How do Mini's fair in flood water? I've only taken mine thru water only 1 feet in depth and it stalled so I let the little current roll it back, I am considering getting an SUV but I'm deciding wether or not to get a Land Rover LR3, a second hand Discovery, or a X5. Originally I'm saving up to get a R56 and keep my R53 too(I have 4500 saved), but if you lived in Houston then you know the freeways flood and the access roads too and basically I don't want my first car messed up, I'm 17 right now and my budget is 35k and I'm planning on financing the car and hoping to get the payments at atlest 550 a month. I was thinking which would be more reliable and easy to maintain.

 

You're 17 and your budget is 35k??? Oh - sorry - not the point of this thread.

Houston, hmm, I often work in Houston and have seen the flooding that does occur here. Minis don't fare well with flooding - as in "at all". Hydrolock wrecks engines. If you want reliable and easy to maintain, get a truck of some variety - but those that you've listed are quite expensive to maintain - and are thirsty for maintenance. LRs aren't particularly "reliable" (but do check the discoweb discussion board, some good-but-biased info there).

You need to decide what's important to you, what kind of driving you'll do most often, and how much water you want to ford (and AFford). You may do well to have your Mini (or "Minis") and just get a pickup truck or hauler for those days when it floods. Heck, the water doesn't stay around long, why have an expensive vehicle to use just a few days a year? If you're stuck on having a fleet, get a pick'um'up to tow the race Mini, and another Mini to drive everyday.

Or put the money to a different, possibly better use (again, not the point of this thread, but it's all "money" - decide what best to do with it).

 

yeah 35k is a-lot but I work at a skateshop and rarely spend money .
I'll use whatever I buy a-lot, the first year I had my Mini I put 19,000 mi I was also thinking since I'm gonna be commuting a-lot basically to corpus christi and back at least 3x a week I want something comfortable and smooth to drive gas is no issue but what if when the warranty expires then I'm doomed to pay the bill.

 

You're 17 and willing to spend $550 (plus insurance) a month to avoid water on rainy days? I have to say it - that is a lot of money that you can save to get a degree, buy a home, put away for retirement, etc. I know you have a TON of time, but trust me, it'll catch up with you.

But as said above, I'll stick to the point of the thread. If you are going to drive the "non-MINI" often, I'd pick the X5. If you are only using it for these flood days and you must have it, I'd get something cheap and fun instead of a luxury SUV.

Oh, and I would also add that if you plan to buy the X5 and have a $550 monthly payment, you are going to need to put down about $20K on a base model 3.0si. And that is assuming you have great credit and can get a low interest rate (5-6%).

I don't mean to preach, but as a 29 year old homeowner with a very good income, I've had to make a similar decision - keep my paid-off MINI or buy a 335i and have a monthly payment. The MINI is staying I just wanted you to know that I'm not a bitter old guy with 6 cars telling you not to buy something fun.

 

You should not drive any car through a foot or more of water. That's what jacked up trucks and Jeeps with tall tires are for. Driving a car - especially a modern, computer age car - through deep water is just asking for trouble.

 

Driving through any standing water can be a hazard, even less than six inches deep. A friend of mine had his GTI hydrolock because the people around him were flying through the water creating a wake. He was just trying to turn around to get out of it, but it happened so fast. He had just paid that car off, too.

It seems that money is of little object to you, so get what you want. However, if you got something good on gas, you wouldn't have to worry as much about having to fix unwarrantied issues because you wouldn't be burning all your money up on gas (especially if you drive a lot). I'm 27 with a steady job and could in no way afford a $550/mo car payment plus insurance and gas (especially on a gas guzzler). If I was in your position, I'd go used, smaller SUV, and as economical on fuel as possible for that size of vehicle.

 

If going through deep water is a priority for you, buy a Wrangler with a breather kit on it. Get an anchor if it is deep rushing water. Most cars will go through a foot or so of water if you are smart about it. Most people we enjoy watching on tv are stupid about it. Slow, very slow is the way to go through deep water if you are inclined to go into it. Most dummies stall out because they go fast through the water, kick up a wave and flood their car out. Your MINI is a top breather and should not suck water if you go slow. Bottom breathers can suck water really quick, slow driving or not. I've see Toyota trucks go through water almost up to their windows and not flood out, going slow. I've stalled Jeeps out in snow by driving fast and packing the engine. You'd be smart to stay out of flood waters! And that's the best advice you will get here, stay out of flood waters.

 

Exactly!!

Also consider your 17...not 18 yet and will have a very hard time getting credit for the car loan. Most folks unless they have some magical credit don't get a car on their own @ that age without a co-signer.

Insurance is another big hurtle. If you keep the car insured as YOU SHOULD it will run you another $125-200 a month depending on your record, family and others on the policy. I'm 22 and finally got mine down to $125 a month with every discount allowed through Allstate.

 

I'll say this then shut up: Put together your 10 myear plan - what do you want to do with your money over the next 10 years? Then back it up to today. Are you going to work the skate shop forever? Plan for a house? Other changes? Be sure to include ALL aspects in a financial decision of this magnitude. You don't want to get 5 years from now and regret spending $xx.xxx on a car that could've been used otherwise.

(right now you're thinking "sheesh, all I asked about was a good SUV and now I'm getting financial advice - well - we're all Mini fans and so we have a rational side, but let's face it, Mini's aren't necessarily entry-level cars so you'll get "life" advice here too!)

You can ask Chows about it, but a V6 Rav4 seems to fit all your requirements for comfort, speed, and foul weather capability - in your price range - and as a plus it's a really stealthy freeway cruiser too.

Good luck whatever you choose...

 

I know. I've heard it a thousand times. WHY did I drive my car through
a huge puddle- it could have ruined my car.

...BECAUSE IT WAS FUN!!!!

(but I'm not encouraging it)
Just saying my car is perfectly fine and survived his
Puddle adventure.

Video:
http://www.glovesandclover.com/coppe...s.php?album=16

 

HAHAHA that video is hilarious! It's like the cheerfulness of a mini all summed up into one activity!

 

Houston floods THAT often that you need a car that can drive through a foot of water?

If you're budget is $35k, you'd have to get an older X5 or LR3 so I'd rule those out.

I'd go with the RDX, LR2, X3, VW Touareg, or a used Cayenne.

 

(I made it through today's thunderstorms and flooding with an Avis Dodge Caravan minivan - get one of those!)

 

hold on I was under the impression that the water had to get in to the intake to hydro lock. is that not right?

 

Well, to technically hydrolock (water in the cylinder creating an overpressure situation) water must get into the engine, usually through the intake. That can happen either by splash or immersion, and it probably wouldn't take much. HOWEVER, there are other bits and pieces (electrical bits, belts, really hot things) that don't take very well to water immersion or splashing.

 

Keep what you've got. Move somewhere with less rain. Download free podcasts from the Dave Ramsey Show.

http://www.daveramsey.com/etc/cms/in...ContentID=3236