http://jalopnik.com/5876835/two-inch...rs-into-morons

Well perhaps not specifically...

 

I give the MINI driver one thing. At least she realized she couldn't do it and got the car of to the side and got out and walked instead of try to dredge on like the other people in the video.


Also that is why I don't live where it snows because I can't drive in the snow. Nor do I want to.

 

Don't people know what snow tires are?

I love driving in the snow, I would hate winters without it.

 

Except for the Toyota putting chains on the wrong wheels, I'm not sure I really see anything qualifying as moronic driving in the video. Yeah, folks are slipping and getting stuck. It happens on slick roads. When I hear "moron" related to winter driving, I tend to think more of the people who come barreling along driving like they are in dry conditions 'cause they have an SUV or pickup truck and think they are impervious to the actual road conditions. Or tailgating other drivers (not limited to winter driving I suppose, but certainly worse in it). Or cutting off others. Or not turning on their lights or turn signals. Pretty much most of the stupid stuff I see everyday that is magnified by slick roads.

 

I live in the PNW, not Seattle...DARN!!

Here's a YouTube video from the Winter of 2009 in PDX/Vancouver Metro Area where the city was Grid Locked for 6hrs., due to TriMet Busses not being chained up, look what I found though...didn't realize there was a MINI in it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y77fU22FbQ

 

That video reminded me of my drive to the store the other day. I just got an 08 MCS last week. I have lived in MN, IL, WI where snow can get a bit crazy so I know how to drive on snow... It was very warm in the midwest for the first 2 days I had the car (low 50s), but on day 3 it was 20 deg and about 3-4" of snow came. The car came with what I assume were the original tires and the car has 60k miles on it. They were the dunlop sport run flat tires and so on top of them having a lot of miles they were also summer tires. Anyways, to not draw this out anymore then I already have... I ordered some Continental DWS when I got home from my crazy trip to the store and now I have no issues with the snow!

 

Here's to you TSur for being proactive!!

 

This wasn't a case of 2" of snow turning west coasters into idiots, it's an icy hill under that snow. I live close to there, sort of (Victoria, BC.) and encountered some very icy hills on my way home today. Even with good snow/ice tires and an understanding of how the car behaves in bad conditions, it was a delicate operation to make it home. I hit a red light on an incline (of course.) and was almost creamed by a bus making a left in front of me on the ice. He was sliding all over, I was ready to roll backwards into the car behind me. I got some wheel spin when I took off, but I did have ASC disabled so it wasn't a disaster. I really enjoy driving in the snow, but icy hills are a pain in the ***.

 

I'm here in the Seattle area (from Boston) and everyone's freaking out because of the "snow storm". Schools closed, businesses closing early, cars crawling at 20mph. Amazing.

 

Driving with bald tires is moronic. That is what all those idiots are doing.

The surprise storm we had in October caught me with my summer tires still on with 4 inches of snow and I went up hills with no problem since the tires were new and the treads deep.

 

I was one of those morons in that October storm. Making matters worse, I had my snow tires at home, and also my Dodge 4X4. Learned a good lesson that day.

 

+1 My thoughts exactly!

 

So true. Hills and ice also doesn't mean you are a moron. At least unless you put chains on the wrong tires though...that is pretty moronic. On bad snow days in any vehicle I will avoid hills regardless. Unfortunately we don't drive on the roads isolated from other drivers and there's bound be be someone stuck on a hill that will only make you come to a complete stop. Once your stopped on an icy incline its game over even if you do have 4WD. I've seen many SUVs sliding backwards down some hills near me. At some point you just have to cut your losses and find an alternate route home.

 

+1. And I love driving my Mini in the winter especially. Best front-wheel drive car I've ever had in snow!

 

Boy, I second this one. Don't have to contend with now (live south) but used to live in Iowa and Nebr. and definitely remember the idiots you described.

 

I live on a steep hill in the snow belt of Central Massachusetts. When we get snow, it's fun to sit in the window and try to watch people get up the hill. Had a milk truck slide backwards, then sideways then land/stop on a stone wall. It's amusing to watch and thankfully no one has gotten hurt or taken out a utility pole. There's an added bonus of a very deep runoff gulley running to the sewer drain on one side for a little extra adventure!

Anyway, I had NO problems whatsoever getting up that hill in my AWD Element. Followed a friend home during one storm (worked with her and she lived on my street), she was in her Volvo, couldn't get up the hill. I pulled up next to her, stopped and talked to her and then went right up (still had the Element)! lol that was funny. I have not yet been stuck in the MINI with snows and do engage the DTS if gets really slippery for the added push and traction.

 

seeing that video makes me happy that my other truck is a LR with full time 4wd and snow tires

 

I live in Seattle, and I can say the drivers here are really moronic. I've seen SUVs and Subarus abandoned on the side of the road or sliding because their drivers are not prepared for the snow. They do stupid things like stopping in the middle of hills, or slowing down before the hill, it's like they don't understand basic physics. Going uphill, momentum is your friend. I've had no problems driving around in my Z4 M with Blizzaks (I also see plenty of morons going out with summer tires or almost bald all-seasons). In Germany and Switzerland you're required by law to have a set of winter tires, even if it only snows a couple of times a year in the PNW, temperatures still drop below 42F at which point summer tires are pretty much useless. The most moronic thing to do though is deciding to drive in the weather you're not prepared for.

 

hey FerRrari - I guess your MINI died ... for the thing they're doing a recall now?

 

That's correct, my car was lucky #13.

 

Saying that people are freaking out because of snow is not really that great. If it snows once or twice a year then they have all the right to because they don't see it that often nor does the local government have the ability to clear the road. Now if it snows every year multiple times then these people need to have their cars taken away from them.

 

Yeah, they don't get a lot of snow, but I'm pretty sure it snows every year... they should still be prepared. It's the same where I live. It's basically a rain forest, but every year we get a few good snowfalls and the city grinds to a halt. I always tell people, "Welcome to Canada, buy a sweater and some snow tires." but that doesn't quite apply to Seattle. Maybe "Welcome to the PNW. Buy some sandals and some tire chains."

 

Like I said before their is a reason I don't live where it snows and that is one of them because snow sucks.