it's great.

 

I do respect you comments but i will have to disagree. I was able to get my Mini out of the drive way and drive on a road that had more than 8" of snow on it with no problem. But my next door neighbor with her 2005 RAV4 (4x4) was not able to even get out of the same drive way (our driveways are combined between the houses) with out shoveling. Then when she got out on the road and she could not get put the hill only down. She was not very happy with me when i was able to get out before here and actually go up the hill

 

no follow-up from the OP andcbii ?

I will say I was extremely happy to find this thread. I'm a firm proponent of using snow tires when you live in an area that gets that weather, but thought/gambled we'd have a light year and didn't prep the MINI or my Jeep this year (already have Nokian Hakappellittas (sic) on rims for the latter). But I've still been deliberating whether I should keep my Jeep for pass-ability in the white stuff (well, sometimes our road over the 3 mile sand-bar in & out of the almost island we live on does partially wash out, so there is that too) but I'm far more certain I'll be OK without the Jeep now; need to get a set of Nokian RSi tires or equiv for the Lil'Buddy.

 

It looks like another case of bait and run!! Problem is probably not that big since he doesn't really want to respond.

Good thing I don't have to deal with any snow issues, but I'll remind some of the younger readers that the predecessor of the MINI, the classic Mini was pretty much unstoppable in the 1960's, even in the winter rally's in Finland. Proper tires are the key and the other winter tips already mentioned here should keep a MINI running! Check the winter tip thread for additional MINI prep.

Certainly the OP doesn't seem interested in a follow up and I'd take that as a pretty clear message!

 

People seem to forget that AWD helps you move forward, but when trying to stop or turn in low traction situations mass is your enemy so the lighter vehicle will have the distinct advantage in these situations given proper tires.

 

Yah, my Mini has as many tires doing the stopping and turning as any 4x4!

 

This is true, but someone who knows how to drive an AWD vehicle in snow and ice will be able to turn better, provided they know their vehicle and how the torque split works on their car. And they have the right tires.

A 4WD isn't as good because its just sending equal power to all the wheels.

 

Oh well, glad to hear everyone else loves their car in the winter. I guess i'm just being overly critical. Maybe i'll try some new tires.

Just a quick question about this post.... I understand that under normal conditions, dry with no snow or ice, that a lighter car will stop faster. But wouldn't a heavier car push down on the snow more, push more snow out of the way and make more contact with the the pavement? I always kind of thought, and i may be way off here, that lighter cars just kind of rode on top of the ice/snow where as a heavier car can dig in and make more contact with the actual road.

***EDIT***
Isn't part of the reason why FWD cars generally get better traction in snow and ice because their is more weight on the wheels that move that car.

 

P.S. I love my MINI and I'm going to keep it FOREVER

 

The "fine points" of the AWD / 4WD / whatever definition have become far too blurred. Is the system mechanical or automatic? If mechanical, are each of the 3 differentials open, partial/limited-slip/torque controlled, or locked? If automatic, how is the torque split controlled? (mechanical viscous or clutch pack torque control, and/or by brake or throttle control, or some combination).

"AWD" (however defined), mainly helps in GOing. Some of the most sophisticated systems (Acura's superHICAS, Subaru's auto-tranny systems) can also assist somewhat in turning, but only under power. If you're on the brakes, no matter the "AWD" system, a good ABS, good driver, and DSC will help as much.

The HUGE key is embedded in what flyinlow said: "...provided they know their vehicle...". Whatever the equipment, the most important thing to tighten is the loose nut behind the wheel! Make good decisions on equipping your car, and make sure YOU are also equipped! Practice, take lessons, and enjoy!

I agree, "AWD" is the way to go for optimum mobility in really foul weather, but can't get one wrapped in a Mini wrapper (yet)! It also has fair-to-significant tradeoffs in efficiency & weight. I've consistently chosen a good FWD car and love it - but also recognize that I'm not climbing like a mountain goat either.

 

DixonL2 is right. Once that first snowfall happens, get in your MINI, find an empty parking lot somewhere and practice, practice, practice. You'll get to know your car, become a better winter driver and, most importantly, have a blast!

 

BINGO!

Although Snow Tires will help if the human behind the wheel does not know how to control the car then there will be nothing but problems and complaints.

Case in point. Coworker has a large GMC Denali with snow tires and every time she tries to make it move the accelerator goes to the floor.
Once she learns to stop doing that she may actually get somewhere.

 

I helped a HummerH2 out of a snowbank - when I pulled up I saw her stuck, and stopped to ask if she was OK. "My husband MADE me buy this HUGE (expletive deleted) truck to be SAFE, and it can't even (expletives deleted) get up this (expletives deleted) hill - how the (expletives deleted) did you get up here in that little CAR? I want one of THOSE! ..and they're CUTE."

Despite the "cute" comment - I had no desire to correct her - I said "Snow tires and a little practice - here, can I help you out a little?" I coached her in a couple fine points ("straighten your wheels a bit, f-e-a-t-h-e-r the gas, turn... there you go...") and she was out in a heartbeat - never even had to push. She thanked me and the minute she was back on the road the gas pedal was matted again. Ah well...

 

Great discussion, good tips and points!! Practice and knowledge is the key and the right equipment at the right time!! I wish some of my fellow Texas nuts would read this and do some practice before the next freeze!!

 

i only have one complaint.
because its so low, the mini eats too much snow, it plows the streets for all the cars in back of me.

 

i do have to agree having a mini cooper in the snow without winter tires is bad. just tonight i have ordered my set of blizzaks from tirerack.com and i am so excited to get them. i hope it goes better then the all seasons i have on it right now. with the all seasons i have gotten stuck in my friends driveway and i had to get it pulled out. i hope the blizzaks dont let me down. one bad thing about winter is the salt that is used for the roads. my mini is a 2002 and on the bottom of the drivers side door toward the front tire the paint is bubbling up and i can tell that rust will start soon i have contacted my mini dealer and they say that they have to contact their BMW represenative. they said that they have to come to the dealership and inspect my car to determine if the corrosion will be covered by warranty. the dealer still hasnt gotten back to me and it has been a good three months. now that the year is almost over i am afraid that they will reject my car because the six year warranty will be over! does anyone else have this problem with corrosion or any problem with dealerships not taking their customers into consideration? thanks

 

It's a MINI snow plow!!! Get the city to pay you!

 

[quote=Bilbo-Baggins;2600183]Make sure that you do not have it set on "recirculate". That will keep all of the humidity, of your exhaled breath, trapped inside to coat the cool windows.

I live in a pretty cold/snowy area, so maybe you haven't experienced these things, but I'd also consider other sources of moisture in the car like retained snow at your feet that never quite melts all the way unless you take a real long trip and pound the heat (if you have a garage, this probably doesn't happen to you) and check for leaks. Water in the car is a real pain to get rid of and can lead to frost you actually need to scrape from the inside of the windows (bad sign). (just wanted to add my 2 cents)

I haven't been able to find many responses to the non-functioning windshield spray in cold weather (I don't even hear the little pump motor running) First time was about 9 degrees out, now at 29 degrees out, and I agree with other people that cold-weather package would imply to me that this should still work, particularly after warming up / long trips. Yes, my fluid is appropriately cold rated, etc. When outside is about 32 or 33, it works like normal again. Suspicious to me. (I've NEVER used non-cold rated washer fluid, as I said, I live in a cold/snowy area) I'd like to hear if anyone else has this problem? Dealer sort of played me off the first time saying "Mine didn't work either" but that answer just didn't satisfy me... now that it's still happening, I'm going to take it back to them.

Snow tires on steel wheels can't be beat on the mini, makes all the difference. Our Subie Forester is pretty unstoppable on all-cond's though, as much as I don't want to admit it; the extra clearance makes a big difference in the big snow days.

 

"I understand that under normal conditions, dry with no snow or ice, that a lighter car will stop faster."

This is not a 100% true statement. The car with the greatest coefficient of friction will stop faster. A "lighter" car doesn't stop faster because of it's weight. It stops faster because of the friction component of the cross section of the contact patch at each wheel that is breaking, and the efficiency of the brake drum/caliper at each wheel.

"But wouldn't a heavier car push down on the snow more, push more snow out of the way and make more contact with the the pavement?"

No, not really. The heavier the vehicle, the more it will compress the snow under the tire. Itt won't pust it out of the way. It will compress it and try to snow plow the remaining snow, which will cause the tires to float up. You won't get contact with dry pavement, unless it is a very light snowfall, with little accumulation.

"I always kind of thought, and i may be way off here, that lighter cars just kind of rode on top of the ice/snow where as a heavier car can dig in and make more contact with the actual road."

Actually, this is your friend in the snow. The lighter car may indeed compress less snow, but properly outfitted with the correct tires, you end up with a snow on snow situation. As the tires rotate, the pliability of the tire, and tread design design cause it to throw off snow, but maintain a snow on snow contact patch. All bets are off with ice though. ice sucks.
One winter day we had a bad ice/snow storm, and we erroneously though the 4WD, dually, F-350 would be better for the road. We were wrong. The total force down, divided by six six contact patches didn't work out to well. We were sliding all over the place. Went back home and got the Saab 900SE.

The equation really boils down to the weight of the vehicle, divided by the total contact area of the tires, and the quality(condition) and efficiency of the tires on the drive wheel(s), along with the condition of the non drive wheels for control.
Bottom line' Your tires have the most impact on the total equation.

I'm going to be a little judgmental here and assume that you don't have a lot of experience as of yet, driving in the snow/ice. Next good winter storm, find an empty mall, or supermarket parking lot, and practice losing and regaining control of your car in slips, slides, and especially slides while turning and braking simultaneously.
You'll learn a lot about your car and the concept of the counter steer to recover.

Remember 4WD can get you twice as far into the ditch.

 

You will be amazed. I haven't put them on my Mini yet (waiting to wring all the miles out of the 16" stockers first, put snows on the 16's and then go 17" for the rest of the year), but I did put them on a PT Cruiser. That car was absolutely deplorable in snow with so-called all-seasons, but with the Blizzak's it was unstoppable. Snow, ice, slush, it would go through anything I threw it at. My driveway is a bit of a hill, and it would walk right up it even covered with ice. Those are just awesome winter tires.

 

Can't say it enough - at our PittStopMINI Wintry Driving Refresher (winter driving instruction and practice at BeaveRun Motorsports park) we tested the same cars (R53 MCS) on separate tires: Summers, All-Seasons, and Winter tires. While nothing can repeal the laws of physics, experiencing the difference, back to back, same course, same snow, same car, is amazing.

We're doing it again February 22 this year...

 

If you could move P-burgh closer to WI...I'd be there in a heartbeat! I put on a new set of Blizzaks I'm dying to play with.

 

Hey, make it a weekend junket! The 'burgh is a neat place to visit. Sort of like Milwaukee, but with rivers instead of lakes. (yep - bigger rivers than Waukesha) Oh, and a couple fewer breweries - but at least as many beer drinkers. It's only 10 hours away - in a Mini that qualifies as "not enough"!

 

If I weren't busy Saturday and Monday, I would! I haven't been back to Pittsburgh since '03 (spent a year there working at Pitt). I think that was the first place I saw a MINI Cooper in the wild...