Daily Drivers...RAIN ??
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Daily Drivers...RAIN ??
I have seen more than one post on who uses their vettes as daily drivers. Many people responded that they do except when it Rains. What's with the rain ? Don't want to get it dirty, ? Leaks ?, handling ?
I remember hitting some standing water on the highway and I thought I was going to lose it !! Got real squirrely
Just curious
I remember hitting some standing water on the highway and I thought I was going to lose it !! Got real squirrely
Just curious
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
It's just a personal thing people have for their cars..and that's ok. I wash mine at the carwash....which is sacreligious 
...... Some owners hold these car in higher esteem then their families.....IMO - it's just a car.....
Drive it in the rain if you want to -- just have fun with it.
...... Some owners hold these car in higher esteem then their families.....IMO - it's just a car.....Drive it in the rain if you want to -- just have fun with it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by joes74
I have seen more than one post on who uses their vettes as daily drivers. Many people responded that they do except when it Rains. What's with the rain ? Don't want to get it dirty, ? Leaks ?, handling ?
I remember hitting some standing water on the highway and I thought I was going to lose it !! Got real squirrely
Just curious
I remember hitting some standing water on the highway and I thought I was going to lose it !! Got real squirrely
Just curious
I drive mine in the rain, just have to keep a towel handy for the leaky t-tops
other that that I have no problems
Pretty soon i hear they will finish the making the new ones for the 68
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
From: Miami Florida
since ive done all the suspension and its way stiffer than stock, if i goose it while turning in the rain it definately gets squirrly. but i like it! i certainly behave in the rain. if you use your car in south florida your gonna have to drive in the rain.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Originally Posted by joes74
I have seen more than one post on who uses their vettes as daily drivers. Many people responded that they do except when it Rains. What's with the rain ? Don't want to get it dirty, ? Leaks ?, handling ?
I remember hitting some standing water on the highway and I thought I was going to lose it !! Got real squirrely
Just curious
I remember hitting some standing water on the highway and I thought I was going to lose it !! Got real squirrely
Just curious
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by Jims79
You hit the nail on the head, besides leaking like an old boat they handle like jit on wet ground. Try driving it in the snow sometime. You will pray to the lord above to get back home safe.
aww i disagree, I have no issues in the rain Im running firehawk 500's and no sweat, hydroplaining can happen to any car
as far as the snow goes, well Ive done that as well, just keep the tank full and work that posi with a light touch
a watch out for the rooster tails
A little skill is all i say, and dont forget the pedal pump while braking, thats the manual antilock brakes
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
When I first got my 77 about six years ago, it leaked and was frightening to drive in the rain.
Now, I don't even notice the rain.
I did nothing special, just brought everything to 'as came from the factory' condition.
Now, I don't even notice the rain.
I did nothing special, just brought everything to 'as came from the factory' condition.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by PhotoVette1
When I first got my 77 about six years ago, it leaked and was frightening to drive in the rain.
Now, I don't even notice the rain.
I did nothing special, just brought everything to 'as came from the factory' condition.
Now, I don't even notice the rain.
I did nothing special, just brought everything to 'as came from the factory' condition.
Good man,
Keep em rolling
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 2
From: Raleigh NC
Let's say you just bought a brand new '77 Vette in 1976-77.
After 3 or 4 years of driving, you would expect to be replacing shocks, balljoints and steering components.
Everything else would be just starting to fall apart too by-the-way.
That's the way cars were then.
Nothing has changed--if you drive your C3 often, then it's the same old repair/replace routine.
This ain't no Japanese car.
After 3 or 4 years of driving, you would expect to be replacing shocks, balljoints and steering components.
Everything else would be just starting to fall apart too by-the-way.
That's the way cars were then.
Nothing has changed--if you drive your C3 often, then it's the same old repair/replace routine.
This ain't no Japanese car.
Last edited by PhotoVette1; Aug 8, 2006 at 10:46 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
As a daily driver, my corvette does see the rain, but as little as possible based on how I can adapt my schedule to the rain.
I mainly hate driving in the rain for 2 reasons: Loss of traction AND people !@#$%^& riding my *** !! I drive a TAD slower in the rain and I still get morons riding inches from my back bumper, almost as if theyre trying to push me forward
I mainly hate driving in the rain for 2 reasons: Loss of traction AND people !@#$%^& riding my *** !! I drive a TAD slower in the rain and I still get morons riding inches from my back bumper, almost as if theyre trying to push me forward
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
While I don't drive mine daily or in inclement weather, we always seem to get caught in rain on the way home from Carlisle, so I can relate about having a towel handy, and I most definitely will.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
I really have no problem driving my vette in the rain, but will avoid it if possible. Accidents increase greatly in the rain due to too many idiots out there so I would rather not increase my chances of destroying my baby by some idiot. Besides....I like to keep her shinny and clean underneath as well. Makes it easier to diagnose leaks, etc.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
New England Events Coordinator
Driving my 70 vert is fun in the sun, when its rains it leaks and is just not as much fun. The first rain I experienced I had 2 years ago when I firts picked up the car, heading down the highway with heavy rains, turned on the wipers and the drivers wiper flew off the car scratched the window and flew accross the highway. After that I went home.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by phclub
Driving my 70 vert is fun in the sun, when its rains it leaks and is just not as much fun. The first rain I experienced I had 2 years ago when I firts picked up the car, heading down the highway with heavy rains, turned on the wipers and the drivers wiper flew off the car scratched the window and flew accross the highway. After that I went home.
here is a first for the books
turn back the clock three years now and we find Timmy is the proud owner of a 1968 corvertte, which he has never drivin in the rain, but did decide to take through a drive through car wash one day........
needless to say the car was clean on the outside and soaked on the inside, they could hear me screaming the whole way through, and since is was the kind on a conveyor, there was no escape from the onslaught......
I was so mad .... but then just had to laugh at my self, and dorve home to get out the shop vac.
the good news was i got the carpets cleaned
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 15
From: DFW Metroplex Texas
Although my old gal is not my DD I'm going to add my 2 cents anyways.
I will never drive mine in the rain for all the reasons listed by previous responses.
The biggest fear I would have is someone else running into me due to weather conditions.
I like to have the Vette spotless and driving through a rain storm means I'll have a lot of detail work ahead of me to redo.
I drive mine 4 to 5 days a week, mainly as a after dinner cruise with the missus.
My Vette is not more important than my family, but it is on my top 10 list of things that ARE important to me.
If its not nice enough to drive with the tops off. the old gal is staying paked in the garage.
I will never drive mine in the rain for all the reasons listed by previous responses.
The biggest fear I would have is someone else running into me due to weather conditions.
I like to have the Vette spotless and driving through a rain storm means I'll have a lot of detail work ahead of me to redo.
I drive mine 4 to 5 days a week, mainly as a after dinner cruise with the missus.
My Vette is not more important than my family, but it is on my top 10 list of things that ARE important to me.
If its not nice enough to drive with the tops off. the old gal is staying paked in the garage.
