Just experienced my first major winter storm with my Mini- MAJOR wind - blowing snow and ice - very poor visiblility - and we came through with no problems. The DSC light flashed a couple of times, could feel the ABS kicking in - but otherwise even with the standard tires I experienced no problem. I was somewhat worried as to how the car would handle the weather as I commute 60 miles in snow country. I had planned on retiring the MINI for the winter and driving my old truck but maybe I'll change my mind.

 

I've had no snow here yet, but it is a guarantee in Iowa. My expectation, that you are confirming is that it will do pretty well in snow. I am guessing, though, that deep snow may be an issue given the low clearance.

By they way, where is this snow country you live in?

P.S. It is a myth that Iowa is flat. Some is but also there is some great hilly country for driving. We are the people that Save Minnesotans from being dangerously close to Missouri.

 

I live in Western New York 60 miles south of Buffalo - we get lake effect snow like you can't believe until Lake Erie freezes over - sometimes it takes till mid January. My work takes me into Buffalo periodically and I have been caught in some horrendous storms. Mind if I share your comment regarding Minnesotans - I have some good friends in Eden Prairie that will get a chuckle :smile:

 

Yesterday I drove unexpectedly into my first snow of the winter. Last year, I was able to anticipate snow and hence had my snowtires on when I drove in the first real snow. But this year, it's still "late fall" in MA...but there was about a foot of snow in central VT where I had to go yesterday. I hadn't paid attention to the weather (and anyway wouldn't have had time to switch wheels/tires the night before leaving) so I drove in with my SLites and "all season" runflats.

As I expected from last winter's experience, the MCS handled very well. I did find it absolutely necessary to turn off DSC -- which was really all about turning off traction control and not stability control -- as it was impossible to drive up hills with traction control on. Even though the roads had been plowed, it was VT where dry pavement isn't really the objective. So, the little glaze and crusties on the road meant that I was going no place with traction control...but with it off, I was fine.

Once again proving that MINI's implementation of traction control is ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS!!! And it is ironic that I had to disable stability control - which I might have found worthwhile on level roads with strong crosswinds- to get enough traction (power) to drive.

_________________

Bring Out the Scoops!

 

Sure, StillK, all jokes about Missouri I make are public domain. Actually, I have friends in both Missouri and Minnesota and we all toss them back and forth readily. You do really live in snow country. I spent some winters in Cleveland and lake effect is amazing and I think Buffalo is just about the snow capital of the U.S.

Glad to read, jsun, that you find the handling good in snow. I don't have DSC but others will probably benefit from your advice. My rant: Fall is way too short.

 

Last year we had a pretty bd winte here in the NY Metro area, but hey no problems with me mini, off course you have to be carefull with the ground clerance.