When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I've been noticing that alot of you guys dont drive your vettes in the rain, and I was wondering why? Is it because they leak get too squrrily or just because you prefer not to? I ask because I'm looking at buying an 80' and plan on driving all summer rain or shine and would like to know if driving it in the rain is a doable.
For me it's simply because I don't want to. I've spent way too much time making mine very nice and dont' want to mess it up. That's what the daily driver is for. I have gotten caught out in the rain twice in the 4 years I've had mine.
I've been noticing that alot of you guys dont drive your vettes in the rain, and I was wondering why? Is it because they leak get too squrrily or just because you prefer not to? I ask because I'm looking at buying an 80' and plan on driving all summer rain or shine and would like to know if driving it in the rain is a doable.
Thanks
BB
I drove to Sioux Falls in the rain this year, about 220 miles from my home. I had no problems at all. I ran 75 to 85 on the interstate. Car was solid as a rock and no leaks. I've been in Vettes that the T-tops leaked badly though. Some tires don't work well in rain either, depends on what you run. I prefer to not drive in the rain and keep my car clean, but you can't control weather and if you want to drive, it's going to happen.
Could, just don't want to have to deal with the clean up.
Some of us have gotten our cars restored/modded to the point where there is very little wrong with them. I noticed when mine got near that point, I was more and more reluctant to take it out and screw around with it. When you get the car the way you like it, you want to drive it more, but clean and fix less... My .02
I got caught in the rain just a few times. And it seemed that any speed over 55 and the car would get all squirrely on me. The light end on these cars just don't like wet roads!!
I don't go out of my way to drive in the rain, or the dark (as I posted in another thread). I just feel that the most fun driving is in daylight with the top down, so I do the overwhelming majority of my driving on sunny days. I got caught in the rain once with this car, so I know my top leaks a little, but nothing dramatic. I don't hesitate to take my car to evening activities, even if I know I will be driving home in the dark, and it's fine, I just prefer to drive in the light. I would go further out of my way at the moment to avoid driving in the rain as the upper outlets on the HVAC system are not working, so no defrost or AC.
Years ago I had a '69 vert that I several times used as my DD. Drove it in rain, snow, heat, freezing cold, it was fine.
I don't for several reasons:
1. T-Tops will leak. I don't like a damp, musty smelling interior. Weather strip replacement is on my list.
2. I don't want anything that can or will cause additional corrosion to it. My frame & bird cage are solid and I want to keep it that way.
3. The clean up as others have stated.
I've been caught twice in the last 3 years and the back end lets go pretty easily, at least on local roads in stop & go traffic.
Glenn
I prefer NOT to drive my car in the rain but stuff happens. It rained for all but one of the car shows I attended this year including this past Saturday. The car gets squirrelly on the wet roads AND it is a bummer to clean.
I've driven my '71 in hard rainstorms on long trips, but for every day driving, I'll just take the Expedition if it's raining. The rain eliminates a lot of the fun of driving my Corvette - I have to put the top up, accelerate cautiously so as not to spin the tires, slow down around corners and not brake too suddenly.
Let's face it, we all wash and wax them. They all get wet every so often, but just from the top down. If one has been ambitious enough to do a complete nut and bolt restoration, or spent a lot of money on underbody modifications, then driving thru mud puddles and getting the whole detailed underside dirty seems kinda foolish. Water tends to cause rust ya know. If you feel like riding yours hard and putting it away wet, go right ahead....
they are just cars guys, I have driven every vette I have ever owned in rain, snow etc. this includes 67 435, 03 zo6, 70 lt-1, 70 454, to name a few I enjoyed them and never, never ever regret driving them dailey to each his own however.