I know this has been covered in other posts, but thought I'd share my driving experience today.

I live in Michigan, where we've had quite a bit of snow this winter. Today, we got about 4-5 inches where I live. Schools are closed. Getting ready for work, my wife suggested I take our minivan. I look outside, see that the snow won't be up to the bottom of the Mini, and immediately up the bulldog for the ride in. Subdivision isn't plowed, driveway not cleared, roads not plowed and very messy with deep snow ruts, etc. Undaunted, I forged ahead into the snow. And again, the Mini proved more than equal to the weather. There was a little sliding as she went over some ruts, but all in all she drove better than I would have expected a car that size to drive. The DSC light came on quite a bit, but I must say that I find the DSC helpful in the snow. I know others don’t, but I think it helps to keep the nose pointed in the right direction.

Once I got to work, I was approached by a woman who asked how the car drove in the snow. My answer was that for the typical snowy day, I feel very safe and in control in the Mini.

My experience all winter has been extremely positive in snow, sleet and ice. Unless the snow really gets above the bottom of the car, or the drifts or pile up get too high, I don’t see the weather as a problem. My only fear are the other drivers on the road, especially knuckleheads in SUV’s that think that they can still go the posted speed when everyone else is pacing themselves. That, plus the rear wheel drive Mustang’s that seem to end up all over the road. If it wasn’t for other drivers, I’d have no complaints (so far!!!).

 

I live in NW Ind. I prefer to turn the DSC off when starting from a dead stop in snow and turning it back on once I get going. Hope I don't wear out the switch.

 

Great to hear about your snowy drive in to work...but what's with the "’" when you use an apostrophe...or is it just me?

 

I typed the message in Word, and when I cut and pasted I got the funky code. Go figure.

 

Thanks, my 'puter has been doing some funky things today and I just wanted to make sure it wasn't me...sorry for the interruption...carry on!

 

>>I live in NW Ind. I prefer to turn the DSC off when starting from a dead stop in snow and turning it back on once I get going. Hope I don't wear out the switch.

Yes, sometimes you need to allow for some wheel spin in order to get momentum (or maintain it, i.e., on a hill) - the only way to do that is to turn off the DSC.

Otherwise, I very much agree with MIMiniDriver that DSC does a great job of helping to keep the nose pointed in the right direction.

 

Drove last night in the heavy snow that was dumped on Chicago and its suburbs. I saw a lot of cars in ditches and one even on its side (It looked like a PT Cruiser.)!

My MCS, with 17" all season run-flats and DSC on, ran like a trooper. Not once did I lose control or slide.

-Otto

P.S. Greg4Mini, while I didn't find it necessary, I will have to try starting with the DSC off during the next big snow. Thanks for the tip!

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"MEEP! MEEP!"

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I live at the end of a ten mile dirt road, and it gets very snowy here. I have nothing but raves for my Mini's performance in the snow.

 

I do not have the DCS. When it snows, you may as well hook some reindeer to the front of Holly becauase she's a SLED! lol! I haven't felt very safe driving in my MINI in the snow. I packed the trunk full of hugh water jugs....need some weight! Maybe Holly needs to fatten up for the Pittsburgh winters!

 

>>I do not have the DCS. When it snows, you may as well hook some reindeer to the front of Holly becauase she's a SLED! lol! I haven't felt very safe driving in my MINI in the snow. I packed the trunk full of hugh water jugs....need some weight! Maybe Holly needs to fatten up for the Pittsburgh winters!

 

My MINI handles great in the snow too. One day last week when the roads were fairly messy I drove all the way to work side by side with a Cadillac Esclade (I think it's called, whatever it is, it's HUGE) and my MINI handled the slushy conditions just as well as the beast. I was so proud of the little guy! Everytime we came to a red light I'd look up at her and smile!

Kecia

 

I have the standard 8 spoke 16" The worst is when I am stopped (ie-at a stop sign) when I try to go again, forget about it.....I'm all over the road. It's not pretty. I've driven plenty of Pittsburgh winters so I'm used to the snow, but I've never had a car slide as much as my MINI.

 

I put a set of 16" Bridgestone Blizzaks on my MCS for the winter. It made a world of difference. I have never driven a better vehicle in the snow. :smile:

 

The blizzaks are awesome.. you might want to pick up a full set. Around 500 mounted and balanced at tire rack IIRC. Still I am confused about your problems. Shouldn't be that bad. maybe your atc is malfunctioning. but even with that front wheel drive in the snow is usually quite capable.

 

I can't say that I've been particularly impressed with my MINI on the 15" Conti All-seasons. I've gotten around most places OK, but not wonderfully - and certainly not my driveway (hill).

The real question seems to be about the tires. They seem to make ALL the difference. Has anyone had the same winter tires on their previous car as they have on their MINI? That would seem to give a much more apples-to-apples comparo (even given possible size differences).

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i did ok in the snow last night!
seemed like i was doing much better than all the taxi's on the road!
sweet!

 

MCS, stock performance all-seasons, and doing smashingly.. but with as much problems that I have starting out (i just leave the ASC on... on or off it seems to be a matter of 6 & 1/2 doz...), i could not imaging boosting the HP too much.. 200hp would just be too much power for the snow...

(Oh, I live in WNY... so how's that for winter? )

Rocketboy_X

 

I'm delighted with the performance of my MCS, 16" all-seasons in the snow. From
a start or going uphill when more traction is needed the DSC is off. On level or downhill stretches I turn it on and the nose seems to follow the road as if it has it's own mind for safety. On....off....on....off....according to the circumstance and happy as a lark.

 

Hey, I live in Michigan too and have my own story for today that I found most satisfying. The roads were not that bad--the drivers were. A very impatient jeep went past a line of us on the left at an unreasonable speed. Two miles ahead where two freeways merged we found it head first into the guardrail with the driver looking very sheepish. Not hard enough to do any damage to his jeep, but I enjoyed the moment just the same.

 

Hey Kpiglet, I'm from Pgh, too! :smile:

However, I am scholastically displaced and have been driving Ollie around in godforsaken Virginia this winter which has led me to the most fabulous winter driving experience.... in the midst of some seriously cruddy road conditions (Fredericksburg has a whopping single snow plow and they seem to be frightened of it) I began to make my way up my hill, by then covered in about 3-4 inches of snow. A Ford truck was at the top of the hill... sliding DOWN the hill. He had to pause for a few moments to allow Ollie and I to motor past him. With ease. No slippage. The truck was still there when I went back out about 15 minutes later.

tee hee.

Invincibly,
~Kelley

 

Thank you everyone for posting! This has made up my mind to get the DCS! I like the idea it can be turned off when it's not needed.

DChamp - I love your story!! It's like when you get passed by a aggressive driver who is changing lanes every other car and 5 minutes later everyone gets to see the State Trouper writing out his ticket!!!

 

I was just behind the big 60 car pile-up on I-94 in western MI last month. As I approached the back-up, cars, SUVs, and trucks of all kinds were fishtailing and ending up in the ditch. My little Agent Cooper, on the other hand, stuck to the road and had no problems. He has 17" all-season run-flats.

Then I got of the highway and used my nav system to plan a new route. Ended up driving on Old 31 for a ways, which was not plowed. Again, the Agent performed beautifully.

 

Ooee, baby! Sounds like I made a good move by ordering the DSC. Don't think ol' man winter is done with us yet here in the Mid Atlantic so meine Frau Blüecar will most likely have a taste of der Schnee before the buds pop. I look forward to this with the keenest of trepidation (I hate driving in the snow :???: )