Hey everyone, been checking out your forum for a little while now and enjoy it so far. I am really considering buying a MCS very soon. I currently have a nissan sentra se-r spec v and having some problems with it. What i haven't really seen mentioned to much yet is snow, how is the cooper in the snow with a descent set of tires? My spec v has steels with snow tires on for the winter and is still pretty bad. I would assume the MCS would do well because of its obvious attributes, but you never know. Just trying to figure out if i should get an 04 now or wait till after winter and hop on an 05? thanks btal40

 

Well, if you order now, would definitely be an 05 you would be receiving. As far as snow performance, the MINI is great (with appropriate tires, of course). DSC, ASC, ABS, all help out a great deal when dealing with snow. I worry much less now about driving in the snow than I did before. Of course, there's still those annoying physics laws to worry about, but, still, lots of fun. Dare I say if it weren't so durn incredible looking, the MINI would be a winter car!

 

http://www.mini.ca/en/More_MINI/Wint...I/default.aspx for the Canadian experience

I'm looking forward to my first winter! DSC is a very good option.

 

Welcome to NAM, btal40! :smile:

If you use the forum search function (the link to SEARCH just below the pic of the yellow MINI on the masthead) and simply search for "Snow" or "winter" you'll find a lot. This topic comes up frquently in the Tire forum when discussing snow tires (need for, no need for, ensuing debate...)

I switched from an older model (92) Nissan SE-R to the MCS. At least my SE-R was a beast in the snow...as long as I had snowtires. I've found the MINI to be just as good...as long as I have proper snowtires. If you live anyplace where you get more than an infrequent couple of inches (i.e., north of say Maryland on the east coast) I'd definitely recommend dedicated snow tires. The performance runflats are to be avoided for winter (snow) driving at all costs.

One big difference I noticed between the Nissan and the MINI (MCS in my case) was the MINI's decided lack of ground clearance. The Nissan was low, but the MINI is low. This means that while proper snow tires will give you good traction, you still will end up being a MINI-snow-plow if there's more than 3 or 4 inches on the road.

 

I drove my MC with the all-seasons last winter,it was ok but they were new.
This winter I have Pirelli snowcontrols and so far they have been great.They were very good on ice that formed early this week,and they have proved to be great in snow the last few days.Nothing deep yet,but even the all-seasons would plow through 4-6 inches of the stuff.

 

Went out for a motor on the back roads today to try out the new Pirellis.They worked great on the packed snow.The car goes where ever you point it,and stops great.A little harded doing e-brake turns,as the tires grip so well,just have to crank the wheel a little harder

 

thanks guys, went out today and test drove my first MCS and am now set on it. even though i only felt it for a little while the car seemed very fun to me. Just can't figure out which options to get now .So hopefully i'm going back to the dealer and ordering one which they said would be 6 to 8 weeks.

 

The most difficult task when buying a MINI has got to be picking the color, followed closely by deciding which options you can live without. We went back an forth on colors right up to the order change deadline, and decided we had to have almost all the options

One thing to consider is that if you get a car with a build date of post 12/31/04 you can order an LSD, which should dramaticly improve your traction in the snow.

 

true, my current car has a hlsd and it helps a bit. but the guy at the dealer said the 05's are going to be $1000 more msrp. I dont know if this is true or if he is just trying to move his 04's? or maybe he means he'll give me an 04 cheaper, didnt think about it till the way home?

 

Your dealer is telling the truth. All cars delivered after 12/31/04 will cost $500 more, plus add $500 for the LSD (if you order it), and there's the $1000 he referred to.

 

My first winter, I drove with the all season run flats. They did OK, but I know real snow tires will be better. i put a set of 15 inch snows on this year. No snow yet to try it out.

The real problem with MINI's in the winter are the snow obstacles. The front end only sits about 5 inches off the road, so any plow trails or chunks of snow are a threat to the front end.

As far as options, since you are in snow country, you need the cold weather package. I love the auto wipers and dimming mirror too.

 

Very true,I hit a chunck of ice the size of a basketball last winter,could not see it as a dusting of snow hid it.It wrinkled the lower grill a bit,but it sure made a big noise at 65MPH