Hello to all the fine folks here. As you can see, I'm a newbie here.
I am here because I'm considering the purchase of a C4. IF this all pans out, I will be looking for an every day driver. Not a show car, and certainly not a beater, because it still needs to be reliable transportation.

I live in S.E. Michigan, and my work commute is only 7 miles one-way. My question is this: How common is it for people to drive their Corvettes in the winter? I'm not talking about when there's heavy snow, but the other 90% of the time when the roads are relatively clear. I'm used to driving a vehicle that really sucks in the snow, because my S-10 I currently drive has 255/50-16's all around, and I made it thru the winter with that.

I get the impression that MOST Corvette owners would never dream of driving thier cars in the winter, or on salty roads. Is my perception correct?

My house has a very short driveway, and it's not the kind of subdivision where I can park a winter beater out back, so if this is to work for me, I will probably have to forego the winter beater, and drive the Corvette as much as possible. On bad days, I could drive my wife's Blazer, or have her take me to work.

Any thoughts or input on this subject? I appreciate it~

Bill

 

If i lived in Michigan I wouldnt, too cold. Those short trips wouldnt let it get warm enough. Most people up there put them up for winter.

In SC, I do drive her in winter, but it also stays about 50F during the day here in winter.

 

I don't know how a MI. winter compares to a mid Missouri winter but I drove mine all winter last year with no problem. We had one of the snowiest winter on record last year and I was impressed with the way my 94 vert got around.
My 94 is my only car so, like you, I have no choice but to drive it -- against the opinion of numberous people here on the forum! With some winter driving experience and a little common sense you'll do fine! Zane


Look in the archives for the "Do C4's go in the Snow" thread and you'll get plently of opinions!!

 

The car is going to do poor in the winter. The wide tires and light rear make for lots of tire spin. The ABS goes off all the time on snow.

A few things to consider outside of how the car does is salt and other drivers. The salt will eat away at your car and other people not driving a corvette are going to be less careful. If you get a vette, pick up a beater for winter. C4's are expensive to fix and the salt will take its toll on your wallet.

 

My '88 Vette goes just fine in up to medium depth snow on new GY Eagles.

However, with worn tires last winter I could not get up a steep incline with only an inch of snow.

I think that a 7mi drive won't be a problem in a C4 with good rubber.

I run a 160 deg thermostat and even so it provides plenty of heat for a comfortable winter drive here in SE NY and NE OH.

For me the biggest detrement to winter driving is getting my beauty dirty.

 

Hi Blade,

Welcome to our forum. :hurray: You'll learn a lot about your Vette here. But I'll be honest for you. Don't drive your Vette in those hard winter days. It is a fair weather car. I had to wait for 30 years to get my Vette. Some of my requirements for owning a Vette were: 1. A garage 2. a second car to beat around in (chase parts) 3. tools to work on it. I finally have all three along with the Vette. Oh, I forgot, a wife that lets me do it. :lol: Again, honestly, the C-4 is not going to do well in salt , ice and snow.

 

I'm in Minneapolis, plenty of winter here, I drive my car whenever the roads are dry year-round. I've drove it around the block once in snow, that's all it took. I have a Sonoma and I know what it's like in 2wd, I can tell you for certain that a C4 will make your truck feel like a sno-cat by comparison. It is by far the the worst car I've ever driven on snowy/icy roads.

That said, I get plenty of use in the winter, there really aren't that many days when I can't drive it, and it really likes getting a big gulp of that ice-cold air. :yesnod:

:seeya

 

Bill you have mail

 

Thanks for all the replys, guys. I appreciate the feedback. I guess I'm facing somewhat of a dilema here. On the one hand, I take a GREAT deal of pride in my S-10, as most of you do in your Corvettes. I've done quite a few mods to it, and am currently turbocharging it. It too is deserving of being put up all winter, but it isn't. It gets driven if I want to get to work. And it sucks in the snow. It sucks BAD! But I don't care. I made the choice to go with really wide tires for it, and I live with the concequences of winter. The bottom line is that it just isn't practical for me to buy an additional winter beater. I want to work on the Corvette, and I don't want to complicate things by adding yet another vehicle that requires attention and $$ (not to mention a place to park it). Having driven thru 30 Michigan winters, I'm already very famillar with the obvious pitfalls of winter driving. I guess I'm more concerned with the "collateral damage" to the Corvette due to winter driving. Is there anything more sensitive to the cold and occasional salt than on any other car?


[Modified by blades, 2:41 AM 6/5/2003]

 

For me it is.

 

Grand Rapids Michigan area here. I used to have an 86 and had to drive it most of one winter as I had to donate my winter beater to a relative who had just ruined her engine and could not afford another car at the time. I was a little embarassed to be seen driving in the winter as it is not generally done around here. Now, I did have one thing goin for me though. My oldest son had given me a present of a high end stereo and installed a huge speaker box in the back hatch. It was fairly heavy and really helped the traction. If I watched the throttle I was actually able to go through some very deep snow with no problems. I only kept the car for 2 more years after that and don't think it suffered from the exposure. I saw the current owner at a diner last summer and it still looked good. He had just driven it on a trip to Tennessee with no problems and the mileage had doubled from when I had it! One of the editors at Corvette Fever Magazine drives his 84 or 85 all year round. He even has a picture of him driving in the snow with a Christmas tree stickin out of the back hatch. It's ultimately just a car - drive it all year, sell it later, and buy another. I am fortunate now also in that I have my new pole barn and have a place to work on my 87 vert and park it in bad weather. Have you looked into storing the car in the winter? I'll bet there is someone in the neighborhood who has extra space you could use for a reasonable price. Another alternative is to sell your house and buy another with more garage space, an outbuilding, or more land. Buy the Vette and enjoy. You are only here once - treat yourself good! Just MHO (my humble opinion). :seeya

 

I drive mine year round except when there actually is snow on the ground.
My car leaks just enough oil that it protects the bottom of the car from salt and stuff. Although just the other day when I was changing the oil, I noticed some salt in a few places, so I cleaned it out, no worries. I'd worry more about some moron not watching where he's driving and hitting you than just driving the car.

 

I've driven mine year round for the past two years. No real issuse to speak of. Anything over a inch or two of snow and I break out the truck. Not because the Vette can't handle it, but I'm afraid of the other drivers who THINK they can.

 

Welcome blades! :seeya

Get an extra set of winter wheels/tires to use on the S-10 for winter. When the snow comes make the swap. Use the S-10 for winter rompin' and get a Corvette for summer stompin'!! :D

 

I have an 87 and put 225-16 Blizzacks on all 4 wheels and drive it during the winter and have since I bought it in 89. In fact, since 1966, I have owned a Corvette, one at a time and drive them every day. A 64, 69, 74, and now an 87.
Your wide tires won't work in snow, don't even bother to try it!!!

 

mine went out in the snow and it drove just fine

 

I had to drive mine in 3" once this winter and I was shocked it drove very nice. (not like my 69 :nono: ) for the hell of it I tried it in appx 5" (more) :nono: :nono: :nono: wont do that again but 3 in was fine.

 

drove mine for two winters now here in SE Mich. exceptions were days with any snowfall above an inch. fortunately i have a Trailblazer now too so i have an option on those really bad days.

driving the Corvette in light snow is not really that bad. just remember that the accelerator has positions other than idle and WOT, and that yes, the laws of physics will screw you if you try to ignore them.

as for salt, i just wait until the temps get above 25 or so, and go wash the car - real quick! i go to the self-washes to wash the underbody.