Getting drenched here in SoCal and just wondering how the little bulldogs fend? cheers!

 

The car drives fine in the rain. That said, coming home last night from Oceanside to San Diego, I wished I was in my wife's MDX.

 

No problem, but I'm glad I have DSC.

 

Like any other car, with the right tires, it's fine. With the wrong ones it could be a handful. I have the Kumho Ecsta ASX all season ultra high performance tires on mine and it's excellent in the rain.

 

Wet

Mark

 

Awesome! No complaints other then watch out for standing deep water. Our little ones sit a little low. The R56S is a Bulldog with the bite of a German Shepherd.

 

very true about tires.. I guess I am just wondering bc I would be coming from AWD to FWD..

 

Here in rainy, snowy coastal northern california, the MINI does great. FWD is really good for traction. I'm sure AWD will help get you going in places that FWD cannot, but you still gotta be careful

Driving in to work today, my 30-min commute grew to 2 1/2 hrs thanks to hwy 9 being closed. With snow falling, freezing temps, I found myself being tailgated by a 7-series, who later impatiently whipped around me as I made a 3-point turn at the road closure. Of course, he had to turn around too and ended up behind me yet again :-)

I also saw several 4WD vehicles flying by at high speed, I guess they think they are immune to the laws of physics. (Evolution at work)

Then there was the Jeep skidding on ice and the CalTrans truck stuck on the side of the road.

Just take it easy, keep a good distance between you and the next car, and keep those lights on so you'll be seen.

- James
2007 MCS CR/CR

 

Winston Churchill said "The end of a bulldog's nose is turned up so he can breath without letting go".

I am sure a wet bulldog can still bite.

 

No problems at all. The narrow tires 195 width definitely helps.

 

No problems here.

I got to experience the Mini on black ice :impatient Tuesday morning for about a 15 mile route. Went slow and took my time. Our local streets were sheets of ice. I was impressed with the Mini's handling. I didn't slide once. We had over 45 accidents just in the Virginia Beach, VA area in the matter of two hours. I don't wish to do it again.

 

Yikes. Anyone slide off the bay bridge?

 

No, the areas affected were the lower Virginia Beach roads and into Chesapeake. They closed several 2 and 4 lanes roads over the morning hours that were main roads for our area. It was the biggest traffic mess I'd ever seen or heard of in this area.:impatient

 

No leaks yet.

 

Mine's butt gets really dirty in the rain although it is a First Generation. No handling problems. However, proper tires are a must.

 

Good. The A.I. wipers did the right thing. The Pirelli P-Zero Nero M+S tires held fairly well. I was getting on the freeway at an odd shaped on-ramp in Seaside. There is a sharp left hairpin turn before you enter the on-ramp, but no traffic from other directions. I was feeling playful and took it a little fast. I'm not sure, but it may have slid a tiny bit. It seems that the Celica behind me wanted to keep up. I saw it in the rear-view mirror as it slid to the edge of the road and hit the dirt. I don't think there was a curb right there, and they recovered fast. So, probably no harm done, except to egos.

 

Fine, except mind the deep water!!!

 

The biggest problem is all of the idiots who DON'T know how to drive in the rain out here.....

Donna

 

Idiots don't seem to know how to drive in the rain, no matter where you live.

I drove my MCS in the rain for the first time today as I went back to the dealer to get my license plate. I'm a bit bothered by the intermittent wipers... but the handling was excellent. I left the ASC on and turned sport on and off.
I did have to avoid the puddles that I've normally driven thru with my AWD RAV4... so I missed that fun.

 

How do you like them for dry weather handling? Also, longevity?

 

Alas, the R56 is no better.

 

Me too! What is wrong with people around here? I was staying at my girlfriend's house in Bonny Doon, woke up and heard about Hwy 9 being closed, so I drove home to SC and waited for the traffic on 17 to clear... Anyway on the way down the hill (I had just pulled out of her driveway and accelerating), this a-hole in a snow-covered Expedition gets impatient and swerves around me.

BTW where do you live / work James? We should do a Hwy 9 commute / cruise sometime

 

Clive

I live exactly 4 miles SW of saratoga gap, on 9, so Saratoga gap is the fastest way to work in Campbell.

The 2700 ft elevation of the gap means traversing the occasional snow storm. I may stay home tomorrow since the weather looks bad.

- James
2007 MCS CR/CR

 

The mini is probably the safest car I have in the rain. I ordered it with the optional (should be standard) DSC. When I ordered the mini I stayed with the 15" wheels and ordered the all season tires. I wish michelin's rain force tire came in that size. I just put those on my honda crv, fantastic tire.

 

For rain I think you're right, but for general, dry-weather dust I notice that R56 is much better in this department.