For those who are new to winter driving (or in need of a refresher like many of us) MINI Canada has an entertaining and even educational portion of their website dedicated to the right and wrong ways to tackle winter driving. There's lots to take in, from slick flash animations to full driving videos. Now all that's needed for you to enjoy the finer points of winter driving are some snow covered roads and a hefty dose of the e-brake.
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Interesting discussion on Canadian MINI “technology”. I am guessing that the “heated windshield” in only available in colder markets – but is something I would love to choose in the US as well.
Yep, I would love to have the heated windshield in the US as well. Wisconsin gets its fair shar of snow, so it would be handy.
Also, why doesn’t MINIUSA have something like this on their site. I’m always asked, “So how does it handle in the snow?” This is due to the popular (albiet misinformed) belief that you need something big (Minivan, SUV) to make it through wintery conditions.
maybe the heat filament could prevent windshield cracking. :p
anyone know how many season this canadian snow site has seen?
I believe the heated windscreen was primarily offered for the British marketplace. Driving along a high speed motorway and hitting freezing fog is common over there. Very dangerous with catastrophic results.
Therefore, great safety feature. I have heard the MINI has problems with steamed windshields due to poor air circulation design in general.
Some drivers find the wires a visual distraction in the windshield.
One of the reasons that MINI USA doesn’t offer a heated windshield in the US is out reliance on auto-pay toll road devices.
Yes, but that’s what the rear sunroof is for, Gabe. 😉
The feature is a customer choice, if you want an electric windshield defroster similar to a rear window defroster, wait ten seconds and things start heating up. (save time scraping the front windshield; also don’t forget to clean off the side windows; safety first.) Many vehicles have radio antennas within their windshields which blocks toll road transmitter signals; usually the the toll agency tags those specific autos and have a work around billing option or owners accept some inconvience for convience and use the cash lanes like everyone else.
In Illinois you can get a license plate (number plate) mounted device.
Not sure if other states offer the same.