Driving on poor roads – Mini 2011 Countryman User Manual

Page 95

ommun

ications

Low inflation pressure increases rolling resis-
tance and thus leads to greater fuel consump-
tion and tire wear.

Drive off immediately

Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds. This is the
fastest way for the cold engine to reach its oper-
ating temperature.

Think ahead while driving

Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking by
maintaining a suitable distance to the vehicle
driving ahead.
Driving smoothly and anticipating impending
traffic situations reduces fuel consumption.

Avoid high engine speeds

Use first gear only for driving off. In second and
higher gears, accelerate smoothly to a suitable
engine and road speed. In doing so, avoid high
engine speeds and shift up early.
When you reach your desired traveling speed,
shift to the highest suitable gear and drive at
constant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.

Coasting

When approaching a red traffic light, take your
foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle coast
to a halt in the highest suitable gear.
On a downhill gradient, take your foot off the
accelerator and let the vehicle coast in a suitable
gear.
Fuel supply is shut off automatically when the
vehicle is coasting.

Switch off the engine during lengthy
stops

Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy
periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings or
in traffic jams.

Have the vehicle serviced

Have your vehicle serviced regularly to achieve
good economy and a long vehicle life. The man-
ufacturer of your MINI recommends having the
vehicle serviced by a MINI dealer. Also note the
MINI Maintenance System, page

125

Driving on poor roads

Your MINI is at home on all roads and surfaces. It
combines an all-wheel drive system

with the

advantages of a normal passenger car.

Do not drive on unpaved terrain, as other-
wise the vehicle may be damaged.

When you are driving on poor roads, there are a
few points which you should strictly observe for
your own safety, for that of your passengers,
and for the safety of the vehicle:

Familiarize yourself with the vehicle before
beginning to drive and do not take risks
under any circumstances.

Adapt your speed to road conditions. The
steeper and rougher the road surface is, the
lower the speed should be.

When driving on very steep uphill or down-
hill grades, make sure in advance that the
engine oil and coolant levels are close to the
maximum mark, refer to page

122

While driving, watch carefully for obstacles
such as rocks or holes. Try to avoid these
obstacles whenever possible.

Make sure that the undercarriage does not
touch the ground, for example on hilltops
and bumpy roads. The ground clearance of
the vehicle is a maximum of approx. 6.0 in/
15 cm. Please note that the ground clear-
ance can vary depending on loading and the
driving conditions of the vehicle.

Only drive through road surface water up to
a maximum water depth of 1 ft/30 cm and
only at walking speed; do not remain sta-
tionary.

After driving through water at low speed,
lightly press the brake pedal several times to