So today I had to drive from Pittsburgh to Cleveland and back to Pittsburgh for a job interview (I live in Cleveland but I'm "living" in a hotel in Pittsburgh for my job as a Construction Superintendent) and all this driving with in the middle of the raging snow storm that pounded the Great Lakes/Northeast today, but it survived and handled the turnpike and messy roads like a champ! I couldn't believe it! It was awesome, except now my baby is full of slushy gross snow! BLAH! I want warm weather here NOW!

 

I also did the wave to another MINI owner I saw getting on the turnpike and I was getting off and he waved back!

 

Everybody seems surprised that MINI's do great in the snow. Non-S Cooper models have the right amount of power (not too much, not too little) to get going and be driven sanely in the snow, plus if you add the stock 15" tires they cut right through the snow. Front wheel drive is a huge advantage, plus the bulldog stance keeps the car extremely stable in the snow.

I grew up in North Dakota and drove lots of different heavy, RWD domestic vehicles in the snow, putting most of them in the ditch at one time or another (dad's GMC pickup was the worst). Hands down, the R50 MINI I have is the best car I have ever driven in the snow. Add a pair of tire chains and it's almost unstoppable.

Val