How's everybody's Mini's handling the lovely UK Winter so far?

I've been going pretty well with the Coop - it's a standard car running on 15's - on Summer tyres as most of us are!

Only problem so far is the road where I live - it's up quite a big slope - loads of cars struggle to get up here in the snow.....

On Saturday, after some pretty heavy snowfall, I actually got stuck half way up, about 30 seconds from my front door.

Quick nip home for a shovel....dug a bit of traction, and all was fine again.

So far then, so good....so how about everybody else - how are your Mini's at the moment?

On Saturday, after some pretty heavy snowfall, I actually got stuck half way up, about 30 seconds from my front door.
You could always have tried the Mini hill-climbing method recommended by Issigonis himself. The "all change is bad" guys in 1959 said the front-wheel drive in the first Mini would stop it climbing snowy hills - Issigonis pointed out that you get superb traction if you reverse up hills.

If you stop sometimes on a deserted steep snowy downhill, you'll be amazed how well the Mini grips in reverse even on summer tyres. I admit it's not usually much use, as you can't turn round halfway up most hills. But it would be worth trying if you were stuck on a deserted road.

And if it makes you feel better, winter tyres aren't a cure for everything - I've got stuck three times with mine:
- once on a very minor road where a truck had dug big ruts in the snow - I stopped trying to get along it when my car was beginning to get beached on the snow hump in the middle, as winter tyres have no traction when they are in mid-air....
- once reversing back on to a main road - just breaking the rear wheels through the roadside bank of compacted snow was too much;
- embarassingly, once outside my house when cars parked closely in front and behind meant I had to try to drive up the very steep camber, over the bank of snow that had been falling off parked cars - I had almost made it with a bit of rocking, but a passerby gave me a push before then.

This is our car park at 8.00 am Monday morning - there should be at least 12 vehicles on it. The only 2 to make it were........

winter tyres aren't a cure for everything

That's for sure, even with winter tyres, sometimes it's down to ground clearance, that's where a 4x4 tends to have another advantage. Years ago when I had an original (BL) Mini, I had a pair of Avon Arctic Steel M&S tyres (Mud and Snow not the high street retailer!), which were great, but there were times when it got grounded out on the snow build up between the tyre tracks.
I've felt snow on the underside of the of my Cooper a couple of times so far.

This is our car park at 8.00 am Monday morning - there should be at least 12 vehicles on it. The only 2 to make it were........

Doesn't surprise me one bit. It's good to see that the new MINI has carried on from the Classic Mini being good in snow.
My MINI hasn't turned a wheel since the snow started at the end of November.
My wife doesn't do snow :)

morrisminiminor

I've had no problems so far getting around in my One with standard 15" rubber. The heated front screen is very useful in this weather, and I find the second generation model suffers less from the front door glass freezing and not dropping when you open and close the doors (it still does it, just the glass doesnt seem to catch on the gutters in the same way).

Its our first winter in our mini, and it has done well so far.

My last car was a saxo vtr, which performed quite well in the snow.

One thing I have noticed is the 16" alloys tend to "follow" ruts in the road, meaning you have to be alert at all times, or the car can get dragged off line.

Brownskins

I read in the sun that apart from 4x4s the best cars for snow were: a MINI, honda jazz and ford focus.

My best snow car? - without doubt, the Citroen 2CV. The very narrow wheels (135 is the wide option!) cut through snow brilliantly so even summer tyres grip well, plus the whole car was so light that it could be bounced out by hand if it got stuck.

One downside was the humungous flywheel fitted to damp out the twin cylinder vibration meant that starts involved lots of clutch slipping so as not to break traction. The biggest downside was that if it was very slippy, you couldn't use even all the 30hp so the air-cooled motor never really warmed up and there was no cabin heat.

Just got New Cooper D delivered to work address on Monday, where it immediately got stuck. On 17" Conical Spoke Alloys and Summer grade Conti Sport Contact 3's - Useless forward or back.

Managed to convince local Mini dealer that Snow Socks can be ordered as geniune accessory on Latest Mini Series, and asked what the lead time was given close to Xmas and alternative of Winter Tyres not option in short term due to extended lead times, to say the least!

Anyway, got them only a day later and at around £55 incl Vat delivered, very reasonable cost vs around £100 for non OEM alternatives i've seen but couldn't order due to shortages elsewhere.

Wow, what a difference, they fit over Tyres and are specific to wheel size, and come with fitting instructions and pair of plastic marigold like gloves to help you out.

Suggest everybody should have these as an emergency measure if really get stuck as will get you out onto the black stuff if stuck in icy/snowy car parks etc.

:smile:

I live at the top of a hill where gritters fail to come and my Mini fails to go.

Reverse/First/Second/Third, it just can't get there...maybe it's the tyres I don't know but the Crown Spokes are equiped with Dunlop SP Sport 01 clobbers and they can't handle it.

F***ing snow an' ice..gotta walk 500 yards to the hoose :angry:

This is my street...

well mine hasnt handled at all - not been able to drive it since the snow fell because there is more snow on the roads and on the farm than there is ground clearance on my car!

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs734.ash1/162833_486725828604_524918604_5788650_2543028_n.jp g

maybe should raise the coilovers next year...

The worst car i've ever driven in snow/ice. Driven about 10 cars in these conditions over the years, Chevette being the best closely followed by many Pugs, but way out in last place is our 02' cooper with new 17inch Pirelli's (summer type), no ground clearance, no traction in snow, but worst of all gives me no confidance on icy roads, could be me being a bit more cautious as it's to good a car to prang, and these are the worst conditions for many years but still i am amazed how bad it is. Will defo be aiming to get a set of winter tyres for next year, as this is torture.:(

Just picked up my new Cooper D a couple of days ago and drove carefully home on 15" summer tyres (Michelin). I must admit it was OK but I already planned ahead and purchased a set of 15" spooler alloys and put on Pirelli Snow Control series 2 tyres on and it has performed extremely well so far in conditions from thick snow to slush without any problems so far.

The window sometimes gets frozen so it cant drop but that happens when snow as fallen and froze overnight on the window seals.

I assume also that fuel economy so far has been less than expected but after some reading on effects on how Diesel economy suffers in extreme cold conditions, I'm not too surprised. Only done 30 miles so far so early days.

The worst car i've ever driven in snow/ice. Driven about 10 cars in these conditions over the years, Chevette being the best closely followed by many Pugs, but way out in last place is our 02' cooper with new 17inch Pirelli's (summer type), no ground clearance, no traction in snow, but worst of all gives me no confidance on icy roads, could be me being a bit more cautious as it's to good a car to prang, and these are the worst conditions for many years but still i am amazed how bad it is. Will defo be aiming to get a set of winter tyres for next year, as this is torture.:(
You want to try a BMW 330d. The crazy width they fit on these cars as standard (255s on the rear) make it unusable in the snow.

MCS is just fine, gentle use of second gear, avoid spinning the wheels, DSC off and you're fine.

...well, she has started FIRST time, so far!
However, frost & ice have been a NIGHTMARE!!!!
Frozen locks, windows don't drop when door opens, interior
light doesn't come on when door opens and alarm won't activate
if windows don't drop or interior light will not operate!
Take her for a spin down the motorway, guide the warm air onto
the doors from the dash vents and BINGO, everything works fine!

adam_Randell LOL, why is the mini the only car getting covered by snow so much

adam_Randell LOL, why is the mini the only car getting covered by snow so much

Haha because it's the only one that hasn't been used because it's too low.

my mini one did great...i got caught in the snow downpour the other week in London..whilst al other cars makes and brands skidded on the roads..my mini didnt! made it thru the worst and got home ok,, proud of my Mini thats for sure...

like the pic from the user of the carpark and only 2 cars that made it...classic..long live the mini !