Who still drives their C5 in the winter when there isn't bad weather?
12-01-2016, 01:22 PM
#141
1/4 mile/AutoX
I live in WNY. I don't like crawling around on cold concrete, so the cars are put away. Camaro is on 4 jackstands to avoid flat spots, battery disconnected and on a tender. Gas tank buried w/high octane and stabil.
Vette is right next to it on the ground. Hoping the 40psi and run flat combo will avoid flat spots, but if not, then it's jack stands next year. Tank is buried as well w/high octane and stabil. Battery disconnected and not on a tender.
Cars could potentially still be driven, but i like the windows down and the top off. Also - snow bring salt, salt brings rust. It's not so much the cold that forces my hand, but the threat of snow bringing salt. Cars stay in the garage until i get 2 full weeks of rain with no snow, then i bring em out. No deadline on put away or bring out dates. Cold puts them in, rain brings them out.
Vette is right next to it on the ground. Hoping the 40psi and run flat combo will avoid flat spots, but if not, then it's jack stands next year. Tank is buried as well w/high octane and stabil. Battery disconnected and not on a tender.
Cars could potentially still be driven, but i like the windows down and the top off. Also - snow bring salt, salt brings rust. It's not so much the cold that forces my hand, but the threat of snow bringing salt. Cars stay in the garage until i get 2 full weeks of rain with no snow, then i bring em out. No deadline on put away or bring out dates. Cold puts them in, rain brings them out.
12-01-2016, 01:27 PM
#142
Le Mans Master
this was last winter during a White Out, not for the weak stomach !! I 94
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na25K8QLRTo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na25K8QLRTo
12-01-2016, 01:36 PM
#143
Weather has never stopped me from driving mine, I've had it on the race track in the rain. The only thing that stops me is the wacko drivers in the Houston area.... I took my son out for a quick ride a couple nights ago and almost got rear ended not even a mile after leaving the neighborhood.
12-01-2016, 02:01 PM
#144
1/4 mile/AutoX
12-01-2016, 02:39 PM
#145
Team Owner
12-01-2016, 03:11 PM
#146
Daily driver here, no matter what. Even survived Hurricane Mathew!!!
12-01-2016, 06:26 PM
#147
1/4 mile/AutoX
12-01-2016, 06:58 PM
#148
Drifting
Only if the roads are dry and salt free. I make sure she gets her legs stretched.
January 2016
photo 2 by Norbert Ogiba, on Flickr
and from a few days ago. It was actually 55F outside...
1126161540b by Norbert Ogiba, on Flickr
Never driven in snow or salt, though.
January 2016
photo 2 by Norbert Ogiba, on Flickrand from a few days ago. It was actually 55F outside...
1126161540b by Norbert Ogiba, on FlickrNever driven in snow or salt, though.
Last edited by nsogiba; 12-01-2016 at 07:02 PM.
12-02-2016, 12:40 PM
#150
Racer
Winter Nap
Just put mine to rest for the winter, Had it out last week it was a 57 degree day but now in the 30s and predictions are snow and more cold coming. I can work on the seats over the winter thanks to the forum members here giving great advice. Inflated tires, battery tender on, oil change and tank full with techron added,moth ball packets near all four
corners with steel wool in tail pipes to keep critters out just in case. Note on windshield to self "remove steel wool from exhaust tail pipes"
corners with steel wool in tail pipes to keep critters out just in case. Note on windshield to self "remove steel wool from exhaust tail pipes"
12-03-2016, 01:58 PM
#152
Racer
I have a truck for the winter. The salt and brine is the reason the Vette stays under cover in the garage!
The following users liked this post:
nsogiba (12-06-2016)
12-05-2016, 08:12 PM
#155
Advanced
My vettes in need of a repaint anyways so im excited for the first snow as long as its not too high of accumulation. cant wait to hit up some nice parking lots 
12-06-2016, 10:28 PM
#156
Burning Brakes
I'm in Delaware so we do get winter but not like they do further North. I don't "put it away" for the winter but I've found that most years between January 1 and sometime in mid-March it stays in the garage. I keep it on a battery tender (CTek) and I bought a cover for it this year but if there is a warmish, sunny day in January/February and there's been enough rain to wash any road salt away, I will take it out. Some years that is two or three days, some years it is none.
K9Leader
Red cars are faster.
K9Leader
Red cars are faster.
12-07-2016, 08:25 PM
#157
Instructor
I live in Maryland. I bought an 02 Vert new and it has been my only car since. I have Michelin AS tires mounted year round. These tires are still rated excellent for handling and only give up a little in that department to the summer only. The major roads around here are immediately plowed, and I have no issues driving on plowed roads. Unplowed are a no go.
I enjoy my car year round. Its a pleasure to use for spirited driving on clear sunny 25 degree winter days.
I understand the reasons people with second cars choose to put them away. However if the ONLY reason you are doing this is because you believe it is financially better to own a winter car, do the analysis.
If I take 5K from my savings to buy a winter car, then the costs per year are: (Assume the savings are earning 6%) Lost interest: $300, Depreciation: $400, Insurance: $250, Maintenance: $400, Tag fees: $100. So around $1450 to own a 5K second car per year.
Over the 15 years I have been driving my vette it would cost $21,750 for a winter car over that period. Say my 02 Vert with 140K miles is worth $13K, and if I had not driven it in winter, it would have approximately 100K miles, and would be worth 18K. So $5K additional depreciation for driving it in winter. I have saved $16,750 by enjoying my vette year round.
Now, that does not address the convenience of a second car, but it does present another angle to consider. So enjoy your vette year round, wisely invest the savings from not owning a second car, and you can make a big dent in the cost of a used C7 or C8 down the road with the invested savings.
As far as the driving or putting away in winter, I believe in times past the seals would dry out when it was not driven for some time. I suspect modern seals take much longer than a winter to dry out. That said, after 140K miles of driving year round, I have zero oil leaks, my engine is bone dry on the outside, and the oil pressure has not changed since new. These are amazing engines.
I enjoy my car year round. Its a pleasure to use for spirited driving on clear sunny 25 degree winter days.
I understand the reasons people with second cars choose to put them away. However if the ONLY reason you are doing this is because you believe it is financially better to own a winter car, do the analysis.
If I take 5K from my savings to buy a winter car, then the costs per year are: (Assume the savings are earning 6%) Lost interest: $300, Depreciation: $400, Insurance: $250, Maintenance: $400, Tag fees: $100. So around $1450 to own a 5K second car per year.
Over the 15 years I have been driving my vette it would cost $21,750 for a winter car over that period. Say my 02 Vert with 140K miles is worth $13K, and if I had not driven it in winter, it would have approximately 100K miles, and would be worth 18K. So $5K additional depreciation for driving it in winter. I have saved $16,750 by enjoying my vette year round.
Now, that does not address the convenience of a second car, but it does present another angle to consider. So enjoy your vette year round, wisely invest the savings from not owning a second car, and you can make a big dent in the cost of a used C7 or C8 down the road with the invested savings.
As far as the driving or putting away in winter, I believe in times past the seals would dry out when it was not driven for some time. I suspect modern seals take much longer than a winter to dry out. That said, after 140K miles of driving year round, I have zero oil leaks, my engine is bone dry on the outside, and the oil pressure has not changed since new. These are amazing engines.
Last edited by fmvette9; 12-07-2016 at 08:39 PM.
12-09-2016, 06:42 AM
#158
Burning Brakes
I live in the NE.. Drive till, the first flake falls, iced condition on road and end with the time stated on insurance policy that I store the car for the winter...
12-09-2016, 07:47 AM
#159
Drifting
Here in Massachusetts I drive until there is salt on the roads. None yet. The car comes out of hibernation when the salt washes away in the spring.