Found some videos of the ALL4 playing in the snow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a_gqtRYJnA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwn6jzJUKiU

 

I wish I had a lot like that, without the poles

Nice steel wheels in the first one , obviously additional wheel choices in in Europe.

 

We haven't ordered ours yet, but are now leaning toward FWD. We test drove the AWD and liked it, but decided against it. We live north of Atlanta, so snow is not a regular issue, and when it has been my MCS has been great. The problem in our area is ice, about half the time we have a "winter event" it is usually accompanied by black ice. I don't care what you drive, ice is a nightmare and we don't go out in it. So, since the FWD MINI we have has been great for snow (even up in the mountains) we decided to save the money and put it toward the MINI Connected instead.

 

I live in Denver, and although I've been able to drive my 2003 R53 on many a back mountain road or snowy highway, I really feel like the extra clearance and extra grip from 4WD will help on questionable back mountain roads leading to hiking trails.

I've also had two incidents where I was only barely able to get going when stopped on an icy hill, although both times were when I performance tires on and hot not switched out to all-seasons or winter tires.

I've lived in Colorado all my life and have used front-wheel drive on pretty much every car I've ever owned, and feel pretty comfortable with that. But I have to say in my test drive of the All4 it was amazingly stable on side streets with a mix of old snow and ice.

All-4 is not a cure all, I'll still be changing out tires in the winter I think, but as I said it's just nice to have that little bit more clearance and margin for error that can make winter driving more fun and less intense.

 

The All4 will give me a better chance of getting back off the beach after kayak fishing in the Gulf near Galveston. The 2007 S had to be pulled twice and carried once.

 

Ohio weather can be horrible in the winter. Trying to prevent my wife from being stranded with twins in the winter so felt better going with the All4!

 

I'm in it for the extra room, and down in the coastal south, no real reason for AWD. It wasn't even a consideration, actually. I'm all about the extra space.

 

I chose FWD since the winter's here in Oklahoma are not bad at all.
Out of a year, I'd say about a week contains snow/ice.
So weather was the main reason for going with FWD.

 

After a few weeks with the Countryman All4, I'm really glad I got AWD. Not much snow in Portland but we do get the rain. With my 03' MSC I spend much of the wet winter sliding and spinning my wheels every time I hit the gas. The Countryman gets up and goes no matter how slippery the roads are and just overall feels really solid on the road.

 

I grew tired of switching out my MCS for the Tahoe, which my Mother drives on the daily. Last season was the worst, drive to Moms the day before drop the MCS off pick up the Tahoe....that sucked. No issues this year and Mom can hold on to the gas guzzler. And I have more room for my most recent addition to my family.