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civicgal Veteran Author Hamilton Posts:291 Points:37,595 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2005 6:43:14 PM Ignore civicgal Report Abuse I'm seriously thinking about getting a mini cooper - Just wondering if those of you who own a Mini could tell me how they are with winter driving. The dealership says there shouldn't be a problem if I get the snow tire package - but I want to get more opinions. Thanks in advance!

civicgal

Veteran Author
Hamilton

Posts:291
Points:37,595
Joined:Aug 2005

Message Posted: Aug 14, 2005 6:43:14 PM

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I'm seriously thinking about getting a mini cooper - Just wondering if those of you who own a Mini could tell me how they are with winter driving. The dealership says there shouldn't be a problem if I get the snow tire package - but I want to get more opinions.
Thanks in advance!

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

intrvvder Champion Author Vancouver Posts:2,409 Points:945,335 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 24, 2009 4:12:04 AM Ignore intrvvder Report Abuse little ground clearance is one of my concerns for winter driving.
limegremlin Champion Author Toronto Posts:13,356 Points:2,808,620 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Oct 11, 2008 1:02:58 PM Ignore limegremlin Report Abuse Yes I was very happy to have the snow tires on last winter and will do so again this winter for sure. I've heard rumours of another snowy winter coming, soooooooooo.........
miltonmini Rookie Author Toronto Posts:25 Points:17,105 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Oct 4, 2008 2:53:19 PM Ignore miltonmini Report Abuse Bet limegremlin is glad of the snows after Toronto's last winter. Go with snows, especially on small cars & cars having no weight over the back wheels (these are the ones to let go first, especially on braking) and become curling stones. I have the winter tires but this is first winter for my 2004 Mini. With my job traveling I'm sure I won't regret them.
limegremlin Champion Author Toronto Posts:13,356 Points:2,808,620 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Feb 22, 2008 9:35:22 PM Ignore limegremlin Report Abuse I'm from the old school of oil changes but I've had to change my thought processes with my '05 Mini. I now go with the read out on the dash. I talked to the service people last time and they said don't waste your money. Takes a while for me with my driving to get to the recommended level of oil changes but hey I can live with it.
jeopardy4100 All-Star Author Michigan Posts:771 Points:101,305 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2008 1:27:40 AM Ignore jeopardy4100 Report Abuse dumblonde, go ahead and waste your dough. Want to save, follow your dash read out. It ajust the service intervals to your driving.
dumblonde Champion Author Birmingham Posts:4,587 Points:880,200 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Sep 17, 2007 2:32:27 PM Ignore dumblonde Report Abuse Oilchange wise, the manual says 10K for the 1st oil change & then 15K thereafter. I change mine every 7500 miles : )
CharlieHorse Rookie Author Saskatchewan Posts:13 Points:7,710 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 2, 2007 3:50:23 PM Ignore CharlieHorse Report Abuse My Sister just purchased a '07 Mini and we had noticed that it had not come with a blockheater of any kind so her husband phoned the dealership and they said they haven't installed those since '05 when they started using syntheyic oil.Well I don't know about where you guys live but where we live it can drop down to as far as as -40 F. with a windchill and last for a little while,so If her car is parked outside with syntheyic oil or not I think that it's going to be pretty tough on that little engine to crank over never mind start.Also they told her not to change her oil till 20,000 k.,well I think that's quite a stretch in between oil changes,I run synthetic in my diesel Volswagen's and I think I'm pushing them when I go as far as 10,000.
limegremlin Champion Author Toronto Posts:13,356 Points:2,808,620 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Apr 2, 2006 9:23:17 AM Ignore limegremlin Report Abuse Well as far as I"m concerned, our non-winter here caused me to spend a thousand bucks this year for nothing. Oh well, I saved the rubber on my summer tires though.
lokhankin Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,527 Points:683,655 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jan 23, 2006 4:41:48 PM Ignore lokhankin Report Abuse Snow is inevitable in our regions. DSC is great help on straight road and when going down hill. Though I need to turn it off when coming uphill on snow-covered or icy road.
limegremlin Champion Author Toronto Posts:13,356 Points:2,808,620 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Dec 28, 2005 8:22:10 PM Ignore limegremlin Report Abuse OK got the snow tire package, now have to wait for some snow. Then again if it never snows again this winter I'll be happy too.
civicgal Veteran Author Hamilton Posts:291 Points:37,595 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 15, 2005 2:51:52 PM Ignore civicgal Report Abuse Thanks - that's good to know
limegremlin Champion Author Toronto Posts:13,356 Points:2,808,620 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Sep 13, 2005 8:54:49 PM Ignore limegremlin Report Abuse One of the main reasons I bought the Mini was after reading an article about the car being tested in Quebec during a winter. Got great reviews providing you put on the winter tire package. I had no issues when I got the car at the end of January but from talking to other Mini owners had pretty much decided to buy the snow tire/rim package.
civicgal Veteran Author Hamilton Posts:291 Points:37,595 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 21, 2005 9:18:36 PM Ignore civicgal Report Abuse Thanks! That was very helpful - I'm hoping to be in the MINI club soon too!
lokhankin Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,527 Points:683,655 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Aug 19, 2005 3:58:30 PM Ignore lokhankin Report Abuse I used my '03 Cooper both winters in Western CT just fine. It has OEM 15" all season Continentals. As soon as roads cleaned from snow - no problem at all. Performance tyres - no no - on any car you wouldn't get anywhere. Coming uphill - need to turn DSC off however. Hope this will help you to get into MINI club.