Does it melt in the rain?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: My house in the middle of my street GA
Does it melt in the rain?
I've been a forum member since April and I have noticed in a lot of threads that members say their cars has never been driven in the rain. Why? Call me naive but aren't cars made to withstand raindrops. And if it is driven in the rain, if you wipe of the raindrops that won't leave spots right? Just curious. 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
A lot of the people saying that show their cars and getting one into perfect show state takes hours and hours. One rainy day and you have to start over. But for most of us. "Let it rain". I've had 4 daily drivers and none has melted yet. True they were never "show quality" but that not my thing. I just take a hose to it every couple weeks whether it needs it or not and I am happy.
Oh, BTW, Never "wipe off" rain drops. Each drop has a bit of grit in it and you stand a good chance of scratching the paint. I learned that the hard way on my first C5. :o
Oh, BTW, Never "wipe off" rain drops. Each drop has a bit of grit in it and you stand a good chance of scratching the paint. I learned that the hard way on my first C5. :o
Last edited by BigJoe; Aug 15, 2005 at 11:34 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 4
Well, to each their own. I get some pleasure from a couple of quiet hours cleaning and detailing my car every week or so, but I don't hesitate to drive it every chance I get... My car will never be show quality, but I'd rather drive it than know that I've got a museum-piece locked in a garage while I live my life driving a (insert boring car name here).
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Peoria AZ
I try not to drive mine in the rain. Out here people drive like idiots and forget to slow down sooner in the rain. I'll go with the old Toyota Tacoma in the rain, go ahead and hit that! My hitch will pop a hole in your radiatior and I go home and hug my Corvette... 
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,129
Likes: 1,038
From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
It rains a lot in Washington.
When it's driven in the rain, Red Racer gets dirty.
I dislike driving a dirty Vette.
It takes a long time to wash my Vette properly.
I'm not going to take 2 hours everyday in the winter to clean it only to get it dirty the next morning on the way to work in the rain.
So...
It stays in the garage and I drive the beater on those days.
If you don't mind driving a dirty Vette, then of course none of the above would apply to you. To each his own.
Now excuse me while I go out and wash, polish and wax my car. Time for a little bonding...
When it's driven in the rain, Red Racer gets dirty.
I dislike driving a dirty Vette.
It takes a long time to wash my Vette properly.
I'm not going to take 2 hours everyday in the winter to clean it only to get it dirty the next morning on the way to work in the rain.
So...
It stays in the garage and I drive the beater on those days.
If you don't mind driving a dirty Vette, then of course none of the above would apply to you. To each his own.
Now excuse me while I go out and wash, polish and wax my car. Time for a little bonding...
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 2
From: Austin Texas
The thing is, a good well-waxed car sheds water, handles sun and cleans off easier than a car that's got no finish coating on it. So I keep mine detailed, drive it every day, and once in a while, when I can no longer reach into the paint, I wax and polish it again.
The hardest thing is road trips. Reason: Bugs! I picked a load of grasshopper corpses out of my car after a long trip to NM. Heck, some had got all the way into the engine compartment! They're hard to get off too.
--Yak
The hardest thing is road trips. Reason: Bugs! I picked a load of grasshopper corpses out of my car after a long trip to NM. Heck, some had got all the way into the engine compartment! They're hard to get off too.
--Yak
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,951
Likes: 449
From: Puyallup WA
Dad's Vette was a daily driver until Yesterday. He bought a 94 Acura Legend Coupe to drive on "bad weather days." He'll drive the vette any chance he gets, but when it gets too dirty he's cranky. LOL Infact his Legend is sitting at home and he drove the vette because it's nice.
Great picture!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 22,194
Likes: 27
From: Aurora IL
It's called personal preference.
I prefer to drive my Corvette in the sun, with the top off on a glorious day, with a babe as a co-pilot. I have a very nice daily driver to ride around in the rain.
Some people drive their Vette year around, rain or snow. It's their car to do whatever they want to do.
I prefer to drive my Corvette in the sun, with the top off on a glorious day, with a babe as a co-pilot. I have a very nice daily driver to ride around in the rain.
Some people drive their Vette year around, rain or snow. It's their car to do whatever they want to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
It's not that rain water will hurt the car, it's what the water picks up from a wet road that hurts the car. Stones and road debri are easily thrown up on the cars paint on wet roads, causing nicks and chips. They also are thrown up more easily from other cars. Not to mention all the junk that gets into the body panel seams. I prefer my car looking new all the time. A dirty Corvette is a terrible sight to see.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,129
Likes: 1,038
From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Originally Posted by Shylor
It's not that rain water will hurt the car, it's what the water picks up from a wet road that hurts the car. Stones and road debri are easily thrown up on the cars paint on wet roads, causing nicks and chips. They also are thrown up more easily from other cars. Not to mention all the junk that gets into the body panel seams. I prefer my car looking new all the time. A dirty Corvette is a terrible sight to see.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,129
Likes: 1,038
From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Originally Posted by 91LSMAN
Dad's Vette was a daily driver until Yesterday. He bought a 94 Acura Legend Coupe to drive on "bad weather days." He'll drive the vette any chance he gets, but when it gets too dirty he's cranky. LOL Infact his Legend is sitting at home and he drove the vette because it's nice.
BTW...Coming with us on the XXX cruise to Issaquah on the 28th? Check this thread
Be great to meet you and your dad...
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You're right - the car won't melt. But I'm one of those that show my car and unless I have to, I just don't like to drive in the rain. Too much time needed to get it back to show condition again.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
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From: Oklahoma City OK
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Originally Posted by pewterwest99
Is this some Oklahoma vocabulary?
