I want one...but I live in NYC

can I get one with ski's for the winter time? [img]null[/img]

 

I wouldn't let that stand in the way. The MINI's got great handling and stability, as well great center of gravity and weight distribution. Slap some good winter tires on, and you'll be laughin' while everyone else is slidin'. Show 'em what the MINI is made of. I personally think it'll be a ball out there in the snow. I almost can't wait ot try that out. Almost. As much as I hate snow, I'd like to put the MINI to the test.

 

I live in the metro area and got my mini S, dont worry about snow, with traction control and the short gear ratio you be abel to keep it on track, also the swamp of winter tires is a good option. I personally have a second car for the winter but last year I didnt needed, just do not let the conditions scare you.
Buy the way we had a bad storm last night and i decided to take the mini for a wet test.... With the DSC is excelent, without DSC is nimble but fun just remember be easy with the gas.

 

Hey guys I'm calif. What's winter?

Everyone even talks about this rain stuff, Out here in the west we just don't have a clue about it, especially now in droughtville.

Joke!
tmgrobyn

PS If that snow stuff gets to be a problem, just send some our way pleeeze!

 

Afraid to drive a MINI in the winter 'cause you live in NYC? I live out in Western New York, and i can't wait to see how she takes it. And winter/snow tires are for whimps. This may not be true anymore, but i've always heard that winter tires were worse on ice then your regular all season tire. (I read it in consumer reports a while ago). And I'm MUCH more worried about ice then snow. At least you can see the snow, and prepair for it. You can never be quite sure when there's ice. And FYI, my current is a 90 Chevy Cavalier, and I pretty much just plow through everything already. I almost spun out on the thruway once, but if you keep your wits about you, don't panic, look where you want to go, and drop it into neutral (or step on the clutch), you're almost always going to be all right...


Rocketboy X

 

What am I to say? Living in Maine, you see your share of white, white winters!

 

I'll say! I'm from Maine, too, and what they panic about down here in Massachusetts (a Mainiac in exile), Maine people don't even think about.
Q: What is the most dangerous thing about the first snowfall of the year?
A: All the flakes on the road!

 

Where in maine? I'm in Scarborough....

 

!!!!NOT IN SCARBERIA!!!! THE NORTH WIND COMING DOWN THE 404 STEP IS VICIOUS!!!! OH THE HUMANITY....

 

Having driven two Mustangs over the last 3 winters, I'm looking forward to seeing a winter with a Mini. One time during my sophomore year when I had my 94 GT it started storming so we were released from high school 3 hours early. But because my car was rear-wheel drive (and I stupidly had bald Firestone Firehawk summer tires on it), I actually got home later than on a regular school day! That was one scary ride - I ended going on an exit ramp sideways! I can't wait for the Mini.

 

Don't know nothing about snow (I live in Florida) but I'm wondering how MiniMe will handle the hurricanes!!

 

Unfortunately, I have to say "from" Maine--Portland, to be exact, as opposed to "in" Maine. I'm down here in Massachusetts now :smile:. I imagine once I get my MINI I may feel like going up more often, just to have an excuse to let 'er rip on the highway. Do you ever get down around the North Shore (Mass.)?

 

Only once in a while.. I have some friends right outside of Boston, and I go down to visit every so often! And about the winter... I'm opting for the ski-roof rack, so I can drive up to Sunday River, or Sugarloaf with my son!

 

Roof rack sounds good--how much was it? Do you think it would hold a canoe?
Back to winter weather, does anyone know if the run-flat tires will be bad on snow? Can you get 16" run-flat all-weathers? Thanks!

 

The roof rack, is about 400-450, with installation... or thats what my dealer said...(they weren't sure). And yeah, I bet it would hold a canoe.. I think it's rated to 75 kilos.

and here's a link you might want to try...

link

 

For info on the roof rack..... try this.... link

Hope this helps,
SW

 

>>I want one...but I live in NYC
>>
>>can I get one with ski's for the winter time? :evil: ) and i still bought Squirt!
don't be a dope go buy one!

 

Thanks for the link to Pirelli! Very helpful. :smile: I wonder about a 20' Oldtown on my 11' MINI? Well, don't have Dad's any more--would have to buy or rent one. The Pirelli run-flat doesn't seem to come in flavors, such as "winter," but the tread looks similar to the all-season tire. Do you think so, too?

 

The tread there looks to be a preformance tire, not constructed for winter driving... The tread doesn't look like it's made to grip roads covered in sheets of black ice, which i've grown used to. Another tire maker you may want to try out is Dunlop.. They have runflats in 195/55 16" for just under $180.... Can't tell you what they're called though.. I forgot to ask the guy when I called the "Tire Warehouse"... I can tell now the biggest problem i'm going to have with this car is going to be Tire selection/availability!

 

Don't let the weather stop you!~
Its too much fun to put limits on yourself because of the weather, put on the tires and get going!


:smile: Jeanna

 

Yes, I am also worried about the same thing (driving predominantly in Michigan and taking delivery of my MINI "hopefully" mid-November). A quick search for compatible 195/55R16 winter tires doesn't yield much. I did find a Pirelli Snowsport 210 in the proper size, but when I try to find it on various internet tire websites, it's never available. Can someone confirm an available winter/all-season replacement tire?

Side note... you can find an interesting article HERE describing how BMW's introduction of Goodyear's run-flat tires on the MINI will greatly increase their market share in the US. Perhaps Goodyear should be expected to provide a winter tire?

 

Here in Wisconsin, I knew that the 17" performance runflats weren't going to be the jazziest for winter driving. Luckily, the 17" tires were a dealer add-on, together with the R90 rims, so (get this!) he included the original 15" tires and stock rims as part of the deal.

I'll try the original 15" tires, those are supposed to be all-season, and then if I need more stick, I'll be looking at some true winter tires.

For all the price-gouging horror-stories I've read, I was ecstatic to have my dealer include these at N/C. Granted, they were part of the original cost, but I sure wasn't smart enough to think to ask about it.

Dave