Help! What should I do this winter? Store or drive?

[Roscoe76]

Hi all,

I'm trying to make a decision about the upcoming winter. Whether or not to drive the car (and buy winter wheels and tires)or store it and drive a junker. The latter will be a tad more expensive I would assume...

My concern lies not with the snow and cold, but with the salt that seems to cover the road (and, as a result, our cars) through the winter months. I would hate to see all that junk on my car, and I can just envision all of the loonies I'll be spending in a car wash bay to get it off.

Any suggestions? Anyone from over the Atlantic have any winter driving experiences with the MINI?

Any replies are appreciated...

[lightbody]

My MINI battled through all sorts of horrible weather this past winter - salt, grit (thrown at it from lorries), snow, ice - on its standard tyres no problem. I bought it to enjoy driving and I need to enjoy driving all year around!

Its not a "classic car", its not "fragile" and it shouldn't rust. Drive it!

[COOPERation]

I've been considering the same thing, but can I just stop driving the MINI?

Perhaps if someone could suggest a good rehab clinic...not for the MINI...for ME!

[NEMINI]

Cars, especially the MINI is made to be driven not admired in a garage.

[AprilWhine]

Isn't the winter in Ontario like, eleven months long?

[goldmbr]

Drive it!! I am. I'm not doing the drive a junker, store the good car. I'm not worried about the salt, I am worried about the bad roads, but the bad roads are ALL year long in SE Michigan. Drive it!!

[HarryHBMCC]

I traded a junker in on my MINI so no way am I getting another junker for the winter! I'm putting snow shoes on my MINI and taking advantage of all the safety features that would be lacking in an old heap.

Harry

[arabinow]

Harry,

Have you decided what snow tires you gonna get?
PLease let me know as I am also in the market for some.. and would like to know what you get? how much? and where you got them?

THanks
it would be a great help

Adam

[tburt]

I live in Atlantic Canada and I'm planning to drive all winter. Our winters are milder than Ontario and Quebec, but we do get a lot of freezing rain, and the road crews love to use salt. I'm gonna find a cheap set of steel wheels and some winter tires. The MINI winter tire/wheel combo is $1700.00 for the 15", but the wheels are alloy. A little pricey if you ask me. The winter combo for our Volvo V70 was $1200

I'm very interested in seeing how the MINI handles in the snow.

The good news is that it will be an El Nino winter in Canada, with milder temps. The last time that happened we hardly had any snow in Nova Scotia.

[HarryHBMCC]

My MINI dealer service reps still don't have the final details on the winter tire packages so I still haven't decided. I've also got a line on Vredestein Snowtrac 175/65R15s on steel wheels from an independent shop (President Tires has several dealers around, including Burlington, Georgetown and Toronto) and I've been looking at upsized 185/65R15s on steel wheels as well. Nokian Hakka Qs or NRWs look good, as do Michelin Arctic Alpins or Blizzaks. In 185/65R15 there is tons of choice and it looks like a decent package can be had for under $900 installed, balanced including tax. But if I can get 175/60R16 runflats for about double that at the dealer then I may go for that combo.

BTW, I had my (brand new) summer performance Goodyear Eagles in a few minor (1-2") snowfalls at the end of April and beginning of May this year. The car did fine. ABS kicked in a couple of times and the ASC+T is helpful for overly enthusiastic starts from a dead stop. I wouldn't want to go all winter in them but if there is a freak snowstorm before I get my snow tires on, I know I'm not going to be in a ditch or anything.

Harry

[Mike Clarke]

Drive it.

I have driven my Cooper every day of this past winter. Some days the temperature got down to 11 degrees celsius and it rained, one day we even had fog for an hour (I knew those fog lights would come in handy) Saturday started as a wet spring day with temerature of 14 degrees and while I was out driving the rain turned to hail for almost 2 minutes.

The MINI survived all this vile winter weather, and I survived the winter because of the MINI.

[The Beastmaster]

I say drive the car. That's what is meant for. I drive all my cars during the winter without any worries.

[TINMAN]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike Clarke
Drive it.

I have driven my Cooper every day of this past winter. Some days the temperature got down to 11 degrees celsius and it rained, one day we even had fog for an hour (I knew those fog lights would come in handy) Saturday started as a wet spring day with temerature of 14 degrees and while I was out driving the rain turned to hail for almost 2 minutes.

The MINI survived all this vile winter weather, and I survived the winter because of the MINI.

Winter? Maybe the calendar said winter, but a few here would argue with calling that winter weather No, I didn't miss the tongue in cheek,just jealous.

[Mike Clarke]

Quote:

Originally posted by TINMAN
Winter? Maybe the calendar said winter, but a few here would argue with calling that winter weather No, I didn't miss the tongue in cheek,just jealous.

I braved a Canadian summer once - had to buy a goosedown jacket just to get through June (the month that is not the lady)

[Roscoe76]

Thank-you all... I will continue to read your replies and worry about the health of those who have to brave Australian and Hawian winters...

You poor, poor souls. Do you even know what a wind chill is?